PF Undead Help

[Silva Stormrage]

Hello, it seems that my college campaign is now going to be a 3.5/PF campaign instead of 3.5. I have very little familiarity with pathfinder other than reading the wiki a bit and reading this guide (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136890)

My main question is what is the main difference from Pathfinder undead and 3.5 undead and to see if I missed anything.

General Questions
Is there any easy undead template for low level play? Such as Necropolitain in 3.5?
It seems that in pathfinder LA has been removed, how can I tell what I can play?
For commanding undead it seems rebuke undead got changed into channel energy, is there any way to command undead such as in 3.5?

Undead Type Questions
It seems that the main difference is that pathfinder undead don't automatically get d12's but instead get charisma to hp? Is there anything else that I am missing?

[Benthesquid]

The basic rule for monstrous PCs is to subtract the creature's CR from your starting level. As always, check with your GM. Alternatively, you could play a Dhampir (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-dhampir), the sort of half-undead race.

Pathfinder Undead are no longer immune to critical hits or sneak attack damage.

[grarrrg]

Is there any easy undead template for low level play? Such as Necropolitain in 3.5?

No, best you can do is Dhampir (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-dhampir), like Benthesquid said.
And there are a variety of Dhampir Heritages, that each get different Stat arrays (to better fit whichever class you go with).


It seems that in pathfinder LA has been removed, how can I tell what I can play?

If it's one of the "main 7" it's guaranteed allowed.
If it's one of the 'other races (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races)', it'll probably be OK, double check with your DM.
If it's anything else, check with your DM.

Official rough guidelines:
Monster CR = starting level
Every 3 level ups the monster should get an extra level.
You only get as many extra levels up to half your CR.

So if you start at CR 4, when the party reaches level 7, you should get an extra level and be at CR 4 + Class level 4.
When the party reaches level 10, you should be at CR 4 + Class level 8.
At this point your CR is 4, and your 'extra levels' are 2, which is half, so no more 'extra levels'.

If it helps, to put it in 3.5 terms:
Half of the Monster's CR rounded-UP equals Racial Hit Dice.
Half of the Monster's CR rounded-DOWN equals LA.
LA is 'bought off' 1 every 3 levels.
It's not exact, but it helps understand it better.



For commanding undead it seems rebuke undead got changed into channel energy, is there any way to command undead such as in 3.5?

Yes, that would be the Command Undead (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/command-undead---final) feat.
Go here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15860797#post15860797) for all the "necromancer" type classes/archetypes, and a breakdown of their offerings.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Also, if you check out the Words of Power variant, you can take the feat Experimental Spellcaster to take the Undeath word as a spell known; it scores you free undead, with no need for black onyx, although you can only cast it on one corpse at a time until higher levels.