Wednesday, July 31, 2013
More Paper Mini Goodness (from iheartprintandplay)
Okay, so once again my favorite paper mini artist, Mr. Derek Weller, has come through with a really great set of new ones for us to enjoy. This time around it's Eladrin. I really like the "Order of the Stick" look to all Derek's stuff. It immediately says "fun". He has also recently done hobgoblins, red dragons, white dragons, giants, titans, trolls, and more so check it out.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Thinking in Three Dimensions
Okay, so pretty much my entire gaming group is made up of technophiles. So naturally we think that 3D printing is the greatest thing since...umm...2D printing, or whatever. Anyway, we're seriously considering pooling our cash and buying a 3D printer, preferably a kit which we can have fun assembling. Naturally we immediately thought how great it would be to be able to print out gaming figures, dice, terrain, playing aids, etc. with it. I'm particularly interested in designing stuff in 3D as an outlet for my artsy side.
As part of exploring the feasibility of 3D printing as a venture, I have started learning how to use TinkerCAD, a free 3D design program which works in a browser. The tutorials are pretty fun so far and but I can see how difficult it would be for me to actually sculpt miniatures with it--and that's on top of the fact that I'm not much at sculpting anyway. Playing aids, dice, and terrain look pretty doable since those are not as complex to design. Luckily lots of other people have had the same idea and there are lots of miniatures, etc. already available at Shapeways. Thingiverse, and other sites.
One thing I particularly want to design from scratch are cool tokens to use as Awesome Points during play. At the moment we're using a bowl of those glass bead/marble things usually used for interior decorating by filling glass bowls etc. They are functional and attractive enough but I'd like to design alternatives which I can print out on our new 3D printer (whenever we finally get one).
As part of exploring the feasibility of 3D printing as a venture, I have started learning how to use TinkerCAD, a free 3D design program which works in a browser. The tutorials are pretty fun so far and but I can see how difficult it would be for me to actually sculpt miniatures with it--and that's on top of the fact that I'm not much at sculpting anyway. Playing aids, dice, and terrain look pretty doable since those are not as complex to design. Luckily lots of other people have had the same idea and there are lots of miniatures, etc. already available at Shapeways. Thingiverse, and other sites.
One thing I particularly want to design from scratch are cool tokens to use as Awesome Points during play. At the moment we're using a bowl of those glass bead/marble things usually used for interior decorating by filling glass bowls etc. They are functional and attractive enough but I'd like to design alternatives which I can print out on our new 3D printer (whenever we finally get one).
Monday, July 29, 2013
Saurians!
Okay, so I've been gamely making the effort to follow the French-language gaming blog Anniceris. My rusty French is just good enough to read along but it's definitely a struggle in places. The most recent post really brought back huge memories from my early gaming years. Anniceris did a post reviewing the Saurians source book for Chivalry & Sorcery (C&S). As I've mentioned before C&S was the first RPG I every played. The solid historical feel of the game combined with fantasy elements drawn faithfully from literature and mythology was the perfect starting place for me. I often think that if I'd started with the crappy, amateurish original D&D I might not have continued with RPGs at all.
But anyway, Saurians was the first full single-setting supplement for C&S. They published a sort of expansion source book called Swords & Sorcery which bundled the viking, celtic, and mongol cultures into one. That was okay and it extended the basic western European setting but it wasn't too exciting. (Several years later Lee Gold came out with the absolutely amazing stand-alone Japanese setting book called Land of the Rising Sun.) But then the Saurians book came out. This was a totally new self-contained setting with just two reptilian races living in a prehistoric land populated with dinosaurs and early megafauna. The main race was generic-looking dinosaur-people (the HssTaathi) with an extremely detailed society, custom mage and cleric types, castes, and a cool political system. The other race, of crocodile-people (the Kulun'Ssaatha), was less detailed.
I totally loved this book for the freshness of the concepts in the race and how every aspect of their society and physiognomy were carefully worked out. It's one of the earliest game books of this type and still a favorite of mine.
But anyway, Saurians was the first full single-setting supplement for C&S. They published a sort of expansion source book called Swords & Sorcery which bundled the viking, celtic, and mongol cultures into one. That was okay and it extended the basic western European setting but it wasn't too exciting. (Several years later Lee Gold came out with the absolutely amazing stand-alone Japanese setting book called Land of the Rising Sun.) But then the Saurians book came out. This was a totally new self-contained setting with just two reptilian races living in a prehistoric land populated with dinosaurs and early megafauna. The main race was generic-looking dinosaur-people (the HssTaathi) with an extremely detailed society, custom mage and cleric types, castes, and a cool political system. The other race, of crocodile-people (the Kulun'Ssaatha), was less detailed.
