My concern is the touch range on this spell. I am a witch,I don't want to be that close to an enemy, ever. Is there anyone to use this spell without getting in harms way? My familiar would be a Compsognathus. I don't plan on getting improved familiar.
Three options.
1) Start your turn 10ft away from an enemy, cast the spell, 5ft step, free action touch them. This removes the need for a defensive concentration check at least.
2) Depending on class, you can shield other + sacred bond on your familiar. Your Familiar takes half damage (you take over half) and you can use any healing magic on them at a range of close instead of touch.
3) Metamagic. I forgot the feat name, but you can raise the spell level by 1 and cast at a range of close or by 2 and cast at medium. If you are spontaneous (Sorcerer/Oracle) it also increases the casting time from a standard action to a full-round action. If you are prepared (Wizard/Cleric), you must prep the spell with the metamagic in advance.
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Spectral Hand? It's not ideal though. It would cost you another action...
Alternatively, an Antipaladin can add Bestow Curse as a Cruelty to their Touch of Corruption starting at level 9. It doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity, adds a bunch of d6 worth of damage to the mix and the DC is based on the Antipaladins level instead of a spell level. The Antipaladin can also take more damage than your average Witch.
Spectral hand allows you to touch at a distance.
Reach is the metamagic for making a touch range further and there's a metamagic rod for that.
How attached are you to that familiar? The cartomancer and gravewalker archetypes will let you cast touch spells at range. I personally dislike familiars (especially the ones that grant initiative) and with my witch (half-orc hedge witch/herb witch 7)I managed to convince my GM to allow me to swap my familiar for a custom feature based on the spell poppet of the gravewalker. Being able to cast touch spells at range is awesome and not having to tolerate a familiar is even better.
How attached are you to that familiar? The cartomancer and gravewalker archetypes will let you cast touch spells at range. I personally dislike familiars (especially the ones that grant initiative) and with my witch (half-orc hedge witch/herb witch 7)I managed to convince my GM to allow me to swap my familiar for a custom feature based on the spell poppet of the gravewalker. Being able to cast touch spells at range is awesome and not having to tolerate a familiar is even better.
I am an Invoker I love the archetype.
Spectral hand allows you to touch at a distance.
Reach is the metamagic for making a touch range further and there's a metamagic rod for that.
At level 7 would I be able to with Quicken Spell, swift action Quicken Spectral Hand and then standard action Bestow Curse?
I'm not 100% sure (read: look it up to confirm), but won't the prehensile hair hex let you deliver touch spells through the hair? And the hair eventually gets reach, which could help.
Also, there's the magical knack trait that lets you lower the level of one spell for metamagic--so your Reach bestow curse would still be at 3rd level.
I'm not 100% sure (read: look it up to confirm), but won't the prehensile hair hex let you deliver touch spells through the hair? And the hair eventually gets reach, which could help.
Also, there's the magical knack trait that lets you lower the level of one spell for metamagic--so your Reach bestow curse would still be at 3rd level.
I like prehensile hair, just the thing is I'm an Invoker Witch, I'm hex starved. I have to spend multiple feats on Extra Hex as it is.
Gotcha. And I noticed Sir Kibblesnbits had already suggested that. D'oh!
Quickened spectral hand requires both traits devoted to reducing the cost of metamagic on that spell if you want it by witch level 7 (or one for by 9, none requires witch level 11.)
Reach Spell metamagic/metamagic rod will work more easily, but if you miss the ranged attack you lose the spell rather than holding the charge. Higher level spells like conditional curse or major curse don't require attack rolls at all which will be better. One other way of delivering bestow curse is to load it into spell storing armor or the spite spell - sometimes even with paranoia you will get attacked and terrible revenge is good then, though I prefer frigid touch or vampiric touch there.
Lunging spell touch will work better than prehensile hair because you don't need to spend a standard action to turn it on.
Quickened spectral hand requires both traits devoted to reducing the cost of metamagic on that spell if you want it by witch level 7 (or one for by 9, none requires witch level 11.)
Reach Spell metamagic/metamagic rod will work more easily, but if you miss the ranged attack you lose the spell rather than holding the charge. Higher level spells like conditional curse or major curse don't require attack rolls at all which will be better. One other way of delivering bestow curse is to load it into spell storing armor or the spite spell - sometimes even with paranoia you will get attacked and terrible revenge is good then, though I prefer frigid touch or vampiric touch there.
Lunging spell touch will work better than prehensile hair because you don't need to spend a standard action to turn it on.
oh nice some solid options here. If I got a familiar, would I lose the +4 initiative bonus for my current familiar?Wwould the familiar be able to cast bestow curse somehow?
oh nice some solid options here. If I got a familiar, would I lose the +4 initiative bonus for my current familiar?Wwould the familiar be able to cast bestow curse somehow?Quickened spectral hand requires both traits devoted to reducing the cost of metamagic on that spell if you want it by witch level 7 (or one for by 9, none requires witch level 11.)
