Eastern necromancer

[Yeturs]

So. I'm going to be playing in an oriental eastern themed game. We already have a samurai (not sure what source) and a ninja and a monk, and I want to fill in the Mage role. I haven't ever played a dedicated necromancer before, so I am going for that.

I was thinking dread necromancer. Does that fit an eastern theme to you? Maybe if my martial weapon was a little more eastern then what I would normally take?

And are there any good myths or legends from aisa having to do with necromancy? I'm thinking reading those would do me good.

Also, my group has had bad experiences with my brother playing a dread necromancer, namely him leading an undead army. I'm going to go away from that build, maybe having elite zombies or skeletons. What's good for beefing a small number of undead and what's good base creatures for raising?

[subject42]

I've always been partial to the Samurai Ghost crab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heikegani) story, myself. If you're willing to play up the vermin/scavenger aspect, you could probably build a fun concept around that.

[WinWin]

The Maho from Oriental adventures is a master of the dark arts. Updated to Tainted Scholar in Heroes of Horror.

Wu Jen can also make decent Necromancers, mainly due to some of their unique spells. They can summon fairly powerful incorporeal undead once they reach mid levels, which sets them apart from other classes.

Otherwise just use a normal wizard or specialist. Planar Binding can provide some decent outsider bodies to animate.

[Xuc Xac]

How do you think the monk and samurai are going to feel about hanging out with someone as unclean as a necromancer? Is this a character concept that will fit in with the rest of the party?

[Tvtyrant]

Wu Jen get wall of bones and other necromancer spells, and you can concentrate on Persisting your wonderful personal buffs.

[Kuulvheysoon]

How do you think the monk and samurai are going to feel about hanging out with someone as unclean as a necromancer? Is this a character concept that will fit in with the rest of the party?

It's all in the flavouring - instead of someone who raises the dead, you're communicating with the ancestral spirits of the passed. Create undead? You're pleading with your ancestors for aid, and they send the spirit of a minor warrior to aid you. Things like that. You might even be able to pass it off as a heavily-neutral-leaning Good.

[Yeturs]

Yeah I know necromancer probably would cause party conflict, but I enjoy playing contrary characters and playing off the drama.

[Coidzor]

What's good for beefing a small number of undead and what's good base creatures for raising?

There's some templates in Libris Mortis you can use to improve skeletons and zombies with, I think they require corpsecrafter to unlock though.

Awaken Undead (Spell Compendium) is good for giving back abilities the base creature had before it died though it competes with the advanced learning to get Animate Dread Warrior (Unapproachable East) which is great for turning opponents you've killed into your servants with all of their class levels and abilities intact.

And has no cap on number you can control beyond how many times you can afford to cast it, especially if you spellstitch it into yourself or your familiar to make it one lump sum XP cost for spellstitching it (and several other spells) rather than paying the XP cost each time you want a dread warrior.



As far as good base creatures for raising... hydras are the poster boys for good zombies. Giants and other large creatures are fairly good for skeletons as well. Creatures with pounce I believe retain it as skeletons, but definitely will have it if you awaken them.


On the other hand, you might be interested in the Redeemer of Regrets. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9994058&postcount=14) If you can get some homebrew.

[danzibr]

Yeah, I think Dread Necro fits the eastern role. (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/dx0627cc_characterclass_dreadnoc.jpg)