I totally loved this book for the freshness of the concepts in the race and how every aspect of their society and physiognomy were carefully worked out. It's one of the earliest game books of this type and still a favorite of mine.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Yep, Backing Another Kickstarter...
Okay, so a little while ago I reviewed Ponies for Pathfinder and declared it to be good, if lacking in artwork. (Might I suggest www.deviantart.com as a superb source for pony artwork?) . Well, now Mr. Silver has launched a Kickstarter called "Ponies for Pathfinder, Setting Handbook". I've already jumped in and joined the project. I really have no idea when, if ever, I'll actually get to play a ponies game--and I'm only vaguely familiar with the show. However, I think it's such a terrific "alternative" approach to fantasy gaming that I want to be a part of it.
And yet by a weird coincidence, Bronycon 2013 will be held next weekend in Baltimore, just a few short miles from my house. Or is it a coincidence? Maybe it's a sign from Princess Celestia...
And yet by a weird coincidence, Bronycon 2013 will be held next weekend in Baltimore, just a few short miles from my house. Or is it a coincidence? Maybe it's a sign from Princess Celestia...
Saturday, July 27, 2013
The Top Ten Troll Questions - My Responses
Okay, so this list of ten questions from the Random Wizard blog is making the rounds so I figured what the heck. Actually it's blatantly obvious that this is a cheap ploy to draw out us non-OSR types so they'll know who to put in front of the firing squad when the revolution comes. But I'm pretty sure they already have me on the list so why not shout it from the rooftops...
(1). Race (Elf, Dwarf, Halfling) as a class? Yes or no? Hmm, race as class is an interesting design decision. However it reduces player choice too much in building characters and makes the race-classes too predictable as NPCs. So, no.
(2). Do demi-humans have souls? Actually I would prefer that each race have a unique type or "flavor" of soul, so yes.
(3). Ascending or descending armor class? OMG! Ascending! Descending armor class was always totally counter-intuitive.
(4). Demi-human level limits? I got tired of seeing people avoid playing classes because they saw there was a level cap. Heck, I avoid classes with level caps. That shouldn't enter into the decision of what to play. So, no.
(5). Should thief be a class? Hell yes!
(6). Do characters get non-weapon skills? Without non-weapon skills there's no way to customize. All fighters are the same, all clerics are the same, etc. And there's no way to express character background. I'm running into this problem with my Castles & Crusades character now. So, yes.
(7). Are magic-users more powerful than fighters (and, if yes, what level do they take the lead)? At first probably not, later on yes unless maybe the fighter gets the drop on them. I like a rough balance between the two.
(8). Do you use alignment languages? Another dumb early D&D idea which needs to stay dead, so no--not ever.
(9). XP for gold, or XP for objectives (thieves disarming traps, etc...)? XP for gold makes no sense at all. Sounds more like an idea from a cheap board game rather than a proper RPG. So, no to that. XP for accomplishing difficult tasks is fun so yes to that.
(10). Which is the best edition; ODD, Holmes, Moldvay, Mentzer, Rules Cyclopedia, 1E ADD, 2E ADD, 3E ADD, 4E ADD, Next ? Umm, Pathfinder? =) Okay so 3E then, but 4E had some interesting design concepts which still intrigue me. I'm still deciding about Next.
Bonus Question: Unified XP level tables or individual XP level tables for each class? Individual level tables is another bad old D&D idea which needs to stay dead and buried. Players shouldn't be comparing leveling tables to decide which class to play. So, no. It's bad RPG design.
(1). Race (Elf, Dwarf, Halfling) as a class? Yes or no? Hmm, race as class is an interesting design decision. However it reduces player choice too much in building characters and makes the race-classes too predictable as NPCs. So, no.
(2). Do demi-humans have souls? Actually I would prefer that each race have a unique type or "flavor" of soul, so yes.
(3). Ascending or descending armor class? OMG! Ascending! Descending armor class was always totally counter-intuitive.
(4). Demi-human level limits? I got tired of seeing people avoid playing classes because they saw there was a level cap. Heck, I avoid classes with level caps. That shouldn't enter into the decision of what to play. So, no.
(5). Should thief be a class? Hell yes!
