I agree that we need a nerf or two in there. Personally, I think we need a clear restriction or some sort of weakness on shared suffering and the first thing that comes to mind is a restriction on what kind of damage can be inflicted by either party.

Hex magi is far too non-specific for my liking. What does "offering a piece of her soul" mean, and what consequences does it have for Samantha? What tiers or types of magic are we talking about? I think Pat will need to revisit his thinking on that.