Dread Necromancer remake [PEACH]

[Falco1029]

Spoiler: Misc

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So, haven't done any homebrew in a while and am too lazy to reformat my old stuff, since it doesn't really see any use, but I decided I'd try my hand at updating a class to 5th edition, one of my favorite ones.

My general design guidelines were to make it so it follows similar patters of 'subclasses' as is the norm, and I did my best to balance it to existing capabilities. It has more spells known than a sorcerer, from a smaller spell list, but it can expand that list every few levels. I figure this gives it a nice 5th edition feel for how things work without entirely removing the 'spontaneous, large number of spells' feel of the class.

I also added a secondary 'arcane secret' sort of focus to them, wherein the ritual casting isn't from spontaneous capabilities but rather garnered from swiping the spells and similar of more traditional casters for that sort of magic. It does mean some MAD, but that's on purpose. Past that, it also defines how the subclasses work, it's the way they focus their discovered secrets that define their path.

Let me know if any balance seems off, or whatever else. I'm still pretty new to 5th edition.

Current thoughts: I know I already grabbed most of the Necromancy spells for their list, so the primary use of advanced learning is just to grab another spell known right now. Since differing spell levels aren't really a thing, for eclectic learning I made it so they're simply maxed at one level less than they can cast for their choice. Also, yes, I know I swiped a few things from the Necromancer specialist wizard and similar, no reason to reinvent the wheel, right?

Dread Necromancer
A pale hand extends forward and crackles with dark energy, the half elf's victim screaming as the crackling force discharges into still living flesh. The last breath escapes them and their soul is drawn out with it, trapped in an onyx sphere as a smirk crosses his face.
The small contingent approaches the Drow sitting in the middle of the battlefield. They draw their swords, but he suddenly begins to laugh, head tilting back and eyes glowing black as the group's former comrades rise to their feet, flesh parting around their animate skeletons as they rush forward with an eery hiss.
Grinning darkly, the Tiefling eyes the approaching paladin and steps into the light. What seemed at a distance to be bright red flesh is revealed to be rotted, hardened skin clinging to a lithe skeleton. Pointing forward, a dozen ghostly hands reach outward from the cave's crevices, reaching for the neck of the intruder.
Dread Necromancers are fueled by dark energy in the same way a Sorcerer might be fueled by raw magic or the elements, wielding these forces as if by second nature. No few claims of lich sightings were actually a run in with one of these casters, their living forms inching towards Undeath as their power grows.

Commanding the Dead
Whether they reach for Undeath themselves or simply master their control over reanimated forces, dread necromancers are the quintessential arcane masters of the dead. While a wizard may study necromantic spells, and a cleric may channel negative energy, neither have the innate connection to the once living that the dread necromancer does.
While few can tell the difference between a specialist wizard and a dread necromancer, those that can are fairly quick to distrust them. Necromancy is often seen as a vile practice, and those that seem to have a penchant for little else are tied to those assumptions. Often times, though, these claims are all too correct.

Dark Secrets
While much of their talent is innate, most dread necromancers have the same penchant for arcane knowledge as wizards and warlocks, but rather than mastering arcane schools or pledging to other beings, the necromancer reaches within, finding ways to change themselves and what they do, mastering their capabilities and even their forms in a way entirely different from either.
Transforming themselves and their surroundings like they do, however, can disconnect them from the world around them, or at least put them in such a position as to make everyone feel like there's a disconnect. Still, very few are bothered by this, much preferring to reach immortality and study eldritch secrets on their own.

Creating a Dread Necromancer
Creating a dread necromancer involves thinking into their end goals. While, unlike Sorcerers, their power normally all comes from a similar place, it's what they want to do with that power that separates any given dread necromancer.
Does he seek immortality, wanting to convert himself into something like a lich? Does he wish to gain mastery over the undead, gaining an unparalleled level of control over the animated corpses he commands? Or does he seek to control the energy within him itself, channeling negative forces in a way that would make even a cleric of Wee Jas jealous?

Quick Build
You can make a dread necromancer quickly by following these suggestions. Charisma should be your highest attribute, followed by Dexterity. Intelligence is often important too, as a third choice. Choose the Hermit background. Then, take the Chill Touch, Dancing Lights, Mage Hand and Thaumaturgy cantrips, the 1st level spells False Life and Ray of Sickness, and the 1st level rituals Detect Magic and Find Familiar.