(6). Do characters get non-weapon skills? Without non-weapon skills there's no way to customize. All fighters are the same, all clerics are the same, etc. And there's no way to express character background. I'm running into this problem with my Castles & Crusades character now. So, yes.
(7). Are magic-users more powerful than fighters (and, if yes, what level do they take the lead)? At first probably not, later on yes unless maybe the fighter gets the drop on them. I like a rough balance between the two.
(8). Do you use alignment languages? Another dumb early D&D idea which needs to stay dead, so no--not ever.
(9). XP for gold, or XP for objectives (thieves disarming traps, etc...)? XP for gold makes no sense at all. Sounds more like an idea from a cheap board game rather than a proper RPG. So, no to that. XP for accomplishing difficult tasks is fun so yes to that.
(10). Which is the best edition; ODD, Holmes, Moldvay, Mentzer, Rules Cyclopedia, 1E ADD, 2E ADD, 3E ADD, 4E ADD, Next ? Umm, Pathfinder? =) Okay so 3E then, but 4E had some interesting design concepts which still intrigue me. I'm still deciding about Next.
Bonus Question: Unified XP level tables or individual XP level tables for each class? Individual level tables is another bad old D&D idea which needs to stay dead and buried. Players shouldn't be comparing leveling tables to decide which class to play. So, no. It's bad RPG design.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Wow, 10,000 Views!
So apparently I've hit a milestone with 10,000 total views. Let offer a big thank you to everyone who has kindly taken the time to peruse my various postings. I have lots more ideas on the way, plus reviews, game session write-ups, and perhaps even a YouTube channel later. In the near future I'll be reviewing the core book and a couple sourcebooks for CthulhuTech, doing another Castles & Crusades session write-up, a guest posting (cross-posted here) for the Dice Monkey blog on the possible consequences of "flavored" souls, the rest of my dragonkin series, something on the "beastmen" for my new campaign world, and more WWI RPG stuff.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
So You Want to be a Witch Some More? (in Pathfinder)
Okay, so earlier I posted my new healer witch design for my buddy Steve's new Pathfinder-based campaign. Now, when I started looking at the witch class it quickly became apparent that this class is pretty complex. You will get feats, new spells at each level, additional patron spells at certain levels, hexes, hex swaps due to the Hedge Witch healer archetype. major hexes, and attribute bonuses. There's quite a lot going on and with a healer and it really is best if you plan out all those level additions at least a few levels ahead of time.
Part of me doesn't like planning out a character's future 20 levels right from the start because it sort of spoils the surprise and feels too "professional". I prefer a more "amateur" or "organic" feel to the character growing over time sort of interactively with what's going on in the game. But Pathfinder in general is a rules heavy (I prefer the term "complete") game. So you really need to at least look ahead if not actually sketch out where you want to go. So for this character I did a design plan out to level 10. Steve is using the slow level progression and since we'll likely only meet about 6-8 times per year it will take a while just to get to level 10. I've left most of the possible individual spell choices at upper levels blank because I may need to take offensive spells despite being a healer. The party has a weird composition with no "tank", no cleric, and no other arcane magic users (yet).
Progression Plan through level 12:
LVL1
Hex: Healing (Su): A witch can soothe the wounds of those she touches. This acts as a cure light wounds spell, using the witch’s caster level. Once a creature has benefited from the healing hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours. At 5th level, this hex acts like cure moderate wounds. [1d8+1]
Hex: Disguise (Su): A witch can change her appearance for a number of hours per day equal to her class level, as if using disguise self. These hours do not need to be consecutive, but they must be spent in 1-hour increments. [bonus hex from feat]
LVL2
Hex: Slumber (Su): A witch can cause a creature within 30 feet to fall into a deep, magical sleep, as per the spell sleep. The creature receives a Will save to negate the effect. If the save fails, the creature falls asleep for a number of rounds equal to the witch’s level. This hex can affect a creature of any HD. The creature will not wake due to noise or light, but others can rouse it with a standard action. This hex ends immediately if the creature takes damage. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of this hex again for 1 day. [I took this as a "witchy" flavor hex and to give my character a "soft attack" which would be useful in and out of combat. Plus, a healer has uses for putting a putting a patient to sleep for much needed rest.]
