The Powers of the Magical Chronologist: Unleashing Time-Bending Abilities

The magical chronologist possesses a formidable ability to manipulate time and navigate through various periods of history with ease. Through their extensive knowledge and mastery of chronomancy, they are able to uncover hidden truths, rewrite narratives, and alter the course of events. This incredible power comes with great responsibility, as the magical chronologist must use their abilities ethically and cautiously, lest they disrupt the delicate balance of time itself. Central to the role of the magical chronologist is the understanding that time is not a linear progression but rather a complex web of interconnected threads. They can discern the intricate patterns that weave together past, present, and future, allowing them to move seamlessly between different eras. Ancient civilizations, pivotal moments in history, and even hypothetical futures are all within their grasp.

Ancient civilizations, pivotal moments in history, and even hypothetical futures are all within their grasp. However, the magical chronologist is bound by certain rules and limitations. They cannot change events that have already occurred, as these are fixed points in time.

D&D 5E So Where my Witches at?

Tasha's Cauldron got me thinking, where (or what) is the Witch in D&D (5e)?

Tasha is stated to be a witch. Commonly, "witches" are represented by the warlock class. There are "witch" invocations (such as witch sight) that back up the theme, and their spells are witch-y with things like hex and witch bolt. However, Tasha comes off sounding much more like a traditional wizard from her commentary, speaking of spell research and wizard academies. Seems to me WotC missed an excellent opportunity to have a "witch" wizard subclass (with all the potion-brewing, hexing, and toad-making that comes with it) but then again, isn't that the warlock's domain? And that mostly just covers the classic Halloween witch, which is to say nothing about the more traditional "nature mage" that the Pathfinder witch and 4e Witch classes filled. Again, you might argue a fey warlock kindasorta fills that niche, but there is probably some design space here (especially as a subclass for druids or sorcerers) that could have been used.

I guess I kinda feel that if you are going to make a product that features an important D&D witch, you ought to, ya know, put some witch-stuff in the book?

Lanefan

Victoria Rules

Witch classes have been tried for ages - I remember one or two going by in early Dragon magazines - and have for whatever reason never caught on.

Further, using Witch as a class name risks offending parts of the sometimes-quick-to-take-offense neo-Pagan movement if there's anything the least bit negative about the class; and I very much suspect WotC are well aware of this.

Retreater

Legend

That, and all the hubbub about Harry Potter amongst some communities due to their use of "witch" to describe a female wizard. The term has a history that would alienate gamers in many walks of life, whether they feel this is anti-Christian, anti-Pagan, or something else.
I say, just leave it as a warlock and it works fine.

Remathilis

Legend

Witch classes have been tried for ages - I remember one or two going by in early Dragon magazines - and have for whatever reason never caught on.

Further, using Witch as a class name risks offending parts of the sometimes-quick-to-take-offense neo-Pagan movement if there's anything the least bit negative about the class; and I very much suspect WotC are well aware of this.

I'm not sure about the latter; neo-paganism hasn't bothered them enough to remove the Druid.

But yes, there hasn't been a true "witch" class that truly took off. There was an NPC class (1e), a wizard kit (2e), and a 4e wizard subclass, (I don't think there was ever a proper 3e witch, though PF made one) but I think its a strong enough archetype that it could at least warrant a subclass with the "samurai and knight" treatment.

Faolyn

(she/her)

Remathilis

Legend

You could make the same argument about paladin, ranger, or druid, not to mention necromancer, assassin, or cavalier.

Lanefan

Victoria Rules

Only due to timing: Druid was in as a class before the neo-Pagan movement really got up any steam and thus had/has precedent on its side.

Were they to try and introduce 'Druid' as a new class today it'd get shot down for both this reason and that it's too tied to one specific culture and thus could be seen as non-inclusive.

But yes, there hasn't been a true "witch" class that truly took off. There was an NPC class (1e), a wizard kit (2e), and a 4e wizard subclass, (I don't think there was ever a proper 3e witch, though PF made one) but I think its a strong enough archetype that it could at least warrant a subclass with the "samurai and knight" treatment.

Pretty sure there was more than one proposed Witch class in Dragon during the 1980s. Maybe one was the NPC class and another was a trial balloon for a PC class?

Enevhar Aldarion

Hero

Witch classes have been tried for ages - I remember one or two going by in early Dragon magazines - and have for whatever reason never caught on.

Further, using Witch as a class name risks offending parts of the sometimes-quick-to-take-offense neo-Pagan movement if there's anything the least bit negative about the class; and I very much suspect WotC are well aware of this.

