I plan on eventually pitting the players against the plots of the Lords of Dust, so they are right out (at least on the surface of things...) as pact partner.
Also, what about the following problem: in general, wouldn't persons known to deal with infernal forces be shunned and prosecuted in civilized lands? At least, wouldn't they have to practice their craft secretly, like worshippers of the Dark Six?
Atgeirr
- The Lords of Dust
- Khyber
- Vol
- Tiamat
- The Silver Flame
- Fernia
- Kythri
- Shavarath
- Risia
- The Dark Six
In addition, there must be any number of minor demon lords not affiliated with the Lords of Dust that are worshipped by various cults across the world.
I plan on eventually pitting the players against the plots of the Lords of Dust, so they are right out (at least on the surface of things...) as pact partner.
This isn't necessarily true. Remember that the Lords of Dust are not a monolithic entity; each member of the Council of Ashtakala is loyal first and foremost to their own Overlord, and their plans may be at odds.
Beyond that, a lot depends on how you define "Pact". I could see an "Infernal" warlock whose power isn't based on a voluntary agreement with a rajah, but rather based on him pulling power away from the demon overlord - theoretically weaking the demon to keep it bound.
In my personal campaign, we have a star pact warlock whose powers come from a deal with one of the Overlords. In his particular case, the premise is that he knows that in time, one of the Overlords will rise, and that his particular patron - while utterly transforming the world in its image - will at least craft a world with a place for humanity (and stop the others from destroying humanity). So it's a lesser-of-evils thing. He knows his patron is a dark force - but by helping this Overlord, he protects the world from the others.
Regarding the degree to which you advertise, it again depends on how you define "pact". The character mentioned before doesn't ADVERTISE the source of his powers - but as a commoner, when you see person A blast person B with fire, do you know if that's coming from Khyber, Fernia, or somewhere else? So first, he doesn't shout "BLOOD AND SOULS FOR THE VERMILION PRINCE!" at the start of each battle. Second, few people aside from esoteric scholars would recognize the name of his patron. He's a creepy guy and he has creepy powers, and that disturbs people - but there's all sorts of creepy power sources out there. But yes, if he walked into town and said "Hi! I'm a mystic whose powers come from a bargain with a slumbering force of evil that will some day destroy the world as you know it!" the local representatives of the Silver Flame would likely want to show him the error of his ways.
I think if we define the power source too closely we close off the warlock to some interesting roleplaying potential. The Warlock should gain in power at the same pace that he/she works out just who the power is coming from. A Warlock may think they know , but most of the 'nasty evil types' normally use a middleperson... so the power sources may not what it seems.
Something to also look at is if the warlock is perhaps not a willing participant. Perhaps they were involved in a ritual pre first session that went bad, everyone else died and they woke up alive.. but different. Now people they dont know suddenly recognise them, but call them by a different name etc.
The Lords of Dust are not happy campers and probably spend as much time stabbing each other in the back as they do getting along (probably more so). That being said it would make for a great twist when after the party has been aligned against the Lords of Dust for so long that one of them calls parley and points out to the Warlock that "you owe me something". Suddenly the 'lock realises that this is his infernal patron and he's come calling for the debt. So does he pay up or does he renounce his bargain and all the shiny power that comes with it?
Of course, by now the player has decided to play a paladin instead, so I think I'll make a recurring NPC warlock or two to use them.
You could easily do the same though for Cannith Humans and Mror Holds Dwarves who worship Onator, and Fey Pact warlocks seem like the perfect choice for Races (can't wait for kalashtar to come out) that worship the Guiding Light/Path (been a while, can't remember the name of the good Quori religion).
For some reason though, I still see clerics as very much the organised agents of their religons and not the Warlocks who I prefer to see as loners and malcontents.
What you bring up makes interesting distinctions between Clerics and Warlocks then. With Clerics still being the primary 'healers', the differences between them become purely mechanical.
For some reason though, I still see clerics as very much the organised agents of their religons and not the Warlocks who I prefer to see as loners and malcontents.
That's the stereotypical view, but not the only one. Eberron is quite good at throwing stereotypes on their ear.
I'm considering an Infernal Pact that actually draws a bit of the Silver Flame (more of a multi-class thing, really). What I'm trying to decide is whether a feat that adds the Radiant keyword to all spells with the Fire keyword should just be a standard Paragon feat, or the 11th level ability of a Paragon Path.
I think the best way is to replace the Infernal pact's Dark One’s Blessing feature with an added radiant damage keyword to the curse damage only. that way you can play a silver flame 'warlock' from level one.
Here's a character I originally designed for use with an Eberron game. The secrets involved in his background are such that your background template is actually perfect. He was originally done as a 3.5 character, so I have yet to see how some of this will translate into 4e.
Step 1: write five things about your character’s concept and background, five things that you think are the most essential parts of your character. You don’t have to stop at five, if you like…this is just a minimum.
Jherek d'Tharashk, Human Warlock
1) Jherek always looks haunted, as someone who does not get a lot of sleep. In truth, his sleep is often disturbed by nightmares.
2) Jherek is a blood relative of one of the 3 families of House Tharashk (I'm at work so I don't have the family name, but the ones with the less savory reputation). EDIT: Aashta is the name of his family branch.
3) Jherek came by his warlock powers because of a ritual carried out at his birth. His parents, members of a secret cult of the Dragon Below, offered their child to become the vessel to release one of the Lords of Dust. That particular cult now believes Jherek is their chosen one, a destiny he rejects.
4) Jherek proclaims that he does not believe in fate, he is a strong proponent of free-will. In truth, he fears that this is not the case, and that he cannot escape his terrible destiny. He seeks to avoid it at all costs.
5) Jherek believes that his powers are tainted by the dragon below, including that of his dragonmark (see secrets). However, if he does not use them consciously, they will erupt in a flash of anger or other emotion. His only recourse, then, is to use them to do some good, but as "evil" powers, they often leave his opponents dead at worst, and at best scarred physically or mentally.
2) Jherek is a blood relative of one of the 3 families of House Tharashk (I'm at work so I don't have the family name, but the ones with the less savory reputation). EDIT: Aashta is the name of his family branch.
3) Jherek came by his warlock powers because of a ritual carried out at his birth. His parents, members of a secret cult of the Dragon Below, offered their child to become the vessel to release one of the Lords of Dust. That particular cult now believes Jherek is their chosen one, a destiny he rejects.
4) Jherek proclaims that he does not believe in fate, he is a strong proponent of free-will. In truth, he fears that this is not the case, and that he cannot escape his terrible destiny. He seeks to avoid it at all costs.
5) Jherek believes that his powers are tainted by the dragon below, including that of his dragonmark (see secrets). However, if he does not use them consciously, they will erupt in a flash of anger or other emotion. His only recourse, then, is to use them to do some good, but as "evil" powers, they often leave his opponents dead at worst, and at best scarred physically or mentally.
I think the best way is to replace the Infernal pact's Dark One’s Blessing feature with an added radiant damage keyword to the curse damage only. that way you can play a silver flame 'warlock' from level one.
The Star Pact Warlock deals a fair amount of Radiant damage as-is; a little care in power selection and a little reflavoring, and Star Pact could work pretty well for the Flamites.
1) The Dreaming Dark(Fey or Star equivalent pact, your choice).
2) The Umbra(almost unheard for a non-Umbragen though).
3) The lovely Gloaming(of course, that makes you wonder of the nature of the pact. Is there something sentient about the Gloaming or are we simply siphoning power here? And of the psychological consequences? No wonder Raven of the PGtE is raving).
I wonder if a sufficiently powerful radiant idol(exiled angel in 4E?) might be acceptable.