Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Demonwolf 04-13-06, 12:16 PM	I'm working on a homebrew setting and my current project is The Witch, and instead of making it a specific class, PrC or substitution level, I'm instead making it a variant of the Summon Familiar class feature (and by extension, a variant of Obtain Familiar). I'll probably add other details later on, but this is what I'm starting with. Anyway, the witches in this setting are stereotypical fairytale witches only to a small extent, and are played as arcane spellcasting pseudo-paladins of pagan religion. Anyway, they usually avoid directly offensive spellcasting and usually have a focus on utility spells, buffs and debuffs. Because of that, they usually have tankish protectors, referred to as their thralls. Keep in mind this is very rough around the edges and may very well be overpowered, I haven't really thought too deeply into balance issues yet, I'm just kinda throwing it out there. Prereqs (edited): If wizard: Must specialize in illusion, transmutation, divination and enchantment spells, and may not be restricted from any of those schools. If sorcerer: must use the Witch variant spell list from the DMG If any other arcane caster: Must have spell focus in atleast two of the schools mentioned for wizards, and must be able to obtain a familiar. Remove: Summon Familiar Add: Thralldom, Witchcraft Thralldom: The witch can permanently designate a willing PC or cohort as her thrall, who gains the following features -Empathic Link, Share Spells and Scry on Familiar as a regular familiar. -Whenever using the fight defensively or total defense actions, or using the combat expertise feat, the thrall may apply the AC bonus to the witch instead of him/herself, as long as the witch is within reach of his/her melee weapon. -The witch is treated as having the Defensive Roll class feature while her thrall is within half his/her movement speed, but the reflex save can be made with either the thrall's or the witch's, and instead of negating half the damage, a successful reflex save transfers half the damage to the thrall. Witchcraft: Witches are known for walking the line between divine and arcane spellcasting, and although their spells are classified as arcane, they supplement them with an intuitive connection to the physical world much like the druid's. A witch gains witchcraft points per day equal to her wisdom modifier, although she cannot have more witchcraft points than her wisdom modifier. A witchcraft point can be sacrificed to do one of the following- -Spontaneously swap a prepared spell for another known spell of equal level, or a level equal to the witch's wisdom modifier, whichever is lower. -Lower the level increase of a spell prepared with a metamagic feat by the number of witchcraft points sacrificed.
Demonwolf 04-13-06, 12:38 PM	I'm looking over this, and it seems like it would make more sense as a feat than as a variant, with Spell Focus in any two of illusion, enchantment, divination and transmutation... thoughts?
Rhonin the Big 04-13-06, 02:11 PM	-The witch is treated as having the Defensive Roll class feature while her thrall is within half his/her movement speed, but the reflex save can be made with either the thrall's or the witch's, and instead of negating half the damage, a successful reflex save transfers half the damage to the thrall. I personally think this should be based on a will save DC=damage dealt. Success means the damage is divided in half and half it going to her thrall. The prereqs should be female, unless you have warlocks. Cap the amount of witchcraft points that can be spent, like 1 point per 4 witch levels can be spent on a single witchcraft feat, otherwize she could quicken an empowered maximized admixed fireball and only cast a 3rd level spell slot And if you can't recognize me you implode!
Darth Sephiroth 04-13-06, 08:41 PM	You know, I've been working on something similar, an awakened animal using a human as a familiar. Basically granting a being with NPC classes only equal to your level with a few benefits as a familiar. I just thought it would be interesting for the Cat to be the sorcerer and the human to be the familiar.