4e: Animate Undead Servant

[Yakk]

Feat: Undead Pact (Warlock or Wizard)
The Wizard or Warlock has made a pact with an Undead Spirit. This replaces one At Will power of the Wizard or Warlock's choice with Animate Undead Servant.

Animate Undead Servant
At Will + Arcane, Conjuration, Necrotic, Implement
Standard Action
Ranged: 10 squares
Special: Using Animate Undead Servant costs a healing surge
Target: One dead creature, slain in this encounter, that was not previously animated or undead.
Effect: The creature returns from the dead, animated by Necrotic energy, shifts up to 2 squares then attacks a nearby target for Int vs AC for 1d10+Int (damage upgraded to 2d10+Int at level 21).

The animated undead servant can be attacked and damaged, but it may not be healed. It uses the casters defenses when attacked. It has Vunerability: Radiant 10, and Resistance: Necrotic 10. The animated undead sevant is considered to be undead.

The animated undead has HP equal to the least of the animated creature's bloodied HP, or the casters bloodied HP. Animated minions have 1 HP.

Special: A caster cannot control more than one Animated Undead Servant at a time. If this ability is used on another target, the first animated Undead Servant dies and cannot be re-animated.

Sustain: Free. The Undead Servant can be sustained between encounters or even between rests.

Standard Action: Servant moves up to 2 squares and makes a Melee attack: Cha vs AC, 1d10+Int necrotic and blunt damage. Increases to 2d10+Int at level 21.
Move Action: Servant moves up to 5 squares.
Move Action: Servant shifts 1 square.
Immediate Reaction: Triggered when a creature adjacent to the Animated Undead Servant provokes an opportunity attack. Make an opportunity attack using the servant against the creature: Cha vs AC, 1d10+Int necrotic and blunt damage. Increases to 2d10+Int at level 21.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

The HP of the Undead servant are pretty high. You spend a healing surge-which is 1/4 your HP-while the servant has 1/2 your HP (twice as much).

Also, you gain a power to spend healing surges in combat-which the wizard and the warlock do not have-that makes them useful for other than healing. Though I guess that is offset by needing to spend a feat for it.


Other than that, it is good. Doesn't really fit the wizard-but it is very good for the warlock.

[Yakk]

Yes, killing the Undead Servant isn't that effective of a move often -- but it can be done.

The damage the power does is, honestly, sub-par. A raw stat (with implement) vs AC is a really crappy roll -- all other vs AC abilities have the benefit of weapon attack bonus, which is +2 to +3 depending on the weapon.

It also splits 2 stats -- int and cha -- to hit and to do damage.

In exchange, you get a mobile guy who can make opportunity attacks for you, and if the bad guys attack ends up being an efficient HP sponge. And you lose a feat.

What I found interesting was how easy it was to toss together a somewhat balanced at-will summonable ally. (there are none in core 4e, barring mage hand)

The trick to pay for the HP of your ally through healing surges is rather neat I think. :)

[Tough_Tonka]

So would this animated servant only make one attack, would it last for the encounter or until destroyed?

[jagadaishio]

Personally, I think that undead animation makes more sense as a ritual than as a spell. Regardless, this should not be an at-will spell. Make it encounter or daily for it to work.