Necromancer's 8HD / level to control undead question

[DarkArt]

Has there been any feedback I've missed regarding resolving two competing Necromancers and their ability to control 8HD/ level of undead (starting at first level), and one should attempt to wrest control of the other's posse of undead minions? Is this meant to replace the normal 4HD of the Animate Dead spell?
Is it resolved via an opposing CHA check?

(I did a forum search to no avail. I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere/ before.)

[hogarth]

I'm pretty sure it's meant to supersede the Animate Dead 4 HD/level limit.

[CastleMike]

IMO that ability has to be clarified quite a bit better by Pazio.

[DarkArt]

The other scenario I can think of is that it's unclear when coming across intelligent undead. I'm sure they should get a will save of some kind.

When playtesting in CotCT, scenario 1

Spoiler:

Encountering Vreeg with his robe of bones. As Vreeg tossed out an undead, my necromancer would just control it. After two undead succumbing to my character's control, the insane NPC gave up on that tactic.

Playtesting CotCT, scenario 2

Spoiler:

When engaging the vampire spawn, I was sorely tempted to have my character just dominate them, since my character's level permitted 32HD of Undead, but I was unsure of the intent of the mechanic and it seemed anti-climactic to foil the encounter with such an easy ploy.

[hogarth]

DarkArt wrote:

The other scenario I can think of is that it's unclear when coming across intelligent undead. I'm sure they should get a will save of some kind.

When playtesting in CotCT, scenario 1 ** spoiler omitted **

Playtesting CotCT, scenario 2 ** spoiler omitted **

Well, as I said I don't think it actually gives you the ability to control undead; it just allows you to control more undead that you yourself have made with Animate Dead. So Scenario #1 and #2 can't happen, IMO.

[Patrick Baldwin]

hogarth wrote:

DarkArt wrote:

The other scenario I can think of is that it's unclear when coming across intelligent undead. I'm sure they should get a will save of some kind.

When playtesting in CotCT, scenario 1 ** spoiler omitted **

Playtesting CotCT, scenario 2 ** spoiler omitted **

Well, as I said I don't think it actually gives you the ability to control undead; it just allows you to control more undead that you yourself have made with Animate Dead. So Scenario #1 and #2 can't happen, IMO.

I think you might be right, but I really hope not. I've always

found a big weakness in the necromancer speciality was that an
evil cleric could come along and just steal your undead, and there
wasn't much you could do about it. This seemed like a fix for that.