Warlocks are a beloved class fromDungeons & Dragons. They are fun not only because they can be a powerful spellcasting class but because they work in a unique way with spell slot recovery and many cantrips. This doesn’t even mention the spells they can use freelythrough their Invocations.
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The masters of Eldritch Blast are also an interesting option story-wise, thanks to how they receive their powers: a Patron. These are powerful entities that offer power in exchange for… Something. Here are some backstory concepts you can use to help you create your character and, if your DM is okay with that, even create a homebrew Patron. After all, Warlocks always have at least two important characters to discuss.
10Deal With The Devil
Though this option will give your DM extra work, it’s a fun and simple concept to do (as long as they’re okay with it). Your character essentially bargains for power due to an emergency, a life-or-death situation, perhaps.
Because of that, they agreed to a pact, one that they don’t know the details of. Your job throughout the sessions would be to understandwhat your Patron wantsfrom you and try to get out of a bad deal you put yourself into.
The culmination of the previous concept, making these two a good combination, is the ultimate antagonistic relationship; Your Patron is your enemy, and you need to take them down. Rules as written, a Patron can’t take your powers away once they’re given. So you can turn against them.
Although, even if your DM overrules that, coming up with a way to fight your Patron is also an interesting character story. But the whole concept could come from making a bad deal or regretting the things your Patron forces you to do, and the only way to free yourself is to kill the entity behind it all.
8Easy Path To Power
An obvious backstory for Warlocks, but it’s a fun one too. Your character more-or-less wanted or needed power in a quick way without doing the work for it, like a Wizard, for instance. So, they’ve made a pact to get themself a boost up.
Pretty straightforward, and though it works beautifully with evil characters, you can make it work with a good character, too. This works especially well when combined with the entry above.
7Trapped Patron
Instead of a Patron helping you under pressure, it can be the other way around. A powerful being trapped somewhere - another dimension, and magical prison, you name it - can use a fraction of its power to make a pact with you.
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They need help to be free once again, and you are their means to do it. Become stronger with your powers and save them - Or don’t; it’s up to you. If you ditch them, though, then pray no one else helps them.
6Vessel
This idea may be a bit complicated to role-play, but the concept here is to have your Patron trapped inside you. Your character gains powers through their presence, and the stronger your body gets with them, the more you can use it, but that also means your patron is constantly watching what you’re doing.
You just need a good reason for why they’re inside you, and your motivation could be to get rid of them. You could have a fun Venom situation going on with your character and their Patron, even role-playing both characters if the DM is okay with that.
5Competition Between Warlocks
What if you’re not the only Warlock your Patron has created? Maybe the Patron has multiple servants, and the goal is to eliminate them all. What for? Well, that is up to you or your DM. The rewards can vary from boosts, Epic Boons, or even inheriting the Patron’s entire powerset, becoming an entity in the process.
Still, venturing through the world, fighting against multiple Warlocks for the ultimate power, is not only a fun backstory but a beautiful campaign in itself. Alternatively, your Patron can have only two Warlocks, you and someone else, who will work as your rival for power.
4Romance
A concept that is even suggested in the Player’s Handbook is aromantic relationship between Warlock and Patron.Rather than animosity among the characters, they can be in love. Still, this concept demands some thought; If your patron loves you, why aren’t they with you? Or constantly helping you out?
Combining this idea with a trapped Patron for you to rescue, for example, is a powerful concept in itself, though you can have other reasons for their absence.
3Guardian
Another good concept for a friendly Patron is one that actively gives you powers because they want to protect you but can’t directly intervene to the point of saving you themself. You just need a reason for having an entity watching out for you.
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Maybe your family is a descendant of this powerful being. Maybe you were just in the right place at the right time, and they took pity on you. Regardless, your Patron can be the ultimate guardian angel for your character.
2Teacher
A bit similar to the previous concept - making a mixture of both quite interesting - is a Patron that works as a mentor figure. Your character made a pact to obtain knowledge, and the Patron is actually down to teach you the things you wish to learn.
They will let you fight your own fights as it is a chance to grow and learn as an individual, and they will assist you with hints rather than give you a direct answer to stimulate your intelligence. Essentially, playing D&D with a guiding hand, at least to some extent.
1PC Turned Patron
Sadly, this concept is a bit harder to pull off, given the variables, and will only work if you play with the same people constantly. First, you need to play in a setting you’ve played before. Second, one of the previous playable characters needs to have finished their story obtaining immense amounts of power.
Then, take this PC from a previous campaign and turn them into your current Patron. It’s fun to tie multiple campaigns together and see older versions of characters you’ve seen and maybe even controlled before. Your friends will probably get excited when they see an old PC as your Patron.
