Can a Single Patron Grant Different Pacts?

[Zalakoth]

The Question should be quite clear but in case it isn’t, here goes...

...by the way this is only for thematic purposes I’m not talking about RAW nor do I care about RAW ruling, I want to know peoples thoughts on a thematic level...

Say I have my Patron, let’s call her Becky...

Party A has a warlock, that makes an Fiend Pact with Becky...

Party B has a Warlock that makes an Undying Pact with Becky...

Becky is a Death Knight/Lich and Former Fiend. (And yes fiends can become Undead - Acererak did it.)

Would that make sense to you thematically?


A more specific example is in the world I am building, the shadowfell is nonexistent and therefore Hexblades, but I want to support any published content (I.e. Hexblade Warlock)

So... An Ancient Death Knight that can Grant Hexblade Abilities and/or Undying Abilities (but obviously not more than one to any particular character.)

[ciarannihill]

The Question should be quite clear but in case it isn’t, here goes...

...by the way this is only for thematic purposes I’m not talking about RAW nor do I care about RAW ruling, I want to know peoples thoughts on a thematic level...

Say I have my Patron, let’s call her Becky...

Party A has a warlock, that makes an Fiend Pact with Becky...

Party B has a Warlock that makes an Undying Pact with Becky...

Becky is a Death Knight/Lich and Former Fiend. (And yes fiends can become Undead - Acererak did it.)

Would that make sense to you thematically?


A more specific example is in the world I am building, the shadowfell is nonexistent and therefore Hexblades, but I want to support any published content (I.e. Hexblade Warlock)

So... An Ancient Death Knight that can Grant Hexblade Abilities and/or Undying Abilities (but obviously not more than one to any particular character.)

I don't see why not? Seems like it could make for cool story moments, too -- where an enemy and a PC realize they share a patron.

[Unoriginal]

The Question should be quite clear but in case it isn’t, here goes...

...by the way this is only for thematic purposes I’m not talking about RAW nor do I care about RAW ruling, I want to know peoples thoughts on a thematic level...

Say I have my Patron, let’s call her Becky...

Party A has a warlock, that makes an Fiend Pact with Becky...

Party B has a Warlock that makes an Undying Pact with Becky...

Becky is a Death Knight/Lich and Former Fiend. (And yes fiends can become Undead - Acererak did it.)

Would that make sense to you thematically?


A more specific example is in the world I am building, the shadowfell is nonexistent and therefore Hexblades, but I want to support any published content (I.e. Hexblade Warlock)

So... An Ancient Death Knight that can Grant Hexblade Abilities and/or Undying Abilities (but obviously not more than one to any particular character.)

Sure, there is no reason why not. Orcus could probably do the Undying or Fiend pact too, for example.



(And yes fiends can become Undead - Acererak did it.)

Errr, while some Fiends can become undead, or be linked with undeath enough, Acererak wasn't a Fiend. Not in 5e, at least.

I think in 4e he was a tiefling, but unless I'm mistaken the designers were pretty clear he was human originally, this time.

[Stan]

Sure. Some deities are complex with multiple aspects, sometimes even different cults/orders for various aspects.

[Unoriginal]

Sure. Some deities are complex with multiple aspects, sometimes even different cults/orders for various aspects.

Well, you're right, but most Patrons aren't deities, just to point out. What you're talking about is more a question of Domain.

[MrStabby]

I don't see why not thematically. Some could be both pact patrons and cleric deities as well.

To be honest if I were to DM a world with this emphasised I would probably do something like create a patron specific spell list for players and let a theme develop there.

[Temperjoke]

If you had a Patron that could fit the various types of pacts, I don't see why you couldn't. About the only ones I don't think would combine well would be the Celestial and Fiend pacts, the sources are kind of opposed.

In theory, if you take the approach that a "pact" is nothing more than drawing on a particular source of power, similar to one possible form of the GOO pact, you could have any of them be taught by a particularly knowledgeable wizard. I'm not saying that's the best way, but if the DM isn't planning on involving a character's patron then the actual source isn't important.

Fey Pact - draw on the native power of the Feywild
Fiend Pact - draw on the Hells or Abyss
Great Old One Pact - draw on the Far Realm
Undying Pact - drawing on the Shadowfell or ghosts or whatever feels death/afterlife enough
Celestial Pact - draw on one of the heavens
Hexblade - draw on the Shadowfell

[ad_hoc]

No. Trying to fit those beings into multiple aspects/themes ruins all of them.

An archfiend is not also a creature from the far realm.
Cthulhu is not also a fey being.

Etc.

All themes is the same as no theme. Go for strong themes rather than a mish-mash that has no form or focus.