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	Spell Slots
1	+2	Spellcasting, Channel Negative Energy (1/rest)	4	2	(As full caster)
2	+2	Necromantic Focus	4	3
3	+2	Advanced Learning	4	5
4	+2	Ability Score Improvement	5	6
5	+3	Channel Negative Energy (2/rest)	5	7
6	+3	Eclectic Learning, Focus Improvement	5	9
7	+3	-	5	10
8	+3	Ability Score Improvement	5	11
9	+4	Advanced Learning	5	13
10	+4	Focus Improvement	6	14
11	+4	-	6	15
12	+4	Ability Score Improvement, Eclectic Learning	6	16
13	+5	-	6	17
14	+5	Focus Improvement	6	17
15	+5	Advanced Learning	6	19
16	+5	Ability Score Improvement	6	19
17	+6	Focus Improvement	6	20
18	+6	Eclectic Learning	6	21
19	+6	Ability Score Improvement	6	21
20	+6	Dread Rebirth	6	21

Class Features

Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per dread necromancer level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per dread necromancer level after 1st

Proficiencies
Armor: None
Weapons: Simple Weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Skills: Choose two from Arcana, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, and Religion

Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background.
*(a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon
*(a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
*(a) a scholar's pack or (b) a dungeoneer's pack

Spellcasting
Whether through an odd birth or the 'blessing' of a dark cleric, you were infused with negative energy and necromantic power at some point in your life, infusing you with arcane magic. This dark energy fuels your spells. See chapter 10 of the PHB for rules on spellcasting and below for the dread necromancer spell list.

Cantrips
At 1st level, you know four cantrips of your choice from the dread necromancer spell list. You learn additional dread necromancer cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Dread Necromancer table.

Spell Slots
The Dread Necromancer table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these dread necromancer spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

Spoiler

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It's the same as every other full caster, so I didn't bother tediously filling that part in.

Spells Known
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the dread necromancer spell list.
The Spells Known column of the dread necromancer table shows when you learn more dread necromancer spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the dread necromancer spells you know and replace it with another spell from the dread necromancer spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your dread necromancer spells, since the power of your magic relies on your ability to project your will into the world. You use your Charisma whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a dread necromancer spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Ritual Tome
Dread Necromancers don't simply rely on their own innate power, but also seek arcane secrets sought by traditional arcane casters. In addition to your innate ability with spells, you can learn a number of spells as rituals. This works as the Ritual Caster feat, except you always choose the Wizard spell list to learn your rituals from, and thus always use Intelligence for these spells. If you already have a ritual spell Known, you may copy it to your ritual tome at half the normal cost, and you don't need a scroll or spellbook to copy it from.

Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for your dread necromancer spells, but not your rituals.

Channel Negative Energy
Similar to how a cleric may Channel Divinity, a Dread Necromancer can channel their internal negative energy into specific effects. To start, you can only Turn Undead, but your Necromantic Focus will grant you further effects as you advance in level, as noted in the focus descriptions.
When you use your Channel Negative Energy, you choose which effect to create. You must then finish a short or long rest to use your Channel Negative Energy again.
Some Channel Negative Energy effects require saving throws. When you use such an effect from this class, the DC equals your dread necromancer spell save DC.
Beginning at 5th level, you can use your Channel Negative Energy twice between rests. When you finish a short or long rest, you regain your expended uses.

Necromantic Focus
At second level, you must select your Necromantic Focus, which defines your long term goals and the way your power is channeled. The Undead Mastery, Lich Transformation, and Energy Harnessing focuses are listed below.
Your choice grants you features at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 17th level.

Advanced and Eclectic Learning
Every 3rd level, a Dread Necromancer expands their knowledge of magic, either through pilfered secrets or mastery of necromantic methods. At 3rd, 9th, and 15th level, you gain Advanced Learning; add any Necromancy spell of any level you can cast to your Spells Known, from any list (so, at 15th level you could choose up to an 8th level spell). At 6th, 12th, and 18th level, you gain Eclectic Learning; add any Wizard spell of a maximum level equal to one less than you have slots for to your Spells Known (so, at 18th level you could select up to an 8th level spell, for instance).
The chosen spells count as Dread Necromancer spells for you, and are included in the Spells Known column of the Dread Necromancer table.

Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Dread Rebirth
At 20th level, you gain access to the ultimate feature for your Necromantic Focus. In addition, when you lose at least 10 hit points from an attack by an enemy, you may choose to regain a total number of spell slots equal to one half the damage taken, though none of them may be above 5th level. This works one time; you regain this ability after a long rest.


Necromantic Focuses
While dread necromancers have varying, widespread goals, many of them focus on some form of control; either of their own bodies, the forms of the undead, or the flow of negative energy within and without.

Undead Mastery
Rather than attempting to grasp for internal power, you learn to focus your energy on control; specifically, you learn to command Undead, both those created by you and those that already walk the globe for one reason or another. Whether you plan to create an army with which to take over a nation, or simply wish to create bodyguards and assistants you can trust inherently, you are incredibly adept at manipulating un-living forms.

Spoiler: Undead Mastery Improvements

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Rebuke Undead
At 2nd level, you gain more finesse in the way you turn undead. Instead of forcing an undead creature to run directly away from you, you may instead have them simply fall to their knees (effectively becoming prone) and cower in awe of you. In addition, if an Undead target has fewer Hit Dice than you, they have disadvantage on their save versus Turn Undead.

Corpsecraft
When you reach 6th level, you gain Animate Dead as a bonus spell known. This is done after you gain or replace other spells known for the level, so if you already knew it you may replace it beforehand. When you cast it, you may target an additional corpse or pile of bones, creating another zombie or skeleton as appropriate.
Whenever you create an undead using a necromancy spell, it has additional benefits:
• The creature’s hit point maximum is increased by an amount equal to your dread necromancer level.
• The creature adds your proficiency bonus to its weapon damage rolls

Everlasting Control
At 10th level, you gain further control over the Undead you create. Every day, you may upkeep a total number of spell levels equal to (half your Dread Necromancer level + your charisma bonus) that normally require daily recasting in order to keep control over undead you've created (For instance, Animate Dead or Create Undead). This does not require a recasting of the spell.
For instance, at 14th level with a Charisma of 16 you could upkeep a casting of Animate Dead at 3rd level and a casting of Create Undead at 7th level.

Command Undead
Starting at 14th level, you can use magic to bring undead under your control, even those created by other spell-casters. As an action, you can choose one undead that you can see within 60 feet of you. That creature must make a Charisma saving throw against your dread necromancer spell save DC. If it succeeds, you can’t use this feature on it again. If it fails, it becomes friendly to you and obeys your commands until you use this feature again.
Intelligent undead are harder to control in this way. If the target has an Intelligence of 8 or higher, it has advantage on the saving throw. If it fails the saving throw and has an Intelligence of 12 or higher, it can repeat the saving throw at the end of every hour until it succeeds and breaks free.
In addition, if you spend one of your Channel Negative Energy uses, you may use it again without losing control of an Undead creature you've already used this focus improvement on, but you may only do this once until you either voluntarily give up control of one or one of them is destroyed (So, you'll never have Command of more than two creatures).

Desecration
At 17th level, you gain the ability to make an area better suited to Undead. Once per day, as an action, you may create a 20 foot radius area to Desecrate. For the next hour, any Undead created there (such as with Animate Dead or Create Undead) has a strength that's 2 higher than it was in life (to a maximum of 20), and its maximum hit points improve by the caster's level.

Dread Rebirth: Undead Lord
When you reach 20th level, you reach the final level of command you can achieve over your undead minions. When casting a Necromancy spell that creates an Undead creature (Such as Animate Dead or Create Undead), you may treat the spell as if it were cast using a spell slot one level higher than was actually used. You may only do this once, and regain the ability after a long rest.

Lich Transformation
While Dread Necromancers generally don't fully become liches, you have learned to alter your form in a manner that grants similar capabilities, and eventually a form of immortality. This is often a dangerous path, as many that see the signs of lichdom are quick to bring arms down upon the suspected necromancer.

Spoiler: Lich Transformation Improvements

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Lich Body
At 2nd level, your unarmored AC is equal to 10 + your Dexterity modifiers + your Charisma modifier. In addition, you gain the following Channel Negative Energy effect.

Channel Negative Energy: Undead Resilience
As an action, you focus on bringing your body close to the state of Undeath, and gain resistance to either bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage for 1 minute.

Undead Resistance
Starting at 6th level, you gain resistance to necrotic energy. In addition, when you use Undead Resilience, you may instead choose resistance to cold or electricity.

