From the darkest forests and the deepest oceans comes the Shadow Witch. Others believe the Shadow Witches to be evil dark mages simply because they constantly seclude themselves from others. But the Shadow Witch can be just as good as evil. She is sneaky and mischievous while hidden in the shadows from which she obtains her awesome power.
Adventures:
Shadow Witches tend to go on adventures that help and empower them personally. It is rare that a Shadow Witch will go on a quest just for the purpose of helping others unless she also gets something out of it. But when Shadow Witches make true friends, they will go to any lengths, even death, to protect those friends during adventures. She will often times go on adventures in order to practice her magic in battle or to gain new magic abilities.
Characteristics:
Shadow Witches tend to keep to themselves most of the time. They will only usually help someone or something if they are a true friend or in near-death danger. Shadow Witches gain their magic from the deepest parts of the shadows and therefore likes to stay in the dark. They often times will have a magic spellbook that they carry with them at all times along with a spellpouch containing things needed to perform their most powerful spells. Because Shadow Witches live in the shadows, they have learned to obtain some of the skills that rogues have, and focuses on these skills greatly. Like sorcerers, shadow witches perform magic through innate power rather than through carefully trained skills like a wizard. The shadow witch is very good with illusion spells. Because they don't have to go through the long period of time to learn the skills needed for magic like a wizard, the shadow witch can take more time to learn more fighting skills. Because they can sneak through shadows and darkness with the abilities of a rogue and perform spells at ease, they are perfect spies for an adventuring party.
Alignment:
Shadow Witches wander around in the shadows constantly, following their hearts to whatever they wish to find. They often times do not agree with tradition or law and will rarely be of a lawful alignment. They tend to lean towards chaotic alignment or and neutral instead of a predecided good or evil. This is not always true, though. There can very well be a lawful evil shadow witch for example.
Religion:
Some shadow witches tend to favor Boccob, god of magic, while others even like Wee Jas, goddess of death magic. Most shadow witches tend to not have a deity at all. They may also have a certain deity depending on their race.
Background:
Shadow witches develop early basic powers and the love for darkness at an early age. From the time they are born, strange magical shadows may be seen surrounding a shadow witch child and black sparks will often shoot from their fingertips while still a baby. Their first spells are often incomplete, spontaneous, uncontrolled, and sometimes dangerous. Unlike wizards and some sorcerers, shadow witches never have a mentor; the shadows are their mentors. They learn and grow from within the shadows.
Races:
Most shadow witches are elves or halflings. The innate power of shadow magic, however, is very unpredictable and can appear anywhere, including half-orcs.
Other classes:
Shadow witches seem to find themselves most like other self-taught classes like sorcerers and druids. They are very competitive towards wizards and sorcerers because they can perform nearly the same spells.
Abilities:
Charisma determines how powerful a spell a shadow witch can cast, how many spells the witch can cast per day, and how hard those spells are to resist. To cast a spell, a shadow witch must have a charisma score of 10+ the spell's level. A shadow witch gets bonus spells based on charisma. The Difficulty Class of a saving throw against a shadow witch's spell is 10+ the spell's level + the witch's Charisma modifier. Like a wizard and sorcerer, a shadow witch benefits from high dexterity and constitution scores.
Alignment: Any
Hit Die: d6
Class Skills
The shadow witch's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Alchemy (Int), Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intuit Direction (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at each additional level: 4 + Int modifier
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the shadow witch.
Weapon and armor proficiency:
Shadow witches are proficient with all simple weapons and any weapon that is suitable for stealth which include the crossbow (hand or light), dagger (any type), dart, light mace, sap, shortbow (normal and composite), shortsword, club, morningstar, quarterstaff, and rapier. Shadow witches are proficient with light armor and very light shields. Shadow witches may only use padded, leather, and studded leather for armor. For shields, they may only use a buckler, small wooden shield, and a small steel shield. Anything else is not allowed.
Spells:
A shadow witch casts arcane spells. Your shadow witch begins play knowing five 0-level spells (also called cantrips) and two 1st-level spells of your choice. At each level, the witch gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table 2: Shadow Witch Spells Known. A shadow witch is limited to casting a certain number of spells of each level per day, but she doesn't need to prepare her spells in advance like a wizard. To learn or cast a spell, a shadow witch must have a Charisma score of 10+ the spell's level. The Difficulty Class for saving throws against shadow witch spells is 10 + the spell's level + the witch's Charisma modifier.
