Hi all.
So our party just hit level 5, and the GM decided to give us a free archetype. The party consists of an Investigator with the Rogue archetype , a Barbarian with the Beastmaster archetype , a Swashbuckler who's archetype I don't know , a Warpriest Cleric who's been away since level 4 and a Witch.
The player who plays the Witch missed the memo and hasn't found an archetype yet. We're only using the CRB and APG , does anyone have any recommendations for an archetype for a Witch?
He found the Summoner archetype and liked it, but it's in a book we don't have and we don't really have $70 to drop of a new book for FG. If there's something similar that'd be perfect, but any advice is welcome.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The wizard archetype can give him access to some extra tricks from the Arcane spell list (while being based on Intelligence).
I'm also a fan of the Rogue archetype. I took it on my cloistered cleric and it's done a lot for me:
- Light armor proficiency. Doesn't scale when your unarmored becomes expert at level 13, but that's still a way off, and in the here and new a few points of extra AC are pretty sweet.
- Some extra skills and a skill feat. Nice to have.
- Surprise Attack, which also works with spell attacks in the opening round. Since witches aren't amazing at Perception anyway, using Stealth/Avoid Notice for initiative is not a high price to pay.
- Access to good rogue feats. In particular: Mobility (a lifesaver) and Dread Striker (if you're into scaring enemies, or someone else in your party is)
- Good archetype feats: Skill Mastery (can get you a lot more Master skills), Uncanny Dodge (helps when being ganged up on by mooks) and Evasiveness (helps survive AoEs).
It shouldn't be hard to find something worth taking every time you get a new archetype feat. For me it's allowed me to play my cleric more like a 1E inquisitor kinda.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Alchemist archetype can be convenient to have for producing some lower level utility elixers.
The beastmaster dedication can be good assuming you go all in on a dex companion. Could also potentially flavor it to match summoner if so inclined.
Rogue, as mentioned, has a few nice goodies for any character.
Wizard can give you a couple of extra spells but ehh.
Gunslinger, if allowed, gives access to the fake out feat which is good for someone like the Witch who can just carry a crossbow around and never fire.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I agree with Ascalaphus that Rogue archetype is good for the defensive abilities that it provides. Since you already have an Investigator with Rogue archetype, I don't think you are going to be lacking in skill proficiencies for the party.
Alchemist archetype would also be good for the alchemical items. Notably Drakeheart Mutagen (especially if the Witch doesn't have high DEX), though there are others.
Summoner archetype is actually not very good. You don't get Act Together, so using the Eidolon in combat is hard on the actions. Getting an Animal Companion or similar (Construct Companion, Undead Companion) would be better.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Herbalist is a good one. Also Medic or blessed one.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
We're only using the CRB and APG (we're using Fantasy Grounds and those are the ones we have), does anyone have any recommendations for an archetype for a Witch?
He found the Summoner archetype and liked it, but it's in a book we don't have and we don't really have $70 to drop of a new book for FG. If there's something similar (either mechanically or thematically) that'd be perfect, but any advice is welcome.
Witch with the oracle MC archetype, perhaps? Instead of an eidolon, the witch has a more direct supernatural connection.
Or maybe the witch wants to "power up" their familiar with the familiar master archetype. Again, it's not an eidolon (or an animal companion) but a familiar isn't exactly dead-weight.
Other possibilities:
The alchemist MC archetype could make a classic witch ("Double double toil and trouble/Fire burn and cauldron bubble").
Blessed one was mentioned, if the character wants to lean into the healer role with lay on hands and mercies.
Herbalist isn't as versatile as the alchemist dedication, but could make sense if the witch wants to focus on non-magical healing.
Loremaster could make sense for an "esoteric magic researcher" theme; possibly in conjunction with the linguist dedication (and/or ritualist).
A potentially interesting witch might be to use the free archetype feats on scout (Scout Dedication at 2nd, Terrain Scout at 4th, Fleeting Shadow at 6th) and then shadowdancer (Shadowdancer Dedication at 8th, Shadow Magic at 10th, Shadow Illusion at 12th, and Shadow Blast at 14th).
Hey all, thanks that's a heap of options! I'll link the player to this thread so he can see the options you've suggested.
Summoner archetype is actually not very good. You don't get Act Together, so using the Eidolon in combat is hard on the actions. Getting an Animal Companion or similar (Construct Companion, Undead Companion) would be better.
Hmmm... that seems like something important I should discuss with him. We're all fairly new to PF2, so I think he's only read the Summoner Archetype, not the Summoner Class. I didn't know anything about it till you said this and I looked it up, but it's definitely something worth knowing.
EDIT: Re: Healer-Role. Nobody was particularly interested so my Investigator has taken that responsiblity . Most players have Some healing available for emergencies, but I don't think he's super interested in spending 3 archetype feats on that role .
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Summoner archetype is actually not very good. You don't get Act Together, so using the Eidolon in combat is hard on the actions. Getting an Animal Companion or similar (Construct Companion, Undead Companion) would be better.Hmmm... that seems like something important I should discuss with him. We're all fairly new to PF2, so I think he's only read the Summoner Archetype, not the Summoner Class. I didn't know anything about it till you said this and I looked it up, but it's definitely something worth knowing.
Ah, then let me explain a bit more fully.
With a Minion, such as a familiar or animal companion, you trade one action for two. The Witch spends one action giving commands and the minion takes two actions to follow those commands.
An Eidolon instead trades one for one. Each action spent by the Eidolon is one action not available to the Witch.
A full Summoner class character gets the ability Act Together which lets one of the two of them get a bonus extra 1-action when the other of the pair does something. Summoner Archetype does not give this ability.
So an Animal Companion can move and attack, or attack twice and still leave the Witch with 2 actions left - enough to cast most spells.
An Eidolon from Summoner Archetype would only be able to attack once, or move if the Witch needs to have 2 actions. The Eidolon could still move and attack, or attack twice but it would leave the Witch with only one action remaining - which is enough to cast a 1st or 3rd level Hex or sustain something, but not enough to cast a good percentage of regular spells.
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Familiar Master! Since your Witch already has a familiar, the archetype gives them Enhanced Familiar for free and it opens up some really cool abilities for their familiar that are unique to the archetype, like Familiar Conduit.
Thanks guys.
I've spoken to the Witch's player and he's ok with the action economy of the Eidolon, but the price tag is still somewhat of a blocker.
He's taking a look at the Familiar Master archetype, and may look at Oracle for a Curse/Mystery that fits the theme .
These are all great suggestions guys. Thanks for the input =)