Advice needed for altering the Witch class

[Aelfborn]

Hi all,
I am returning to the forums for the first time since before the switch to 2e and am looking for advice for people experienced with Pathfinder 2e/Remastered as I just got several books and, immediately, want to make two changes to the Witch. The desired changes are simply based on my personal preference for a Witch class.

So, I would like to know What mechanical changes would need to be made to the Witch class if I would like to make the class a spontaneous caster with Wisdom as the Key Attribute?

Thank you for any advice

(note: I posted this a few hours earlier in Advice, but it was recommended I post it here).

[Teridax]

Changing the Witch's key attribute would be pretty easy I think; you'd just use Wisdom instead of Intelligence for your spellcasting, grant an attribute boost to Wisdom instead of Intelligence, and that'd be it. Changing the class to a spontaneous spellcaster would be slightly more complex, given that they have a pseudo-spellbook mechanic, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Here's what I'd suggest:

1. You start with a repertoire of five cantrips and two 1st-rank spells of your patron's tradition, instead of your familiar knowing spells.

2. Each time you gain a spell slot, you add a spell to your repertoire of the same rank. Each time you gain a level and learn new spells, you can also swap out one of your old spells for another of the same rank.

3. At 3rd level, you gain the signature spells feature, letting you pick one of your spells at each rank to be a signature spell.

4. Whenever your familiar would learn a spell, such as from a lesson, you instead add that spell to your repertoire.

5. Disallow feats that specifically require you to prepare spells, like Rites of Convocation.

And that I think should let you play a Wisdom-based, spontaneous Witch!

[Ascalaphus]

What Teridax said will mostly get you there. Something you could consider a bit beyond that though;

- Wisdom is generally considered a bit stronger ability than Intelligence because it boosts Will and Perception, as well as some quite important skills (Medicine, Religion, Nature).
- Switching from Intelligence to Wisdom is going to result in having a bit fewer trained skills though.

You might say that just balances out, and leave it at that.

[Aelfborn]

@Terida and @Ascalaphus, (I hope I tagged correctly)
Thank you both.

One of things I had noticed, as mentioned by Ascalaphus is that switching from Intelligence to Wisdom would reduce the number of trained skills. Would boosting the number of trained skills by one or two be ok?

Thanks again.

[Squiggit]

Witch already gets a decent number of trained skills (it doesn't get docked for being int based like the Wizard or Magus), so I don't think it needs more. Plus Wisdom is generally the better stat anyways so you don't really need to layer more on top of it imo... though if you really feel the need an extra trained skill or something wouldn't really amount to a lot.

[Teridax]

Your mileage may vary, but my personal opinion on the Witch is that the class is fairly in the middle of the pack in terms of power, certainly behind staples like the Bard or Cleric. I think that if you were to switch the class's key attribute to Wisdom and give them a couple of extra trained skills, the class would still be within that ballpark despite those changes being a fairly decent buff. There are likely different takes on this, however, and I imagine that others would likely be more reluctant to buff the Witch if you were to pick a notably powerful subclass such as Faith's Flamekeeper or The Resentment.

[Dragonchess Player]

I just want to note that for a spontaneous witch, you can still use the pre-Remaster Flexible Spellcaster. Personally, I think the reduction in spell slots from 3 to 2 is worth it for treating all prepared spells as signature spells; especially since the witch also has hex cantrips.

As a homebrew, you can probably just apply the benefits without requiring the dedication feat at 2nd level (which opens up taking another archetype, if desired).