Paralyzing Touch
When you reach 10th level, you gain a lesser form of the Paralyzing Touch Liches are capable of. Once per short rest, you can make a melee touch attack on a living creature. On a success, you deal 3d6 cold damage, and the target must make a Constitution save (use your spell save DC for this class). If they fail, they're also paralyzed for as long you maintain Concentration, up to a minute.

Dead Mind
At 14th level, you have advantage on saves to avoid the Charmed, Exhausted, Frightened, Paralyzed, and Poisoned conditions, as you begin to convert your mind to match the mystic properties of an intelligent undead being.

Light Fortification
Starting at 17th level, you are resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage by non-magical weapons, as well as poison, cold and lightning damage.

Dread Rebirth: Lich Transformation
When you hit 20th level, you take the penultimate step towards becoming Undead. You no longer age, no longer need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep (but still must rest to regain spells), and become immune to poison and exhaustion. While you don't have one automatically, you may attempt to create a lich's phylactery, with all of the difficulties and benefits that entails; the requirements are largely left to the DM. Until you actually create a phylactery, you don't actually count as Undead for the purpose of spells and effects targeting them (or being unable to), however.

Energy Harnessing
While negative energy is so often put into the form of spells, undead alterations, and the manipulation of unliving entities, it's also an incredibly potent tool in its pure form, and many Dread Necromancers realize that fact. They learn to manipulate the flow of necrotic energy, eventually completely mastering it.

Spoiler: Energy Harnessing Improvements

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Charnel Touch
The most basic way to manipulate the negative energy within you is to simply let it flow from your touch. At 2nd level, as an action, you may make a touch attack on a target, using your spell attack bonus instead of your melee attack bonus. This does 1d8 necrotic damage, +1 per class level. Once per long rest, you may improve this to 1d8 + 1d8 per two class levels by also using a bonus action.

Channel Negative Energy: Negative Energy Burst
At 6th level, you can use Channel Negative energy to, rather than manipulating undead, simply let necrotic energy flow from yourself into your surroundings. Every living creature within 30 feet of yourself (besides yourself) must make a Constitution save. Any that fail take 1d6 necrotic energy damage per class level you have.

Tomb Tainted Soul
Beginning at 10th level, you begin to rely on negative energy to fuel your body. Any time you would take necrotic energy damage, you are instead healed by the same amount. However, cure spells and effects no longer affect you. You may use your Charnel Touch on yourself once per short rest, and when you use Negative Energy Burst you may include yourself as a target.

Enervating Touch
At 14th level, once per short rest, when using your Charnel Touch, you can use a bonus action to force the target to make a Constitution save against your spell save DC. If they fail, their Maximum Hitpoints are lowered by the amount of Necrotic damage taken, until they take a long rest. If their maximum hitpoints are lowered to 0 (or less) by this ability, they crumble to dust as all living energy is drained from their forms.

Font of Negative Energy
At 17th level, you become entirely immune to your maximum hitpoints being lowered. In addition, you gain two additional uses of Channel Negative Energy per rest.

Dread Rebirth: Draining Necrosis
When you reach 20th level, you become a true master of negative energy, learning to not only channel it within yourself, but to more finely manipulate it when you channel it into someone else. Once per long rest, when you deal necrotic energy damage from any source to someone, you may choose to regain an equal number of hitpoints to the damage dealt.

Dread Necromancer Spells

Spoiler: Dread Necromancer Spell List

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Cantrips (0 level)
Chill Touch
Dancing Lights
Friends
Mage Hand
Message
Poison Spray
Ray of Frost
Thaumaturgy
True Strike

1st Level
Bane
Comprehend Languages
Detect Evil and Good
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
False Life
Fog Cloud
Illusory Script
Inflict Wounds
Mage Armor
Protection from Evil and Good
Ray of Sickness
Sleep

2nd Level
Blindness/Deafness
Blur
Darkness
Darkvision
Gentle Repose
Hold Person
Invisibility
Misty Step
Nystul's Magic Aura
Phantasmal Force
Ray of Enfeeblement
See Invisibility
Shatter

3rd Level
Animate Dead
Bestow Curse
Counterspell
Dispel Magic
Fear
Feign Death
Gaseous Form
Leomund's Tiny Hut
Magic Circle
Nondetection
Phantom Steed
Protection from Energy
Remove Curse
Slow
Speak with Dead
Vampiric Touch
Water Breathing

