I'm toying with the idea of making a healer for PFS since they're usually very welcome at any table and I enjoy playing support roles. I think a life shaman with full channeling is how I want to go about this, but I also like two incompatible archetypes.
Mechanically, the witch doctor archetype seems superior, in that it gives a secondary channel energy pool (3+CHA / -3 cleric level). So with a CHA of 16, at lvl 4, I would have channel 2d6 4/day and 1d6 6/day.
The animist archetype seems really cool and flavorful, though. It's ability to roll diplomacy checks to cure conditions could synergize well with the higher-than-average charisma a channeling-focused character would have.
Would I be severely handicapping myself (and by extension, the rest of my party) by choosing animist over witch doctor?
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So really for the witch doctor, while more channels are good it is more about what else it brings. Counter curse can be nice if nothing else to get spontaneous casting of remove curse and dispel. Honestly countering hex could be really fun.
Honestly the animist seems more fun and useful wis +1/2 level to try to get rid of common status effects seems more useful...with the added effect of the need to really pump up diplomacy which never hurts in pfs Cant remember if there is a perk to change diplomacy into a day job but I would aim for that, Take skill focus in diplomacy and tweak it as far as you can go. Personally I think exorcism is a great thing if the barbarian is suddenly possessed and trying to slaughter the party.
Either way if you are going high in wis and cha try to get a decent int and go lore all the way. Personally Misfortune is the best "heal" imo with chant. Nothing greater than seeing a gm roll a natural 20 and a 1 and see them have to take the 1.