I'm part of a 3.5 DnD game that has recently switched to Pathfinder (mostly due to new updated rules/material...and that Pathfinder is going to keep getting new stuff whilst 3.5 is kinda stuck in the dust), and recently after converting a half-elf wizard (enchanter with necromancy/transmutation as prohibited schools) I took some interest into this new feature of the half elf to have 2 favored classes, so after some searching and consideration...I decided that Witch seemed like a decent (not very damagey, but seems a good choice for a controller-style caster) pick for that which would actually take levels in. Only concern I have at the moment is would my wizard prohibited schools affect which spells I can learn/prepare as a witch?
Inquisitor N wrote: I'm part of a 3.5 DnD game that has recently switched to Pathfinder (mostly due to new updated rules/material...and that Pathfinder is going to keep getting new stuff whilst 3.5 is kinda stuck in the dust), and recently after converting a half-elf wizard (enchanter with necromancy/transmutation as prohibited schools) I took some interest into this new feature of the half elf to have 2 favored classes, so after some searching and consideration...I decided that Witch seemed like a decent (not very damagey, but seems a good choice for a controller-style caster) pick for that which would actually take levels in. Only concern I have at the moment is would my wizard prohibited schools affect which spells I can learn/prepare as a witch? No they wont. They only affect the spells that come directly from the wizard class.
wraithstrike wrote: Inquisitor N wrote: I'm part of a 3.5 DnD game that has recently switched to Pathfinder (mostly due to new updated rules/material...and that Pathfinder is going to keep getting new stuff whilst 3.5 is kinda stuck in the dust), and recently after converting a half-elf wizard (enchanter with necromancy/transmutation as prohibited schools) I took some interest into this new feature of the half elf to have 2 favored classes, so after some searching and consideration...I decided that Witch seemed like a decent (not very damagey, but seems a good choice for a controller-style caster) pick for that which would actually take levels in. Only concern I have at the moment is would my wizard prohibited schools affect which spells I can learn/prepare as a witch? No they wont. They only affect the spells that come directly from the wizard class. Thank you very much wraith. It was a question that was bugging the crap outta me mostly due to the new way that prohibited spells worked. This mostly concerned me because I prohibited both of those very begrudgingly back in 3.5 (but rolled with it), and now was planning on having some of those witch spells cover for the spells I couldn't learn (or have a harder time learning) as an enchanter.
In Pathfinder, wizards are allowed to memorize spells from their opposition schools, they just take up two spell slots instead of one. That's really not that bad. If you really need to fly that day, you can spend two spell slots preparing your flight spell. I can't remember if there's a restriction on crafting scrolls of spells from your opposition school, but that would be one way to get around having to spend the extra spell slots if you only use those spells occasionally.
I'm not sure that a witch/wizard multiclass is going to be very effective. A 10th level wizard gets to cast 5th level spells. 5 levels of Witch and 5 levels of Wizard lets you cast 3rd level spells.
You do pick up some hexes from the Witch class, but since the DC for the hexes is based on your witch level, offensive hexes probably won't work very well.
Also, the only spells I can think of that are really top-notch from either Transmutation or Necromancy are Haste, Slow, and Fly. Witches do not get Haste or Slow, and there are tons of items that grant flight abilities.
Generally, the only reason to multiclass casters is if you're going to go Mystic Theurge, because that's the only way to gain caster levels in two different caster classes at the same time. And Mystic theurges are very weak until they start actually gaining Mystic Theurge levels.
Go for it if you want to have the cool flavor and don't mind having a less effective character; otherwise, I would stick to either wizard or witch pretty exclusively.
tadrinth wrote: In Pathfinder, wizards are allowed to memorize spells from their opposition schools, they just take up two spell slots instead of one. That's really not that bad. If you really need to fly that day, you can spend two spell slots preparing your flight spell. I can't remember if there's a restriction on crafting scrolls of spells from your opposition school, but that would be one way to get around having to spend the extra spell slots if you only use those spells occasionally.
