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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7307716" data-attributes="member: 20323">Defining a "witch" is very challenging in and of itself, let alone making it something unique and meaningful in D&D. IMHO, any discussion of a witch class *must* start with this seemingly simple question:What is a witch? And where does a witch's magic come from?Here's an example of the process I'd take to develop a concept of what a "witch" might be in D&D...I'd pick 3-4 mythical witches (e.g. Witch of Endor, Morgan le Fay, Medea, Cerridwen) who aren't hags like Baba Yaga or deities like Hecate. Then I'd pick 3-4 literary witches (e.g. one from Harry Potter, one from Wonderful Wizard of Oz, one from Narnia, maybe one from something more recent). Then I'd pick 3-4 witches from film (e.g. one from The Secret Circle / The Craft, Tia Dalma from Pirates, one from Disney, one from Charmed). And then I'd break down the main traits of each that jumped out at me... For example...Morgan le Fay (mythical witch)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">enchantress, princess, queen</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in her earliest incarnation she was a healer who could shapeshift and fly, but only used her magic for good, and may have derived from a Gaulish legend of 9 virgin priestesses who performed miraculous healing, controlled the sea, foretold the future, and changed into animals</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">can heal (her original role was as a great healer of Arthur) & in one account restores a crazed knight's sanity via crafting a potion & in another account creates a healing balm for a hero</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">one nine magical queen sisters who used magic together (coven?)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">where did she gain her magic? she learned seven magical arts at a convent, specializing in astronomy/astrology & healing... later apprenticed under Merlin... may have had connection to a goddess or fey... it's ambiguous</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">possibly connected to Welsh and Breton water-spirits / Lady of the Lake</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">resided in a mysterious place called the Vale Perilous which seems to exist beyond time (a demi-plane? Shadowfell/Feywild?)... Morgan was alleged to be 200+ years old in some stories</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">gifts Arthur a cloak which is actually cursed... and burns a servant to cinders</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in one account she could turn others to animals (improved bestow curse?), command beasts/dragons/evil spirits (Turn Undead variant?), and had devils as trusted companions (imp/quasit familiar?)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">temporarily turns herself and entourage to stone (meld into stone cast on entire party?)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">employs drugs, coercion, seduction, and enchantment</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">sends the devil Lucifer in disguise of a dragon against Sir Segurant (shapeshifting others?)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">she learn more spells than any other woman – and these very much are spells with components, though most were of the ritual variety IIRC</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">she transforms herself into any animal she desires (polymorph)</li> </ul>From just this one example, I could easily imagine using the Druid class to create a witch in the Morgan le Fay sense – you'd have most of the pertinent spells, the ability to wildshape, herbalism kit proficiency to create healing potions and antidotes, druid "circles" are already thematically akin to "covens", and at high level you age much slower.So, from this one example, I could see a quick tweak of Druid being sufficient to model a Morgan le Fay style witch. But... you really wouldn't need any other unique mechanics. Cursing, flying, polymorphing/shapeshifting, healing, conjuring, melding into stone – those are already in D&D.</blockquote>

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