I was thinking about building a character that specialized in curse effects. Skinwalker would be a good race because of a trait that adds +1 to curse effect CLs. But what would a good class for them be? Oracles have a couple of revelations that are curse effects, but witches also have a bunch of hexes that have “curse” right in the name. And then sorcerers have more spells with the curse descriptor...
Thematically, I'd say witches are definitely the best "cursing" class. XD It's pretty much built right into them with the Evil Eye ability, not to mention Misfortune and a lot of their debuff-style spells.
But Evil Eye and Misfortune don’t explicitly have the “this is a curse effect” descriptor, so I’m wondering if they still count.
Depends what you want to play. The Hexcrafter Magus and the Hexenhammer Inquisitor both gain access to hexes, the Hexenhammer even gets the evil eye thing. Both of these would be a little more combat focused than a witch or Oracle. Just depends on what you want to do with the character, besides just the stated "specialize in curses".
Are you looking for things specifically labeled as curses, or will effects that are sufficiently curse-like count for what you want to do?
I was looking for things that were specifically labeled as curses, such as spells with the curse descriptor and curse effects.
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From a quick look the Witch seems to be the most favourable ...
Common Hexes
* Beast of Ill-Omen (Su) : 'The witch imbues her familiar with strange magic, putting a minor curse upon the next enemy to see it.'
* Blight (Su) : 'The witch can curse an animal, plant creature, or plot of land, causing it to wither and die' + mechanic references to being a Curse.
* City Sight (Su) : 'The witch curses a target with the simple vision of urban mortals.'
* Cursed Wound (Su) : 'The witch can curse a living creature, preventing it from healing completely' + name + mechanically referred to as a Curse.
* Enemy Ground (Su) : 'The witch curses a target with clumsiness when in dangerous terrain.'
* Gift of Consumption (Su) : 'The witch curses a creature to share any effects that target her vitality' + mechanical reference to being a Curse.
* Greater Gift of Consumption (Su) : is simply an upgrade of Gift of Consumption (Su).
* Pollute Water (Su) : refers to functioning as Blight (Su), again referring to that as a Curse.
* Scar (Su) : 'This hex curses a single target touched with horrible scars of the witch’s choosing ...' + requires Remove Curse to remove.
Major Hexes
* Harrowing Curse (Su) : name + mechanically referred to as a Curse.
* Hoarfrost (Su) : ??? Remove Curse is one of three options, so this is not clear-cut.
Grand Hexes
* Curse of Nonviolence (Su) : 'The witch can curse a creature to prevent it from attacking innocents' + mechanical reference too cursing the Target.
* Death Curse (Su) : name.
* Dire Prophecy (Su) : mechanically references being a Curse.
Spells
This Spell search does not include all sources but it assigns the Witch Class 23 Spells with the Curse descriptor :
* Witch = 23.
* Sorcerer/Wizard = 17.
* Oracle = 16. [Normally you would expect this to be the same listr as the Cleric, yet Oracles get the exclusive Spell Oracle's Burden.]
* Cleric = 15.
* Inquisitor = 9.
* Druid = 6.
* Shaman = 5.
* Bard = 4.
* Antipaladin = 3.
* Bloodrager + Paladin = 2.
* Adept [NPC] = 1.
* Alchemist (Extracts) + Magus + Ranger + Summoner = 0.
As a point of note, none of this takes into account Archetypes or Domains. Additionally, I would say anyone who can take an Improved Familiar can get one with Curse Effects, (e.g., the Cat Sith's False Curse (Su)), along with anyone who can Summon/Call a suitable Creature with Curse Spells/(Sp)/(Su).
Does the Curse have to be a Curse? Halflings can get some interesting Jinxes, as well as a Racial ability to make Curses more effective.
What skinwalker trait is that? Seconding witch as best. A bad touch cleric also does well.
My Favorite Curse Spells
Best Curse Spells
Lv0 Brand
Lv1 Ill Omen, Hex Vulnerability, Night Blindness
Lv2 Blindness/Deafness, Arcane Disruption, Brand of Hobbling, Disfiguring Touch, Mathematical Curse, Violent Accident
Lv3 Bestow Curse, Accursed Glare, Hag’s Seasoning, Calametous Flailing, Curse of Dragon Flies, Curse of Befouled Luck, Cursed Treasure, Flexile Curse, Mark of Obvious Ethics, Open Book, Puzzle Box, Spell Curse
LV4 Brand Greater, Brand of Tracking, Curse of Burning Sleep, Geas Lesser
Lv5 Alzanist’s Distruption, Beffudled Combatant, Conditional Curse, Curse Major, Mark of Justice, Old Salt’s Curse, Rest Eternal
Lv6 Geas
Lv7 Bestow Curse Greater, Pox of Rumors
Lv8 Curse of Night, Life of Crime, Prediction of Failure, Rotting Alliance
Thematically, I'd say witches are definitely the best "cursing" class. XD It's pretty much built right into them with the Evil Eye ability, not to mention Misfortune and a lot of their debuff-style spells.But Evil Eye and Misfortune don’t explicitly have the “this is a curse effect” descriptor, so I’m wondering if they still count.
They have most of the good curse spells, and evil eye, misfortune, and cackle help those curses get through by ruining the opponent's saving throws.
Witch is boss.
As an added flavor of cursing people, as a Witch you should get some cursed items and then give them to people with Beguiling Gift :)
What skinwalker trait is that?
That would be Curse in the Blood. It also provides a bonus against curse effects. I decided to take that trait over unlucky hafling because a -1 to all saves really sucks.
A hexcrafter magus gets access to all spells with the curse descriptor (at least, those 6th level & lower) and with spellstrike you can try to deliver those which have touch attacks required repeatedly each round (though I can't think of any curses which are multi-touch attacks, this does give you multiple chances to deliver one bestow curse or whatever each round).
That trait only applies to spells and SLAs, not to supernatural abilities like most hexes, but the hexcrafter is most likely to use hexes as buffs anyway.