Pyrusticia
2009-02-18, 03:33 PM
A couple of years ago, ZeroNumerous posted an awesome variant on the True Necromancer PrC that allowed for a single-class caster to take it up (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49132, for those interested).
I thought I'd take it one step further, and create a prestige class for the necromancer that doesn't cast spells. This would mostly be used for monsters (ghouls, vamps, etc), but could also be used for certain characters, such as warlocks. Basically this PrC gives up all spell advancement, as well as the ability to create permanent undead via spell (although temporary reinforcements can be summoned at high levels), so that the necromancer is limited only to whatever type(s) of undead they can already create. In exchange, they get a number of feats to make those undead more powerful. Please let me know what you think, bearing in mind that this is based on 3.5 rules. Thanks!
Prereqs
Alignment: Any non-good.
Skills: Heal (8 Ranks)
Feat: Corpsecrafter
Special: Able to create undead as an extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like ability.
Hit Die: D6
Class Skills
The necromancer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge(arcana) (Int), Knowledge(religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spot (Wis), Search (Int) and Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points: 2+INT
{table=head]Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Rebuke Undead, Necromantic Prowess (+1)
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Corpsecrafter Secret
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Zone of Desecration (10')
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Corpsecrafter Secret, Necromantic Prowess (+2)
5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Zone of Desecration (20')
6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Corpsecrafter Secret
7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Necromantic Prowess (+3), Zone of Desecration (40')
8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Corpsecrafter Secret, Summon Undead V 1/day
9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | Deathwatch
10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | Corpsecrafter Secret, The Walking Dead, Necromantic Prowess (+4)[/table]
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A necromancer gains Simple Weapon Proficiency, and Martial Weapon Proficiency (Scythe). If she already has proficiency with simple weapons, she gains proficiency with all martial weapons instead. A necromancer gains no proficiency with armor or shields.
Rebuke Undead (Su): A necromancer may rebuke undead at a cleric level equal to her class levels. If a necromancer has the ability to rebuke undead before entering this class, her necromancer class levels stack with all others that grant this ability. The bonus from Necromantic Prowess applies to this ability.
Necromantic Prowess (Ex): Levels in Necromancer stack with any other levels that grant necromantic abilities when determining caster level. Furthermore, beginning at first level a necromancer gains a bonus to her caster level on any necromancy spell ability that mimics a necromancer spell. If an ability does not have a specific caster level, the bonus applies to the DC for any applicable save. This bonus starts at +1 at first level and increases by +1 every three levels thereafter. Example: A Warlock 6/Fighter 3/Necromancer 4 would be able to invoke The Dead Walk at an invoker level of 12 (6 warlock, 4 necromancer, 2 bonus).
Corpsecrafter Secret: At second level, and every two levels thereafter, a necromancer may select as a bonus feat any feat that has Corpsecrafter as a prerequisite.
Zone of Desecration (Su): Beginning at third level, a necromancer exudes an aura of desecration. This functions exactly like the Desecrate spell except for the following: The area of influence is only ten feet, centered on the necromancer, and it only affects allied undead creatures. At fifth level the area increases to a twenty foot radius, and at seventh level covers a forty foot radius around the necromancer.
Deathwatch (Su): At ninth level, a necromancer is so attuned to the look of death that she can see when creatures are nearing death. A necromancer is treated as if under the affect of the spell Deathwatch at all times. This ability can be suppressed as a free action.
The Walking Dead (Ex): At 10th level, a necromancer gains untold prowess over the dead. He gains the feat Undead Leadership as a bonus feat.
I thought I'd take it one step further, and create a prestige class for the necromancer that doesn't cast spells. This would mostly be used for monsters (ghouls, vamps, etc), but could also be used for certain characters, such as warlocks. Basically this PrC gives up all spell advancement, as well as the ability to create permanent undead via spell (although temporary reinforcements can be summoned at high levels), so that the necromancer is limited only to whatever type(s) of undead they can already create. In exchange, they get a number of feats to make those undead more powerful. Please let me know what you think, bearing in mind that this is based on 3.5 rules. Thanks!
Prereqs
Alignment: Any non-good.
Skills: Heal (8 Ranks)
Feat: Corpsecrafter
Special: Able to create undead as an extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like ability.
Hit Die: D6
Class Skills
The necromancer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Heal (Wis), Knowledge(arcana) (Int), Knowledge(religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Spot (Wis), Search (Int) and Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points: 2+INT
{table=head]Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Rebuke Undead, Necromantic Prowess (+1)
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Corpsecrafter Secret
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Zone of Desecration (10')
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Corpsecrafter Secret, Necromantic Prowess (+2)
5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Zone of Desecration (20')
6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Corpsecrafter Secret
7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Necromantic Prowess (+3), Zone of Desecration (40')
8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Corpsecrafter Secret, Summon Undead V 1/day
9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | Deathwatch
10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | Corpsecrafter Secret, The Walking Dead, Necromantic Prowess (+4)[/table]
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A necromancer gains Simple Weapon Proficiency, and Martial Weapon Proficiency (Scythe). If she already has proficiency with simple weapons, she gains proficiency with all martial weapons instead. A necromancer gains no proficiency with armor or shields.
Rebuke Undead (Su): A necromancer may rebuke undead at a cleric level equal to her class levels. If a necromancer has the ability to rebuke undead before entering this class, her necromancer class levels stack with all others that grant this ability. The bonus from Necromantic Prowess applies to this ability.
Necromantic Prowess (Ex): Levels in Necromancer stack with any other levels that grant necromantic abilities when determining caster level. Furthermore, beginning at first level a necromancer gains a bonus to her caster level on any necromancy spell ability that mimics a necromancer spell. If an ability does not have a specific caster level, the bonus applies to the DC for any applicable save. This bonus starts at +1 at first level and increases by +1 every three levels thereafter. Example: A Warlock 6/Fighter 3/Necromancer 4 would be able to invoke The Dead Walk at an invoker level of 12 (6 warlock, 4 necromancer, 2 bonus).
Corpsecrafter Secret: At second level, and every two levels thereafter, a necromancer may select as a bonus feat any feat that has Corpsecrafter as a prerequisite.
Zone of Desecration (Su): Beginning at third level, a necromancer exudes an aura of desecration. This functions exactly like the Desecrate spell except for the following: The area of influence is only ten feet, centered on the necromancer, and it only affects allied undead creatures. At fifth level the area increases to a twenty foot radius, and at seventh level covers a forty foot radius around the necromancer.
Deathwatch (Su): At ninth level, a necromancer is so attuned to the look of death that she can see when creatures are nearing death. A necromancer is treated as if under the affect of the spell Deathwatch at all times. This ability can be suppressed as a free action.
The Walking Dead (Ex): At 10th level, a necromancer gains untold prowess over the dead. He gains the feat Undead Leadership as a bonus feat.