Witchguard Woes


Advice


So while browsing the Ranger archetypes a week and a half ago I had this strange idea for a Ranger after looking at the Witchguard, a Bodyguard Ranger who also had greater access to spells than your usual Ranger. That's when I noticed the archetype directly underneath the Witchguard on the PFSRD, the Woodland Skirmisher. Unfortunately they both modify the Ranger's spells so combining them would technically be a nono. However, while discussing this idea with a couple of people I know from another campaign I am in one of them, who DMed on occasions, said that he would love to see that combination in action and when he had free time once-again he would love to have that character in a campaign of his. And thus Urhace the Halfling Witchguard/ Woodland Skirmisher was born.

Here's the problem, I am extremely unfamiliar as to where witches might live in Galorion (he's a Witchguard, so it makes sense that he was raised in a place where witches live in abundance). Anyone know a good place where witches might live in large enough quantities that someone like him might exist? Also, anyone have any good tips as to what feats would be good for a Bodyguard build Ranger (I get Bodyguard and In Harm's Way as free bonus feats, and I assume I should gnab Combat Reflexes, but otherwise do not know what I should focus on)? Any little bit of advice would be greatly appreciated.


The Withguard archetype originates on Golorion primarily from Irrisen. It doesn't strictly need to be witches though, it can help any spellcaster with it's abilities.

As for a bodyguard build, there's not a whole lot you can do with that... you might look at the Weaponmaster's Guide's Weapon Mastery Feats and take the Cleave out of the Air feat tree since it can let you sword slap projectiles and later rays out of the sky against you or your ally.


Icehawk wrote:

The Withguard archetype originates on Golorion primarily from Irrisen. It doesn't strictly need to be witches though, it can help any spellcaster with it's abilities.

As for a bodyguard build, there's not a whole lot you can do with that... you might look at the Weaponmaster's Guide's Weapon Mastery Feats and take the Cleave out of the Air feat tree since it can let you sword slap projectiles and later rays out of the sky against you or your ally.

Irrisen. I think I saw that nation while looking for the homeland of another character. That's the place where Baba Yaga's daughters rule, yes? That certainly has potential. My favored terrain would be Cold, which wouldn't be terribly useful normally, but could come in handy in really harsh terrain and winters.


Yeah the Witchguard archetype was pretty much created with the Witches of Irrisen in mind.

Now you just need to find a witch!

Silver Crusade Contributor

If you're interested in sticking to Golarion lore, the so-called "woodland skirmisher" is actually location-specific as well.

It's not that far from Irrisen, but you might still have to do some backstory contortions.


Dresdran wrote:
Also, anyone have any good tips as to what feats would be good for a Bodyguard build Ranger (I get Bodyguard and In Harm's Way as free bonus feats, and I assume I should gnab Combat Reflexes, but otherwise do not know what I should focus on)? Any little bit of advice would be greatly appreciated.

To enhance bodyguard:

- Helpful Halfling race trait or, if you need the race trait for something else the helpful combat trait.
- benevolent armor

But as to feats there is not a lot you can do. Do your houserules allow SLAs for spellcasting prerequisites? If so arcane strike + gloves of arcane striking help.


Just a Guess wrote:
Dresdran wrote:
Also, anyone have any good tips as to what feats would be good for a Bodyguard build Ranger (I get Bodyguard and In Harm's Way as free bonus feats, and I assume I should gnab Combat Reflexes, but otherwise do not know what I should focus on)? Any little bit of advice would be greatly appreciated.

To enhance bodyguard:

- Helpful Halfling race trait or, if you need the race trait for something else the helpful combat trait.
- benevolent armor

But as to feats there is not a lot you can do. Do your houserules allow SLAs for spellcasting prerequisites? If so arcane strike + gloves of arcane striking help.

Not sure, but I could certainly ask the next time he's on (might be a while, he's kind of busy during the day).


Kalindlara wrote:

If you're interested in sticking to Golarion lore, the so-called "woodland skirmisher" is actually location-specific as well.

It's not that far from Irrisen, but you might still have to do some backstory contortions.

Okay then, that really might require some hoops (didn't realize the other was location specific as well). Might be more difficult, but I'm sure I can do something. At the very least I can say that his trainer also sought to emulate some of the Nirmathi Irregular's abilities (with Forest replaced with Cold).


Oh ya, as a part of being a Witchguard I have to chose a Patron and as a result gain access to the first four spells of said patron. Anyone got any favorites? I'm looking at Strength, Spirit, and Wisdom right now, but would love to hear some suggestions.


You don't need to so limit yourself. Perhaps one of your parents was a witchguard, but for a traveling wizard or sorcerer (or witch if necessary). One day while you were traveling you were ambushed by a vicious enemy killing both your father or mother and the caster they were companioning.

There are certainly a number of ways you can go with that backstory and you can tie yourself to anywhere in Golarion.


Create Mr. Pitt wrote:

You don't need to so limit yourself. Perhaps one of your parents was a witchguard, but for a traveling wizard or sorcerer (or witch if necessary). One day while you were traveling you were ambushed by a vicious enemy killing both your father or mother and the caster they were companioning.

There are certainly a number of ways you can go with that backstory and you can tie yourself to anywhere in Golarion.

I did have a general backstory for Urhace, but due to not knowing where witches tended to live I never had an idea as to where he was exactly from. You see I originally envisioned him as being orphaned after his mother and father (who were traveling merchants) were killed while trying to cut through a bog/ swamp and make it somewhere in time to sell their product at a premium. The only reason he survived was that as a Halfling baby he was very small and very quiet and was ignored by his parents' slayers. Shortly after, while the creatures were feeding on his folks, a small group of witches and villagers from a nearby village in the swamp (that grew around a coven of primarily neutral/ neutral good witches) found him and took him in as one of their own. Basically the rest of the story is him becoming a handyman, guide, protector, and constable to the small town. How he got to where he is, as in where the campaign starts, would depend greatly on the campaign.


Patron wise I'm very fond of the Devotion patron. Not only is it thematic, it gives access to Divine Favor, Magic Vestments and Greater Magic Weapon, three spells critical for martials to get things done that Rangers have to rely on others for. Martyr's Bargain can be useful as a delaying tactic on your own death too.


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Any of the options that include Divine Favor should be alright...

Silver Crusade Contributor

I've done Strength, but Devotion looks like a very solid choice.

Alex has the right of it. ^_^


If you can't afford fate's favored you could consider other options as well though. There's a number that grant invisibility (but not before level 7) which is a spell that seems very appropriate to Rangers.

Depending on how long you play your character those 3rd and 4th level spells might never be relevant.


As it stands if we were to have two traits mine would Helpful (really helps with the while Bodyguard aspect, as I can give someone whose next to me a +4 to aid another instead of a +2) and Magical Knack (which I think will really help with my spells). As for patrons I must say Devotion certainly looks appealing, but so do Ancestors and Wisdom.

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