Building the best witchguard

[williamoak]

So, I've been thinking about the ranger archetype "witchguard".

I love the theme of bodyguard to spellcasters, and I think it might make a great cohort for non-melee bards & sorcerers. So I've been thinking, and I feel like making one. Looking for ideas, though the class will NOT change. THe goal is also to be a protector for spellcasters.

Race: Human (or other)
Class: ranger (witchguard, infiltrator)
Stats: 20 pts
Str: 17 Dex: 14 Con: 14 Int: 10 Wis: 14 Cha: 8

Traits: armor expert, ? (maybe fate's favored? Magical knack)

Levels:
1 Power Attack, Improved Shield Bash; Combat style: I'm thinking 2-handed, but sword & shield might be thematic; I'll go shield for now
2 TWF
3 Combat Reflexes, Bodyguard
4 Patron: I'm thinking devotion or strength, but I'm looking for ideas.
5 Saving Shield
6 Shield Master
7 Iron Will
8
9 Improved Critical (scimitar)
10 Bashing finish

Any other ideas? Might a 2-handed be more interesting? I await your input.

[William Jonas]

I'm building a Witchguard (or possibly more than one over the course of the campaign) as a DM for the express purpose of defending a Witch. So, my needs are a bit different than yours, but I'll still share what I have so far, in the hope that it helps you with your quest. The following is 15 point buy.

Kevra the Witchguard:

Human ranger 6
LE Medium humanoid
Init +7; Senses Perception +12
DEFENSE
AC 25, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+6 armor, +3 Shield, +2 Dex, +2 Natural, +2 Deflection)
hp 58 (6d10+24)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee +1 battleaxe +13/+8 (2d6+9/x3) and +1 shield +13 (d6+7 plus Bull Rush)
Special Attacks favored enemy (Humans +4, Giants +2)
Ranger Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +4)
1st—Anticipate Peril, Lead Blades
STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 24
Feats Bodyguard, Two Weapon Fighting, Shield Slam, Shield Focus, Missile Shield, Improved Shield Bash, Toughness
Skills Climb +9, Heal +8, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (nobility) +5, Linguistics +1, Perception +12, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +9, Survival +13, Swim +6
Languages Common, Skald, -redacted-
SQ Defend Charge (+4, 1 round), favored terrain (forest +2), track +3, wild empathy +5
Gear masterwork breastplate, +1 Arrow Catching Light spiked shield, +1 battleaxe

This character is built to defend her witch from an extremely effective archer in my party - hence, Missile Shield and arrow-catching. This is a boss fight, so the buffs are precalculated and include Lead Blades, Anticipate Peril, Magic Weapon, favored enemy human, favored terrain forest, Shield of Faith, and Barkskin. It is my hope that Shield Slam will be great fun in keeping melee off the witch as well. The skills are approximated, but I doubt they'll come up anyway.

[William Jonas]

I might swap favored terrain (basically, +2 initiative) for Iron Will via the Infiltrator archetype. Not sure how likely a will save is, but it could use some improving anyway.

[master_marshmallow]

Switch Hitter?

It is a really cool archetype, but as far as patrons go, the one that grants Divine Favor (Strength?) is probably your best bet if you take Fate's Favored.

Though it's redundant, I really like Agility patron because you know, Haste.

I have never liked sword and board because -4's unless you use a light weapon. My personal preference is to use a longsword two-handed until I feel the need for AC and then I draw my shield.

I recently started messing with this archetype as well and I'm curious to see what people think.