I've been eyeing the Scarred Witch Doctor archetype in the ARG, and it does remedy the whole 'Orcs make horrible spellcasters' issue, but I'm just wondering if it's actually any good. From what I see, they give up one of the witch's best class features, the familiar, for a rather underwhelming mask thingy. Sure you could have really high strength and constitution, plus something like a strength patron, and make a pseudo-melee fighter, but for some reason it just strikes me as ineffectual.
Tell me, is there a way to make a cool scarred witch doctor that is actually effective?
While not cool, you could make a scarred witch doctor with 5 in all mental stats. :P
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I made a Scarred Witch Doctor / Martial Artist with Hex Strike, the Retribution Hex, Crane Style, and Reverse Feint who was pretty fun. At lower levels I locked things down with Slumber and similar hexes while buffing and healing, and then at higher levels I was right in it with the other frontliners daring enemies to hit me and see what happened.
That is disgusting.
Try to make it w/ Half-Orc for +2 Con and no light sensitivity. They *are* orcs.
You are correct, melee bruiser makes no sense 2/ d6 HD and poor BAB and proficiencies, huge con or not.
I'd play it as a normal witch, except with buffed up hp and fort. Spells and hexes are still the same and still reward staying back a short distance and dominating from there. I suppose a Flyby Attacking melee touch spell/hex build (I'd still grab Lunge when it's available at...level 13, though) could be doable with the much higher health.
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I've been trying to come up with some valid reason to ever take this archetype but as far as I can tell it's just bad. The extra HP's and fort save is nice but the bonus to natural armor while cute doesn't seem worth it.
You're exchanging these minor bonuses for the loss of your familiar (a HUGE loss in my opinion) and a massive penalty to your skills (your int is going to be horrible).
You're going to wind up playing an idiot who knows nothing and is still going to be dropped in melee faster then the melee players you're trying to emulate. There's a big difference between a D6 HD and no regular armor bonus and a D10 and full plate, you WILL get hit twice as often (at least) and since you lack a good reflex save those AE/Touch spells are going to burn right through that HP bubble you hve in no time.
PLUS any of the (common) Con damaging effects (poisons, spells, etc.) are going to damage not only your survivability they are also going to diminish your spellcasting AND your Hex DC's.
I do not see the appeal of this archetype.
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Be a human with the Racial Heritage (Orc) feat. Now you qualify for the class and you can assign your bonus. Next take a lvl dip into Barbarian (maybe 2) and take the Raging Vitality feat. Since mosts Hexes are either Ex or Su you can use them all while raging. So you rage (+6 to Con now) and poof! you get a +3 to the save DCs of all of your Hexes. And if you take the Prehensile Hex you will be getting nice damage off that while you are raging (1.5*Con Mod). If you can work it out get Feral Combat Training and Hex Strike for your Prehensile Hair and you should be a beast.
Edit I would actually start out as a Barbarian to get the 12 HP over 6.
There is something to be said about piling up constitution up as high as humanly possible. And I did some theory-crafting: Scarred Witch can be a SCARY SCARY thought. Especially considering she's a full-caster (casting defensively doesn't really even matter much...)
She can become the ultimate Tank Caster. There could even be shallow tears from the barbarian at her insanity (See Transformation spell.)
If you want to see how I did it, feel free to message me. From my understanding, it is truly insane and makes my regular witch cry.
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There is something to be said about piling up constitution up as high as humanly possible. And I did some theory-crafting: Scarred Witch can be a SCARY SCARY thought. Especially considering she's a full-caster (casting defensively doesn't really even matter much...)
She can become the ultimate Tank Caster. There could even be shallow tears from the barbarian at her insanity (See Transformation spell.)
If you want to see how I did it, feel free to message me. From my understanding, it is truly insane and makes my regular witch cry.
I came across this thread, and thought the exact same thing about the Tank Caster possibilities.
Using combinations like Eruptive Postules, Inflict spells, and Twilight Knife. All the meanwhile, being able to take the hits that would make these spells more effective.
I think it's brilliant!