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 2nd—remove fear
Sanctify Corpse
Remove Sickness
Comprehend Languages
Burning Hands
Summon Monster I
LVL3
Feat: Eschew Materials
Possible New Spells:
Alter Self
Blindness/Deafness
Cure Moderate Wounds
Delay Poison
Gentle Repose
Ghostly Disguise
Glide
Inflict Moderate Wounds
Mount, Communal
See Invisibility
Spectral Hand
Summon Monster II
LVL4
Hex: Spontaneous Healing (Su)
A hedge witch can channel stored spell energy into healing spells that she did not prepare ahead of time. The witch can “lose” any prepared spell that is not an orison in order to cast any cure spell of the same spell level or lower, even if she doesn’t know that cure spell. (This replaces the witch’s hex gained at 4th level for a Hedge Witch)
Attribute bonus: +1 to INT
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 4th—lesser restoration (restore negative levels, ability damage, etc.)
LVL5
Feat: ???
Possible New Spells:
Bestow Curse
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
Deep Slumber
Delay Poison, Communal
Dispel Magic
Glyph of Warding
Howling Agony
Lightning Bolt
Pain Strike
Remove Blindness/Deafness
Remove Curse
Summon Monster III
Tongues
LVL6
Hex: Prehensile Hair (Su): The witch can instantly cause her hair (or even her eyebrows) to grow up to 10 feet long or to shrink to its normal length, and can manipulate her hair as if it were a limb with a Strength score equal to her Intelligence score. Her hair has reach 10 feet, and she can use it as a secondary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage (1d2 for a Small witch). Her hair can manipulate objects (but not weapons) as dexterously as a human hand. The hair cannot be sundered or attacked as a separate creature. Pieces cut from the witch’s elongated hair shrink away to nothing. Using her hair does not harm the witch’s head or neck, even if she lifts something heavy with it. The witch can manipulate her hair a number of minutes each day equal to her level; these minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. [This is another witchy flavor choice; it's usefulness is pretty limited but I just think it's totally cool so I'm taking it.]
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 6th—remove disease
LVL7
Feat: ???
New Spells: ???
Death Ward
Enervation
Forgetful Slumber
Inflict Serious Wounds
Neutralize Poison
Poison
Scrying
Secure Shelter
Summon Monster IV
Tongues, Communal
LVL8
Hex: Empathic Healing (Su)
A hedge witch can minister to a diseased or poisoned target, redirecting the affliction into herself. For a poisoned target, the witch must tend to him as a standard action; he makes his next saving throw against the poison as normal, but the witch suffers the effects of the failed save instead of the poisoned creature. For a diseased target, the witch must tend to the sick person for an hour; he makes his next saving throw against the disease as normal, but the witch suffers the effects of the failed save instead of the diseased creature. The witch does not actually become poisoned or diseased (and is not contagious and does not need to be cured), but suffers the effects of the affliction as if she had been. The witch normally uses this ability to extend the life of someone near death, giving him time to recover. This ability has no effect if the witch is immune to disease or poison. (This replaces the witch’s hex gained at 8th level for a Hedge Witch.)
Attribute bonus: +1 to INT
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 8th—restoration
LVL9
Feat: ???
New Spells: ???
Baleful Polymorph
Break Enchantment
Contagion, Greater
Cure Critical Wounds
Curse, Major
Feeblemind
Inflict Critical Wounds
Reincarnate
Rest Eternal
Secret Chest
Summon Monster V
Symbol of Sleep
Teleport
LVL10
Hex: Flight (Su): The witch grows lighter as she gains power, eventually gaining the ability to fly. At 1st level, the witch can use feather fall at will and gains a +4 racial bonus on Swim checks. At 3rd level, she can cast levitate once per day. At 5th level, she can fly, as per the spell, for a number of minutes per day equal to her level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but they must be spent in 1-minute increments. This hex only affects the witch. [Another basically witchy flavor choice, but useful in so many ways]
Major Hex
Major Healing (Su): By calling upon eerie powers, the witch’s touch can mend even the most terrible wounds of those she touches. This acts as cure serious wounds, using the witch’s caster level. Once a creature has benefited from the major healing hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours. At 15th level, this hex acts like cure critical wounds.
Attribute bonus: +1 to INT
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 10th—cleanse
Future Feat Ideas:
The main area where I'm really not sure with this design is what to take for feats at upper levels (5/7/9). The ones I'm considering are:
Extra Hex: (Taking Cauldron or Ward; Cauldron helps with potions which is very "witchy" and lets me make healing potions for everyone; Ward is a limited effect protective hex, but with a lightly armored group like this one it could actually come in handy.)
