Witch, Herb Witch; Elf

Self-Interested Preface: The Herb Witch archetype trades its first level hex and sort of its second-level hex for an amazing panacea-like debuff remover.  Ever been under the effect of Blindness(-Deafness) below level five, or without a cleric?  An herb witch can fix that from LEVEL ONE with a Profession (Herbalist) check as a standard action, 3 + INT times a day.  Ever ended up stricken by a debilitating poison or disease in the middle of a dungeon?  Herb witch can fix that too.  An herb witch's remedy can negate blindness, deafness, fatigue, nausea (!), the sickened condition, any poison, or any disease on the fly, with no other preparation than having been able to commune with its familiar at the beginning of the day.  It's extremely worth it.  Profession is boosted by WIS, which is not a primary stat, but the herb witch gets an additional +1/2 level added to Herbalist from its archetype, another +2 from the feat Breadth Of Experience, and I would argue it should receive a +4 from the Cauldron hex it's forced to take at 2nd level [otherwise it doesn't even fit thematically with the archetype, since the herb witch uses its Profession (Herbalist) check instead of Craft (Alchemy) and it's pretty much a wasted hex].  After level 10, the Profession (Herbalist) opposing roll is done twice, taking the higher result, and should just about always succeed.

Incredible scaling panacea class feature aside, this character's built to be very good at the Slumber hex, even though it doesn't receive it until 3rd level, ending up with a base DC 18 effect when it does get it from a racial trait, religion trait, and maxed INT.  This should be used constantly whenever possible, ideally taking out the strongest creatures before the fight even begins due to this character's high Initiative(+11 at level 1) and Stealth.  Initiative could be boosted even higher by switching out one of the social traits with an Initiative-boosting trait, but I wanted this character to be really good at most everything it tries to do, including Diplomacy.  Spirit Talker gained at level 7 and Ritual Hex gained at level 13 trade time for modular versatility to the hexes this character is capable of.  Aside from those, its maxed INT and Time domain should keep its spellcasting consistently relevant.  This character is a debilitator.

This character'd be fun to play.  Everything it does is extremely effective and of use to its party: its high Knowledge rolls, fantastic panacea, reasonable-DC debuffs, competitive class skills (including Diplomacy, Perception and Stealth), and its eventual buff and aid spells (including Haste, Overland Flight and Heal).  Unfortunately, it's pretty squishy and there's not a ton it can do if it's made a target by a powerful magekiller.  Try to keep that from happening with stealth, area spells, and tactical movement.

This build created in December of 2015.

Witch (Herb Witch), Level 20

Race: +2 DEX, +2 INT, -2 CON [+1 Hit Point/+1 Skill Point/+additional spell of (highest level known-1) or lower]

Racial Traits

Keen Senses (+2 to Perception)

Elven Magic (+2 to caster level checks to overcome spell resistance and Spellcraft to identify magic items)

Fey Thoughts (Perception and Stealth become class skills)

Dreamspeaker (+1 DC to cast divination spells and sleep effects)

Darkvision 60’

Light Sensitivity

Character Traits/Drawbacks

Drawback: Warded Against Nature (DC 20 Handle Animal to get animals to approach within 30’)

Race: Dilettante Artist [+1 Diplomacy and Perform (Oratory), Diplomacy becomes class skill]

Religion: Honeyed Words (+1 Diplomacy, +1 DC to non-controlling, one-shot, peaceful charm and compulsion effects)

Social: Student Of Philosophy [+INT instead of +CHA to Diplomacy for persuasion) and Bluff for lying]

            

Class Skills: Craft (Any), Diplomacy, Fly, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Nature), Knowledge (Planes), Perception, Profession (Any), Spellcraft, Stealth, and Use Magic Device.

Languages: Common, Elven, Abyssal, Aklo, Draconic, Infernal, Orc

1: Witch (Herb Witch) 1, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +0

            Saves: +1/+3/+2

Feats: Simple Weapon Proficiency, Herb Lore, Witch Spells, Witch Patron: Time, Witch’s Familiar, [1^st Level Feat] Breadth Of Experience, [Anti-Hero] Improved Initiative

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Planes), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Spells:    0th Level- All Witch Cantrips

1^st Level- Adhesive Spittle, Blend, Ear-Piercing Scream, Ill Omen, Mage Armor, Ray Of Enfeeblement, Undine’s Curse, Youthful Appearance

Base Spells Per Day: 3 Lvl. 0, 3 Lvl. 1

Familiar: Greensting Scorpion, Bodyguard Archetype

2: Witch (Herb Witch) 2, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +1

            Saves: +1/+3/+3

Feats: Witch Hex(es), [Cauldron] Brew Potion

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (History), Knowledge (Nature), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Hex:       Cauldron [matter of opinion, but this should grant a +4 bonus to Profession (Herbalist)]

New Spells:    1^st Level- Blood Money, Hex Vulnerability, [Patron] Ventriloquism

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 4 Lvl. 1

3: Witch (Herb Witch) 3, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +1

            Saves: +2/+4/+3

Feats: [3^rd Level Feat] Extra Hex

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Hex:       Slumber

New Spells:    2^nd Level- Blindness/Deafness, Glitterdust

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 4 Lvl. 1, 2 Lvl. 2

4: Witch (Herb Witch) 4, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +2

            Ability Score Increase: INT +1 (21)

            Saves: +2/+4/+4

Feats: (none)

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Hex:       Cackle

New Spells:    2^nd Level- Touch Of Idiocy, Vomit Swarm, [Patron] Silence

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 3 Lvl. 2

5: Witch (Herb Witch) 5, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +2

            Saves: +2/+4/+4

Feats: [5^th Level Feat] Accursed Hex

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Spells:    3^rd Level- Hex Glyph, Thorny Entanglement

