Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a witch named Serena. However, unlike most witches, Serena was not known for her wickedness and spells. Instead, she had a reputation for her generosity and kindness towards others. The villagers often sought her help and guidance, as they knew she had a compassionate heart. Serena's most notable act of kindness was the creation of the generous witch watch. This magical timepiece had the power to grant people an extra hour each day.
This magical timepiece had the power to grant people an extra hour each day. With this extra hour, they could use it to spend time with their loved ones, pursue their passions, or simply relax and rejuvenate. The generous witch watch was not an ordinary watch.
Wherefore the witch-watcher
The witch-watcher is a witch archetype from _Heroes of the High Court_, and I think it's worth a second look not because it's good -- it really, really isn't -- but because it's kind of a a perfect storm of bad design decisions. That's an extreme opinion, but let's walk through it and see if you agree. (You can find the complete archetype here.)
First there's the concept: a witch who acts as a guardian and protector. That's a cool idea! It doesn't even have to be for nobles, particularly -- one could imagine a witch protecting a particular family, or a temple, or whatever. So far, so good; it's probably going to be an NPC archetype, but that's fine.
Next there's the name, and here's where things start to go awry. "Witch-watcher" is. umm. not such a great name? Generously, it sounds like "dishwasher". Less generously, note that it's a witch archetype, so strictly speaking it's a witch-watcher witch. And then we look at the witch-watcher itself, and. oh dear. Let's start with the bad news: this archetype gives up one spell slot per level. That's pretty huge, especially since witches don't get bonus slots for specializing.
So, what do you get in return for this? Well, every day you get to pick one person as your "covenant ally". You have a short list of specialized buffs that you can throw on that person. A couple of these buffs are actually okay-ish in principle; for instance, you can choose to give your ally spell resistance, or an AC bonus of up to half your level, or a bonus on all saves of up to half your level. That doesn't sound so bad! Except. (1) Granting the buff burns a standard, and (2) your ally must be within 30 feet, and (3) the duration of the buff is your Int bonus. in minutes.
This is, mechanically, crap. Most of the covenant ally effects can be duplicated by low-level buffs. For instance, a 5th level witch-watcher can grant a +2 buff to AC for 3-4 minutes. A wizard of the same level can simply cast Cat's Grace, which gives the same buff plus bonuses to CMD and Reflex saves, lasts longer, and still leaves the wizard with more spell slots to play with. If you only want AC, okay, a cleric can give you +2 with a simple casting of Shield of Faith. Similarly, the "give more hp" buff is basically Aid, a first level spell. Giving up one spell slot / level to gain a handful of weakish buffs is just bad design. -- And before you ask, the buffs don't interact with witch hexes in any useful way. This is a witch archetype, but it could just as easily be a wizard, sorceror, or cleric archetype. It's a cool idea that is weirdly flavorless in the execution.
It's particularly annoying given that this is obviously an NPC archetype. The point of a witch-watcher is to hang around the King or whoever, protecting him. But I can, without breaking a sweat, think of at least three different ways of doing this that would be mechanically and thematically better than "cast some feeble, short-lived buffs on the King" -- and I bet you can too. (And can I just note how silly that 30' range is? The witch has to hang around within 30' of the King, 24/7, or she's completely useless.)
I will note one odd feature: reading the RAW, the ally can be chosen from anywhere -- it's just "a single creature" -- and consent is not required. So, I could choose Great Cthulhu and give him a minor AC buff or a few extra hp. Alternately, I could use this to rig gladiatorial bouts -- the combatant may not even realize he's being buffed, and the covenant ally ability is (Su), which means it won't show up to most magic-detecting spells. IOW, the witch-watcher works better as a match-fixer.
If I'm going off on this, it's because it represents a pattern I think is really common in Paizo's design of archetypes (and PrCs too, but that's another story): Come up with a thematically cool idea! -- and then nerf it so badly that nobody in their right mind would want to play it. Here's hoping they adjust this philosophy for PF2.
Initially being classmates, Nico and Komugi had a good friendship since Nico used to help her with her problems. Some time later, Komugi would reveal herself as a warlock in charge of kidnapping Nico in order to revive Jura, revealing that she had been pretending to get along with Nico.
It had a unique design, adorned with intricate symbols and patterns. When someone wore the watch, they could activate the extra hour by reciting a special incantation. The watch would then glow with a warm, golden light, signifying that their extra hour had begun. Word of the generous witch watch quickly spread throughout the village and beyond. People from far and wide came to Serena, seeking her magical timepiece. However, Serena was very selective in choosing who could have the watch. She believed that only those with genuine hearts and good intentions deserved the gift of an extra hour each day. As the watch became more popular, Serena faced challenges in managing the demand. She had to ensure that the watch was used wisely and not abused for personal gain. Serena held regular meetings with the wearers of the watch, encouraging them to make the most of their extra hour but reminding them of the responsibility that came with it. Over time, the generous witch watch began to have a profound impact on the lives of the villagers. Families grew closer as they spent quality time together. Artisans honed their skills, resulting in magnificent creations. Students had more time to study and excel in their endeavors. The village flourished, and the atmosphere was filled with gratitude and joy. Serena's generosity and the creation of the generous witch watch became legendary. People began to understand that true magic lies not in spells and potions but in acts of kindness and compassion. Serena's story spread far and wide, serving as a reminder of the power of generosity and the impact it can have on the world. In the end, it was Serena's selflessness and belief in the goodness of others that made her a beloved figure in the village and beyond. Her legacy lived on, as the generous witch watch continued to bring joy, inspiration, and an extra hour of time to those who truly deserved it..
Reviews for "The Impact of 'The Generous Witch Watch' on Moral Education"
1. Emily - 2 stars
"The Generous Witch Watch was a major disappointment for me. The plot seemed promising, with the idea of a witch using her powers for good. However, the execution fell flat. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the pacing was slow and the story felt dragged out. I found myself losing interest midway through and struggled to finish it. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it."
2. Alex - 1 star
"I cannot express enough how much I did not enjoy The Generous Witch Watch. The writing style was choppy and awkward, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it impossible to believe in the characters or their interactions. The world-building was weak and inconsistent, leaving me confused and frustrated throughout the entire book. The concept of the generous witch had potential, but it was wasted on this poorly executed novel. Save your time and skip this one."
3. Samantha - 2 stars
"I had high hopes for The Generous Witch Watch, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. While the concept was interesting, the execution was lacking. The writing felt amateurish and lacked polish. The characters were predictable and lacked development, making it hard to invest in their journey. The plot twists were predictable and not enough to hold my interest. Overall, it was a forgettable read that failed to live up to its potential."
4. Matt - 1 star
"Sadly, The Generous Witch Watch was a complete letdown. The writing was dull and lacked creativity, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters were flat and unlikable, and their actions often made no sense. The plot was predictable and unimaginative, making it hard to care about the outcome. This book was a waste of time and did not live up to the hype."