Winter Witch and Frozen Caress

[Abd al-Azrad]

So I'm playing a Winter Witch, and trying to run it like a high-performance engine of BFC and debuffs. Like one does with a Witch. I settled on Winter Witch because (1) I love the Sleet Storm spell like nothing else, and (2) the character is based on Santa Claus (it was my excuse to constantly be cackling, Ho ho ho!).

Anyway, the Winter Witch has this weird combo of hexes. This combo is pretty irrelevant to my key combat ability, I simply would love to see if there's something clever to be done with it.

Frozen Caress (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/winter-witch#TOC-Ice-Magic): You can transform a Touch-range spell into a Cold spell, adding 1d4 cold damage to the spell. If the spell has a save, this save prevents said cold damage.

Numbing Chill: (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/s-z/winter-witch#TOC-Winter-Hex) Any spell you cast that deals cold damage can gain a rider ability, in which you pick one target damaged by the cold. In addition to the regular effects, the chosen target must make a Fort save or be staggered for 1 round and take 1d4 Dex damage.

I wish I could think of something that could provide better synergy to these abilities. For the most part, I haven't thought of any spell or combo based on these attacks that isn't any better than a basic ranged Hex. I don't even know if I can add Rime Spell to a Frozen Caress spell, because it seems the hex only transforms the spell to a Cold spell when you cast it, and as a prepared caster you have to memorize the metamagic aspect of the spell.

It does feel like I could stack a lot of nasty debuffs into one touch attack, but... is it really worth two hexes and touch range? Can these abilities actually contribute to winning fights? Is there something out there that allows a Winter Witch to defeat enemies which are typically immune to its general attacks?

EDIT: Dumb me, both hexes require a Swift action to activate. Probably can't get more than one of those per round.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Well, the Winter Witch PrC can ignore cold resistance and immunity, so that's a thing. I noticed this trick too; have it on a cantrip for maximum fun.

[NightbringerGGZ]

Don't forget that Frozen Caress combos with Ice Magic, netting you a free +1 DC to all your Touch Spells. You may want to pick up Prehensile Hair and deliver these attacks with your Santa Beard, since it lets you attack w/ a 10 foot reach. Remember that if it is your only natural attack you don't take the -5 attack penalty.

[Abd al-Azrad]

I actually do love the cantrip plan. That plus Numbing Cold makes Ray of Frost pretty nasty. Short-range attack that staggers and deals Dex damage. It's all kinds of limited (can't fire off a Quickened spell that round, only works once per foe, low DC), but it also bypasses some nice immunities and brings a new form of attack online. And I'm kinda forced to take Numbing Cold as part of the Winter Witch, so it's nice to actually use it.

The Prehensile Beard... oh I wish I could pick that up. I'm frankly concerned about getting into melee. It's a high level game, and even if I can absorb a hit or two, it's just so dangerous to deliberately expose myself to that sort of risk. If I knew I could land an attack that would utterly destroy an enemy's ability to reciprocate (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/irresistible-dance), sure...

Full casters are hard.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Rime Spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/rime-spell-metamagic) would synergyze pretty well with that combo :smallwink:

[Abd al-Azrad]

Rime Spell (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/rime-spell-metamagic) would synergyze pretty well with that combo :smallwink:

While I love the thought, would it actually work? Yes, if you've already got an awesome Cold damage spell. But I don't think it works with the Frozen Caress hex.

As a prepared caster, you have to memorize your spells with the metamagic already installed. Frozen Caress changes a touch-range spell into a Cold damaging spell at the time of casting, for the cost of a Swift action. Without some clever way to add metamagic on the fly (Rod, Spell Perfection, Ar....arcanist dip?) this would be awfully tricky.

I guess Rime Metamagic Rod is a fine method, on consideration. I could throw around a Rime Touch of Idiocy, or Bestow Curse, with the Cold Magic-boosted DC and CL.

...Or ignore the Frozen Caress entirely, and just beard-slap people with Rime Numbing Frostbites. Entangled, Staggered, Fatigued and Dex Damaged.

[Dusk Eclipse]

My bad, I missed the fact it was a hex and that it was done at the time of casting.