More of a flavor thing, but the hex is a cornerstone of the class, and I'm building a LG witch who I can't imagine laughing in combat (she's timid and reserved).
The only flavoring I can think of that might work is to have the familiar cackle for me, yet that also presents it's own issues (distance from familiar being one).
Anyone have ideas?
The only thing I can suggest is to play up the strange incongruity of a timid and shy person letting powers beyond her grab her and take control of her body.
I've run a character who has had this same issue. I don't generally make a big deal of it. It's a strange otherworldly power and it changes her demeanor for a brief moment.
So I guess it still seems crazy, but isn't that fun?
Using a different sound is reasonable.
I can also agree with you Stalwart, but I'd still have that weird feeling.
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You put your hand over your mouth and go
That is what anime has taught me. This will not make you sound evil, but make you sound like an early midboss that will eventually be turned into comic relief that joins the side of the party.
Not..not that she likes the party or anything. IDIOT.
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Being LG, maybe you could whisper prayers to your deity repeatedly.
If you are "cackling" to extend a buff hex for your allies, it could be something like, "Bless them, Sarenrae. Bless my allies. Grant them your wisdom... etc."
If you've seen Vanessa Ives praying in Penny Dreadful or look that up on YouTube, I think that would have a LG effect of "cackling".
Just sing instead of laugh. You don't need the Performance skill, in fact it could be more flavorful if your character is bad at singing.
Instead of laughing you could string together a bunch of made up words, or use random words jumbled up together so they make no sense.
Being LG, maybe you could whisper prayers to your deity repeatedly.
If you are "cackling" to extend a buff hex for your allies, it could be something like, "Bless them, Sarenrae. Bless my allies. Grant them your wisdom... etc."
If you've seen Vanessa Ives praying in Penny Dreadful or look that up on YouTube, I think that would have a LG effect of "cackling".
I like this idea.
Another similar idea would to go the slightly neurotic angle, and have her repeat a certain phrase repeatedly, something personal to her maybe.
I think the key part is that it needs to be ongoing and audible -- unless you've got a very strict DM, I don't see why it would have to be an actual cackle.
If your witch is timid and reserved, maybe a nervous or uncontrollable giggle? I've known a few people who laugh/giggle like that when they're very nervous, even in situations where doing so is very much not appropriate.
Pronounce mathematical formulae to keep your spell going.
"The limit of Hex as Time approaches one second tends to infinity..."
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I have two words for you. Just two words:
Go watch Lord of the Rings. Fast forward to the end where Frodo wakes up in bed. Pay attention to Gandalf. Gandalf's laugh is your cackle, that laugh that is just incredibly contagious everyone can't help but join in.
The FAQ on the topic of the Cackle hex says:
Your character actually has to cackle—probably in a strong voice, akin to the volume and clarity necessary for verbal spell components.
So by the RAW, you have to laugh like a B-Villain after explaining your master stroke...
However, the lack of clarity in the RAW also seems to indicate you can use Extra Hex feat to take a shaman hex (and thus actually get Chant) since it doesn't list any prerequisites; but I may be wrong since I only did a cursory scan of the rules. In addition the chant hex's text does specify shaman hexes, so you'd have to get all your chantable hexes through Extra Hex off the shaman list in order for it to function.
Personally, I think the FAQ on this subject unfairly forces the witch into playing to a highly offensive and anti-cinematic stereotype. I would allow any player of a witch at my table to exchange the special effect of cackle with one befitting their character so long as it followed the same mechanical restrictions which Cackle does...
Which it to say:
A) It must be as loud as casting a spell with a verbal component.
B) If the witch is in a silence effect, she can't use the cackle hex.
C) If the target is in a silence effect, it is unaffected by the cackle hex.
If you are playing at a home table (as opposed to PFS); talk to your GM about the special effect of your cackle. Chances are they will be reasonable and let you sub it out for something befitting your character.