Necromancy Spells - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Necromancy Spells

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ravenloftlover347
Jun 08, 2007 21:24:10 I'm trying to come up with a lower level necromancer who is actually able to create undead. Does anyone know any low level spells (1st through 3rd) that my necromancer would be able to use?
#2
sptjanly
Jun 08, 2007 22:38:31 It looks like Animate Dead is the closest at a sor/wiz 4.
#3
sptjanly
Jun 08, 2007 22:43:36 There are other options it seems though exclusively for RL for a low lvl character. Some undead are created by specific ways of their mortal life ending. This will more than likely involve a lot of study of undead to set up these deaths and dealing with controling them once they have risen again. I suggest buying Van Ricten's Guide to the Walking Dead and using other books that have undead stats to come up with your own ways how specific creatures can be created this way.

Enjoy the powers checks.
#4
ravenloftlover347
Jun 09, 2007 17:01:42 This is all good and well, but I could really use some 1st to 3rd level spells. Otherwise, the lowest level my Necro is going to be is 7th, which isn't workable when I'm trying to keep the ECL at a 6 max.
#5
sptjanly
Jun 09, 2007 17:51:17 Oh, I thought you were asking about spells 1-3 to create undead.
#6
humanbing
Jun 09, 2007 20:36:24 Libris Mortis (and by extension, the Spell Compendium) has "Summon Undead" spells that work very similar to the Summon Monster spell.

You can get Summon Undead I through V, each one equalling the wizard/sorc spell level of the same name. It runs the gamut from skeletons and zombies to shadows and mummies at the highest level. They only stick around for one round per caster level, though.

Summoned undead do not count against the number of undead a caster may have under their control. But casting this very likely requires a Powers check.
#7
ravenloftlover347
Jun 10, 2007 13:09:37 Any other sources that might have some? I can create some if need be, but then again, maybe undead creation is set at the level it is for a reason.
#8
rotipher
Jun 10, 2007 15:35:10 The 2E Wizard's Spell Compendium contains several spells that might meet your needs, if you convert them to 3E:

1st level spells:

Dance Macabre lets a wizard manipulate a corpse like a marionette. It can't actually fight, but can be used as an intimidation-tool; in Ravenloft, it'd probably provoke a Fear check.

Animate Dead Animals dates back to when skeletal animals had really wimpy stats. You could apply the skeleton template to creatures of the animal type, of Tiny size or less; the caster can only animate as many HD of animals as his level (double in Ravenloft).

2nd level spells:

Attract Ghoul essentially gets you a ghoul servant for a dread companion. Its spawn aren't bound to service and may attack you.

Undead Mount is a second-rate phantom steed, with no enhanced abilities at higher levels.

3rd level spell:

Bone Dance lets you animate one humanoid skeleton or zombie for 30 minutes/level, which you must concentrate to direct.
#9
ravenloftlover347
Jun 10, 2007 17:27:22 Thank you. These should prove useful!
#10
thanael
Jun 12, 2007 13:15:51 I've had a similar problem when trying to stat ot Stephan Dyreth, the 10th level Necromancer from Martira Bay who runs 2 weaving factories with 210 zombified children wokers. How does a relatively low-level necromancer create and control lots and lots of undead?

As he is high enough level to actually cast animate dead the creation is not the problem (as you can cast it multiple times). But how does he control them?

So far i have found a few things:
- as they are Com1 you could let them count as only 1/2 HD.
- there's the Bind Lesser Undead feat in Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead that lets him bind 10HD of undead to him (thus no longer counting against his control limit)
- Libris Mortis has the Undead Leadership feat which lets you attract undead followers and cohorts.

And another related question: How do you create Juju Zombies in 3E ? The template is in The Unaproachable East but as with many templates it is not really mentioned how you can aquire it.

PS: Check out the 2E Complete Necromancer's Guide especially chapter 7 and the spell lists for means of creating undead.
#11
ravenloftlover347
Jun 21, 2007 15:18:03 I think the children would be treated as having a one-half hit die. If this is the case, they would most likely be treated as having a CR of no higher than one-fourth.
#12
kwdblade
Jun 22, 2007 2:32:51 Hes an NPC, he is not bound by your laws!

