D&D 3E/3.5 retrofitting a pathfinder class for 3.5

[Ajores]

Her issue about changing is that she is running a homebrew world and so many races and other things come from 3.5 that she feels overwhelmed changing things.

Hmm that's understandable, but I think the changes in pathfinder are both very minor and it'll make her homebrew world easier to manage. I mean, all you do is add +2 to most races statistics and every class has a new ability Feats at every odd numbered level now too.

Skills are totally a minor issue too, because you can choose to accept the new skills or ignore them (with a homebrew world afterall, your own personalized skill set is part of what makes it unique,) but with the way you "manage" skills is honestly easier (no points, just ranks), and changes like those will make NPC generation faster imo!

I get her adversion, and it seems like a lot of work, but once she feels comfortable with the changes, she'll probably love the new mechanics

On a different note more related to your question: Of course she's calling the shots, but concerning your witch, it's a matter of do you want to play a "witch theme" or just want to play the "witch class"? I could recommend a great class that's very similar to the witch, and it's the witch from Arcana Evolved. It's balanced with 3e and any changes would be minor. They get their own special set of spells (which she might not like) but the character will be balanced with the other members if you stick to the experience point progression for it. One of my favorite classes from that book actually. In stead of hexes you get "manifestations" which are very similar.

On a side note, I totally get where your DM is coming from, so while the witch is a nice class you would probably have better luck looking at something from 3.5 materials rather than pathfinder. Dumbing down a class... that feels almost like it would take too much away? I'm not being opposing to your idea, I just think there are other ways to look at your problem.

EDIT: My point there, I mean to say, is that you could dumb down the witch class, but there are probably ways of taking what you like from it and substituting class features from another 3.5 class that would basically give you the same thing. Arcana evolved is my suggestion, but heroes of horror has some things too I believe? And then you have the "witch" from the DMG lol.

 

[Elf Witch]

Hmm that's understandable, but I think the changes in pathfinder are both very minor and it'll make her homebrew world easier to manage. I mean, all you do is add +2 to most races statistics and every class has a new ability Feats at every odd numbered level now too.

Skills are totally a minor issue too, because you can choose to accept the new skills or ignore them (with a homebrew world afterall, your own personalized skill set is part of what makes it unique,) but with the way you "manage" skills is honestly easier (no points, just ranks), and changes like those will make NPC generation faster imo!

I get her adversion, and it seems like a lot of work, but once she feels comfortable with the changes, she'll probably love the new mechanics

On a different note more related to your question: Of course she's calling the shots, but concerning your witch, it's a matter of do you want to play a "witch theme" or just want to play the "witch class"? I could recommend a great class that's very similar to the witch, and it's the witch from Arcana Evolved. It's balanced with 3e and any changes would be minor. They get their own special set of spells (which she might not like) but the character will be balanced with the other members if you stick to the experience point progression for it. One of my favorite classes from that book actually. In stead of hexes you get "manifestations" which are very similar.

On a side note, I totally get where your DM is coming from, so while the witch is a nice class you would probably have better luck looking at something from 3.5 materials rather than pathfinder. Dumbing down a class... that feels almost like it would take too much away? I'm not being opposing to your idea, I just think there are other ways to look at your problem.

EDIT: My point there, I mean to say, is that you could dumb down the witch class, but there are probably ways of taking what you like from it and substituting class features from another 3.5 class that would basically give you the same thing. Arcana evolved is my suggestion, but heroes of horror has some things too I believe? And then you have the "witch" from the DMG lol.

She has a lot of non standard races in her world taken from the races books as well as heavy psionics , alternate classes instead of core classes for example warlocks instead of sorcerers. It is a really cool world to play in.

I think her biggest fear is that while she is very creative on making the fluff part she is unsure of herself when it comes to crunch. She says she feels she does not understand game design well enough to muck around and change things and still keep everything balanced. So she relies on crunch stuff from published resources.

I am not set that my witch has to be pathfinder if there are other witch type classes that could be pointed out to me I would love to take a look at them. I don't like the witch from the DMG I will take a look at the other two and someone else suggested the Complete Witch from Mongoose.

I like the idea of a witch type magic user. I like witches and it is one kind of magic user that I have not played.

 

[Ajores]

She has a lot of non standard races in her world taken from the races books as well as heavy psionics , alternate classes instead of core classes for example warlocks instead of sorcerers. It is a really cool world to play in.

I think her biggest fear is that while she is very creative on making the fluff part she is unsure of herself when it comes to crunch. She says she feels she does not understand game design well enough to muck around and change things and still keep everything balanced. So she relies on crunch stuff from published resources.

I am not set that my witch has to be pathfinder if there are other witch type classes that could be pointed out to me I would love to take a look at them. I don't like the witch from the DMG I will take a look at the other two and someone else suggested the Complete Witch from Mongoose.

I like the idea of a witch type magic user. I like witches and it is one kind of magic user that I have not played.

My personal favorite witch style class for 3.5 was definitely the one from Arcana Evolved. That has my highest recommendation, but it too was designed to fit something not quite pure 3.5e (it would work if you take it for what it is with the exp progression + spells, (which would give your character something "unique" compared to other spell casters in your game) but it might be too different for your DM to feel comfortable with.) Also, what about the "witch" is it you find appealing? The dark arts? Taboo female magic user? Whatever the real "theme" is you're going for matters more than the class name. It's really more of an archtype you're aiming for, but the pathfinder class, to me, looks to be of equal power as a 3.5 wizard, but maybe more powerful?

Honestly I'm not so sure what my answer would be for you, but it really does sound like you got your answer already. GL with your game though, I hope your DM approves