A solitary caster - what to pick

[Soporific Lotus]

I am going to be playing in a Skull and Shackles campaign and am meeting this week for a character creation session. We have already thrown out some ideas via e-mail and looks like we will have a barbarian, gunslinger and either a ranger or alchemist and either a rogue or wizard in addition to myself. I want to play a class that will be the missing piece as it were and this group is lacking for casting. What would be a good class if I am the only caster?

Originally I was thinking I would play a combat focused druid but adding another melee character with an animal companion seems excessive at this point or a bard but with this party I am thinking witch would be a better fit if no one else plays a caster as they have a pretty broad spell list. I guess another option would be to play a Samsaran with mystic past life. If the player picks wizard instead of rogue then I feel I have more options and might play a caster focused druid or maybe an archer oracle of battle.

I have a back story for a character that is a good fit for either druid, witch or oracle so the roleplay aspect is not really an issue. If I went Samsaran I would have to remake my back story.

[WerePox47]

Bard is always a nice addition if you already have a full caster like a wizard..

[Turin the Mad]

Nagaji Druid (Naga Aspirant - fireballs at 5th level - yes please!) w/ Aquatic or Frog domain. Follows the nagaji patron diety. Take the Scalykind domain if the GM will let you - and stare down some sunsabiatches. ^______^

Otherwise, I would strongly recommend a vanilla Cleric - channel energy is going to be your friend. Bonus points if your Cleric learns how to channel both types.

[Claxon]

I would say classic cleric or wizard if the other player doesn't choose to be one. Cleric is the great healing divine utility bag that autolearns all the spells and your friends will appreciate staying alive and the divine buffs to help them in combat. A controller wizard is usually very helpful to a party, arguably more so than even a cleric, and is great at utility so I would go that route if the other player doesn't. Healing can always be substitted with wands, all the way up to cure critical wounds, of course this also involves quite a bit of party investment too.

The best solution IMO is to convince the one player to play a wizard and for you to play a cleric. Healing and spell utility are something that every party need.

[The Vulture]

Either a Witch with the Healing patron for the status removal spells (plus heal later), or a Witch with a different patron and UMD for those later (or just purchase them from a caster in town when you're there). Witch gives a lot of debuffing options (mmmmm, hexes), plus some good buffs, and they get even more options with their patrons. They also have the cure line of spells, so you don't need anyone with UMD for the wand(s).

Plus you can be a Con-based caster.

[Wyrd_Wik]

Cleric or bard (assuming the other player is indeed playing a wizard)