THIS DOCUMENT
I did not review the spirit bindings or the new spells. I do think that the "Sight Thievery" spells could be a single spell with a At Higher Levels. section.
Each change has its own page. Where you see ... it is because I am ignoring a paragraph as there are no changes to it.
The Witch
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Cantrips Known |
Spells Known |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | Spirits Bound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Quickening, Spellcasting, Spell Help | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Ancient Coven, Binding Rites | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 3rd | +2 | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 5th | +3 | Traditional Medicine | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 6th | +3 | Coven Feature | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 7th | +3 | Spiritual Spellcasting | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 9th | +4 | — | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 10th | +4 | Coven Feature | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| 11th | +4 | — | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 |
| 13th | +5 | — | 5 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 |
| 14th | +5 | Coven Feature | 5 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 |
| 15th | +5 | — | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
| 17th | +6 | — | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 18th | +6 | Familiar Spirit | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 20th | +6 | Soul Conduit | 5 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
The main changes here are: we move the # of spirits bound to the right, emulating "invocations known" for the Warlock; we rename "bonds" to "spirits bound"; we add a new feature at 1st level called "Spell Help". That is what we will rename "Bonded Casting". The name is simple and describes the feature.
Spellcasting Ability
Choose a single score, don't give the player a choice. This introduces the 'trap' option of letting them select Charisma. The class grants proficiency with Wisdom and Intelligence saving throws, so following the same design as all PHB classes, the spellcastign ability should be one of those two scores. I personally suggest Intelligence as we have less of those in the game, and it also matches the lore, but Wisdom is fine.
THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT ASSUMES WISDOM IS BEING CHOSEN.
Spell Help
Witches are adept at casting spells in groups, and as such, can use the Help action to aid another spell caster. When you're within 30 feet of an ally that can cast spells, you can use your Help action to assist them with their spellcasting.
Until the beginning of your next turn, when the selected ally casts a spell, you can choose one of the effects below to occur. Once an effect occurs, this feature cannot be used again until the beginning of your next turn.
- If the ally's spell requires an attack roll, they may make the first attack roll at advantage.
- If the ally's spell requires a DC saving throw, the one creature targeted by the spell has the DC increased by an amount equal to half your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).
- If the ally's spell includes a damage roll, then they may maximize a number of dice equal to half your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).
- If the ally's spell has a maximum range to choose a target creature or target point, the range is increased by an additional number of feet equal to 10 times your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).
- If the ally's spell requires concentration, you can both make a DC 15 concentration check. If you both succeed, you begin concentrating on the spell instead of the target. The spell then uses your spellcasting ability and DC instead of the ally's. The ally can refuse to do so; if they do, then select a different effect to occur.
- If the ally's spell requires concentration, until the beginning of your next turn they have a bonus to concentration checks for that spell, equal to half your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).
By dropping the "Bonded Power" point system (which is just proficiency scaling anyways*), I used Wisdom modifier. Though a nerf to level 17 and higher witches, this is a cleaner way to do things.
*I am aware that the "Bonded Power" point system was likely to get rid of Multiclassing cheese - in which case, don't worry about it. Few players will want to use their action to "help" an ally instead of doing something themselves. If you are concerned regardless, move this to 2nd or 3rd level instead of 1st level.
Quickening
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You can use this ability a number of times equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier. When you finish a long rest, you regain all expended uses.
This mimics the Divine Sense use mechanic that Paladin's have. Another option would be to have the number of uses be equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).
Coven Familiar Spells
Is better changed to
Coven Spells
Across the board.
Binding Rites
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A witch may exchange any spirit she has bound for another spirit by performing the ritual as described above.
Blood Binding
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You bind a spirit type of your choice to an unused spell slot, as long as you meet the prerequisites of that spirit type. This binding expires after 24 hours or whenever you use this ability again.
For the duration of the binding, the creature who provided the soul cannot be resurrected by any means short of a true resurrection or wish spell. Once you use this feature, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again.
Devastating Release
At 6th level, spirits you release erupt with energy as their bonds are broken, causing harm to those around you. When you release a spirit, enemies within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spellcasting DC. Those that fail are dealt 1d4 psychic damage for each level you have in the Witch class. Those who take fail also hear wails and screams as the spirit is released, and feel a rush of sorrow and discomfort.
Fragmented Spirits
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You cannot use a spirit's passive effect or release effect if you do not meet the prerequsities for that spirit type.
Witch Multiclassing
Should be Wisdom 13, not Charisma 13 and Wisdom 13.
Binding Rites
If a spirit type has prerequisites, you must meet them in order to bind them.