Suppose a PC has Leadership and the ability to animate dead. Could the followers granted by Leadership be undead minions in this case?
If so, how should I determine their corresponding levels? Is a common skeleton taken as a follower equivalent to an NPC of its hit dice, or should I make some calculation based on its CR instead? There are CR guidelines for cohorts, but none given for followers.
Libris Mortis discussed this for 3.5, and counted mindless undead as weaker than their HD for purposes of followers, but what is recommended for Pathfinder?
For context, I am intending this for effectively "background" undead that just guard the necromancer's lair.
Don't think it's possible by RAW, but I'd allow it - at least for skeletons and zombies. You should probably treat them as an NPC based on equal CR.
Be very careful with the skeletal champion template though. It's effect on CR is a screwup of epic proportions.
Mindless undead wouldn't count as followers; maybe furniture or as pets, but not followers. I'd say a creature has to have an INT score to be a follower, which would also exclude vermin and most constructs.
However, regarding 'background' undead...
The floating Beheaded starting at CR 1/3 and climbing.
Ghouls/Ghasts
Huecuvas
Poltergeists
Wights
Phantom Armor
You could also add variant types to skeletons and zombies, then give them an INT score and create a 'new' undead.
I could easily see any of these in a necromancer's lair.
I'd say Leadership would be applicable for intelligent undead minions, especially those that aren't under a necromancer's direct command.
Skeletons and zombies are mindless and follow commands without question or the need for loyalty. Making them take up numbers of followers allowed by the Leadership feat makes no sense. Better to go with minions, even low-level necromancer apprentices. They can't animate the dead themselves, but you could always make minor magic items that allow them to command the mindless undead in their master's stead.
The problem is, you are limited to twice your caster level in hit dice of animated undead that can be controlled. As far as I can determine, there is no good way to permanently control even mindless undead without having created them or commanding them via channelling. I was hoping to get around this via Leadership. As for using CR, it's unclear how to map that to the Leadership table for number of followers.
Perhaps the ideal solution would be instead to make a spell that allows for programming of mindless undead, specifying reaction patterns and the like, but not live controlling them?
The problem is, you are limited to twice your caster level in hit dice of animated undead that can be controlled. As far as I can determine, there is no good way to permanently control even mindless undead without having created them or commanding them via channelling. I was hoping to get around this via Leadership. As for using CR, it's unclear how to map that to the Leadership table for number of followers.
Perhaps the ideal solution would be instead to make a spell that allows for programming of mindless undead, specifying reaction patterns and the like, but not live controlling them?
With animate dead you can control 4 HD per caster level, but can only create 2HD per caster level. This doesn't include undead you've taken control of through feats or class abilities.
A level 8 Necromancer can control up to 32HD mindless undead with several castings of animate dead plus 8HD of undead he's 'picked up' with the use of Command Undead.
A level X warrior skeleton should be about equal to a level X human skeleton, if they're as made by the book and not customized a lot.
But the control undead feat might be a better idea. Necromancer wizards start with it for free, IIRC.
But the control undead feat might be a better idea. Necromancer wizards start with it for free, IIRC.
Correct, level one.
With animate dead you can control 4 HD per caster level, but can only create 2HD per caster level. This doesn't include undead you've taken control of through feats or class abilities.A level 8 Necromancer can control up to 32HD mindless undead with several castings of animate dead plus 8HD of undead he's 'picked up' with the use of Command Undead.
Ah, that's right, it's 4xCL HD. Also, just noted the duration on Command Undead is pretty high.
Ah, that's right, it's 4xCL HD. Also, just noted the duration on Command Undead is pretty high.
With animate dead you can control 4 HD per caster level, but can only create 2HD per caster level. This doesn't include undead you've taken control of through feats or class abilities.A level 8 Necromancer can control up to 32HD mindless undead with several castings of animate dead plus 8HD of undead he's 'picked up' with the use of Command Undead.
Also, something some of my players have done is lock skeletons on long chains in dark rooms as a nice surprise for intruders. All their characters had to do was remember a route and stick to it.