#warlock help

[base-the-dm]

Dnd People,

My warlock has hit level 2 so naturally I’m thinking about their pact boon. Since I’m usually a dm I’d love to get the chance to have a pseudodragon familiar with pact of the chain. However our cleric doesn’t have spare the dying so pact of the tome would make the most sense to pick up for utility’s sake. Should I follow my heart or head on this one?

Party composition is:

Fighter, Barbarian, Stars Druid, War Cleric/Ranger, Celestial Warlock

(I’m playing in a modified dragon of icespire peak if that helps (no spoilers pls))

[wearefiendwarlock]

Dante’s Grimoire: Magic Circle

3rd Level Abjuration (Cleric, Paladin, Warlock, Wizard)

You create a 10-foot-radius, 20-foot-tall cylinder of magical energy centered on a point on the ground that you can see within range. Glowing runes appear wherever the cylinder intersects with the floor or other surface.

Choose one or more of the following types of creatures: celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, or undead. The circle affects a creature of the chosen type in the following ways:

The creature can’t willingly enter the cylinder by nonmagical means. If the creature tries to use teleportation or interplanar travel to do so, it must first succeed on a Charisma saving throw.

The creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets within the cylinder.

Targets within the cylinder can’t be charmed, frightened, or possessed by the creature.

When you cast this spell, you can elect to cause its magic to operate in the reverse direction, preventing a creature of the specified type from leaving the cylinder and protecting targets outside it.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the duration increases by 1 hour for each slot level above 3rd.

Magic Circle is much like Hallow, which I touched on recently, in that it is designed as a control spell. They function in much the same way- Keeping specific entities where you want them and putting the power on your side. However, as this spell is a little bit weaker and has a shorter casting time, it is used for a different niche.

Magic Circle’s primary purpose is to create a small area, namely a ten foot radius circle, in which extraplanar entities either can’t enter or can’t leave. If you’re a fan of Supernatural, then this spell works both as a Devil’s Trap and a salt line.

This spell is used very effectively in the event of a summoning, or if the party is dealing with an extraplanar creature (devils, demons, angels, genies, elementals, etc.). If you find that your target can’t realistically be killed by the current party’s capabilities, then Magic Circle can be a great boon for you all.

A tremendous side of this spell that I would like to draw special attention to is that it doesn’t require concentration. That frees up the caster to use other spells like Dominate Monster, Banishment, or the spell used to summon the creature without losing this great control condition.

However, this spell can’t be used for very long. Depending on the spell slot used, it can only stay up for one to seven hours- meaning that the party can’t use this protection to take a long rest, or to do some worthwhile activities that take up time.

If I can offer one example of what this spell can be used for at its maximum potential, I would like to bring Devil Talismans and Demon Amulets into the mix. These items are created by either the fiend or cultists dedicated to them, and they offer quite a bit of leverage on potentially powerful allies. With these items in a warlock’s hand, they can call on specific fiends of varying power levels to act as servants. Imagine the ability to call on a specific Chain Devil, Marilith, or even a Pit Fiend at the drop of a hat. The possibilities are only limited by your power and your ambition.

[wearefiendwarlock]

Samael’s Lost Texts: Armor of Shadows

You can cast Mage Armor on yourself at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.

Armor of Shadows is a very pretty invocation at early levels. When these abilities are first earned at second level, a warlock only has two spell slots, and that number won’t go up for most of the game. Therefore, a protective spell like Mage Armor being made available without using one of these precious, precious spell slots looks like a wonderful choice to make. However, its use becomes less present as time goes on.

Unlike the other classes that can use the Mage Armor spell (Wizards and Sorcerer), Warlocks are inherently proficient with light armors, even starting the game with a set of leather armor. That means that the best this spell can do is increase your AC by 2 points. Later on, you will almost surely find better magic clothing, or even +1 Studded Leather. At that point, the Mage Armor spell can’t do anything positive for you. With such a limited amount of Eldritch Invocations known at any one time, it is a waste to take one up with such little benefit.

