I would like to create a necromancer of Zon-Kuthon in an upcoming (Core only) game. The DM will be running the Crypt of the Everflame series of modules then transferring us over to book 2 of Carrion Crown.
The other players in the game are creating a Battle druid (Shapeshift tank), Bard (Buffer/Skill monkey), and Monk (Melee/DPS). I originally built him as a Cleric with the Death and Darkness subdomains.
My question is should I keep with Cleric and do some undead creation and some melee with Spiked chain, create a wizard to fill the arcane route. Or for kicks try to pull off a Mystic Theurge (Even though that means I won't "catch up" for 8 levels... Though I think I'd enjoy it).
TL:DR: I'd like to be a necromancer. Should I go cleric, wizard, or mystic theurge? Any other questions are welcome :)
Clerics, IIRC, are better at necromancy in terms of being able to create and control undead at least in 3.5.
Yeah, my current build works off of creating/controlling undead (With my cleric). The wizard seems to get those spells a full level behind. But at the same time could function as a better debuffer/caster. However, I typically play Bards or Barbarians so I'm not entirely confident with the spells and powers of clerics and wizards.
You want to be an undead master, go the oracle with the bone mystery route, that way your casting stat is the same one you use to control the undead
I'd love to do that, but my DM wanted to play with only the Core rulebook. I have made a case to allow the Skeleton summoner feat (Since it fits the archetype so well) but I can't get a full class out of it.
If you were allowed to use the Ultimate Magic book then I would suggest the Undead Lord Cleric Archetype, with the Undead Master Feat, so much undead creating/controlling goodness that your GM may start throwing things at you.
But as you are only using the Core Rulebook, a Cleric of Zon Kuthon or Urgathoa (my personal favourite undead raising Deity) are probably your best bets.
Yeah, I drooled over Undead Lord for a while, but without Core I'm stuck. I'll take your guys' advice since everyone has said Cleric and just go for it. Although Urgathoa is nice... I might switch. But this idea of a masochistic undead summoning Half-Orc worshipping a twisted Body Modification god is a bit too cool.
The Channel Smite feat may be usefull for you in that case. That or Selective Channel would be my favourite option for your 2nd feat (Command Undead being the first). But as you've stated in your initial post that you'd like to do some smacking of heads with the spiked chain, then Channel Smite would probably achieve the look you are going for.
Sounds good. I picked up Command undead and I hear there are undead early on so hopefully I'll get some use out of it. Channel smite will be fun as well. Are there any Cleric spells in core that fit the theme and are essentials to at least keep on my radar?
Try Tark's Big Holy Book of Cleric Optimization. It has a section on making an undead master that should prove useful