So for some reason I've gotten it into my head that I want to create an Eldritch Knight build, if possible, using a Half-elf witch to create a sort of battle medic type character. My thoughts so far for his backstory is that he came from a very rural area where the priest of the town died suddenly years ago and his role quickly got filled by a witch who worshiped Pharasma or Dalenydra (not quite sure which, yet). He was abandoned as an infant on this witch's doorstep one day by his human mother who was too poor and busy to be able to take care of him and as such he was raised by this witch who was essentially the town priest and the town doctor rolled up into one. The problem is that I have never played as a Witch before and am not quite sure what feats to take and what archetypes to utilize, if any. Any help would be appreciated, this build is one I've been thinking about for a long time and can never really decide how I want to do it.
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Battle Medic Witch?
Well then, you're in luck because both the Cartomancer and the Hedge Witch stack!
This gives you the ability to deliver touch spells (including offensive and healing touch spells) at range. The Hedge Witch lets you spontaneously turn any spell into a Cure Spell as well!
The question is, what do you want as the base?
The Fighter is the typical entrance into Eldritch Knight, but you can also do an Inspired Blade Swashbuckler, which allows you to take Fencing Grace at Level 1, and capitalize on your Dex (which you need for AC and for Cartomancy)! It also provides you with a little bit of switch hitting and defensive power (with Opportune Parry and Riposte).
Something like: Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) 1 / Witch (Hedge Witch, Cartomancer) 6 / Eldritch Knight X
You'd want to take Hexes that don't really rely on DCs (such as Flight, Fortune, Cackle, etc) and grab a Patron that gives you what you want by 6. You can enter EK by Witch 5, but 6 is a deceptively good level, providing you a +1 to all Saves (bad and good), BAB, a new Hex, and a Patron spell.
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I've certainly thought about going Hedge Witch, however I never thought about the Cartomancer. Certainly sounds like an interesting build. I've also thought about the Ley Line Guardian because of the whole prepared casters not getting more spells per level thing when going into Eldritch Knight. Have to admit, though, that that combination you gave me would certainly be interesting. Hell, I could even go for a weird gypsy healer type of character.
Glad to be of help!
Hopefully it sparks something for you!
I did it once and it was a blast, really got that Red Mage jack-off-all-trades feeling. Having the ability to pull out Touch of Idiocy from range then mix it up in melee with parries and decent attacks was always fun and never left me with a lack of combat options.
If I were to do it again, I would seriously consider Variant Multiclass Magus just to squeeze in a little more splashing.
The Spells from going into Prestige Classes was handwaved for us (as you're already losing FCB's and other features) so I can't really speak to how crippling or not it may be.
May I also recommend the Herb Witch archetype? Not PFS legal if that is an issue but it gives you some very nice condition removal options. Even scales well with the prestige class
Hm, that could certainly be useful, considering that as long as my profession check was high enough there really would be no downside. I mean, the fact that I have to use a wisdom-based skill is a bit annoying but I could certainly make do with it.
Edit: Although now that I look at it it alters the second level hex so it wouldn't be compatible with Cartomancer.
Another reason I'm eyeing the Ley Line Guardian is simply because I would have more spells to sling, could use cure as one of the prepared spells each day to simulate the Hedge Witch, and I still qualify for Eldritch Knight with 6 levels in Witch.