Aaaand good afternoon, Paizo boards. Work continues on revamping & refitting Hybrids and Halfbreeds - freshly renamed to Bloodforge - and while open testing isn't going to be a thing, I'm looking for community input on one of my more insane ideas. We're rolling out favored class bonuses for the various new races, and this one came up for one of the more fey-themed ones:
Witch: Add 1 spell known from the druid spell list. This spell must be at least one level lower than the highest-level spells the witch can learn. If the spell appears on both the druid and witch spell lists, use the lower-level version.
Looking for thoughts on balance, thematic appropriateness (remembering that the race in question leans druidic in theme) and whether or not this kind of cross-class casting can even belong in a FCB.
Notable limitations include:
- Unlike a Druid, you don't know the whole Druid list
- Witches don't wild shape or have a very combat-ready companion
I appreciate your time and feedback!
3:03:31 PM <Branches> I don't have an account at Paizo
3:03:46 PM <Branches> Sorry3:02:02 PM <Branches> Generally this kind of stuff goes in a racial archetype. Albeit it can be a "free" archetype like Qinggong Monk.
3:02:41 PM <Branches> Or a hex that teaches you druid spells maybe?
3:03:24 PM <Branches> I think I've seen precedent somewhere on the SRD though3:08:31 PM <Branches> There's pretty specific bonuses, like aasimar summoners giving their eidolons DR/evil I guess
3:09:36 PM <Branches> Kobold fighters get a pseudo-sneak-attack with fewer restrictions
3:12:29 PM <Branches> I've written oracle FCBs that grant revelations from a specific mystery regardless of your chosen one, and I know other people who've done the same
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Interesting. At first glance, I think it's okay for the witch and druid to "touch" more than they do now. Thematically that's good.
Well, a witch might get Flame Strike as a level 5 spell. That's quite something, but not entirely absurd I think, given that clerics also get it at that level.
All in all the druid list isn't all that extreme. You're probably safe balance-wise, given the +1 level adjustment to the spell. Flavorwise I think it's good.
I think it would work. But I love one class finding a way to get another class' spells, so I'd like it if it were unbalanced.
The Advanced Class Guide has several racial favored class bonuses that enable the shaman class to poach cleric spells, so there is definitely a Paizo precedent for what you are thinking of doing.