Familiar:
A Shadow witch can obtain a familiar but she is restricted to only certain kinds of familiars. She may only have a bat, a cat, a hawk, a raven, or a wolf. Doing so takes a day and uses magical materials that cost 100 gp. A familiar is a magical, unusually tough, and intelligent version of a small animal. It is a magical beast not an animal. The creature serves as a companion and servant. As the shadow witch increases in level, the familiar also increases in power. If the familiar dies or the shadow witch decides to dismiss it, the witch must perform a fortitude saving throw (DC 15). If the saving throw fails, the witch loses 200 experience points per class level. A successful saving throw reduces the loss to half of that amount. (See pg. 51 in the Player's Handbook for more information on familiars.
Brew Potion: Starting at 3rd level, the shadow witch obtain the feat Brew Potion.
Combat Casting: The shadow witch obtains this feat at 6th level.
Craft Wand: This feat is obtained at 8th level.
Empower Spell: This feat is obtained at 9th level.
Metamagic Feat: Starting at 10th level and every fifth level after that (15th, 20th, 25th, etc.) The shadow witch obtains another metamagic feat of your choice.
Halfling (Gnome) Shadow Witch Starting Package
Armor: None, speed 40 ft.
Weapons:
Quarterstaff (1d6, crit x2, 4lb., Large, Bludgeoning)
Light Crossbow (1d8, crit 19-20/x2, 80 ft., 6lb., Small, Piercing)
Dagger (1d4, crit 19-20/x2, 10ft., 1lb., Tiny, Piercing)
Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 5 + Int modifier.
Skill Ranks Ability Armor Alchemy 4 Int Balance 4 Dex Climb 4 Str Concentration 4 Con Craft 4 Int Disguise 4 Cha Heal 4 Wis Hide 4 Dex Intuit Direction 4 Wis Knowledge (arcana) 4 Int Listen 4 Wis Move Silently 4 Dex Profession 4 Wis Scry 4 Int Spellcraft 4 Int Use Magic Device 4 ChaFeat: Run
Alternative Shadow Witch Starting Package
As halfling (gnome) shadow witch except
Race: Dwarf, elf, half-elf, half-orc.
Armor: Speed 20 ft. (dwarf only)
Skill selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 2 + Int modifier.
Bonus Feat: None.
Table 1: The Shadow Witch
Level |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special |
1 |
+0 |
+0 |
+1 |
+1 |
Summon Familar |
2 |
+1 |
+1 |
+2 |
+3 |
|
3 |
+1 |
+1 |
+3 |
+3 |
Brew Potion |
4 |
+3 |
+2 |
+4 |
+3 |
|
5 |
+4 |
+2 |
+5 |
+4 |
|
6 |
+5 |
+4 |
+5 |
+5 |
Combat Casting |
7 |
+5 |
+4 |
+6 |
+5 |
|
8 |
+5 |
+4 |
+6 |
+6 |
|
9 |
+5 |
+5 |
+7 |
+6 |
Empower Spell |
10 |
+5 |
+6 |
+7 |
+6 |
+1 Metamagic Feat |
11 |
+6 |
+6 |
+7 |
+6 |
|
12 |
+6/+1 |
+6 |
+8 |
+7 |
|
13 |
+6/+1 |
+6 |
+8 |
+7 |
|
14 |
+6/+1 |
+6 |
+8 |
+7 |
|
15 |
+7/+2 |
+6 |
+8 |
+8 |
+1 Metamagic Feat |
16 |
+8/+3 |
+6 |
+8 |
+9 |
|
17 |
+9/+4 |
+7 |
+8 |
+10 |
|
18 |
+9/+4 |
+7 |
+9 |
+10 |
|
19 |
+10/+4 |
+7 |
+9 |
+11 |
|
20 |
+10/+4 |
+7 |
+9 |
+12 |
+1 Metamagic Feat |
Table 1: Shadow Witch Spells per Day
Level -------------------------------Spells per Day------------------------------- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 6 2 - - - - - - - - 2 6 3 - - - - - - - - 3 6 4 - - - - - - - - 4 6 5 2 - - - - - - - 5 7 6 3 - - - - - - - 6 7 6 4 3 - - - - - - 7 7 7 5 4 - - - - - - 8 7 7 6 5 3 - - - - - 9 7 7 7 6 3 - - - - - 10 7 7 7 7 4 2 - - - - 11 7 7 7 7 5 3 - - - - 12 7 7 7 7 6 4 4 - - - 13 7 7 7 7 7 5 6 - - - 14 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 3 - - 15 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 4 - - 16 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 5 4 - 17 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 5 - 18 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 4 19 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 5 20 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7Table 3: Shadow Witch Spells Known
Level -------------------------------Spells per Day------------------------------- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 5 2 - - - - - - - - 2 6 2 - - - - - - - - 3 6 3 - - - - - - - - 4 6 3 1 - - - - - - - 5 7 3 2 - - - - - - - 6 7 4 2 1 - - - - - - 7 7 4 3 2 - - - - - - 8 7 5 4 3 1 - - - - - 9 8 6 5 4 3 - - - - - 10 8 6 5 5 4 1 - - - - 11 8 7 6 5 4 2 - - - - 12 9 7 6 6 5 3 1 - - - 13 9 7 7 6 5 4 2 - - - 14 9 8 7 7 6 5 3 1 - - 15 9 9 8 8 7 6 4 2 - - 16 9 9 9 9 7 7 5 3 1 - 17 9 9 9 9 8 8 6 4 2 - 18 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 5 3 1 19 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 5 5 20 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
