Pretty much what it says on the tin. thoughts?
Well I like it. Couple of things though. You didn't type the "This ability replaces ___" on all the new powers. Also, in terms of flavor text, how does the Magus learn Patron spells without a familiar? It's nitpicky, I know, but I was working on sorting through flavor text earlier about exactly this (well with other classes, like Druids).
Other than those minor, minor details, I love it! And I'm totes stealing it.
Pretty sure the 'replaces x' text is where it needs to be, but ill double check. Good point with the familiar.
Much credit to this guy- http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pqaz?Rewrite-of-the-WhiteHaired-Witch-Archetyp e
Made a few more changes if you'd like to check it out; I consider it finished.
It's definitely on the high end of power; but I feel that I've mitigated it so that it isn't hideously SAD, so AOO martials have a role, so there are multiple ways to build this archetype.
After playtesting, I might end up changing up how it handles combat maneuvers, but for the moment it seems good.
Pretty sure the 'replaces x' text is where it needs to be, but ill double check. Good point with the familiar.
*BEEP BOOP*
LINKIFIED FOR MEAT-BAG CONVENIENCE.
1. You trade features from higher levels for features in lower levels.
2. Some flavour, but this is all based in munchkin logic based on getting Int to everything.
3. Hexcrafter exists.
@Link- Thanks, I was on my tablet so typing like that is a b$+++.
@Secret- 1 is not without precedence in other paizo archetypes.
2 is not without precedence; consult the original White-Haired Witch archetype. I feel it is not too SAD as dexterity/strength is still required to actually land your attacks and AOOs; int is for damage and grapple rolls. Plus, frontliner, so Con and Wis needed too.
3 Hexcrafter is not White-haired witch. Or white-haired magus.
Well it's pretty nifty watching you type.
I agree with Secret Wizard. The logic behind the design decisions baffles me. You take away two abilities you get at 4th and a high level in exchange for a huge talent pool you can get immediately at 1st level that grants you a ton of at-will abilities. Many of them don't look well designed at all. For example, pompadour can give you an at-will charm person and later an at-will dominate person if you progress through the talent tree. The basic talent gives you charm person at 6th level, but the advanced talent also gives you charm person, which strikes me as a major typo. The archetype has so many issues that I'd never allow this at my table.
With Pomp, thank you kindly, I did a revision recently to take it down a step as previously it started with charm person and ended with dominate monster; decided it was too powerful and shifted it to start with fascinate and end with dominate person. I didn't complete the revision, thanks for spotting the mistake.
And I'll repeat, it is far from rare for Paizo archetypes to offer abilities at levels different to the abilities they replace.
The witch gets hexes, 'a ton of at-will abilities'; and my archetype offers them at a slower progression.
If you have specific quibbles with other hair styles, please let me know, I'd love your input.
The witch's abilities are not totally at-will. They can only affect a person once per day. They're good because the witch has almost no other class features, they possess the worst 9-level spellcasting spell list in the game, and have a class feature that's actually a drawback.
The straight trade principle exists because it encourages good design practice. If you break it, you really have to know what you're doing in order to make it work. Here, you're trading away two abilities and granting EIGHT in return. Eight abilities chosen from an entirely new talent pool. The ability economy alone is really messed up here.
A few of the styles similarly can only affect a person once per day. And no offence, but the relative value of the witch's casting and their familiar seems a fairly subjective issue, and one I disagree upon.
I can appreciate that design principle; I believe that in this case, I know what I am doing, and that sticking with it and still trying to achieve my archetype objectives would be a bigger and more confusing mess.
I have indeed changed the rate at which the magus receives virtually every ability; arcanas at half the usual rate, suddenly receiving 'hair styles' at a rate similar to but slower than hexes, etc. But I think that I have them all being granted at a rate that balances the ability economy. Do also note the Diminished Spellcasting and its impacts on the economy.
It's extremely rare from paizo to trade something in level x for something in level y.
Its also been mentioned by designers as a rule to follow.
Whenever it's broken it's considered a flaw. Sometimes, they make mistakes JUST for the sake of keeping progression balance, like with the Sensei archetype, which trades a bonus feat at a level it doesn't get one.
I believe it is more common than you think; but it seems fair as a general rule of good practice.
Nevertheless, i'm fine with my decision to break with it for this archetype. Perhaps ill make it a whole class later so I can ignore the principle.
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[threadjack]Hey Secret - I sent you an email - I can't seem to PM you on these forums…[/threadjack]