Quick question: prestigeing out after Dread Necromancer 8

[Jowgen]

Title basically says it all, just looking for some recommendations on what PrC might be worthwhile to go into when leaving the Dread Necromancer class after 8th level. Yes, I am aware of the issue with Undead Mastery, no need to go there. This particular dread necromancer is human, intends to become a Lich the old-fashioned way (Archlich specifically) and wants to focus on minion-mancy.

So far, best I found is Paragnostic Apostle, which is serviceable but doesn't really bring anything mega exciting. Anybody happen to know a hidden gem?

[BowStreetRunner]

Have you looked through the New Dread Necromancer Handbook (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?444394-New-Dread-Necromancer-Handbook) that was originally posted on the WOTC boards by zombiegleemax? It has an entire section on PrC options. Personally, I'd recommend taking a look at Shadow Adept (PGtF). I love the addition of Shadow Walk on a Necromancer chassis.

[Rebel7284]

Dread witch?

[The Viscount]

There's always rainbow servant for that sweet sweet capstone.

[Fouredged Sword]

Prc bard. Take practiced spellcaster to remove the CL penalty. Get a ton of wierd spells on your list.

Glibness. "No, I am NOT undead thank you, just thin and pale!"

[liquidformat]

I have always been a bit disappointed that dread necromancer isn't a divine caster since it can't use some cool prcs like bone knight or walker in the waste (technically you could take this class if you dip cleric but not worth it). Anyways sandshaper might be an interesting prc to look at it gives some fun and interesting abilities.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Horned Harbinger, hands-down. For two levels, anyway. Class level + CHA to caster level for animate dead, and an SLA of the same, with the boosted CL.

[Jowgen]

Horned Harbinger, hands-down. For two levels, anyway. Class level + CHA to caster level for animate dead, and an SLA of the same, with the boosted CL.

Okay... now that is a hidden gem. No spell progression sucks pretty hard, but if you just wanna go full hog on the Army of Darkness flavour, this seems to fit the bill.

The wording of Horned Harbinger is weird (not to mentioned based on 3e animate dead), but I think it actually helps off set the bad writing of Undead Mastery for the purpose of basing the HD cap just off CL.

If Undead Mastery and the Honredn Harbinger stuff stacks as intended, the base formula should be: HD = (4+Cha)*(CL+Cha). Assuming minimum level of 10 plus a charisma mod of 5, we get 9*15=135 HD worth of animated dead.

Add 3 more horned harbinger levels for captain of undeath, adjust the 3e cap increase of 2->5 HD to be 4->10, and our base formula HD = (10+Cha)*(CL+Cha), so at 15*18=270 HD. Same with the General of Undeath capstone gets us (20+Cha)*(18+Cha)=25*23=575 HD.

Add a Rod of Undead Mastery (LM) for doubling those numbers, and we get:

270 HD @ 10
540 HD @ 13
1150 HD @ 18

All without the use of further cha or caster level increases. The Leadership followers are small change in comparison.

Animate/Create/Create Greater Undead as SLAs make the whole thing component cost free.
Add Undead Mastery, plus Fell Energy Desecrate (and maybe Nimble Bones/Destructive Retribution for good measure) and each minion gets a whole lot more durable as well.

Summon some goats and you can make yourself a regular old sorcerous kingdom right there.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Don't forget to grab consumptive field with your 8th-level Advanced Learning.

[Cosi]

In general, Prestige Domains are good for fixed-list casters. You get a bunch of new spells you know for free, and you can cast those spells whenever you want. That gives you a bunch of free utility.


I have always been a bit disappointed that dread necromancer isn't a divine caster since it can't use some cool prcs like bone knight or walker in the waste (technically you could take this class if you dip cleric but not worth it). Anyways sandshaper might be an interesting prc to look at it gives some fun and interesting abilities.

You can get into some divine PrCs with Alternate Spell Source (I think that's the one that lets you swap out what kind of casting you do). I think there's also a Forgotten Realms feat that does it (I want to say Southern Magician?). Those might be 1st level only options, so they're not great if you're already playing the character. Arguably, imbue with spell ability also works for PrCs that are either not in Complete Warrior or grant their own divine casting.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

You can do some shenanigans with Theurgic Specialist (Dragon 325), Master Spellthief, and Ultimate Magus to get an absurd caster level, though it requires Wizard 3. A Dread Necromancer 1/ Spellthief 1/ Wizard 3/ Ultimate Magus 10 casts as a Dread Necro 8 and as a Wizard 13, Master Spellthief plus the flat UM bonus gives you a caster level of 26 in all three classes, and Theurgic Specialist adds those together for a caster level of 78 for necromancy spells at character level 15. Just take Corpsecrafter and that's significantly better for Animate Dead than taking the 8th level of Dread Necromancer.

[Mato]

Pale master is theme fitting and leads to immunity to damage but rainbow servant rounds out your spell list. Another good possibility is prestige bard, sublime chord, and the suggested spon/spon adaptation of the ultimate magus near the end of it's entry. Similar to the rainbow servant you can round out your spell list, but it allows you to remain arcane focused and helps you use metamagic to enhance your spells.

[Feantar]

Since you want to be an archlich, I am assuming a pretty intense shift into good alignment in your future. As such.

Iff you can somehow get dispel evil or dismissal in your list, Sacred Exorcist is a thematically interesting idea (which also keeps progressing your turning, I think). Otherwise Mage of the Arcane Order is actually useful in all classes with a limited spell list. Thematically Malconvoker would also be interesting but, one, you don't get Summon Monster by default and two, you don't get magic circle so your bindings would not be ideal. Still...