4th Level
Banishment
Blight
Confusion
Death Ward
Dimension Door
Evard's Black Tentacles
Greater Invsibility
Leomund's Secret Chest
Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
Phantasmal Killer

5th Level
Cloudkill
Cone of Cold
Contact Other Plane
Contagion
Creation
Dream
Geas
Hold Monster
Insect Plague
Legend Lore
Mislead
Planar Binding

6th Level
Circle of Death
Create Undead
Disintegrate
Drawmij's Instant Summons
Eyebite
Globe of Invulnerability
Magic Jar
True Seeing

7th Level
Etherealness
Finger of Death
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
Plane Shift
Sequester
Symbol
Teleport

8th Level
Antipathy/Sympathy
Clone
Demiplane
Feeblemind
Mind Blank
Power Word Stun
Trap the Soul

9th Level
Astral Projection
Foresight
Gate
Imprisonment
Power Word Kill
Weird

[Falco1029]

Spoiler: Changes

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Made some minor typo fixes - 11/19/2014
Changed the wording of Lich transformation to prevent some problems with being 'undead', changed Intelligence save to wisdom - 10/4/2015

[Rater202]

I'm curious as to why Dread rebirth, the capstone, is referred to as penultimate and not ultimate.

It's the last and most potent ability, which makes it the ultimate.

[Falco1029]

I'm curious as to why Dread rebirth, the capstone, is referred to as penultimate and not ultimate.

It's the last and most potent ability, which makes it the ultimate.

Because I originally had it at level 19 in my first draft and then changed it to better follow the capstone tendencies. I'll tweak the wording.

[flyenemu]

Hmm, wonderful concept. I'll have to keep an eye on this, and return after the DMG comes out. Great work friend!

[Falco1029]

Hmm, wonderful concept. I'll have to keep an eye on this, and return after the DMG comes out. Great work friend!

Yeah I planned to tweak it again after the DMG comes out, if it gives any advice or other useful mechanics.

[0oMooncalfo0]

I'm actually running this 5e import of yours in a friend's Out of the Abyss campaign, and it's been going pretty well so far. Kudos to you for making it! That being said, my DM and I had some questions regrading the capstone for the Lich Transformation path. You make it clear the PC doesn't become a full lich, but rather "something like a lich". The descriptor of the capstone seems to be in a similar vein:

"You no longer age, no longer need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep (but still must rest to regain spells), and become immune to poison and exhaustion."

Ok, pretty straightforward. So you become like a full undead, but otherwise get to keep playing your usual PC mechanics. Cleric can Revivify you if you drop, death saves at 0 HP, magical healing. The issue is that the description isn't phrased '*like* a fully Undead'; it says: "you become fully Undead"

That seems to imply a different mechanic altogether, and not one 5e appears equipped to deal with. There are tons of detrimental rules for true Undead in 5e (no way to heal, for instance), and a lot pf beneficial spells that don't function on them. It creates a serious mechanical problem. :/

As far as my DM and I can figure, by 'become fully undead', you mean the PC gains the select undead traits you describe, but otherwise is treated as a normal creature for the purposes of spells and other mechanics. It's an interpretation that works for us, but all the same, I was wondering how the creator envisioned it.

[Falco1029]

I'm actually running this 5e import of yours in a friend's Out of the Abyss campaign, and it's been going pretty well so far. Kudos to you for making it! That being said, my DM and I had some questions regrading the capstone for the Lich Transformation path. You make it clear the PC doesn't become a full lich, but rather "something like a lich". The descriptor of the capstone seems to be in a similar vein:

"You no longer age, no longer need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep (but still must rest to regain spells), and become immune to poison and exhaustion."

Ok, pretty straightforward. So you become like a full undead, but otherwise get to keep playing your usual PC mechanics. Cleric can Revivify you if you drop, death saves at 0 HP, magical healing. The issue is that the description isn't phrased '*like* a fully Undead'; it says: "you become fully Undead"

That seems to imply a different mechanic altogether, and not one 5e appears equipped to deal with. There are tons of detrimental rules for true Undead in 5e (no way to heal, for instance), and a lot pf beneficial spells that don't function on them. It creates a serious mechanical problem. :/

As far as my DM and I can figure, by 'become fully undead', you mean the PC gains the select undead traits you describe, but otherwise is treated as a normal creature for the purposes of spells and other mechanics. It's an interpretation that works for us, but all the same, I was wondering how the creator envisioned it.

