Witcher PC Build question

[Gomezaddams51]

This may have already asked but cannot find it. My wife and I have been watching the Netflix show "Witcher". My wife wants to run a PC Witcher in a Pathfinder game. So any suggestions on how this might be done? We belong to a gaming group that has been playing together since the very early 2000's.

I have been thinking possibly some sort of Slayer character as a starting idea.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[VoodistMonk]

Bloodrager is a viable chassis for a Witcher build.

I could see something that uses Mutagens to work, as well.

Given that Witchers literally use Mutagens, it might be necessary to include in the character concept.

They also have a small amount of magics at their disposal, most of it is offensive in nature, which is why I brought up the Bloodrager. Using the Bloodline powers to represent the mutations of the Witcher.

An Inquisitor also has a decent Witcher vibe to it. So does the Warpriest.

[Gomezaddams51]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[VoodistMonk]

What elements of the Witcher are most important for your wife?

Big sword?

Magic?

Knowledge of monsters?

[Artofregicide]

Yeah, gestalt is basically a gestalt alchemist/slayer or something similiar. And he has aards somehow. Trisalt? I dunno.

[JiaYou]

Sanctified Slayer Inquisitor I'd absolutely support. If you really want mutagen, then a level of Alchemist or Mutagenic Mauler Brawler.

[Lady Asharah]

I've been thinking about this myself and while I haven't come to a conclusion as of yet, there are a few key things that make a Witcher:

Superhuman reflexes/martial prowess

Mutagens and alchemical concoctions

Monster knowledge

Signs

Translating the above to Pathfinder I think we are looking at a class that ticks as many of the following boxes:

Full BAB with reliable access to haste effect
Class skill in Alchemy and all monster knowledge skills (so... all but Engineering?)
minor spellcasting.

Stylistically all sorts of ranger/hunters fit (and weaponized racism of a ranger is really fitting for a Witcher)

Looking through ranger archetypes I found this one:
Sentinel

Abandons Wild Empath, Hunter's Bond, and Woodland Stride which are all not fitting of a witcher and replaces it with abilities that while not perfect, would fit a monster hunter (ability to memorize a target from an image - Witchers take bounties on monsters, and the ability isn't limited to humanoids) and Uncanny Alertness which is very witcher-like ability.

Then pick a ranger combat style best fitting your chosen witcher school and I think you have a decent Witcher class without doing anything crazy homebrew.

Few knowledge skills are missing, particularly Arcana and Religion, but with a large amount of skill points, there's no reason not to take a few untrained skills.

[born_of_fire]

Investigator with mutagen discovery ticks the boxes, IMHO. It gives all the alchemist goodies that are most important for a Witcher, has tons of skill points and excellent martial prowess even without full BAB thanks to studied target.

Go strength based and use a spear if you want to eventually use the inspired enchant on your weapon (it’s pretty sweet) or spend a feat to get use of a sword or other weapon you think is more stylistically appropriate. Investigators aren’t particularly feat starved so can afford to IMHO. You could also go dex based swashigator if you don’t mind the idea of using a poncy rapier instead of a more manly weapon. The builds are fairly equal in the long run whether you go strength or dex based so it’s a matter of what image you wish to portray with your Witcher.

The only issue with an investigator is the first four levels can feel like quite a slog without studied target, the first five if you go swashigator. As such, I prefer an investigator that I don’t have to play through those levels but bring in as a back up character. If you’re starting at first, it’s not the end of the world of course and studied target is gravy when you do get there.

[CBDunkerson]

Witcher is as much a 'race' as it is a class. Pathfinder does have a 'mutant' template and some of the random options on the Numeria 'strange fluids' table could also fit, but it would probably be best served as a custom built race with;

Low-Light Vision
Scent
Str & Con bonuses
Agelessness or extremely long lived
Stunted emotions