Published on February 25, 2026
Written by Bardic Quest
In this episode of the Bardic Quest talk show, the cast discusses the D&D playtest Vestige Patron Warlock. They break down the subclass’s core fantasy—drawing on the remnants of a dying, forgotten god—and how it pulls the patron into regular play via the Vestige Companion. The conversation covers companion mechanics (bonus-action commands, stat block comparisons to Beast Master and familiars, resistances by type, durability, and resummoning/dismissing rules), plus the once-per-day divine powers (cursed invocation, fiendish swap, healing touch) and how they create different gameplay moments. They also examine the subclass’s expanded spell options via choosing a Cleric domain (Life, Light, Trickery, War), discuss front-loaded design and narrative-vs-mechanics friction—especially the ability to change the companion’s creature type on a long rest—and review higher-level features like Vestige Recovery (more uses of divine power), Aura of Power (large, long-lasting team buffs and a protective “drop to 0 HP” effect), and the level 14 upgrade that turns the companion into a stronger summoned creature for one minute.
00:00 Show Intro and Format
00:51 Today’s Topic Vestige Warlock
03:23 Dying God Patron Concept
05:57 Warlock Patron as Companion
08:32 Vestige Companion Stat Block
15:44 Combat Control and Balance
20:31 Divine Powers Breakdown
25:13 Utility and DM Rulings
28:01 Resummoning and Form Swaps
30:34 Narrative vs Mechanics Debate
35:07 Warlock Playstyle and Fun Factor
36:16 Cleric Domains as Spell List
38:24 Cleric Domain Picks
39:17 Trickery Domain Value
40:55 War Domain Combos
42:11 Life and Light Synergy
44:19 Front Loaded Identity
45:10 Level 6 Vestige Recovery
47:13 Level 10 Aura Power
48:16 Aura Inconsistency Debate
53:51 Level 14 Summon Upgrade
56:36 Balance and Narrative Fit
01:05:01 Final Thoughts Wrap
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