Actually, I don't think he controls most of them at all. Since they only do one task, he can probably freely let his control go and their mindlessness will simply follow the last command given.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ravenloftlover347 Jun 08, 2007 21:24:10	I'm trying to come up with a lower level necromancer who is actually able to create undead. Does anyone know any low level spells (1st through 3rd) that my necromancer would be able to use?
#2 sptjanly Jun 08, 2007 22:38:31	It looks like Animate Dead is the closest at a sor/wiz 4.
#3 sptjanly Jun 08, 2007 22:43:36	There are other options it seems though exclusively for RL for a low lvl character. Some undead are created by specific ways of their mortal life ending. This will more than likely involve a lot of study of undead to set up these deaths and dealing with controling them once they have risen again. I suggest buying Van Ricten's Guide to the Walking Dead and using other books that have undead stats to come up with your own ways how specific creatures can be created this way. Enjoy the powers checks.
#4 ravenloftlover347 Jun 09, 2007 17:01:42	This is all good and well, but I could really use some 1st to 3rd level spells. Otherwise, the lowest level my Necro is going to be is 7th, which isn't workable when I'm trying to keep the ECL at a 6 max.
#5 sptjanly Jun 09, 2007 17:51:17	Oh, I thought you were asking about spells 1-3 to create undead.
#6 humanbing Jun 09, 2007 20:36:24	Libris Mortis (and by extension, the Spell Compendium) has "Summon Undead" spells that work very similar to the Summon Monster spell. You can get Summon Undead I through V, each one equalling the wizard/sorc spell level of the same name. It runs the gamut from skeletons and zombies to shadows and mummies at the highest level. They only stick around for one round per caster level, though. Summoned undead do not count against the number of undead a caster may have under their control. But casting this very likely requires a Powers check.
#7 ravenloftlover347 Jun 10, 2007 13:09:37	Any other sources that might have some? I can create some if need be, but then again, maybe undead creation is set at the level it is for a reason.
#8 rotipher Jun 10, 2007 15:35:10	The 2E Wizard's Spell Compendium contains several spells that might meet your needs, if you convert them to 3E: 1st level spells: Dance Macabre lets a wizard manipulate a corpse like a marionette. It can't actually fight, but can be used as an intimidation-tool; in Ravenloft, it'd probably provoke a Fear check. Animate Dead Animals dates back to when skeletal animals had really wimpy stats. You could apply the skeleton template to creatures of the animal type, of Tiny size or less; the caster can only animate as many HD of animals as his level (double in Ravenloft). 2nd level spells: Attract Ghoul essentially gets you a ghoul servant for a dread companion. Its spawn aren't bound to service and may attack you. Undead Mount is a second-rate phantom steed, with no enhanced abilities at higher levels. 3rd level spell: Bone Dance lets you animate one humanoid skeleton or zombie for 30 minutes/level, which you must concentrate to direct.
#9 ravenloftlover347 Jun 10, 2007 17:27:22	Thank you. These should prove useful!
#10 thanael Jun 12, 2007 13:15:51	I've had a similar problem when trying to stat ot Stephan Dyreth, the 10th level Necromancer from Martira Bay who runs 2 weaving factories with 210 zombified children wokers. How does a relatively low-level necromancer create and control lots and lots of undead? As he is high enough level to actually cast animate dead the creation is not the problem (as you can cast it multiple times). But how does he control them? So far i have found a few things: - as they are Com1 you could let them count as only 1/2 HD. - there's the Bind Lesser Undead feat in Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead that lets him bind 10HD of undead to him (thus no longer counting against his control limit) - Libris Mortis has the Undead Leadership feat which lets you attract undead followers and cohorts. And another related question: How do you create Juju Zombies in 3E ? The template is in The Unaproachable East but as with many templates it is not really mentioned how you can aquire it. PS: Check out the 2E Complete Necromancer's Guide especially chapter 7 and the spell lists for means of creating undead.
#11 ravenloftlover347 Jun 21, 2007 15:18:03	I think the children would be treated as having a one-half hit die. If this is the case, they would most likely be treated as having a CR of no higher than one-fourth.
#12 kwdblade Jun 22, 2007 2:32:51	Hes an NPC, he is not bound by your laws! Actually, I don't think he controls most of them at all. Since they only do one task, he can probably freely let his control go and their mindlessness will simply follow the last command given.