tips for a gravewalker witch.

[NecroDancer]

I may be playing in a pathfinder campaign soon and I've been looking over the source books and the grave-walker witch seems cool (possessing undead is so awesome). The campaign is from levels 1-X and I'm new to the game so I was wondering if the community had any tips (most combos will probably go over my head). Are there any good spells to get? What are the best hexes? Any good prestige classes for the grave-walker witch or should I stay singe classed?

[Geddy2112]

I played a Gravewalker in a level 1-6 short campaign, and it was a lot of fun. Gravewalker witches are REALLY good in a campaign dominated by undead. Mindless undead are key targets, as they basically become free cannon fodder you can throw on your enemies or each other. You can also use this as a cheeky sonar detector to see if something is undead by using it and seeing if it works-even a level 20 undead has a chance to fail on a natural 1. Likewise, bonethrall is a supernatural ability(as are most hexes) so it does not give off any signs you are using the ability. The ability is at will, and even if they save against it you can keep trying. Nabbing 1-2 mooks and turning them against the enemy in the fight can really add up. I managed to kill a vampire NPC at second level with a lucky shot off the bonethrall ability. Being able to magic jar into them is pretty handy too.

There is no real purpose to multiclassing-you could try to get a neg energy channel to use that to control undead, but your bonethrall will always be stronger. Likewise, you get all of the good non witch spells you need for necromancy replacing your patron spells. The soul warden is a great prestiege class if you want to be nonevil-it gives you a channel pool and some extra undead manipulating abilities, including a bonus to charisma checks to make them do stuff. It also counts as levels for spellcasting, but it won't count as levels for hexes and other witch class features so keep that in mind.

For the most part, the same hexes and spells a vanilla witch would want are going to be good for you. Slumber is such an OP hex and should be the first one you grab. Pick up flight next and you are basically gold. The build is a bit starved for hexes to be focused on cackle/buffing or debuffing but you can do it. YOu want the corset of dire witchcraft and cackling hag's blouse as soon as you can afford each, respectively.

The spell poppet gives you a safe way to deliver touch spells, although using a full round action after casting it kind of sucks. Consider holding the charge if you know combat is coming up. You can use this instead of the prehensile hair hex as a touch spell method, and if you wanna really milk this consider loading up your poppet with touch spells.

[NecroDancer]

Sweet! Any feats I should nab? (is there an equivalent of undead leadership in pathfinder?)

[Geddy2112]

Sweet! Any feats I should nab? (is there an equivalent of undead leadership in pathfinder?)

It is not exactly undead leadership, but undead master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/undead-master) adds 4HD to determine what kind of undead you can animate or how many you control. It requires spell focus: necromancy, but you are liable to take it anyways.The soul warden can choose it as a bonus feat if they qualify.

You can grab extra hex if there is something you critically need, I suggest doing so at first level to get slumber because it is just that good. Otherwise, spell focus in anything besides necromancy you use a lot is never bad. As a full caster, you will probably want some metamagic when you are at higher levels. Also, because you are a full caster improved initiative is very important to you.

[Coretron03]

According to RAW undead master only affects how many undead you can animate, not control which isn't very good. If your dm lets you count as 4 levels higher for both it becomes a better feat.

I would assume traits are allowed in your game? I am pretty sure there is one that gives a +1 to caster level for necromancy spells and reactionary is also good for going first (+2 init). If you want to focus on the animation part of necromancy spell specialisation (feat, +2 caster level to choice of spell. I second extra hex at level 1 just because slumber is a incredibly good hex that's most witches bread and butter and is a pain not to have at level 1 as witches have poor 1st level combat spells.

Depends if you want to focus on more minionmancy or debuffing with necromancy.

[Psyren]

]Likewise, bonethrall is a supernatural ability(as are most hexes) so it does not give off any signs you are using the ability.

To an observer, no, but if the thing you are using it on successfully saves it will feel a "hostile force or tingle." This won't usually be a problem with mindless undead, but an intelligent one might turn hostile if it wasn't already.

[Geddy2112]

To an observer, no, but if the thing you are using it on successfully saves it will feel a "hostile force or tingle." This won't usually be a problem with mindless undead, but an intelligent one might turn hostile if it wasn't already.

It is certainly hostile. If used against a non undead, there would be no effect but the target would still notice correct?

You obviously don't want to just spam it against every undead you see, but it is good to have readied because it can stop a combat before it starts against a solo ghost/vampire/whatever. The real problem is that you get stuck with an intelligent undead that gets a save in 24 hours, and if it passes will likely try to kill you, so you have a major liability on your hands.

At level 8 you can magic jar the thing and send it on a suicide mission, and if you grab it early in a dungeon you can have it follow you and die from combat, but otherwise the thing is a major issue. I did nab a vampire at level 2 and it saved the day, but then we spent the majority of the session figuring out what to do. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

What is really fun is that you retain your mental abilities, like your hexes(slumber, bonethrall), while magic jar'ed in one of your minions. Magic jar is already bonkers good, but having it at will so long as you have undead minions makes it even nastier.