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 3 Lvl. 2, 2 Lvl. 3

6: Witch (Herb Witch) 6, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +3

            Saves: +3/+5/+5

Feats: (none)

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Hex:       Evil Eye

New Spells:    3^rd Level- Bestow Curse, Dispel Magic, [Patron] Haste

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 5 Lvl. 1, 4 Lvl. 2, 3 Lvl. 3

7: Witch (Herb Witch) 7, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +3

            Saves: +3/+5/+5

Feats: [7^th Level Feat] Spirit Talker

Skills(7): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Spells:    4^th Level- Black Tentacles, Enervation

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 4 Lvl. 2, 3 Lvl. 3, 2 Lvl. 4

8: Witch (Herb Witch) 8, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +4

            Increased Ability Score: INT +1 (22)

            Saves: +3/+5/+6

Feats: (none)

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Hex:       Misfortune

New Spells:    4^th Level- Confusion, Debilitating Portent, [Patron] Threefold Aspect

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 5 Lvl. 2, 4 Lvl. 3, 3 Lvl. 4

9: Witch (Herb Witch) 9, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +4

            Saves: +4/+6/+6

Feats: [9^th Level Feat] Signature Skill: Profession (Herbalist)

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth

New Spells:    5^th Level- Dominate Person, Feeblemind

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 4 Lvl. 3, 3 Lvl. 4, 2 Lvl. 5

10: Witch (Herb Witch) 10, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +5

            Saves: +4/+6/+7

Feats: Signature Skill Unlock (10^th), (can now select Major Hexes)

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +1 other

New Hex:       Agony

New Spells:    5^th Level- Magic Jar, Overland Flight, [Patron] Teleport

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 4 Lvl. 3, 4 Lvl. 4, 3 Lvl. 5

11: Witch (Herb Witch) 11, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +5

            Saves: +4/+6/+7

Feats: [11th Level Feat] Split Hex

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +1 other

New Spells:    6^th Level- Raise Dead, True Seeing

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 4 Lvl. 4, 3 Lvl. 5, 2 Lvl. 6

12: Witch (Herb Witch) 12, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +6/+1   

            Increased Ability Score: INT +1 (23)

            Saves: +5/+7/+8

Feats: (none)

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +1 other

New Hex:       Ice Tomb

New Spells:    6^th Level- Greater Dispel Magic, Swarm Skin, [Patron] Disintegrate

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 4 Lvl. 4, 4 Lvl. 5, 3 Lvl. 6

13: Witch (Herb Witch) 13, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +6/+1

            Saves: +5/+7/+8

Feats: [13th Level Feat] Ritual Hex

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +1 other

New Spells:    7^th Level- Heal, (as desired)

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 4 Lvl. 5, 3 Lvl. 6, 1 Lvl. 7

14: Witch (Herb Witch) 14, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +7/+2

            Saves: +5/+7/+9

Feats: (none)

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +1 other

New Hex:       Fortune

New Spells:    7^th Level- (as desired), [Patron] Expend

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 4 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 2 Lvl. 7

15: Witch (Herb Witch) 15, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +7/+2

            Saves: +6/+8/+9

Feats: Signature Skill Unlock (15^th), [15th Level Feat] Spell Penetration

Skills(8): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +1 other

New Spells:    8^th Level- Greater Share Skin, Prediction Of Failure

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 5 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 2 Lvl. 7, 1 Lvl. 8

16: Witch (Herb Witch) 16, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +8/+3

            Saves: +6/+8/+10

            Ability Score Increase: INT +1 (24)

Feats: (none)

Skills(9): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +2 others

New Hex:       Waxen Image

New Spells:    8^th Level- Clone, (as desired), [Patron] Temporal Stasis

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 6 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 4 Lvl. 6, 4 Lvl. 7, 2 Lvl. 8

17: Witch (Herb Witch) 17, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +8/+3

            Saves: +6/+8/+10

Feats: [17th Level Feat] Greater Spell Penetration

Skills(9): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +2 others

New Spells:    9^th Level- Dominate Monster, Mass Suffocation

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 6 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 5 Lvl. 6, 4 Lvl. 7, 2 Lvl. 8, 1 Lvl. 9

18: Witch (Herb Witch) 18, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +9/+4

            Saves: +7/+9/+11

Feats: (none), (can now select Grand Hexes)

Skills(9): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +2 others

New Hex:       Life Giver

New Spells:    9^th Level- (as desired), [Patron] Time Stop

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 6 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 5 Lvl. 6, 4 Lvl. 7, 3 Lvl. 8, 2 Lvl. 9

19: Witch (Herb Witch) 19, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +9/+4

            Saves: +7/+9/+11

Feats: [19th Level Feat] Split Major Hex

Skills(9): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +2 others

New Spells:    9^th Level- (as desired)

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 6 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 5 Lvl. 6, 5 Lvl. 7, 3 Lvl. 8, 3 Lvl. 9

20: Witch (Herb Witch) 20, +1 Hit Point

            BAB: +10/+5

            Ability Score Increase: WIS +1 (12)

            Saves: +7/+9/+13

Feats: Signature Skill Unlock (20^th)

Skills(9): Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (History), Perception, Profession (Herbalist), Spellcraft, Stealth, +2 others

New Hex:       Eternal Slumber

New Spells:    9^th Level- (as desired)

Base Spells Per Day: 4 Lvl. 0, 6 Lvl. 1, 6 Lvl. 2, 6 Lvl. 3, 5 Lvl. 4, 5 Lvl. 5, 5 Lvl. 6, 5 Lvl. 7, 4 Lvl. 8, 4 Lvl. 9