Previously, I posted a homebrew prestige class designed primarily for witches, called the Witchlord. The Witchlord is designed to deliver on the fantasy of communal magic, allowing the Witchlord to get more out of establishing a coven than most witches.
However, that version of the Witchlord had some problems. It's reliance upon the Leadership feat made it easy to break, while also making it a pain in the ass due to the need to lug around members of your coven. Further, it seemed mostly an NPC class; PCs wouldn't be able to reliably make use of the benefits the class provides enough to justify taking levels in it.
This new version of the Witchlord seeks to fix those problems while still delivering on a coven-leader, "Witch Queen" fantasy. Version 3.0 can be found here.
In transitioning from witch to Witchlord, a character gives up the following:
* 1 caster level
* Familiar progression
In exchange, the Witchlord gains the following:
Witchery
The Witchlord gains access to a slew of hexes, Major Hexes, and Grand Hexes otherwise unavailable to Shaman or Witches. like the Winter Witch prestige class, the Witchlord levels do stack with Witch levels for the purposes of determining hex effects and DCs. Whenever the Witchlord may select a hex, even after she stops leveling in the class (e.g. gains a hex through witch levels or Extra Hex), she can select a Witchlord hex.
Coven Initiate/Elder/Lordship
As the Witchlord levels, she gains the ability to temporarily bestow her allies with the Coven hex. This allows them to pump up her caster level and also to take part in Coven Casting. Additionally, with each tier of this ability, the Witchlord gains a bonus.
Coven Initiate lets the Witchlord know the Status (as per the spell) of each Coven hex user within 50 feet per level. She can use the Coven hex, and gain the benefits of others' use of the Coven hex, at an additional range of 5 feet.
Coven Elder lets the Witchlord see through the eyes and ears of each Coven hex user within range, as per the spell Witness. The Coven hex use/benefit range increases by another 5 feet.
Coven Lordship lets the Witchlord establish a Telepathic Bond (as per the spell) with each Coven hex user in range. The Coven hex use/benefit range increases by another 5 feet (max range: 25 feet).
Coven Casting/Improved CC/Greater CC
Starting at 3rd level and every level thereafter, the Witchlord can select a number of spells from the Sorc/Wiz, Cleric/Oracle, and Druid spell lists (there are limiting factors; it's not totally free choice) to learn as unique Spell-Like Abilities. These Spell-Like Abilities can only be used by the Witchlord and two other Coven hex users collectively taking a full-round action.
The Witchlord gains an Arcane Ritual pool of points, which is the daily limiting factor on uses of Coven-Casting.
At later levels, the Witchlord can add specific metamagic effects to her Coven Casting SLAs.
Warding Whispers
The witch's dodge AC increases for each nearby ally with the coven hex, up to a cap.
---------
The Witchlord's ability to bestow the Coven hex temporarily upon her allies makes it easy for her to work with a standard party instead of lugging around followers. The versatility of Coven Casting helps the Witchlord to reach new heights of magic beyond the Witch spell list, and her hexes permit the Witchlord a benefit to the class even if they're not able to prepare their coven in time.
Please review the class in the linked doc and let me know your thoughts. I look forward to them.