Controlling Intelligent Undeads: How? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Controlling Intelligent Undeads: How?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Pennarin
Mar 15, 2004 23:45:59 Here's a post I made on the Spells and Magic Items Boards. Read it if the title interests you:
Controlling Intelligent Undeads: How?

Has anyone ever encountered this problem before and found a solution?

I have a 22nd-level Wizard I'm writing right now and he has half a dozen Thinking Zombies taken from the ranks of rival wizards and the Veilled Alliance. He sends them to undead infested locals or to ancient ruins or desolate regions in search of powerful magic.
How can he control them in a way that won't require them to come back every 22 days to receive a casting of Command Undead? What if they run into trouble and can't make it back in time? They'll become free and will probably hunt him down relentlessly from then on. What I dont want happening...

There's got to be a way to do this by himself, without the help of items or whatever.

Any ideas?

#2
zombiegleemax
Mar 16, 2004 8:13:50 If he is 22nd level, I would say that he has allen into the realm of "epic." You could use epic eats and magics to rule this.

I don't know much about epic so I can't rreally point you in the right direction, but heck, maybe it's a start.

Another option is to draw from other sources for a feat that would grant this through metamagics.

Alternatively, he could have some sort of "vampire-like" domination powers granted to him from wandering too close to the Pristine Tower, exploring the ancient tomb of Zipac'na, or any number of other forgotten and best left alone places.
#3
zombiegleemax
Mar 16, 2004 14:20:28 Talk to your DM, I was under the impression that a wizard or priest who raises undead is automatically their master. The thinking zombie entry in the Darksun Monster Compendium2 strongly implies this as well. I would assume that the ritual or spell that raises the undead also binds them to the caster. Thinking zombies are still lesser undead after all..
#4
zombiegleemax
Mar 16, 2004 14:31:02 it depends on how powerful the zombies are...

if its like 12 3rd level zombies... no sweat but 3 12th level zombies could really do some damage

treat them like followers, albeit very stinky ones, that obey you fanatically (you are 22nd level after all)... but remember, zombies are not very intelligent so they might bring you the wrong artefacts back or they may return with someone or something that has been searching for you...

cue rajaat theme
#5
Pennarin
Mar 16, 2004 19:12:24 Silly kefka, thinking zombies actual gain Intelligence points when first becoming undeads.

It says a TZ is a creature that died while doing a specific task, and it cannot rest until it completes that task.

2E said they came form Geas/Quest castings, but in 3E that effect would stop working as the living creature was turned undead, cause undeads are immune to mind-affecting attacks.

Reading the Unliving Identity spell a little better, it seems to say that all you need is to control with a mind-affecting spell a creature, kill it, raise it as a normal skeleton or zombie, and then cast Unliving Identity to awaken it and it will still be under your control. Eternally, since you're not using a spell with a limited duration anymore.

Even better, the spell seems to indicate that you can find any dead corpse, animate it, put it under your control, and then cast the spell Unliving Identity and get their eternal obedience.

Does anyone think this is a good interpretation?
#6
zombiegleemax
Mar 17, 2004 8:38:14
Originally posted by Pennarin
Does anyone think this is a good interpretation?

Yeah, I think that that would be a good interpretation.

Another option is to use a template from the Monsternomicon by Privateer Press called the Dread. Basically, you take a victim and pour molten iron into its still breathing chest while casting a ritual and it becomes your undead servant with all of its former class abilities. Instead of molten iron you could use obsidian.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Pennarin Mar 15, 2004 23:45:59	Here's a post I made on the Spells and Magic Items Boards. Read it if the title interests you: Controlling Intelligent Undeads: How? Has anyone ever encountered this problem before and found a solution? I have a 22nd-level Wizard I'm writing right now and he has half a dozen Thinking Zombies taken from the ranks of rival wizards and the Veilled Alliance. He sends them to undead infested locals or to ancient ruins or desolate regions in search of powerful magic. How can he control them in a way that won't require them to come back every 22 days to receive a casting of Command Undead? What if they run into trouble and can't make it back in time? They'll become free and will probably hunt him down relentlessly from then on. What I dont want happening... There's got to be a way to do this by himself, without the help of items or whatever. Any ideas?
#2 zombiegleemax Mar 16, 2004 8:13:50	If he is 22nd level, I would say that he has allen into the realm of "epic." You could use epic eats and magics to rule this. I don't know much about epic so I can't rreally point you in the right direction, but heck, maybe it's a start. Another option is to draw from other sources for a feat that would grant this through metamagics. Alternatively, he could have some sort of "vampire-like" domination powers granted to him from wandering too close to the Pristine Tower, exploring the ancient tomb of Zipac'na, or any number of other forgotten and best left alone places.
#3 zombiegleemax Mar 16, 2004 14:20:28	Talk to your DM, I was under the impression that a wizard or priest who raises undead is automatically their master. The thinking zombie entry in the Darksun Monster Compendium2 strongly implies this as well. I would assume that the ritual or spell that raises the undead also binds them to the caster. Thinking zombies are still lesser undead after all..
#4 zombiegleemax Mar 16, 2004 14:31:02	it depends on how powerful the zombies are... if its like 12 3rd level zombies... no sweat but 3 12th level zombies could really do some damage treat them like followers, albeit very stinky ones, that obey you fanatically (you are 22nd level after all)... but remember, zombies are not very intelligent so they might bring you the wrong artefacts back or they may return with someone or something that has been searching for you... cue rajaat theme
#5 Pennarin Mar 16, 2004 19:12:24	Silly kefka, thinking zombies actual gain Intelligence points when first becoming undeads. It says a TZ is a creature that died while doing a specific task, and it cannot rest until it completes that task. 2E said they came form Geas/Quest castings, but in 3E that effect would stop working as the living creature was turned undead, cause undeads are immune to mind-affecting attacks. Reading the Unliving Identity spell a little better, it seems to say that all you need is to control with a mind-affecting spell a creature, kill it, raise it as a normal skeleton or zombie, and then cast Unliving Identity to awaken it and it will still be under your control. Eternally, since you're not using a spell with a limited duration anymore. Even better, the spell seems to indicate that you can find any dead corpse, animate it, put it under your control, and then cast the spell Unliving Identity and get their eternal obedience. Does anyone think this is a good interpretation?
#6 zombiegleemax Mar 17, 2004 8:38:14	Originally posted by Pennarin Does anyone think this is a good interpretation? Yeah, I think that that would be a good interpretation. Another option is to use a template from the Monsternomicon by Privateer Press called the Dread. Basically, you take a victim and pour molten iron into its still breathing chest while casting a ritual and it becomes your undead servant with all of its former class abilities. Instead of molten iron you could use obsidian.