0-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Shades (this will be needed by a Shadow Witch; but you don't need to start with it) Shadow Conjuration (this will be needed by a Shadow Witch; but you don't need to start with it) Shadow Evocation (this will be needed by a Shadow Witch; but you don't need to start with it) Shadow Walk (this will be needed by a Shadow Witch; but you don't need to start with it) Ray of Frost Dancing Lights Ghost Sound Light Read Magic Dream Nightmare Magic Missle Arcane Mark Mage Hand Resistance Flare Prestidigitation 1st-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Change Self Color Spray Silent Image Ventriloquism Sleep Message Burning Hands Comprehend Languages Indentify Alarm Endure Elements Fog Cloud Tenser's Floating Disk Hypnotism Charm Person True Strike Detect Secret Doors Handle Animal Create Water Sympathy Sunburst 2nd-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Shield Obscuring Mist Summon Monster I Nystul's Magical Aura Chill Touch Cause Fear Erase Feather Fall Arcane Lock Detect Thoughts Leomund's Trap Minor Image Virtue Animal Trance Blur Misdirection Obscure Object Tasha's Hideous Laughter Continual Flame Darkness Daylight True Seeing Legend Lore 3rd-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Acid Fog Air Walk Alter Self Arcane Eye Darkvision Ghoul Touch Pyrotechnics Cat's Grace Fog Cloud Summon Swarm Web Hypnotic Pattern Invisibility Levitate Whispering Wind Magic Mouth Knock Resist Elements Endurance Glitterdust Suggestion 4th-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Phantom Steed Explosive Runes Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law Rope Trick Flame Arrow Sleet Storm Stinking Cloud Summon Monster II Tongues Hold Person Fireball Gust of Wind Wind Wall Lightning Bolt Invisibility Sphere Major Image Vampiric Touch Fly Secret Page Water Breathing Remove Curse Charm Monster Minor Creation 5th-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Solid Fog Leomund's Secure Shelter Confusion Emotion Fire Shield Ice Storm Shout Wall of Fire Wall of Ice Illusory Wall Hallucinatory Terrain Phantasmal Killer Rainbow Pattern Dimension Door Polymorph Other Polymorph Self Dissmissal Lesser Planar Binding Major Creation Wall of Stone Wall of Iron Contact Other Plane Prying Eyes Mind Fog Bigby's Interposing Hand Cone of Cold Wall of Force Greater Shadow Conjuration (*this is a required Shadow Witch spell when you reach this level) Telekinesis Teleport 6th-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS False Vision Mirage Arcana Persistant Image Seeming Permanency Antimagic Field Guards and Wards Acid Fog Planar Binding Summon Monster III Analyze Dweomer Bigby's Forceful Hand Mass Suggestion Chain Lightning Otiluke's Freezing Sphere Greater Shadow Evocation (*this is a required Shadow Witch spell when you reach this level) Mislead Permanent Image Programmed Image Project Image Veil Control Water Control Weather Stone to Flesh Tree Stride Control Plants 7th-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Diminish Plants Tree Shape Snare Summon Nature's Ally I Summon Monster IV Fire Storm Spellstaff Liveoak Stone Tell Fire Seeds Gaseous Form Gust of Wind Phantom Steed Silence Bull's Strength Slow Animate Dead Bless Banishment Bigby's Grasping Hand Insanity Sequester Delayed Blast Fireball Mordenkainen's Sword Prismatic Spray Mass Invisibility Simulacrum 8th-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Statue Plane Shift Reverse Gravity Limited Wish Vanish Teleport Without Error Mind Blank Prismatic Wall Protection from Spells Shapechange Weird Gate Meteor Swarm Greater Planar Binding Incendiary Cloud Maze Blindness/Deafness Summon Monster V Summon Monster VI Trap the Soul Discern Location Antipathy Binding Sending Otto's Irresistable Dance Bigby's Clenched Fist Clone Symbol Iron Body 9th-LEVEL SHADOW WITCH SPELLS Freedom Imprisonment Prismatic Sphere Power Word, Kill Summon Monster VII Foresight Bigby's Crushing Hand Finger of Death Control Undead Astral Projection