Void Elementalist + Necromancy

[tadkins]

Was doing some reading earlier and thought this might be a good option. According to some handbooks, the Necromancy specialist in Pathfinder seems pretty sub-par. The Void Elementalist on the other hand seems to fit just as well fluff-wise, and function better mechanics-wise.

Given Necromancy's predilection for save-or-die spells, the Reveal Weakness ability of the Void Elementalist feels like it would be an awesome match, with the rest of its abilities just being plain awesome for everyone around. Plus the fact that the whole Void/Darkness flavor matches nicely with Necromancer fluff makes it seem like an awesome choice if someone wanted to go that route. Thoughts?

On a side note, some know me here as a big Gnome fanboy, and for such a character, the Fell Magic racial trait is even more icing on the cake of synergetic goodness.

[Psyren]

Void doesn't seem to have any connection to Necromancy that I can see. It seems a lot closer to Abjuration mixed with Divination.

[tadkins]

Void doesn't seem to have any connection to Necromancy that I can see. It seems a lot closer to Abjuration mixed with Divination.

The class mechanics, definitely. I mean the whole darkness/nothingness concept of it. The colors, if you will.

[Psyren]

The concept says abjuration to me too though - it refers to a cessation/silence, not of life, but of magic and energy themselves.

[grarrrg]

Was doing some reading earlier and thought this might be a good option. According to some handbooks, the Necromancy specialist in Pathfinder seems pretty sub-par. The Void Elementalist on the other hand seems to fit just as well fluff-wise, and function better mechanics-wise.

Given Necromancy's predilection for save-or-die spells, the Reveal Weakness ability of the Void Elementalist feels like it would be an awesome match, with the rest of its abilities just being plain awesome for everyone around.

I'm with Psyren, not seeing the "flavor match".

The abilities are probably overall better, but you do lose out on Command Undead for a mini-army.

You only need 1 "opposition element" instead of 2 "opposed schools", but the trade-off is that your extra slot must be used on Void spells, of which there aren't many, and quite a few levels have no great options.

The HUGE downside to Reveal Weakness is that it's a Standard Action to use, and only lasts 1 round.


The concept says abjuration to me too though - it refers to a cessation/silence, not of life, but of magic and energy themselves.
And Necromancy is only half concerned with killing things, the other half is with creating undead things, which goes against the concept of "Void".

[tadkins]

The concept says abjuration to me too though - it refers to a cessation/silence, not of life, but of magic and energy themselves.

I certainly wouldn't ignore other schools with this character of course.

I dunno. Sounds strange, but I suppose i'm going for more of a "darkcaster" idea than a full-on necromancer. While I like the Necromancy school I usually avoid the more gruesome aspects of it. I'm less about summoning undead and making people rot (which is what the Necromancy specialist in PF seems to emphasize) and more about shooting darkness at people. Since I value certain other schools as equally I figured the Void Elementalist would just be a good choice all around.


I'm with Psyren, not seeing the "flavor match".

The abilities are probably overall better, but you do lose out on Command Undead for a mini-army.



I suppose my thought pattern is just weird. xD

I wouldn't aim for an "army of undead" concept anyhow. Figured that'd be more in the Clerics jurisdiction anyhow.

[grarrrg]

I wouldn't aim for an "army of undead" concept anyhow. Figured that'd be more in the Clerics jurisdiction anyhow.

Overall Divine does "Necro-army" better and Arcane does "Necro-casting" better.
But the Necromancy school Wizard does well enough.

Also, if you really want an army, then you go Juju Oracle. Get Command-Channeling and _6_HD per caster level of Animate Dead. PrCing to Agent of the Grave gives decent boosts too.

[tadkins]

Overall Divine does "Necro-army" better and Arcane does "Necro-casting" better.
But the Necromancy school Wizard does well enough.

Also, if you really want an army, then you go Juju Oracle. Get Command-Channeling and _6_HD per caster level of Animate Dead. PrCing to Agent of the Grave gives decent boosts too.

I actually don't want an army beyond the occasional skeleton or ghost at my side. I just wanna shoot my opponents with black lasers. xD