[wearefiendwarlock]

Dante’s Grimoire: Dream

5th Level Illusion (Bard, Druid, Warlock, Wizard)

This spell shapes a creature’s dreams. Choose a creature known to you as the target of this spell. The target must be on the same plane of existence as you. Creatures that don’t sleep, such as elves, can’t be contacted by this spell. You, or a willing creature you touch, enters a trance state, acting as a messenger. While in the trance, the messenger is aware of his or her surroundings, but can’t take actions or move.

If the target is asleep, the messenger appears in the target’s dreams and can converse with the target as long as it remains asleep, through the duration of the spell. The messenger can also shape the environment of the dream, creating landscapes, objects, and other images. The messenger can emerge from the trance at any time, ending the effect of the spell early. The target recalls the dream perfectly upon waking. If the target is awake when you cast the spell, the messenger knows it, and can either end the trance (and the spell) or wait for the target to fall asleep, at which point the messenger appears in the target’s dreams.

You can make the messenger appear monstrous and terrifying to the target. If you do, the messenger can deliver a message of no more than ten words and then the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, echoes of the phantasmal monstrosity spawn a nightmare that lasts the duration of the target’s sleep and prevents the target from gaining any benefit from that rest. In addition, when the target wakes up, it takes 3d6 psychic damage.

If you have a body part, lock of hair, clipping from a nail, or similar portion of the target’s body, the target makes its saving throw with disadvantage.

Dream is another one of my favorite spells for use outside of combat. A great use for 5th level spells to act as a bridge between groups. Say, for instance, a warlock is part of a group that is actively aiding in a revolution, but they have been separated from their group and the revolutionaries. With a single name, the warlock can communicate with anyone on the same plane of existence.

Or, for more malicious purposes, if a witch gets their hands on a lock of a victim’s hair, they can become a living Freddy Krueger, haunting their dreams until they keel over. A victim, should the caster use this spell for violent ends, can not gain the benefits of a long rest, growing more and more exhausted as the spell is used. In the hands of a warlock who only needs half an hour to regain use of the spell, this could mean never ending torment. Inside of a week, the victim will die.

Maybe your patron is in a static place at the moment and can only communicate in dreams, like Cthulu or Tharizdun. A spell like dream is a wonderful opportunity to communicate with your patron, even if they don’t want to speak with you.

The very nature of the spell is reminiscent of the origins for the term ‘nightmare.’ It refers to a creature, typically a witch, that sucks out positive dreams at night and leaves a person terrified. It’s where night hags get a good chunk of their lore and power in 5e.

All this to say that if you are playing a warlock of the fiend, or specifically of a night hag, I strongly recommend adding Dream to your spellbook

[wearefiendwarlock]

Weird Magic, a Warlock’s Best Friend

There is an aspect to Dungeons and Dragons that I feel is grossly overlooked by the community, and that’s Weird Magic. This concept is closely tied to hags, stemming from their ancient knowledge forgotten by everyone else, but there’s no reason that Asmodeus or Demogorgon couldn’t also be familiar with certain practices. It mimics some other types of magic, like being able to create beacons of light, create and destroy diseases, or create a wall of blades in front of the caster.

I hope you can see where I’m going with this. Ancient magic known only by incredibly old patrons that offer power a person could only dream of sounds like the sort of thing a disgraced scholar or lost wizard might sell their services for. I know I certainly would in that sort of scenario.

Now, Dungeon Masters, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to be creative! Try to expand on the idea and give it some flavor. Hags use Weird Magic to turn a human child into a changeling, or to strip a lycanthrope of their free will to create an invincible thrall. Let your players, namely your warlocks, have some wiggle room in your world because for the duration of your game, they live in it too. Especially at higher levels. While the wizard is fighting gods and the druid is becoming immortal, let your party’s fiendlock have their own unique niche, something no other class can achieve. It is also a solid plot hook: what do they have to do to earn this knowledge? Do they have to serve a Night Hag for a year and a day? Do they have to officially join the legions of the Nine Hells after death? Do they have to eat seven souls to please Orcus?

If I can offer some examples: let a necromancer experiment with permanent undead or diseases, give a devout warlock the soul bag of a Night Hag, and let a healer learn old ways of tending to loved ones that possibly leads to more issues if done improperly.