Be a human with the Racial Heritage (Orc) feat. Now you qualify for the class and you can assign your bonus. Next take a lvl dip into Barbarian (maybe 2) and take the Raging Vitality feat. Since mosts Hexes are either Ex or Su you can use them all while raging. So you rage (+6 to Con now) and poof! you get a +3 to the save DCs of all of your Hexes. And if you take the Prehensile Hex you will be getting nice damage off that while you are raging (1.5*Con Mod). If you can work it out get Feral Combat Training and Hex Strike for your Prehensile Hair and you should be a beast.
Edit I would actually start out as a Barbarian to get the 12 HP over 6.
I don't know about using hexes while raging. Just because they're EX or SU doesn't mean they don't require concentration. Prehensile hair works for sure, but something like Icy Tomb for instance would be up to the DM as to whether it is doable while raging.
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I don't know about using hexes while raging. Just because they're EX or SU doesn't mean they don't require concentration. Prehensile hair works for sure, but something like Icy Tomb for instance would be up to the DM as to whether it is doable while raging.Be a human with the Racial Heritage (Orc) feat. Now you qualify for the class and you can assign your bonus. Next take a lvl dip into Barbarian (maybe 2) and take the Raging Vitality feat. Since mosts Hexes are either Ex or Su you can use them all while raging. So you rage (+6 to Con now) and poof! you get a +3 to the save DCs of all of your Hexes. And if you take the Prehensile Hex you will be getting nice damage off that while you are raging (1.5*Con Mod). If you can work it out get Feral Combat Training and Hex Strike for your Prehensile Hair and you should be a beast.
Edit I would actually start out as a Barbarian to get the 12 HP over 6.
There is nothing that says they require concentration in there description, In addition a good deal of Barbarian Rage Powers are Su and Ex abilities. So how do you determine what Su and Ex abilities are usable and which are not? You can use any Hex that is a Su or an Ex because neither of those abilities require concentration.
I'm not sure why people are crying over losing the familiar.
Are you seriously sending your spellbook out to drop alchemist's fire?
No, they're using it to cast grease, fog cloud, stone call, etc.. from wands while perched safely on the witch's shoulder.
Action economy is important. Getting to expand your currency rocks.
There is nothing that says they require concentration in there description, In addition a good deal of Barbarian Rage Powers are Su and Ex abilities. So how do you determine what Su and Ex abilities are usable and which are not? You can use any Hex that is a Su or an Ex because neither of those abilities require concentration.I don't know about using hexes while raging. Just because they're EX or SU doesn't mean they don't require concentration. Prehensile hair works for sure, but something like Icy Tomb for instance would be up to the DM as to whether it is doable while raging.Be a human with the Racial Heritage (Orc) feat. Now you qualify for the class and you can assign your bonus. Next take a lvl dip into Barbarian (maybe 2) and take the Raging Vitality feat. Since mosts Hexes are either Ex or Su you can use them all while raging. So you rage (+6 to Con now) and poof! you get a +3 to the save DCs of all of your Hexes. And if you take the Prehensile Hex you will be getting nice damage off that while you are raging (1.5*Con Mod). If you can work it out get Feral Combat Training and Hex Strike for your Prehensile Hair and you should be a beast.
Edit I would actually start out as a Barbarian to get the 12 HP over 6.
I'm not saying you can't use them, I'm just saying it's not explicit. The description of what you can and can't do under the effects of a rage is vague. I've definitely known some DM's that would rule against.
When you're getting half priced magic item abilities built into your mask without taking a feat, it's nice. I've got a double pearl of power built into mine.
Rage says what it prevents. It's not even as powerful as fighter's weapon training + focus/specialization for damage, I have no idea why people try so hard to nerf it.
And Rage Powers themselves are all Su or Ex, as noted, so trying to claim a raging barb can't use such abilities is extremely funny and sad.
You've all raised some very good points, I shall ponder this further.....
TO THE PONDERTORIUM!!!!!!
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Its also a nice class because if you have a the Prehensile Hair Hex a high Con and a decent Dex you are good. Con will now serve as your primary casting stat, you will have good HP (close to a fighter), your melee touch attacks can me made with your Prehensile Hair (using Con for Str) at range, and you have a decent melee weapon with decent damage output. Dex will give you a poor (but livable) AC (get a Mithiral Buckler to boost this) and give you a decent to hit with ranged touch attacks.