I'm rolling up a Hedge Witch who will be focusing as much as possible on healing and buffs. I like to pick out prestige classes early, so I can aim for them as I level, but I don't necessarily see a great one for this character in PoP (or the list of others in the front of it). Can anybody make any recommendations?
Needing a Prestige Class was a thing of 3.5, not Pathfinder.
Sticking with one class usually wins out.
It's a shame, really.
Paths of Prestige looked promising, and I always loved the fluff behind all the 3.5e Prestige Classes.
I don't need to, it's just fun. Seems weird that we don't have any general-healer PrCs.
I'm not saying that you should be forced to pick a Prestige Class. What I'm saying is that I would like Prestige Classes that would be as good as Base Classes, so they'd at least be worth taking. Where 3.5e made it more-or-less mandatory to pick a Prestige Class, Pathfinder did a 180 and went the completely opposite direction. Then again, I wouldn't need to worry of either problem if more people around me would pick up Tome D&D. And no, I do not speak of the Tome of Battle.
As for specific healing PrCs, I can only see the Holy Vindicator (and perhaps the Divine Scion) having such potential.
Pathfinder PrC are supposed to accustom specialized builds.
You know, for the Prestige individual.
Not having every PC past 6th in a Prestige Class is one of the many things I like about Pathfinder.
Perhaps playing the party healer would be a more enjoyable role if there were a prestige class available to glamorize it. Or make it in any way fun.