Dusk Raven
2018-03-04, 05:01 PM
All right, so something I found while browsing the internet was the Tome of Necromancy (http://dungeons.wikia.com/wiki/Tome_of_Necromancy_(3.5e_Sourcebook)), a set of homebrew articles on necromancy-related stuff, and in it was a PrC that looks really fun, called the Widow Queen (http://dungeons.wikia.com/wiki/Widow_Queen_(3.5e_Prestige_Class)). While they don't get much in the way of combat-related class features, they do get the ability to create various types of Vampire Spawn, and use them as spies and agents. Obviously it lends itself to a "mastermind" style of play, and honestly I think it was more designed for villains than heroes. Good thing I'm scheduled for a villainous campaign!
However, since I'm not very good at optimizing (even though my standard is "anything playable"), I'd like to ask for advice and help, and perhaps opinions on the PrC itself. It should be noted that my DM, while lenient in allowing this PrC, restricts me to the PHB and one additional sourcebook (and maybe Unearthed Arcana), a restriction I think is reasonable. Thus, I'm going to need to do a bit more careful planning in advance. Of course, I'm also doing this as a pet project, so if I wanted to I could make a "for fun" build with no restrictions on books.
I do have a basic concept in mind - this character is going to play more like a squad commander than an adventurer. My plan is to focus my necromancy on small groups of elite undead minions, outfit them with some magical gear, and send them into battle. My minions will most likely consist of a few Vampire Spawn and Ghouls/Ghasts (created with the feat prereqs for Widow Queen), whatever I can get from Animate/Create Dead, and an undefined number of spawn created with my Widow Queen class abilities. At 6th level of Widow Queen, I get the ability to manage the Widow Queen spawn from a distance, thus no longer requiring me to even be present in battles. What I do if I actually join my minions in battle. is most likely where my build comes in, which depends on the books and class(es) I choose.
Books: The way I see it, my two main choices are Complete Arcane and Libris Mortis. The former makes me more effective as an arcane spellcaster in general, the latter gives me more minions to choose from and more options for those minions, and lots of necromancy-themed abilities. If I choose Complete Arcane, I'll go for an Uttercold Assault build; if I choose Libris Mortis, I'll likely make myself into an undead of some sort (Necropolitan being the easiest), and thus gain access to a number of undead-only skills. I'd go for the Corpsecrafter feats, but as written they only affect undead I've created with my spells and not from the Tome of Necromancy feats, Widow Queen abilities, or even official stuff like Undead Leadership. Sigh.
Base Classes: The Widow Queen is obviously intended to be used by Wizards/Sorcerers, as they need to be able to cast both Web and Vampiric touch. There might be ways for a Cleric to get those spells - and a Cleric might be better for the kind of minion support I want to do - but I don't know how.
However, neither Wizard nor Sorcerer have Diplomacy or Sense Motive as class skills (and the Sorcerer doesn't get Knowledge (Planes), which I'd need for an Uttercold Assault build, which is probably the only way for a Sorcerer Necromancer to be viable). As a result, going straight Wiz/Sor I'd take my first level in Widow Queen at 9th level.
Now, I could take five levels in Wizard and then dip one level into Bard, after which I qualify for Widow Queen and thus I can get to my desired level of Widow Queen sooner. The problem with that is that I don't get much else from a level of Bard. I won't complain about boosts to saves, more skill points, or a slightly higher hit die, but a few extra cantrips aren't helpful, Inspire Courage and Countersong won't work on my undead (unless my DM uses a couple other rules from Tome of Necromancy, but that's unlikely)... which leaves Fascination if I can figure out a good way to use it (distract a crowd while by undead sneak into position?), and Bardic Knowledge as an occasionally useful/interesting extra. Despite all that, it seems like the preferable option if the level cap is 15 or lower (anything after 8th level with Widow Queen is dressing for me, not meat) - if I have to take 8 levels of Wizard/Sorcerer I won't get all the Widow Queen class features I want until 16th level.
If I had more books at my disposal, I could choose a Beguiler instead of a Bard, but choosing the PH2 as my 2nd sourcebook closes off a lot of options I'd otherwise have.
I think that more or less sums up the main decisions I need to make. Thoughts and recommendations?
However, since I'm not very good at optimizing (even though my standard is "anything playable"), I'd like to ask for advice and help, and perhaps opinions on the PrC itself. It should be noted that my DM, while lenient in allowing this PrC, restricts me to the PHB and one additional sourcebook (and maybe Unearthed Arcana), a restriction I think is reasonable. Thus, I'm going to need to do a bit more careful planning in advance. Of course, I'm also doing this as a pet project, so if I wanted to I could make a "for fun" build with no restrictions on books.
I do have a basic concept in mind - this character is going to play more like a squad commander than an adventurer. My plan is to focus my necromancy on small groups of elite undead minions, outfit them with some magical gear, and send them into battle. My minions will most likely consist of a few Vampire Spawn and Ghouls/Ghasts (created with the feat prereqs for Widow Queen), whatever I can get from Animate/Create Dead, and an undefined number of spawn created with my Widow Queen class abilities. At 6th level of Widow Queen, I get the ability to manage the Widow Queen spawn from a distance, thus no longer requiring me to even be present in battles. What I do if I actually join my minions in battle. is most likely where my build comes in, which depends on the books and class(es) I choose.
Books: The way I see it, my two main choices are Complete Arcane and Libris Mortis. The former makes me more effective as an arcane spellcaster in general, the latter gives me more minions to choose from and more options for those minions, and lots of necromancy-themed abilities. If I choose Complete Arcane, I'll go for an Uttercold Assault build; if I choose Libris Mortis, I'll likely make myself into an undead of some sort (Necropolitan being the easiest), and thus gain access to a number of undead-only skills. I'd go for the Corpsecrafter feats, but as written they only affect undead I've created with my spells and not from the Tome of Necromancy feats, Widow Queen abilities, or even official stuff like Undead Leadership. Sigh.
Base Classes: The Widow Queen is obviously intended to be used by Wizards/Sorcerers, as they need to be able to cast both Web and Vampiric touch. There might be ways for a Cleric to get those spells - and a Cleric might be better for the kind of minion support I want to do - but I don't know how.
However, neither Wizard nor Sorcerer have Diplomacy or Sense Motive as class skills (and the Sorcerer doesn't get Knowledge (Planes), which I'd need for an Uttercold Assault build, which is probably the only way for a Sorcerer Necromancer to be viable). As a result, going straight Wiz/Sor I'd take my first level in Widow Queen at 9th level.
Now, I could take five levels in Wizard and then dip one level into Bard, after which I qualify for Widow Queen and thus I can get to my desired level of Widow Queen sooner. The problem with that is that I don't get much else from a level of Bard. I won't complain about boosts to saves, more skill points, or a slightly higher hit die, but a few extra cantrips aren't helpful, Inspire Courage and Countersong won't work on my undead (unless my DM uses a couple other rules from Tome of Necromancy, but that's unlikely)... which leaves Fascination if I can figure out a good way to use it (distract a crowd while by undead sneak into position?), and Bardic Knowledge as an occasionally useful/interesting extra. Despite all that, it seems like the preferable option if the level cap is 15 or lower (anything after 8th level with Widow Queen is dressing for me, not meat) - if I have to take 8 levels of Wizard/Sorcerer I won't get all the Widow Queen class features I want until 16th level.
If I had more books at my disposal, I could choose a Beguiler instead of a Bard, but choosing the PH2 as my 2nd sourcebook closes off a lot of options I'd otherwise have.
I think that more or less sums up the main decisions I need to make. Thoughts and recommendations?