[wearefiendwarlock]

Dante’s Grimoire: Hallow

5th Level Evocation (Cleric and Fiend Warlock)

You touch a point and infuse an area around it with holy (or unholy) power. The area can have a radius up to 60 feet, and the spell fails if the radius includes an area already under the Effect a hallow spell. The affected area is subject to the following Effects. First, Celestials, Elementals, fey, Fiends, and Undead can't enter the area, nor can such Creatures charm, frighten, or possess Creatures within it. Any creature Charmed, Frightened, or possessed by such a creature is no longer Charmed, Frightened, or possessed upon entering the area. You can exclude one or more of those types of Creatures from this Effect. Second, you can bind an extra Effect to the area. Choose the Effect from the following list, or choose an Effect offered by the DM. Some of these Effects apply to Creatures in the area, you can designate whether the Effect applies to all Creatures, Creatures that follow a specific deity or leader, or Creatures of a specific sort, such as ores or Trolls. When a creature that would be affected enters the spell's area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it can make a Charisma saving throw. On a success, the creature ignores the extra Effect until it leaves the area. Courage: Affected Creatures can't be Frightened while in the area. Darkness: Darkness fills the area. Normal light, as well as magical light created by Spells of a lower level than the slot you used to cast this spell, can't illuminate the area. Daylight: Bright light fills the area. Magical Darkness created by Spells of a lower level than the slot you used to cast this spell can't extinguish the light. Energy Protection: Affected Creatures in the area have Resistance to one damage type of your choice, except for bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing. Energy Vulnerability: Affected Creatures in the area have vulnerability to one damage type of your choice, except for bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing. Everlasting Rest: Dead bodies interred in the area can't be turned into Undead. Extradimensional Interference: Affected Creatures can't move or Travel using teleportation or by extradimensional or interplanar means. Fear: Affected Creatures are Frightened while in the area. Silence: No sound can emanate from within the area, and no sound can reach into it. Tongues: Affected Creatures can communicate with any other creature in the area, even if they don't share a Common language.

Hallow is one of my favorite spells for a warlock, particularly one with a pact to the Fiend. It isn’t flashy like a fireball or immediately helpful like stripping a target of their sight and hearing. It is old, powerful, and most importantly, it is thematically resonant. It is an insult to the gods that warlocks have turned their backs on as it takes their power, their blessings, and corrupts them.

However, it can also be used to honor good and to insult the being that made the mistake of teaching the power. The spell can turn away the evil, the good, and the benign equally. It can insure that corrupting spirits are held back and their tongues silenced from a mage’s ears.

This spell is the starting of a place of power. I would encourage warlocks to make avid use of this spell in their homes. As long as the spell areas do not overlap, then a caster can maintain as many as they’d like. Make their library a place of silent reflection. Keep the souls of fallen allies at rest. Protect themselves from attack. Empower their spells. With a creative warlock and a willing DM, there truly is no limit to the power of this spell.

[wearefiendwarlock]

A small piece of advice from your friendly neighborhood blood mage: invest your attention in stuff. As a warlock, you inherently have fewer spell slots than Wizards, Sorcerers, Druids, and Clerics, but that just means you need to change your strategy! Amulets can bind all measures of fiends, powerful or not. Learning true names of extraplanar creatures puts a lot of power in your hands. Staves, wands, crystals, and all other wonderful items hold magic that can give you an advantage. Last but no least: Scrolls! You don't need spell slots when you have a scroll that can break your Patron into the Prime Material Plane!

[wearefiendwarlock]

Have you got any ideas or references for dark ritual elements?

I assume this refers to imagery. Blood, bones, and organs are always good places to start for components to a ritual. Try to focus on humanoid life, death, and the soul.

In terms of rituals I let my players do, there is one to improve their Pact Magic spell slots, either in number or level. There are also bindings that let the warlock charm an extraplanar creature to service. There are also curses that they can specify the effects of. It would behoove you to research real life witchcraft legends, mysticism, and the work of Anton Crowley or Levey