Reach Spell metamagic/metamagic rod will work more easily, but if you miss the ranged attack you lose the spell rather than holding the charge. Higher level spells like conditional curse or major curse don't require attack rolls at all which will be better. One other way of delivering bestow curse is to load it into spell storing armor or the spite spell - sometimes even with paranoia you will get attacked and terrible revenge is good then, though I prefer frigid touch or vampiric touch there.
Lunging spell touch will work better than prehensile hair because you don't need to spend a standard action to turn it on.
If you got a different familiar or an improved familiar you'd lose the benefit of the previous one, yes. Familiars can't easily cast spells (the familiar spell metamagic is overpriced) but they can deliver touch spells for you, and if you fit them with armor/barding you could enchant that with spell storing.
If you got a different familiar or an improved familiar you'd lose the benefit of the previous one, yes. Familiars can't easily cast spells (the familiar spell metamagic is overpriced) but they can deliver touch spells for you, and if you fit them with armor/barding you could enchant that with spell storing.oh nice some solid options here. If I got a familiar, would I lose the +4 initiative bonus for my current familiar?Wwould the familiar be able to cast bestow curse somehow?Quickened spectral hand requires both traits devoted to reducing the cost of metamagic on that spell if you want it by witch level 7 (or one for by 9, none requires witch level 11.)
Reach Spell metamagic/metamagic rod will work more easily, but if you miss the ranged attack you lose the spell rather than holding the charge. Higher level spells like conditional curse or major curse don't require attack rolls at all which will be better. One other way of delivering bestow curse is to load it into spell storing armor or the spite spell - sometimes even with paranoia you will get attacked and terrible revenge is good then, though I prefer frigid touch or vampiric touch there.
Lunging spell touch will work better than prehensile hair because you don't need to spend a standard action to turn it on.
ahh, didn't know that thank you. Well you know my character, Invoker debuffer with trickery patron (I took your suggestion). Which improved familiar would suit me best? My initiative bonus would be +4 total without my old familiar.
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A faerie dragon can use greater invisibility on itself which greatly improves its chance of delivering and surviving the delivery of touch spells. Also they can use sorcerer wands. Requires CG, CN or NG alignment and at least 7th level.
An arbiter inevitable is all but unkillable due to regeneration 2 (chaotic). This is very relevant to a witch. Flyby attack and weapon finesse are about the best feats for this role. LN required.
A hellfire ignis is a relatively solid combatant. Good stats and feats, small rather than tiny size so it has normal reach. NE, LE, CE, N.
A calligraphy wyrm is diminutive which gives it skill, AC and attack bonuses. Sneak attack +2d6 and blindsight make it an option. Any alignment.
I like conditional curse and major curse that's awesome. However what is a replacement for Greater bestow Curse? That spell is awesome.
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There's no direct replacement. I mean, you can deliver it via touch, spectral hand (quickened spectral hand is doable then) or your familiar's touch, or you can add reach spell to make it a ranged touch, etc.
If you're asking about other good 7th level spells then waves of ecstasy (useful effect on a save even), waves of exhaustion (no save!) & greater hostile juxtaposition (no, you take the hit) are pretty good.
There's no direct replacement. I mean, you can deliver it via touch, spectral hand (quickened spectral hand is doable then) or your familiar's touch, or you can add reach spell to make it a ranged touch, etc..
You can't use Spectral Hand to deliver spells higher than 4th level, so no to Greater Bestow Curse.
Lesser meta magic rod of reach. Buy it, use it , love it,
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Lesser reach metamagic rod- 3000gp
Spectral Hand Spell
Back up you're familiar with a Familiar Stone and then use it to deliver touch spells.
Cast out of enemies reach and move to touch them.
Get your front liners to invest in a Spellstoring weapon. I absolutely love spell storing since it can give you more spells a day when your loading it on your off days. It also increases your action economy by having an ally who can hit deliver it on their turn.
Lesser reach metamagic rod- 3000gp
Spectral Hand Spell
Back up you're familiar with a Familiar Stone and then use it to deliver touch spells.
Cast out of enemies reach and move to touch them.
Get your front liners to invest in a Spellstoring weapon. I absolutely love spell storing since it can give you more spells a day when your loading it on your off days. It also increases your action economy by having an ally who can hit deliver it on their turn.
Hmm I didn't know this, so once I load the spell storing weapon or armor it is in there indefinitely until discharged? If so that is great.
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Gravewalker witch can make ranged touch attacks through her poppet without getting into melee or endangering the poppet, if you don’t mind have an aura of death and a small army of bloody skeletons following you around :P