Command Undead feat: is it permanent?


Rules Questions

The Exchange

With the Command Undead feat, you control their actions as per the spell Control Undead. It says that intelligent undead get to save everyday, but the spell only lasts minutes. The feat description doesn't say anything how long they are under your control, so I assume it's permanent and doesn't just replicate the spell in respect to duration.

What about number of undead you can command at once? The animate dead spell says 4 hd per caster level, is that only for the spell, and feat is unlimitted?


You can control any number of undead, so long as their total Hit Dice do not exceed your cleric level.

Apart from that and the intelligent undead gaining 1 new saving throw each day, the reference to Control Undead only refers to the behaviour of the undead under the channeler's control, not the duration of effect. Therefore I would say it lasts indefinitely or until the undead makes its save, whichever comes first ;)


Poison wrote:

You can control any number of undead, so long as their total Hit Dice do not exceed your cleric level.

Apart from that and the intelligent undead gaining 1 new saving throw each day, the reference to Control Undead only refers to the behaviour of the undead under the channeler's control, not the duration of effect. Therefore I would say it lasts indefinitely or until the undead makes its save, whichever comes first ;)

I would concur - unless an intelligent undead makes its save, it's essentially enslaved forever. or until it's controller dies.

it's not exactly fair to the undead in question, but nobody ever said being damned to a half life as a tormented spirit was going to be fair...

also, it's very dangerous for the controller. I've a necromancer in my Kingmaker game and she's become extremely paranoid about the undead she controls. it would be bad if it got free and started eating people in the capital city.

The Exchange

Poison wrote:
You can control any number of undead, so long as their total Hit Dice do not exceed your cleric level.

Thanks. In which section of the book could I find this rule?

Liberty's Edge

Waffle_Neutral wrote:
Poison wrote:
You can control any number of undead, so long as their total Hit Dice do not exceed your cleric level.
Thanks. In which section of the book could I find this rule?

It's in the feat itself:

Command Undead wrote:


Benefit: As a standard action, you can use one of your uses of channel negative energy to enslave undead within 30 feet. Undead receive a Will save to negate the effect. The DC for this Will save is equal to 10 + 1/2 your cleric level + your Charisma modifier. Undead that fail their saves fall under your control, obeying your commands to the best of their ability, as if under the effects of control undead. Intelligent undead receive a new saving throw each day to resist your command. You can control any number of undead, so long as their total Hit Dice do not exceed your cleric level. If you use channel energy in this way, it has no other effect (it does not heal or harm nearby creatures). If an undead creature is under the control of another creature, you must make an opposed Charisma check whenever your orders conflict.

The Exchange

Oh, wow. How'd I miss that? Thanks!

Liberty's Edge

Waffle_Neutral wrote:
Oh, wow. How'd I miss that? Thanks!

Haha no worries, happens to me all the time :P

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