This also means you can get wands, scrolls, and staves with these spells and use them just fine, unlike 3.5. Dropping your caster level, as Tandrinth rightly pointed out, might not be your best route to shoring up these areas.
That being said, witch is a lot of fun, but again, it's much more effective when not multiclassed - it's more class level dependent than wizard for its abilities (as Tandrinth also pointed out).
tadrinth wrote: In Pathfinder, wizards are allowed to memorize spells from their opposition schools, they just take up two spell slots instead of one. That's really not that bad. If you really need to fly that day, you can spend two spell slots preparing your flight spell. I can't remember if there's a restriction on crafting scrolls of spells from your opposition school, but that would be one way to get around having to spend the extra spell slots if you only use those spells occasionally.
I'm not sure that a witch/wizard multiclass is going to be very effective. A 10th level wizard gets to cast 5th level spells. 5 levels of Witch and 5 levels of Wizard lets you cast 3rd level spells.
You do pick up some hexes from the Witch class, but since the DC for the hexes is based on your witch level, offensive hexes probably won't work very well.
Also, the only spells I can think of that are really top-notch from either Transmutation or Necromancy are Haste, Slow, and Fly. Witches do not get Haste or Slow, and there are tons of items that grant flight abilities.
Generally, the only reason to multiclass casters is if you're going to go Mystic Theurge, because that's the only way to gain caster levels in two different caster classes at the same time. And Mystic theurges are very weak until they start actually gaining Mystic Theurge levels.
Go for it if you want to have the cool flavor and don't mind having a less effective character; otherwise, I would stick to either wizard or witch pretty exclusively.
+1
tadrinth wrote: In Pathfinder, wizards are allowed to memorize spells from their opposition schools, they just take up two spell slots instead of one. That's really not that bad. If you really need to fly that day, you can spend two spell slots preparing your flight spell. I can't remember if there's a restriction on crafting scrolls of spells from your opposition school, but that would be one way to get around having to spend the extra spell slots if you only use those spells occasionally.
I'm not sure that a witch/wizard multiclass is going to be very effective. A 10th level wizard gets to cast 5th level spells. 5 levels of Witch and 5 levels of Wizard lets you cast 3rd level spells.
You do pick up some hexes from the Witch class, but since the DC for the hexes is based on your witch level, offensive hexes probably won't work very well.
Also, the only spells I can think of that are really top-notch from either Transmutation or Necromancy are Haste, Slow, and Fly. Witches do not get Haste or Slow, and there are tons of items that grant flight abilities.
Generally, the only reason to multiclass casters is if you're going to go Mystic Theurge, because that's the only way to gain caster levels in two different caster classes at the same time. And Mystic theurges are very weak until they start actually gaining Mystic Theurge levels.
Go for it if you want to have the cool flavor and don't mind having a less effective character; otherwise, I would stick to either wizard or witch pretty exclusively.
The intention was mostly for fluff, previously in 3.5 I was planning on going Wild Soul (see Complete Mage). This setup was not only character fluff, but also had decent spell options (such as the drop a slot to spontaneous cast things like hideous laughter, invisibility sphere, break enchantment, and eventually time stop). When we switched over (and I hadnt made it to the point of prestige quite yet, still a couple of levels to go, doesnt help the DM is getting burnt out), I was mulling over the possibility of just taking advantage of the half-elfs new multi-classing options, and the witch looked attractive for what I wanted to do, plus still gave some decent fluffyness. I was attracted more to the hexes, such as the one that lowers saves, pair that with focused spell, and heightned spell later on, I dont think that there would be many will saves I couldn't break. Plus the extra diffrent caster levels do also give me more lower level spells than a straight single class caster would have had (once both lvl 1 slots are maxed on spells im looking at what 12-13 or so per day almost?). But I do see the point of the less effective due to level of spells avaliable. Plus my plan was hit 5th, then take first 1-2 levels in witch, then start advancing in wizard again with witch levels staggered in there to get access to spell i wouldnt have had before.
Recent threads in Rules Questions
|
Developer
