It would stand to reason, and that's the interpretation I've advertised on the forums and portrayed in game as a DM, myself. So some of the fault probably lies in me. But now it seems that it has become collectively accepted knowledge that a Blackguard must make a Faustian pact, and I do think it's appropriate to set the record straight. This is something that happens on Amia regularly: people debate about something, some people offer their ideas and set an example in game, and gradually they become accepted as canon even if they never were intended as such.

You can play the "DM is always right" card, but it's not very interesting. Of course anything can be decided at whim, but that's no excuse to grow complacent in your ignorance and not be interested to learn more. Yossarin already said he didn't actually know what I just posted, so clearly it was useful even if Amiabrew lore is applied to overwrite that. It's still vitally important to be aware of these things and how they come to be, whatever you choose to do with the information.

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Personally, I'm pretty liberal-minded in how a BG gains their powers. They could have an actual physical contract, a verbal agreement, a clerical induction, any number of things. I do think that there has to be some sort of willing devotion or offering of some sort on the part of the PC and a certain amount of acceptance of that devotion or offering on the part of the evil outsider. How that's exactly played out, I'm pretty confident laying in the creative minds and forces of our players.

The only issue I've ever had with BG's doesn't lie in the attainment of the powers inherent to being a BG, it's in the abandonment of the class.

We're not playing around with goodly, forgiving, kindhearted celestials and gods here. We're dealing with petty, backstabbing, vindictive demons, devils and evil gods. You don't turn your back on them and walk away unscathed. They may wait for the opportune chance to strike, but strike they will.

A BG isn't just someone who's kinda thumbed their nose at whatever evil power we choose to speak about, a BG is a chosen soldier. A BG is a person of such potential that the outsider or god in question gave over a small fraction of it's power to the said person. They won't take easy to being snubbed by someone they actually went out of their way for.

That said, my issue arises when people want turn away from being a BG like they've just decided that they want to change the type of armor they wear. It's not that easy and there should be consequences.

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"I once took the high road and it took me straight to hell and I stood there all by myself." -Hank III