When I initially created my witch (half-orc Hedge Witch/Herb Witch) I left the exact nature their patron vague.I picked the healing patron theme as it kind of fit the theme of the character. I haven't cast a single spell from this list and a couple of the spells are rendered redundant by the herb witch archetype. Since I haven't yet used my patron spells or even referenced them, my GM is happy to let me change them.
Having read Blood of the Coven I decided to start fleshing out my patron. Now while I dislike how they narrowed the witch down to 'bartered power'(in my view it reduces RP option and seems incongruous with witches at INT based casters),I like the general idea. I'm thinking of taking the Fey Gifts patron special patron category with the Trickery patron spells as I think the illusion spells it offers could be fun.
This category grants Charm as a bonus hex and changes a few spells on the standard patron spell list. As a penalty, once per day the GM can have me reroll the d20 and take the lower number. Animate Rope, Mirror Image and Screen are replaced with Disguise Self, Hideous Laughter and Irresistible Dance; I don't mind switching Animate Rope but Mirror Image and Screen are two useful spells that are not on the witch's spell list. I'll be altering the fluff of the Fey Gifts category.
Finally, neither the GM nor myself could figure out how the Charm hex is supposed to be anything but useless. Thus we changed it to function much like the Charm Person/Animal spell with the once per 24 hours limitation common to many targeted hexes.
Would I be better to take the Fey Gifts option or should I just take the unaltered Trickery patron?
I think unaltered Trickery is better. The penalties of the Blood of the Coven patrons are generally much more severe than the benefit of a free (generally weak) hex. Nice idea, bad implementation.
Thanks for the reply.
The weak hex was an issue hence changing it to Charm Person/Animal. Part of me is considering requesting for the hex to be changed to Misfortune instead as I feel it thematically fits the penalty.
Speaking of the penalty, my GM isn't the malicious type so I feel he'll be a good judge as to when to best apply it i.e. unlikely to apply it in a save or die situaltion. The biggest issue for me is the loss of Mirror Image in favour of Hideous Laughter since I have plenty of save or suck enchantment spells and abilities but lack defence options outside of Flight, Mage Armour and Mount.