Handbook of Erotic Fantasy: Patron (Patreon)

Role-playing your level-up can be hard work. And I’m not just talking the “hard work” Warlock is giving Peasblossom there. Whether you’re earning new warlock powers from an insatiable archfey or simply trying to explain why you suddenly know that new feat, there’s often a disconnect between the abstract concept of XP and the concrete effect of new abilities. 

I’m going through this business myself at the moment. This month’s comic may be about 5e and warlock patrons, but my own struggles have to do with a bizarre Pathfinder class called the occultist. The TLDR is that your magic comes from the psychic resonance of significant objects called “implements.” You gain new ones as you level up, meaning you’re supposed to stumble across specific items at set points in your character progression. You begin to see where my trouble comes in. When 6th level rolls around I’ve got to pick up a bell, brooch, or holy symbol, and in my mind it’s got to be a bigger deal than popping down to the local five and dime. Do I tell my GM to give me an item or else? Do I write up a little story about finding the correct object during downtime? Does it show up in my inventory without explanation?

You’ll see lots of different solutions for this problem. Some systems require months of kung-fu movie training time before you see any benefit. There are some players that keep careful note of the skills they use, and only invest ranks in the ones that make sense. (“We just fought a bunch of zombies. I’m not suddenly better at fishing.”) You’ll also see players that ignore the problem entirely, grabbing their new powers without stressing about an in-world justification for mechanical changes. 

I think our pal Warlock has figured out the best way to get new powers, but how do the rest of you guys like to do it? Let’s hear it in the comments!