Necromancy w/o Steamrolling

[Fero]

I am building a 9th level gestalt Dread Necromancer/Healer in an upcoming game. I want to create and use undead minions. However, I don't want to steamroller encounters or slow combat to manage lots of minions. Therefore, I want to find utility uses for undead minions, as well as any fairly passive combat abilities that won't slow pay to much.

I already plan to take Undead Eyes so I can use tiny undead as scouts. I also plan to take Unliving Weapon to use them as bombs, guided weapons, etc.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[Rebel7284]

Slaymate is good

[Zanos]

Zombies ogres or just something big with a lot of hit dice can be a good wall with a reach weapon. Takes up space, provides some control, only one attack.

Using skeletons as flankers is also effective if you've got party members that can take advantage.

[Fero]

Slaymate is good

Would you believe I have no metamagic? No corpsecrafter either. I am doing something wrong. . .

[Inevitability]

Having big undead carry or drag mobile cover in place might be useful; the party archer will love you! Having a few skeletons raising or lowering big sheets of fabric at your command can serve as a nice source of toggle-able cover.

Small skeletons moving to be flanking buddies who then spam total defense can similarly be useful.

Mounts for the party are a classic, lots of characters appreciate being mounted.

[Doctor Despair]

lots of characters appreciate being mounted.

Uh, phrasing :P

[JNAProductions]

Uh, phrasing :P

The section quoted is perfect, I dunno what you're talking about. :P

[Biggus]

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but Undead Torch (SpC) is pretty good.

[SirNibbles]

How are you combining Healer (requires good alignment) with Dread Necromancer (requires non-good alignment)?


Having big undead carry or drag mobile cover in place might be useful; the party archer will love you! Having a few skeletons raising or lowering big sheets of fabric at your command can serve as a nice source of toggle-able cover.

Small skeletons moving to be flanking buddies who then spam total defense can similarly be useful.

Mounts for the party are a classic, lots of characters appreciate being mounted.




If you’re considered armed, you threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack

Rules Compendium, page 18





Only a creature that threatens your foe can help you gain a flanking bonus.

Rules Compendium, page 56


If you can't attack, do you threaten any squares for flanking? EDIT: (regarding total defense and flanking)

[Fero]

How are you combining Healer (requires good alignment) with Dread Necromancer (requires non-good alignment)?

DM waived the Healer alignment restriction.

[Telonius]

I would check with your DM to see if using the "Mob" template (from DMG2) would be appropriate. With a Dread Necromancer, you can pretty quickly get to the point where it really does bog down combat. A Mob combines a bunch of low-HD things into something that has a chance at doing some damage to a higher-level enemy.