@Khan thank you.
They are lots of fun to make. I challenge the community to post some of their own.
Almost any quest npc with a problem can be altered into a patron.
Magic Patrons with personality (Entry #19 Nicodemus)
James_Horn
#14
#10
Have fun with the curse. There are tons of curse ideas online for curses. Pick ones that will be comical and problematic for the player.
http://dndspeak.com/2017/12/100-curses/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/78xlfs/d100_interesting_curses/
James_Horn
#17
#13
First Encounter: A Wizard/Witch/Druid or other magical character’s house located underground. The magical character was killed by <insert name.> Outside their house is a hatless scarecrow displayed in a garden with a hat on the ground next to it. If a player places the hat on the scarecrow it will come to life and introduce itself as The Lord of the Dance and begin dancing with high energy from upon its mast. The Lord of the Dance will ask for aid to the player who placed the hat on his head. (see Problem) if they accept they will be rewarded the magic hat that when equipped allows the user to substitute CHR for non attacking DEX rolls.
Problem: Was created by a wizard to protect their cave garden from pests by binding a nature spirit to a magic hat. Living a life underground left the scarecrow wanting to experience the surface world and all its amazing beauty it read about in his master’s books.
Needs: The PC to build a scarecrow on the surface during different weather conditions. Sunshine, Rain, Thunderstorm, Snow, Heatwave, etc. and then place the magic hat on top of its head so he can dance and take in the experience.
Rewards: Each new weather will reward in a geomancy spell (dance) related to that weather condition. Think avatar, the last airbender FIRE WATER WIND EARTH bending flavored with dances that last 1d4 Rounds.
Examples:
- Wind Samba: Dance for 1d4 Rounds, once per round you can push or pull a target.
- Water Waltz: Dance for 1d4 Rounds, Once per round you can manipulate a body of water. Effects vary on the size of the body of water. (Default Magic effort.)
- Earth Step: Dance for 1d4 Rounds. Once per round you can stomp on the ground to create a rock column NEAR you. (requires dirt or stone ground)
- Dance of Exhaustion: Dance for 1d4 Rounds. Each round a target gets -1 to all their rolls till this dance ends. (Stacks up to -4 for a single target)
Communication: Create a new scarecrow using a pair of clothes and a vegetable for a head and place the magic hat on top. The Lord of the Dance will animate the scarecrow.
Enemy: Whoever or whatever killed his master must be brought to justice.
Allies: Crows, they are afraid of the PC and will aid them out of fear.
Delusions
#20
Shiva: The Lady of Winter
First encounter
PCs are desperate and trapped In a blizzard on top of a great glacier in the northlands. The face of the lady will appear in the storm and blowing snow. She will offer to grant a boon in the form of a spell to a player in exchange for their help. Spell can be called Inner Fire or Eternal Warmth or something along those lines. One PC who agrees to help her will learn the spell that will make the player and all allies close resistant or immune to cold for 1d4 rounds.
Problem
The great glacier is diminishing rapidly. She will do anything to make it grow strong to return it to its former glory. She cannot leave this mountain but the PC can… With her help anyway.
Needs
The essence of winter. Magical essence of pure cold in the shape of a crystal, orb, or some other form that can be found throughout the land. They are harvested from ice elemental creatures who occasionally escape the the outer elemental planes where the planes of water and air converge. Mages and collectors seek these out for their magical essence that can be used for multiple purposes. They are also highly valuable.
Rewards
After descending from the mountain, Shiva will appear one more time and teach the same PC how to call frost in a basic form by manipulating the moisture in the air and temperature. It will be enough to freeze water and a basic offensive cold spell like an ice dart or frostbite. If an essence of winter is gifted to her, the glacier grows and she becomes stronger and gifts you a piece of her power in the form of new, more powerful cold spells (cone of cold, blizzard, all the good stuff).
Communication
Drawing the face of the lady in frost or ice (can be made in water with the basic cold magic learned) her face will animate and the PC can speak with her. Essence of winter can be absorbed into the ice and sent to her.
Enemy
Her brother, Ifrit. A djinn of pure fire who lives in a volcanic mountain near her mountain is her enemy. He wants the world to burn in volcanic ash. He seeks to heat the atmosphere so that he can lord over a newly formed land of fire. Once he finds out about his sister’s growing power, he becomes angered and will summon creatures of fire to end the party.
Allies
Northmen know of frost-callers from legend and lore. When they witness the abilities gifted by the lady of winter, they will do what they can to help the PC.
Thought your idea was awesome and had to give it a go. I Always liked a good fire/ice dichotomy and I’m a final fantasy fan.
James_Horn
#21
Hey a submission! And a damn good one too!
Love everything about, the clash between fire and ice, the hunting of ice elementals, and the fellowship of the Northmen.
Thank you for the submission @Delusions
Feel free to post anymore patron ideas @Delusions I hope more people jump on the wagon and post some ideas too. This community is flooded with great creators.
James_Horn
#23
Thanks man, I appreciate the positive energy.
I updated the OP with links to the entries.
Don’t be shy people, share some creations with this awesome community.
TheWunderLich
#24
im leavin a comment here so i can get updates when you add more here. these are fantastic!
JDStirling
#25
These are awesome. As for not having much interaction with a Patron or God during a game, I feel that falls square on the GM’s shoulders. A GM should take that deity and use it the same as any piece of backstory or player connection. Hell, a Patron or God is a perfect chance bargain with a player- “do X for me and prove your fealty.” Then give them a reward. It basically writes itself, hehe.
James_Horn
#26
yeah the GM makes or breaks most games.
From my circle of people many shared similar experiences with their patrons being a cliff note and thus what sparked this topic to hopefully help inspire ways to give them more of an impact in the campaign.
