Pact of the Vermin Lords was one of the first third-party warlock pacts to appear after the publication of D&D 4e, and deserves props for that alone. The idea behind the pact is a bit “icky”: you’ve bound your soul to whatever mystical forces control vermin. Yuck. The power structure follows the typical template for a warlock: one at-will power that distinctively exhibits the pact, a special effect when an enemy under your Warlock’s Curse is reduced to 0 hp, and a bunch of thematic powers. Unlike the pacts in the original PH, the pact of the vermin lords provides an extra encounter power as a boon; however, author Stefen Styrsky has tried to balance this by turning off the character’s Warlock’s Curse while the bonus encounter power, Recognize the Master, is in effect. The optional powers at each level do a good job of distinguishing the vermin lords pact from other pacts. The supplement also includes a paragon path and one new feat designed to improve the basic pact boon. As a reader, I cringed repeatedly at grammatical mistakes and proofreading oversights, as well as departures from established D&D 4e stylistic standards. As a player, the very idea of the pact makes my skin crawl, and I want nothing to do with it. As a DM, I wouldn’t object if a player wanted to run a vermin lords pact warlock in my campaign, though I’d probably apply some social stigma in NPC encounters. Overall, my feeling about this product is basically, “Take it or leave it.”

The first pact from Adamant Entertainment. Interesting idea, but there is something striking...

The pact boon allows to deal ongoing damage on the next warlock power, and I don't think it is a good idea for balance. The insect pact has a special class feature that allows to control insects instead of the warlock curse, which is interesting.

Still, there are a few balance concerns in the powers:

• sustainable encounter powers
• (save ends) effects with encounter powers
• for Your are my Host, I don't understand why the (weakened) condition ends at the end of the next turn whereas there is ongoing damage (save ends). It seems illogical.
• a stun (save ends) on a miss.... (even if it is for a 29 power)... no, that's overpowered...

Otherwise, it is a good product with interesting ideas.

Nice creepy set of powers with a theme I might describe as "lolthian." I am using this to build some unusual drow warlocks for a forthcoming scenario. Not sure how many players would want to use these....they're a rather creepy power set, so would most appeal to players who fancy ugly and unpleasant PCs. Haven't noticed any unusual rule gaffs or anything off hand....seems pretty sound. Nice layout and art as well.

A fine example of what third parties can provide for the new edition: flavoursome, edgy but easy to incorporate, solidly designed and well presented. Powers are well suited to warlocks in general as well as those of this pact. Excepting only a couple of mechanical questions and derivative names, this is a good 4 1/2 stars for me.

A VERY GOOD SUPPLEMENT!

This is what the DDI stuff should be.

My only complaint is that a few things seem to good, like the at will here, it's clearly better than Dire radiance. I fixed this by changing the at will to ding no initial damage, and 2d6+int after the trigger. (giving a bit of variation from dire radiance.)

Yeah, insect pact warlocks. It might sound like a kinda weird idea, but it works surprisingly well and, due to being basically just a new set of powers that any Warlock can take, is eminently usable by players.

At $2, this is probably one of the best low-price PDFs available for 4e.