Remember, the Changeling existed before the ARG. So the question is not "Why does it have a Wisdom Bonus, when its favored class options don't favor that stat?" but rather "Why does it have these favored class options, when it has a Wisdom bonus?" Either way, the answer is likely "The developers felt those were options that fit the flavor of the race." I don't really know how "+1/6th of a Rogue Talent" felt particularly Changeling-y, but it doesn't terribly matter in the end.
I would, however, question why they don't get Intelligence instead of Wisdom as a boosted ability. They are described as having a "sharp wit," which seems more Intelligence than Wisdom to me. Further, the Intelligence scores of the published hags are higher (Green, Night, Mute), equal (Annis) or only one point lower (Sea). Besides, INT would sync up better with Witch, which feels like the most obviously thematically linked class.
Whatever force was that gave them their stat bonuses, it was not a gamer.
You'll do fine as any of those classes with a changeling.
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My problem is that the witch (again, wise old woman in the woods) should be wisdom based rather than intelligence based. But alas, such is not the case.
Except that a witch is a spellcaster who gains her powers through a pact with a Patron that by default she doesn't even know the identity of (just the theme). That is the very *essence* of foolishness.
The patron could also be that tree you passed 2 years ago on your way to the county faire.
My problem is that the witch (again, wise old woman in the woods) should be wisdom based rather than intelligence based. But alas, such is not the case.Except that a witch is a spellcaster who gains her powers through a pact with a Patron that by default she doesn't even know the identity of (just the theme). That is the very *essence* of foolishness.
Not true or all witches, he gravewalker uses magic to control evil spirits to . . . well maybe you have a point about the entire wisdom thing.
My problem is that the witch (again, wise old woman in the woods) should be wisdom based rather than intelligence based. But alas, such is not the case.Except that a witch is a spellcaster who gains her powers through a pact with a Patron that by default she doesn't even know the identity of (just the theme). That is the very *essence* of foolishness.
Personally I'd rather see a witch as a charisma based caster despite not being a spontaneous caster, in which case changelings would fit perfectly, wisdom isn't necesarily a bad fit but I guess mixing up arcane and divine magic is considered a bad thing.
Personally, from a 'flavor' aspect, I consider Witch to be the very Last class a Changeling should be taking.
Changelings are Hags that didn't become Hags. The Witch class has a number of key features that allow/cause the class to become more Hag-like.
A Changeling stays a Changeling by refusing (consciously or unconsciously) her Hag heritage, so why the heck would such an individual then proceed to effectively 'embrace' said heritage?
A cleric ties himself to an entity and is a wisdom based caster, does knowing the supposed name of the entity matter that much?
A Cleric is a Wisdom based caster who ties him/herself to an entity whose character is known, that means they know what the entity is like, they have seen, heard, read, been shown evidence of what the entities agenda is. That is the difference between a Cleric's Diety & a Witches Patron. The Cleric knows beforehand.
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A cleric ties himself to an entity and is a wisdom based caster, does knowing the supposed name of the entity matter that much?My problem is that the witch (again, wise old woman in the woods) should be wisdom based rather than intelligence based. But alas, such is not the case.Except that a witch is a spellcaster who gains her powers through a pact with a Patron that by default she doesn't even know the identity of (just the theme). That is the very *essence* of foolishness.
That depends. Does the alignment of your patron matter that much?
As an example, my current Witch has a Trickery patron. I have some reasons to believe I'm working for Calistria. But it could be Lamashtu. Or Asmodeus. Or Nyarlathotep. Putting yourself in a position where you might be relying on a being like that for all your power wouldn't ever really be 'wise'.
Personally, from a 'flavor' aspect, I consider Witch to be the very Last class a Changeling should be taking.
Changelings are Hags that didn't become Hags. The Witch class has a number of key features that allow/cause the class to become more Hag-like.
A Changeling stays a Changeling by refusing (consciously or unconsciously) her Hag heritage, so why the heck would such an individual then proceed to effectively 'embrace' said heritage?
A cleric ties himself to an entity and is a wisdom based caster, does knowing the supposed name of the entity matter that much?A Cleric is a Wisdom based caster who ties him/herself to an entity whose character is known, that means they know what the entity is like, they have seen, heard, read, been shown evidence of what the entities agenda is. That is the difference between a Cleric's Diety & a Witches Patron. The Cleric knows beforehand.
Actually, in "her" introduction in "the Haunting of Harrowstone"'s bestiary, it is mentioned that they can become Hags if they follow their mothers' voices. and even back then the example used the Witch class.