Minor Spell Expertise: "You are able to cast a 1st-level spell as a spell-like ability twice per day." (For a healer witch I'd be going for Cure Light Wounds.)
Godless Healing:
"You have mastered a specialized and complex technique to ignore pain by focusing your belief on the self rather than relying on faith."
Prerequisites: Cannot have a patron deity.
Benefit: Once per day when you have half your total hit points or fewer, you may heal yourself of an amount of damage equal to 1d8 plus your total Hit Dice as a move action. This is a supernatural ability.
Special: You can take this feat more than once. Each time you do, you may heal yourself one additional time per day. (Since I'm the only healer type, this could really save my bacon; it doesn't heal a lot but with a slow progression game it will remain useful for many sessions of play. However, the "cannot have a patron deity" sort of clashes with witches having a patron.)
Familiar, Improved: (I'd select from the Harbinger Archon, Lyrakie Azata, or Silvanshee Agathion; all fit with the idea of an otherworldly, good, healing-oriented patron. All are more powerful than the weasel the character is starting with, but I can't right off think of a reason my character would callously ditch her little critter; this would be a choice calling for help from the GM to work the change into the story in a good way.)
Part of me doesn't like planning out a character's future 20 levels right from the start because it sort of spoils the surprise and feels too "professional". I prefer a more "amateur" or "organic" feel to the character growing over time sort of interactively with what's going on in the game. But Pathfinder in general is a rules heavy (I prefer the term "complete") game. So you really need to at least look ahead if not actually sketch out where you want to go. So for this character I did a design plan out to level 10. Steve is using the slow level progression and since we'll likely only meet about 6-8 times per year it will take a while just to get to level 10. I've left most of the possible individual spell choices at upper levels blank because I may need to take offensive spells despite being a healer. The party has a weird composition with no "tank", no cleric, and no other arcane magic users (yet).
Progression Plan through level 12:
LVL1
Hex: Healing (Su): A witch can soothe the wounds of those she touches. This acts as a cure light wounds spell, using the witch’s caster level. Once a creature has benefited from the healing hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours. At 5th level, this hex acts like cure moderate wounds. [1d8+1]
Hex: Disguise (Su): A witch can change her appearance for a number of hours per day equal to her class level, as if using disguise self. These hours do not need to be consecutive, but they must be spent in 1-hour increments. [bonus hex from feat]
LVL2
Hex: Slumber (Su): A witch can cause a creature within 30 feet to fall into a deep, magical sleep, as per the spell sleep. The creature receives a Will save to negate the effect. If the save fails, the creature falls asleep for a number of rounds equal to the witch’s level. This hex can affect a creature of any HD. The creature will not wake due to noise or light, but others can rouse it with a standard action. This hex ends immediately if the creature takes damage. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of this hex again for 1 day. [I took this as a "witchy" flavor hex and to give my character a "soft attack" which would be useful in and out of combat. Plus, a healer has uses for putting a putting a patient to sleep for much needed rest.]
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 2nd—remove fear
Sanctify Corpse
Remove Sickness
Comprehend Languages
Burning Hands
Summon Monster I
LVL3
Feat: Eschew Materials
Possible New Spells:
Alter Self
Blindness/Deafness
Cure Moderate Wounds
Delay Poison
Gentle Repose
Ghostly Disguise
Glide
Inflict Moderate Wounds
Mount, Communal
See Invisibility
Spectral Hand
Summon Monster II
LVL4
Hex: Spontaneous Healing (Su)
A hedge witch can channel stored spell energy into healing spells that she did not prepare ahead of time. The witch can “lose” any prepared spell that is not an orison in order to cast any cure spell of the same spell level or lower, even if she doesn’t know that cure spell. (This replaces the witch’s hex gained at 4th level for a Hedge Witch)
Attribute bonus: +1 to INT
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 4th—lesser restoration (restore negative levels, ability damage, etc.)
LVL5
Feat: ???