No, males in the real world who consider themselves witches are much more offended by being called a warlock, and it's negative meaning, whether the modern meaning was once historically not accurate. Don't ever label someone who takes this seriously as an oath breaker. As for Witch, you have to deal with the stereotype that only females can be witches, so in the early days of D&D, when the vast majority of players were male, of course a Witch class failed.

Alzrius

The EN World kitten

As others have noted, official D&D has always had a hard time getting a witch character role off the ground; it's not that there haven't been attempts (there've been many), it's just that none have really caught on. Conceptually, the niche remains unfulfilled, which is why the community keeps trying with everything ranging from new classes to warlock patrons to wizard traditions.

Please note my use of affiliate links in this post.

Weiley31

Legend

Witch as a class is more a Pathfinder type deal since its in it.(On the other side of the coin, the Pathfinder 2E Witch is more like the Warlock in the fact that both the Warlock/Witch has/deal with a Patron.)

Plus the Witch brings up the image of the Hag. Which is its own buckets of apples in DND.

Blue Orange

Gone to Texas

There was a semi-official version in the 3e DMG that consisted of just a spell list as I recall, in addition to the 2e kit, Pathfinder, and the 4e wizard subclass and the various Dragon magazine, third-party, and homebrew versions produced throughout the various editions. (Where was the 1e NPC class? There was a witch-doctor for goblinoids that had some cleric and mage spells. )

The warlock in D&D is a little different, though--it's much more offense-oriented, and is actually closer to the older idea of the witch as someone who made a pact with the devil. The idea of "potion-brewing, hexing, and toad-making" rural spellcaster, which could be good or evil, is more of a 'hedge mage', someone who lives in the country and doesn't have access to the complicated scholastic training of the wizard but does minor magics for (or against) their local community, has become somewhat separate. Somewhere between wizard and druid.

I also suspect that it's usually seen as more of a minor character and people aren't as familiar with what the epic endgame would look like--we have a pretty good idea of the legendary warrior, high priest, or archmage, but nobody's really sure what a 20th-level witch would look like.

You could clarify that it's open to any gender and have art examples. And there's no reason it has to be evil-only. Even warlocks can be any alignment, and they've sold their souls to something.

Beginner players and game masters may find the book descriptions, design, layout, and illustrations pleasing.

Their power lies in exploring alternative possibilities and understanding the consequences of different choices. By investigating divergent timelines, they gain valuable insights into the inherent interconnectedness of actions and their far-reaching effects. The magical chronologist serves as a protector of history, ensuring that the knowledge and wisdom of past eras are not lost or distorted. They seek to preserve the integrity of historical records and prevent tampering or manipulation by those with nefarious intentions. With their unique perspective on time, they can identify crucial moments where intervention may be needed to safeguard the course of history. In addition to their role as guardians of the timeline, the magical chronologist plays the role of a historian and storyteller. They have firsthand experiences of pivotal historical events, making their accounts invaluable reference materials for future generations. Their insights and narratives offer a fresh and nuanced perspective on history, transcending traditional textbooks and opening up new avenues of knowledge. More than mere time travelers, the magical chronologist possesses a deep connection with the fabric of time itself. They harness its flows and eddies, treating it with reverence and respect. Through their efforts, they contribute to the preservation and understanding of the past while actively shaping the future. With their unique blend of magic and chronology, the magical chronologist holds a position of great significance in the realm of history and beyond..

Reviews for "Harnessing the Essence of Time: The Training of a Magical Chronologist"

1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Magical Chronologist." The plot was so confusing and convoluted that I could barely follow what was happening. The characters were also very one-dimensional and lacked any depth or development. I found myself not caring about their fates at all. Additionally, the writing style was quite dull and lacked any sort of unique voice. Overall, I was bored and unimpressed by this book.

2. Mark - 1 star - I regret spending my time reading "The Magical Chronologist." The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of nothing happening. The world-building was also very weak, leaving me with more questions than answers. The magic system was poorly explained and seemed to change randomly throughout the book. I also felt that the dialogue was stilted and unrealistic. I cannot recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written fantasy novel.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - "The Magical Chronologist" had so much potential, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real depth. The plot dragged on and there were too many unnecessary side stories that detracted from the main narrative. The pacing was inconsistent, with long periods of nothing happening and then sudden bursts of action that didn't feel earned. The writing style was also uninspiring and failed to capture my attention. Overall, I was let down by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

4. Mike - 1 star - I found "The Magical Chronologist" to be a complete waste of time. The story was confusing and poorly executed, with glaring plot holes and inconsistent world-building. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I struggled to connect with any of them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this book and I cannot recommend it to anyone who is looking for a well-crafted fantasy novel.

Meet the Magical Chronologist: A Glimpse into a Mysterious World