Necromancy Specialist Bonus...

[LivingTriskele]

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly. It seems a little powerful for a first level necromancer to be able to control 8 HD worth of undead. Is this only applicable with the use of certain spells? It's a little ambiguous.

Thanks.

[Morgen]

Does a first level necromancer even have a method of controlling undead in the first place?

Just curious, I've honestly got no clue.

[Frostflame]

No a level 1 necromancer cannot control undead unless he has some specific device that allows him to do so. Only the cleric can do that at level 1. to control 8 HD per level of undead is the specialist bonus that demonstrates a necromancers better understanding and control of the undead. The 8 HD per level come from any undead he can create with a spell or command with a spell or magic device

[Dennis da Ogre]

Regardless, read the preview blog, the necromancy power is totally different in the final version of the game.

[hida_jiremi]

The blog post definitely implies that necromancers will be able to turn or control undead at first level, so there has to be some method by which that will occur. This is the bit that interests me (and which I think people have missed): "The core power of this school now allows a necromancer to control or turn undead (as per the feats)..." (Emphasis mine.) Since we know from the cleric preview that turn/command undead are feats now, that means that necromancers have something resembling channel energy, though maybe just for the purposes of dealing with undead. (Giving them full-on channel energy would just be too strong.)

And I'm glad to see some real support for "white necromancers." It's about freaking time.

Jeremy Puckett

[GeraintElberion]

Of all the specialist casters it is Necromancers that have the most flavoursome baggage.

It's a casting class that cries out for the kind of treatment 2e gave it with Complete Book of Necromancers.

My hope is that PF White Necromancers will be controllers, rather than destroyers, of undead - tombs guarded by their inhabitants are not necessarily a bad thing - but it all depends upon how undeath is created in PF.

If White Necromancers do destroy undead I'd rather not have them copy priests, something with a different flavour please!

[LivingTriskele]

Thanks for the responses. That clears things up a bit.

[Argothe]

LivingTriskele wrote:

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly. It seems a little powerful for a first level necromancer to be able to control 8 HD worth of undead. Is this only applicable with the use of certain spells? It's a little ambiguous.

Thanks.

As for the Beta rules; normally Animate Dead allows you to control 4HD of Undead per level. The Necromancy School ability doubles that amount, it does not, however, give you any way to animate undead under your control in the first place. You will not be able to use that ability until you are level 7 and can cast Animate Dead at which point you will be able to control 56 HD of Undead as opposed to 28 HD that a non-specialist can control.

[LivingTriskele]

Argothe wrote:

LivingTriskele wrote:

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly. It seems a little powerful for a first level necromancer to be able to control 8 HD worth of undead. Is this only applicable with the use of certain spells? It's a little ambiguous.

Thanks.

As for the Beta rules; normally Animate Dead allows you to control 4HD of Undead per level. The Necromancy School ability doubles that amount, it does not, however, give you any way to animate undead under your control in the first place. You will not be able to use that ability until you are level 7 and can cast Animate Dead at which point you will be able to control 56 HD of Undead as opposed to 28 HD that a non-specialist can control.

And the most concise response to my question regarding necromancy comes from the specter in black robes-- go figure :)