Possible New Spells:
Bestow Curse
Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
Deep Slumber
Delay Poison, Communal
Dispel Magic
Glyph of Warding
Howling Agony
Lightning Bolt
Pain Strike
Remove Blindness/Deafness
Remove Curse
Summon Monster III
Tongues
LVL6
Hex: Prehensile Hair (Su): The witch can instantly cause her hair (or even her eyebrows) to grow up to 10 feet long or to shrink to its normal length, and can manipulate her hair as if it were a limb with a Strength score equal to her Intelligence score. Her hair has reach 10 feet, and she can use it as a secondary natural attack that deals 1d3 points of damage (1d2 for a Small witch). Her hair can manipulate objects (but not weapons) as dexterously as a human hand. The hair cannot be sundered or attacked as a separate creature. Pieces cut from the witch’s elongated hair shrink away to nothing. Using her hair does not harm the witch’s head or neck, even if she lifts something heavy with it. The witch can manipulate her hair a number of minutes each day equal to her level; these minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 1-minute increments. [This is another witchy flavor choice; it's usefulness is pretty limited but I just think it's totally cool so I'm taking it.]
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 6th—remove disease
LVL7
Feat: ???
New Spells: ???
Death Ward
Enervation
Forgetful Slumber
Inflict Serious Wounds
Neutralize Poison
Poison
Scrying
Secure Shelter
Summon Monster IV
Tongues, Communal
LVL8
Hex: Empathic Healing (Su)
A hedge witch can minister to a diseased or poisoned target, redirecting the affliction into herself. For a poisoned target, the witch must tend to him as a standard action; he makes his next saving throw against the poison as normal, but the witch suffers the effects of the failed save instead of the poisoned creature. For a diseased target, the witch must tend to the sick person for an hour; he makes his next saving throw against the disease as normal, but the witch suffers the effects of the failed save instead of the diseased creature. The witch does not actually become poisoned or diseased (and is not contagious and does not need to be cured), but suffers the effects of the affliction as if she had been. The witch normally uses this ability to extend the life of someone near death, giving him time to recover. This ability has no effect if the witch is immune to disease or poison. (This replaces the witch’s hex gained at 8th level for a Hedge Witch.)
Attribute bonus: +1 to INT
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 8th—restoration
LVL9
Feat: ???
New Spells: ???
Baleful Polymorph
Break Enchantment
Contagion, Greater
Cure Critical Wounds
Curse, Major
Feeblemind
Inflict Critical Wounds
Reincarnate
Rest Eternal
Secret Chest
Summon Monster V
Symbol of Sleep
Teleport
LVL10
Hex: Flight (Su): The witch grows lighter as she gains power, eventually gaining the ability to fly. At 1st level, the witch can use feather fall at will and gains a +4 racial bonus on Swim checks. At 3rd level, she can cast levitate once per day. At 5th level, she can fly, as per the spell, for a number of minutes per day equal to her level. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but they must be spent in 1-minute increments. This hex only affects the witch. [Another basically witchy flavor choice, but useful in so many ways]
Major Hex
Major Healing (Su): By calling upon eerie powers, the witch’s touch can mend even the most terrible wounds of those she touches. This acts as cure serious wounds, using the witch’s caster level. Once a creature has benefited from the major healing hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours. At 15th level, this hex acts like cure critical wounds.
Attribute bonus: +1 to INT
Possible New Spells:
Patron Spell: 10th—cleanse
Future Feat Ideas:
The main area where I'm really not sure with this design is what to take for feats at upper levels (5/7/9). The ones I'm considering are:
Extra Hex: (Taking Cauldron or Ward; Cauldron helps with potions which is very "witchy" and lets me make healing potions for everyone; Ward is a limited effect protective hex, but with a lightly armored group like this one it could actually come in handy.)
Minor Spell Expertise: "You are able to cast a 1st-level spell as a spell-like ability twice per day." (For a healer witch I'd be going for Cure Light Wounds.)
Godless Healing:
"You have mastered a specialized and complex technique to ignore pain by focusing your belief on the self rather than relying on faith."
Prerequisites: Cannot have a patron deity.
Benefit: Once per day when you have half your total hit points or fewer, you may heal yourself of an amount of damage equal to 1d8 plus your total Hit Dice as a move action. This is a supernatural ability.
Special: You can take this feat more than once. Each time you do, you may heal yourself one additional time per day. (Since I'm the only healer type, this could really save my bacon; it doesn't heal a lot but with a slow progression game it will remain useful for many sessions of play. However, the "cannot have a patron deity" sort of clashes with witches having a patron.)
Familiar, Improved: (I'd select from the Harbinger Archon, Lyrakie Azata, or Silvanshee Agathion; all fit with the idea of an otherworldly, good, healing-oriented patron. All are more powerful than the weasel the character is starting with, but I can't right off think of a reason my character would callously ditch her little critter; this would be a choice calling for help from the GM to work the change into the story in a good way.)
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