Hmm, I hadn't actually considered that, since Undead don't have an inherent way to heal or revive. I think what this was (this was a bit back, and I'm silly and don't keep design notes you don't already see here), was that I was expecting the dungeonmaster's guide to cover things like playing undead, and they'd inherently have options.

So what I'm going to tweak it to make it so it specifically says that they don't count as Undead for the sake of spells unless they do go the route of making a phylactery (since having one covers the whole 'can't be revived' thing).

EDIT: And thanks for the Kudos!

[TheTeaMustFlow]

It should probably have a good save, as per the standard design philosophy. I'd recommend changing it to be proficient in Wisdom and Charisma. The class specific capstones also refer to them as penultimate, rather than ultimate.

Otherwise, I rather like it.

[Falco1029]

It should probably have a good save, as per the standard design philosophy. I'd recommend changing it to be proficient in Wisdom and Charisma. The class specific capstones also refer to them as penultimate, rather than ultimate.

Otherwise, I rather like it.

Changed Intelligence save to Wisdom, good call, hadn't really thought about the good versus poor save thing.

I changed one to final instead of penultimate (old habit I need to break), but the one in lich transformation is meant to be penultimate, as they still need to make a phylactery to 'truly' change.

[0oMooncalfo0]

Changed Intelligence save to Wisdom, good call, hadn't really thought about the good versus poor save thing.

;___; God bless you. The lack of good save has been the only thing giving me issue so far.

I'm personally surprised the DMG didn't cover more on undead as well, but the errata is much appreciated. Personally, I'm planning on abusing Clone instead of crafting the phylactery, so that'll be a big help.

[Pyon]

I enjoy this idea, specially the negative channeling! Although isn't the negative channel worded a bit weird? Can't you just reword it to half your level?

[Falco1029]

I enjoy this idea, specially the negative channeling! Although isn't the negative channel worded a bit weird? Can't you just reword it to half your level?

I'm not sure I get what you mean? In reference to what part of it?

[Pyon]

I'm not sure I get what you mean? In reference to what part of it?

This part:

"Once per long rest, you may improve this to 1d8 + 1d8 per two class levels by also using a bonus action."

Wouldn't it be easier (and more consistent) to write:

"Once per long rest, you may improve this to 1d8+ xd8 with x being equal to half your levels in this class, using a bonus action."

I know it's a mouthful but "per two class levels" really implies something different is going on. Unless it does mean something else, and I'm an idiot.

Either way a vampire grappler with this class would be awesome to bite and then energy drain!

[Falco1029]

This part:

"Once per long rest, you may improve this to 1d8 + 1d8 per two class levels by also using a bonus action."

Wouldn't it be easier (and more consistent) to write:

"Once per long rest, you may improve this to 1d8+ xd8 with x being equal to half your levels in this class, using a bonus action."

I know it's a mouthful but "per two class levels" really implies something different is going on. Unless it does mean something else, and I'm an idiot.

Either way a vampire grappler with this class would be awesome to bite and then energy drain!

Ah, you meant in charnel touch, I thought you meant in the basic channel negative energy part. But anyway, per two class levels is fairly common wording, I think, at least it used to be. It makes it so you don't need to deal with rounding; you get the extra d8 on the second/even class level.

[Crusadr]

Seems pretty cool however with your Lich Transformation when you hit level 17 and get Light Fortification does that not negate your Undead Resilience entirely? I didn't see any other use for the Channel Negative Energy so...

[Falco1029]

Seems pretty cool however with your Lich Transformation when you hit level 17 and get Light Fortification does that not negate your Undead Resilience entirely? I didn't see any other use for the Channel Negative Energy so...

1) Every Dread Necro has turn undead for Channel Negative Energy
2) Light fortification specifically says that it's for non-magical b/s/p damage, whereas Undead Resilience would work on magical sources.

[Crusadr]

1) Every Dread Necro has turn undead for Channel Negative Energy
2) Light fortification specifically says that it's for non-magical b/s/p damage, whereas Undead Resilience would work on magical sources.

Oh right, my bad on missing that. Seems pretty solid then

[Ex0dus_Begins]

Wheres the fear aura? And all of the fear (thus dread)

[TheTeaMustFlow]

Wheres the fear aura? And all of the fear (thus dread)

Though I suppose thread necromancy is rather apropos here, really.

[King539]

Wheres the fear aura? And all of the fear (thus dread)

Fear is on the spell list.