Not Optimized White Haired Witch PFS

[solidarigee]

I understand that the White Haired Witch is not an amazing archetype, but I really like the flavour of it. This is for PFS, so I need to make sure it's at least viable.

The biggest issue that I can see is that I have low BAB.

Also, it seems I will have to burn a feat on Weapon Finesse because White Hair only uses Int for damage and CMB, not attack rolls more generally.

However, at level two this is made easier with the Constrict ability (swift action).

I could really use some advice. I will be going with White Haired Witch until level 4 (trip and reach) and then going into Master of Many Styles (Kirin Style).

Character level 6:
Dual Talent Human White Haired 4/Monk 2
Str 8 Dex 18 Con 10 Int 21 Wis 12 Cha 10

HP: 32
AC: 18 = 10+4 (Dex)+1 (Wis)+2 (Mithral Lamellar Cuirass)+1 (Amulet of Natural Armor).
Initiative: +6

When I have enough Fame I'll get an Amulet of Mighty Fists. Until then I'll use potions of lesser magic fang or even a wand (UMD +9). Also, I have a headband of vast intellect +2 and a belt of incredible dexterity +2.

Familiar: King Crab
Patron: Elements

Feats:
1: Weapon Finesse
3: Weapon Focus (white hair)
5: Feral Combat

Traits (not sure about these)
Reactionary
Magical Knack (to make up for lost caster levels)

Monk:
1: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist, Kirin Style
2: Kirin Strike

White Hair (su)
Attack: +9 1d4+7 (+10 damage, kirin strike)
CMB: +9 (+2 to grapple, king crab familiar)

Grab (free action)
Constrict (swift action)
Trip (swift action)
Flurry of Blows (+0/+0)

White Hair Shocking Grasp
+9 (+12 if they have metal) 1d4+5d6+7 (+10 damage, kirin strike) damage 13-51. All with reach 10, a grab and then constrict (1d4+7,+10 with kirin strike).

Any advice?

[sunbeam]

You can make a real case that going regular witch (or any of the archetypes that get hexes) makes a better hair fighter than the White Haired Witch.

The hair hex is better out of the box than the feature with this archetype.

I have seen some really good Hexcrafter (magus guy) builds using the hair though.

Basically they need to change some things about this archetype, or at least the wording for it to work.

[Angry Wiggles]

Don't forget that getting constrict from white- haired witch qualifies you for the final embrace feat, assuming you have strength 13. If you get some extra natural attacks, you can make a fairly powerful build with that.

[solidarigee]

sunbeam wrote:

You can make a real case that going regular witch (or any of the archetypes that get hexes) makes a better hair fighter than the White Haired Witch.

The hair hex is better out of the box than the feature with this archetype.

I have seen some really good Hexcrafter (magus guy) builds using the hair though.

Basically they need to change some things about this archetype, or at least the wording for it to work.

This is always active though and I still get the flavour of the witch (enchantment and deception kinds of spells).

Also, I get flurry of blows and kirin style feats, which deal more damage than the magus and don't require spell slots.

Also, the arcane pool feature only works on held weapons, so not natural attacks RAW. :(

[solidarigee]

Angry Wiggles wrote:

Don't forget that getting constrict from white- haired witch qualifies you for the final embrace feat, assuming you have strength 13. If you get some extra natural attacks, you can make a fairly powerful build with that.

The witch has all the benefits of that feat already as she can constrict anyone her hair can grapple (not just smaller creatures).

[Lamontius]

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[Imbicatus]

solidarigee wrote:

Angry Wiggles wrote:

Don't forget that getting constrict from white- haired witch qualifies you for the final embrace feat, assuming you have strength 13. If you get some extra natural attacks, you can make a fairly powerful build with that.

The witch has all the benefits of that feat already as she can constrict anyone her hair can grapple (not just smaller creatures).

Not really.

The White hair constrict is a Swift action, while real constrict is a non-action.
The White hair grab ability is not the Monster Grab ability, meaning that Final Embrace gives you a +4 to all grapple checks.
Final Embrace allows you to constrict on any unarmed strike or natural attack, not just on hair attacks, which if you have monk levels means a large damage increase.

WHW is an excellent two level dip for unlocking Final Embrace. It's a terrible primary class. What really kills it is the fact that RAW, you only add your INT to DAMAGE with the hair, you still rely on STR to hit.

[ohako]

Welcome to the hornet's nest that is the white-haired witch!

Here's my latest take.

Basics:

1. 5 levels of white-haired witch to gain 3rd-level spellcasting and 10ft. of reach. Boost your melee potential with the Fate's Favored trait and divine favor (gained by using the Strength patron). The other trait (Magical Talent: create water) is an insurance policy against your crab dehydrating.
2. 1 level of sohei monk. This gets you Feral Combat Training, which gets you flurry of blows with your hair, which lets you full attack with your melee weapon. You get this at level 5, which is 1 level before a regular full-BaB class gets their second attack. When you get the cash/prestige, go for a suit of brawling mithral chain shirt.
3. 6 levels of eldritch knight. Good BaB, Weapon Specialization, and spellcasting.
4. I went with Boar Style for the whole 'dismember your grapple victims' vibe. (saw through ropes with your hair, turn your vampiric touch into a vampiric auger, etc). You and I will have to meet on the field of Megiddo and have a kung fu hair battle!

[sunbeam]

ohako wrote:

You and I will have to meet on the field of Megiddo and have a kung fu hair battle!

"Everyone was kung-fu hair fighting...

Those Bangs were fast as lightning..."

[solidarigee]

sunbeam wrote:

ohako wrote:

You and I will have to meet on the field of Megiddo and have a kung fu hair battle!

"Everyone was kung-fu hair fighting...

Those Bangs were fast as lightning..."

this is the best response ever.