| AlcopopStar |
In a recent encounter I managed to steal a ghost using Command Undead (Su) and very much want to retain control!
Command Undead says, "Intelligent undead receive a new saving throw each day to resist your command"
When does this happen? Can I refresh the duration by re-commanding it before this happens? Failing that, do you have any advice on retaining control over my new ghostly friend?
| Necrostar |
I haven't seen a specific time listed anywhere, and I think that this is basically a GM call. There are three reasonable options as I see it.
-Undead receive a save every night at midnight. This is the easiest way to maintain control over an intelligent undead, as you can predict when the save will be made and any undead you may have control over will save at the same time. This is harder with incorporeal and spawning undead. You can confine the undead and re-control them if they manage to shake your control. I would never rule this way.
-Undead receive a new save every 24 hours. Functionally the same as above, but if you have a variety of undead you have to work to get them to save at the same time.
-Undead receive a new saving throw once a day, but whenever they damn well feel like it. They are intelligent after all. Is it going to try to buck your control when it's chained? when your expecting it? No. This is how I would rule. Necromancy isn't meant to be safe.
As for recommanding, I do think you could avoid the unpredictability of the save this way, but I don't think that is a good use of your turns; unless you just have way too many. Unless it has a good chance of breaking out on any given day, 25% or more, I wouldn't bother.
There are other options that you have as a necromancer to maintain control over your undead.
-Bestow curse. You can force your controlled undead to willingly fail the saving throw against this spell, and put a permanent -3 penalty to its will save for the purpose of saving against your control. A second curse could lower its wis score by 4 for the same purpose. That's a -5 to the save! no small potatoes. Depending on your DM, these values could be higher because of the rather specific nature of the curses. Go for a -4 and -6 respectively.
-Command undead is a lvl 2 Sorc/wiz spell, and stacks with the class feature. Again, you can force your undead to submit to spells willingly, so they don't get a will save against this. Plus it has a duration of 1 day per lvl. While it won't grant you the same level of control, it acts as a buffer. If your undead companion gets upidy and tries to escape your command in the clutch, at least it won't attack you or your allies.
| AlcopopStar |
I'll talk to my GM about how he wants to rule it. But using Bestow Curse like that is GENIUS!
I'm going to try to apply the following. I think they are all reasonably as powerful or weaker then the example bestow curses (though more specific)
Bestowed Curses,
-4 on will vs my command
-6 on wisdom vs my command
lose channel resist vs my command
doesn't auto succeed on natural 20 vs my command
This effectively amounts to being unable to resist my command
It got me thinking, couldn't you use bestow curse on allies for clever beneficial effects?
I.e.
50% chance not to act when possessed or dominated.