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And what keeps a cleric's deity, especially a deity of trickery, from lying about their identity?A cleric ties himself to an entity and is a wisdom based caster, does knowing the supposed name of the entity matter that much?My problem is that the witch (again, wise old woman in the woods) should be wisdom based rather than intelligence based. But alas, such is not the case.Except that a witch is a spellcaster who gains her powers through a pact with a Patron that by default she doesn't even know the identity of (just the theme). That is the very *essence* of foolishness.That depends. Does the alignment of your patron matter that much?
As an example, my current Witch has a Trickery patron. I have some reasons to believe I'm working for Calistria. But it could be Lamashtu. Or Asmodeus. Or Nyarlathotep. Putting yourself in a position where you might be relying on a being like that for all your power wouldn't ever really be 'wise'.
I like the way you think. :)
But, sticking to RAW and Fluff-as-Written, there are several parts of a Cleric's powers that depend on the Deity's alignment: the Cleric's Aura, and the type of Channel the cleric has. Also, Cleric's get *two* Domain powers from their deity, and they are supposed to get to choose them from their deity's list, and there isn't that much if any overlap between different gods' portfolios, so that would be a *very* difficult con to pull off.
And that's completely ignoring the part where clerics are generally part of a church hierarchy and cast their spells using a specific deity's holy symbol, both of which would mean that the deity would probably either be fooling a lot of people, or have a lot of other people involved in the deception.
Actually, in "her" introduction in "the Haunting of Harrowstone"'s bestiary, it is mentioned that they can become Hags if they follow their mothers' voices. and even back then the example used the Witch class.
I am aware that the example used the Witch Class, I thought it was a bad idea then for the reasons I mentioned, I still think it is a bad example for those same reasons. In response to your example, the Changeling 'chooses' whether or not she follows the voice of the the Hag that is her mother; if she 'chooses' to follow the voice, she becomes a Hag, if she 'chooses' not to (in effect refusing), she remains a Changeling. My problem with a Changeling becoming a Witch is two-fold.
One, the Witch class has so many Hexes that make them into pseudo-Hags that it seems like they are taking half a step towards Momma & then trying to stop, and I don't see a Momma Hag allowing them to just stop once they have started.Two, the Witch's 'initiation' for lack of a better description, bears a disconcertingly strong resemblance to the Changeling's metamorphosis into a Hag. Why is the Changeling answering one call when she didn't answer the other?
Finally, please note I said I consider, that means it is my opinion. Meaning in the games I GM, I don't allow Changelings to be Witches, for the reasons I have detailed. In your game, you make your rules.
Irnk, you make good points and I think you are right. Their being witches is problematic from a fluff perspective.
Now of course, having thought about it more & about my reasons given; at least the reason of the pseudo-Hag aspects of the Witch Class: I can consider the possibility of a Witch Changeling if all the Hexes in question were not available to that particular character.
But my other objections still stand.
Now of course, having thought about it more & about my reasons given; at least the reason of the pseudo-Hag aspects of the Witch Class: I can consider the possibility of a Witch Changeling if all the Hexes in question were not available to that particular character.
But my other objections still stand.
Maybe the Changeling Witch is the one who follow her mommy('s call)?
Goblins are flavored as stupid, and lacking in common sense. They have no penalties to intelligence or wisdom.
By the way, a disagreement in flavor is not a rules question.
Love your pro-goblin stance. Goblins can make great party members.
Maybe the Changeling Witch is the one who follow her mommy('s call)?
In which case, they stop being a Changeling & become a Hag. Re-read the description of Changelings. It specifically states that if the Changeling answers her mother's call, she cannot turn back, it is a one-way trip, whether the Changeling changes her mind or not, she transforms into a mature Hag. THAT has always been my prime objection to Changeling Witches.
what? unless changelings are a race of their own in the setting, or the classical relatives of doppelgangers
heck, they could even be related to Kitsune in a more eastern setting
also, someone who is a witch doesn't have to have to do anything with hags because of it, I really have a hard time to imagine the seducer-type witches be related to hags, and this class doesn't even have a bloodline feature like the sorcerer (and in fact, Sorcerer does have a hag bloodline as option)
Changelings in Golarion are a completely different species than 'for example' in Eberron. Golarion Changelings are thematically a bit closer to the original folkloric meaning in that they are generally raised by someone other than their 'birth parents', mostly because their father is usually dead or insane & their mother is a Hag. Changelings are proto-Hags that decide (consciously or un-) not to become full-fledged Hags. The original write-up was in the first of the Carrion Crown AP, I don't recall the exact issue.
hm, wasn't the original anglo-saxon/bretonic/gaelic folklore about a fey changeling, not a hag?
By some accounts of such, trolls were fey too.