ocato
2008-04-01, 01:41 PM
So, I'm thinking about a Necromancy style character and I have a few questions/would like some advice. I'm sure there's some guide akin to Logic Ninja's Batman guide, the Druid Bible, or Solo's so-so sorcerer sheet (I'm sure it's great, I just wanted to use that alliteration) and while a link to that will certainly suffice, I wouldn't mind some people's opinions.
First of all: Class? Wizard vs Cleric seems to be the issue, because I've heard bad things about Dread Necromancer. If anyone knows what book the DN is in, I'd be happy to consider it.
Until then: Wizard's have all sorts of fun power, but their necromancing seems subpar by comparison. Wizards get animate dead as a 4th level spell and have to blow spell slots to control their stronger undead creations, although they do get a few undead controlling spells that clerics lack (command undead, control undead) and some other junk. A lot of both class's buff spells don't affect undead because they aren't affected by mind-influencing effects like Heroism (however, Haste does affect undead, and clerics don't have it.) Also wizards get spells that a better suited towards the uttercold frostball of funzies and whatnot.
An Evil Cleric gets Animate Dead as a 3rd level spell, full access to summon undead spells (so do wizards), and the ability to command/rebuke undead without using a spell slot to do so. They can heal their undead, heal themselves (either by being tomb-tainted or by preparing healing spells), wear armor, have better HD, and are generally more likely to survive the earlier levels. Also, clerics get access to domains (like undeath, evil, death, and whatever other ones are good for necromancy) which in some cases makes up for the loss of certain wizard spells. Also, Clerics get Desecrate, meaning they can control a fair bit more (and stronger) undead than their wizard brethren.
This is just the tip of the iceberg on my thoughts: What classes do you suggest? What domains are good for cleric necromancers? What are some of my better feat options? What spells are must-have? Assume I have access to most or all of the books, try to keep it out of dragon magazine stuff.
One more question, before I forget, how could a necromancer go about gaining control of undead that aren't part of the basic set of create undeads: What about a Wight?
First of all: Class? Wizard vs Cleric seems to be the issue, because I've heard bad things about Dread Necromancer. If anyone knows what book the DN is in, I'd be happy to consider it.
Until then: Wizard's have all sorts of fun power, but their necromancing seems subpar by comparison. Wizards get animate dead as a 4th level spell and have to blow spell slots to control their stronger undead creations, although they do get a few undead controlling spells that clerics lack (command undead, control undead) and some other junk. A lot of both class's buff spells don't affect undead because they aren't affected by mind-influencing effects like Heroism (however, Haste does affect undead, and clerics don't have it.) Also wizards get spells that a better suited towards the uttercold frostball of funzies and whatnot.
An Evil Cleric gets Animate Dead as a 3rd level spell, full access to summon undead spells (so do wizards), and the ability to command/rebuke undead without using a spell slot to do so. They can heal their undead, heal themselves (either by being tomb-tainted or by preparing healing spells), wear armor, have better HD, and are generally more likely to survive the earlier levels. Also, clerics get access to domains (like undeath, evil, death, and whatever other ones are good for necromancy) which in some cases makes up for the loss of certain wizard spells. Also, Clerics get Desecrate, meaning they can control a fair bit more (and stronger) undead than their wizard brethren.
This is just the tip of the iceberg on my thoughts: What classes do you suggest? What domains are good for cleric necromancers? What are some of my better feat options? What spells are must-have? Assume I have access to most or all of the books, try to keep it out of dragon magazine stuff.
One more question, before I forget, how could a necromancer go about gaining control of undead that aren't part of the basic set of create undeads: What about a Wight?