D&D 5E So Where my Witches at?

[Greg K]

The queen Bavmorda from Willow movie might be a good example of witch. Melissandre, from Game of Thrones would be a "cleric", but her behavior would very close to a "witch" from RPG.

I would also add Morgaine, Igraine and the other priestesses of Avalon from Mists of Avalon as good examples

 

[Faolyn]

Have the Discworld witches been mentioned yet?

 

[Mind of tempest]

I believe so but I think in passing.

 

[MGibster]

For those of you who might be interested, the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database might be of interest to those of you looking for historical references. The database allows you to explore nearly 4,000 records and you can even download the whole database. You can search Witchraft cases by ritual objects, calendar events, unnatural beings, demonic pacts, etc., etc. So if you want to look up all the cases that involve kissing the devil's butt then have at you.

 

[Greg K]

For those of you who might be interested, the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database might be of interest to those of you looking for historical references. The database allows you to explore nearly 4,000 records and you can even download the whole database. You can search Witchraft cases by ritual objects, calendar events, unnatural beings, demonic pacts, etc., etc. So if you want to look up all the cases that involve kissing the devil's butt then have at you.

That is good for looking at one take on witchcraft and something I may check out further. I want a witch class that handles multiple takes, because other cultures have their own traditional historical version of witchcraft.
In addition to the above, there is modern witchcraft (Wicca) initially founded by Gardner. Gardner was in part influenced by Aleister Crowley's Golden Order of the Hermetic Dawn (which itself probably falls under occultist mentioned earlier and of which Gardner was, iirc, a ranking member). From Gardner's Wicca, you have variant/derived Wiccan traditions such as Alexandrian Wicca (an offshoot of Gardner), and Dianic Wicca.

 

[MGibster]

That is good for looking at one take on witchcraft and something I may check out further. I want a witch class that handles multiple takes, because other cultures have their own traditional historical version of witchcraft.

The Warlock, with it's diabolism/pacts, is already pretty close to the idea of a witch from early modern Europe.

n addition to the above, there is modern witchcraft (Wicca) initially founded by Gardner. Gardner was in part influenced by Aleister Crowley's Golden Order of the Hermetic Dawn (which itself probably falls under occultist mentioned earlier and of which Gardner was, iirc, a ranking member). From Gardner's Wicca, you have variant/derived Wiccan traditions such as Alexandrian Wicca (an offshoot of Gardner), and Dianic Wicca.

I would steer clear of modeling a witch class off of modern existing religious groups/beliefs. That's just a whole can of worms I wouldn't want to open.

 

[Greg K]

The Warlock, with it's diabolism/pacts, is already pretty close to the idea of a witch from early modern Europe.


I would steer clear of modeling a witch class off of modern existing religious groups/beliefs. That's just a whole can of worms I wouldn't want to open.

Well considering that I don't want to see the witch limited to early modern Europe, my favorite witch supplement for any version was written by a practicing Wiccan, my second favorite take also addresses modern religious takes (among its variations covered), and several fantasy versions of witches appear to influenced by Gardner (the founder of WIcca), I disagree about staying clear. I just expect it to be done respectfully.

 

[MGibster]

Well considering that I don't want to see the witch limited to early modern Europe, my favorite witch supplement for any version was written by a practicing Wiccan, my second favorite take also addresses modern religious takes (among its variations covered), and several fantasy versions of witches appear to influenced by Gardner (the founder of WIcca), I disagree about staying clear. I just expect it to be done respectfully.

My original post was just a fun link that many people might find useful. It wasn't a mandate for what the witch must be in D&D or your game for that matter. Do what you will in your campaign shall be the whole of the law.

 

[Guest 6801328]

This is not true. While the vast majority of those persecuted for witchcraft in Europe were female, around 20% of those accused were male. Male witches are also known among the Azande where it is also believed that not all witches have control over the harm they do. In addition, the reasons behind charges of witchcraft vary by country and culture. Yes, gender roles may have been an issue in some cultures, but family feuds and social inequality were and continue to be motivations in others (and family feud along with church politics are now believed to be behind the Salem witch trials).

I was talking about the fictional archetype.

 

[Blue Orange]

FWIW in most cultures as far as I know 'witchcraft' and 'magic' mean 'person who is manipulating the supernatural for evil purposes'--it's the person who called on evil spirits to kill your cow. Socially acceptable use of the unseen is done by shamans and priests--and, of course, our shamans are their evil wizards and vice versa.

The D&D wizard--scholarly, treating magic as an impersonal force to be manipulated, engaging in experiments with the unknown morally neutral--doesn't really have a historical analog. Its closest approximation is the modern scientist or engineer (lots of spells with well-defined effects organized by effect and power level?), and wizards are usually portrayed as approaching magic the way a scientist would if magic was real.

So there's no reason your D&D witch can't project modern ideas back into a pseudomedieval framework.