One of my players asked me some help with the class for her next character (we'll start WotR in about two weeks).
She wants to play a character that, quote, "doesn't attack the enemies directly".
So I think her only option is playing a caster based around battlefield control and support spells. What class (and archetypes) should she choose?
To narrow down the options, the class should be simple to build.
I think she would have an hard time running a wizard/sorcerer, because there're too many spells and too many ways to build the character (i don't want to have to advise her from level 1 to 20). A bard is out of the question.
The other party members are a paladin, a warpriest, a magus (all three melee) and a ranger specialized in ranged combat.
Thanks in Advance.
In my personal opinion, if she doesn't want to attack the enemy directly, then she still wants to effect them... and with you not wanting sorc / wiz (/and I assume arcanist) I would then look to a buffer / debuffer route ala witch. Cackles, evil eyes, etc.. gives them plenty to do while not outright attacking the enemy. But they are effecting them directly.
Still, I feel arcanist would be the most effective while hitting what I get the feeling they want. Battle field control seems to be what they're going for, and the arcane side gets that in spades. Arcanist would give them potent magic, but overall more to think about. I don't play divine casters, so I can't say how oracle / cleric might work for battlefield control. Druid could work, but are complicated in their own ways.
Sorceress with summons and buff spells. Not the most optimal, but she doesn't need to be. Buffing this kind of party would be easy and welcome. Being able to drop a summons lets her get in on the action while allowing her to maintain the mystique of her character.
You can even let her pick the bloodline blind since I don't know of any that boost their summons worth a damn.
I like the Witch for non-aggro spellcasting. She's very support/debuffing oriented and still manages to have plenty of utility. On top of that, she also has a small selection of damaging spells just in case your player decides "Eeeeeh, killing's more fun".
I'd say Sorcerer, they don't have that many spells really, just a lot of spell slots. I mean, she only has 2 spells at level 1... tell her to focus on one school and you reduce the spells she needs to learn by a lot.
For example, focus fully on Illusions, tell her to get Color Spray and something else, Spell Focus (Illusion), and then as she levels it will be easy for her to keep picking up Illusion spells (+ the usual buffs Sorcerers need like False Life and such).
Another way to go about this is focusing on Necromancy for fear effects and then also use Demoralize a lot.
To add upon what Secret Wizard is saying, they might consider the Boreal or Verdant (both APG) bloodlines. Both have great potential to for "battlefield control" type efforts.
More on the Boreal Sorcerer:
They have a great low level buff (cold steel)
Many cold spells double as battlefield control. Freezing sphere, frost fall, sleet storm, snowball, ice storm and wall of ice are all very good terrain or monster control (some of these are direct attacks, though).
Ice storm or flurry of snowballs plus the rime spell metamagic feat is downright amazing as a debuff.
Reach spell plus frostbite or frigid touch is another good combo.
Taking the magical lineage trait and picking one of these spells for such a combo is a good approach.
Feats: rime spell, spell penetration, greater spell penetration, elemental focus (cold), spell focus (evocation), persistent spell
I guess it depends on if she considers Black Tentacles attacking the enemy directly.
If she wants to buff and only buff, then the Evangelist Cleric is probably her best bet. If she's willing to set the stage as well then the above posters have plenty of sound advice to give.
Alot of good recommendations here, but a class nobody mentioned that might work well for her is the good ole' Druid. they get access to good battlefield control spells and buff spells before wizards/sorcerers do, and also have the benefit of the Divine caster template and the ability to use Summon nature's ally spontaneously. all around a good high-wisdom Druid build can fill multiple niche's in a party with no dedicated spell caster, and its a relatively easy role to settle into.
EDIT: druids also gain another leg up on other dedicated spellcasters in the ability to Wild Shape and use Natural spell. a good control druid can shapeshift into a diminutive bat and deliver control/buff spells from stealth, or else (at higher level) an elder wind elemental and make use of Tempest, perfect flight, and some good well-statted attacks, while still being a caster. even further she would be able to avoid having to prep Fly, Swim, Burrow, or any other movement spells.
I guess it depends on if she considers Black Tentacles attacking the enemy directly.
Only if there's consent.