You Belong to Me (New Spell)

[Thane36425]

You Belong to Me

School: Necromancy/Enchantment Wizard/Sorcerer Level 6
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Components: V,S, See Below
Range: Touch
Target: One just created undead
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Will
Spell Resistance: Yes

Normally undead created by the Create Undead spell are uncontrolled. This spell brings any such undead under the control of its creator. The controlled undead are not rendered mindless, but are loyal to their creator much like a Simulacrum would be. However, being evil, they may creatively interpret orders based on their nature, so long as doing so would not jeopardize their mission.

This spell must be cast immediately on completion of Create Undead. The target undead should be restrained or otherwise controlled during this time. Only one attempt at control is allowed per undead. If it fails, this spell may never be attempted again against that same undead. Should the undead successfully save against the spell, it will know what almost happened to it and will be hostile toward the cast from then on. To be safe, the caster should destroy the target to prevent it from escaping and seeking revenge at a later date.

The caster must also take a piece of the undead during casting. This could be a toe bone, tooth, or the like. The caster must retain this piece in their possession (not on their person necessarily but as part of their other possessions). This piece acts as a control focus. If it is destroyed, the undead becomes uncontrolled and hostile toward the caster.

Note: the DM may require undead to make a Will save to avoid distractions based on their nature. A Mohrg might need to make regular saves if around suitable prey, where a Skeletal Champion might never need make one since they do not have the urges and compulsions of other undead.

[Kirth Gersen]

So, you can have infinite numbers of HD worth of controlled undead, just by using this spell? Why, yes, sign me up! Every day my necromancer will hang out at the local cemetary, cast create undead and this spell, and when I have at least 10,000 of my favorite critters under my control, I go out and take over the planet.

Spells specifically designed to circumvent rational limits imposed by the game rules are usually not a good idea.

P.S. Spell names that consist of entire phrases or complete sentences are also extremely annoying. The convention is to name a spell fireball, not this explosion of fire can destroy you all. And we call it dominate person, not I command your every movement.

[Thane36425]

Snide comments aside, what about a level limitation? Something like 1 undead per level.

[David knott 242]

There are already established spells and feats to control undead created by the Create Undead spell -- the feat or the spell called Command Undead, both available to evil (or at least non-good) clerics and necromancer wizards. The feat lets you use your negative energy channeling ability to enslave undead, to a limit of your own hit dice. There is also a feat called Undead Master that raises that limit by 4 levels as well as doubling the duration of the Command Undead spell.

Logically, further improvement should come from a feat whose prerequisites include Undead Master.

[Kirth Gersen]

Thane36425 wrote:

Snide comments aside, what about a level limitation? Something like 1 undead per level.

See, the thing is that there already IS a level limitation: your level x 2 HD in controlled undead. If you want to break that rule, address it head-on: maybe design a feat that allows you to control 3x level in HD instead. Then there's still a cap in place, and it also costs a permanent resource (in this case, a feat slot), rather than a mere spell (you can just prepare another one the next day). A spell, which is by its nature a virtually unlimited resource, should NEVER be set equal to a permanent increase in character power.

EDIT: See also David knott's excellent comments above.

[Thane36425]

I consider those levels rather low. I started playing D&D in first edition where it was possible for large armies or undead to exist. After all even many liches could Animate Dead by touch with no upward limit and of course vampires can create layers of thralls.

What about the Undead Leadership feat from 3.5 or just allowing the current Pathfinder Leadership feat to allow undead?

[Knight Magenta]

@ Kirth: I believe that the limit for control is in face 4xHD.

@ Thane: If you want an army, create and control skeleton mages. Those mages can in turn control other undead some of which can be skeleton mages as well. So you get a nice pyramid of power. I also find this method more interesting since your control can be broken by killing your lieutenants and leads to more options in the story.

[Kirth Gersen]

Thane36425 wrote:

What about the Undead Leadership feat from 3.5 or just allowing the current Pathfinder Leadership feat to allow undead?

I do allow that in my games -- but there's a big difference between 100 humanoid skeletons + a handful of zombies + maybe a vampire lieutenant, vs. 1 spectre/day for as long as you can keep supplied with corpses. I have no problem with a necromancer who has a vast army of skeletons -- it's a cool trope, and one that should be supported by the game -- but it should be subject to some sort of reasonable limits. Using the Leadership feat is a great way to do that, as far as I'm concerned.

[Kirth Gersen]

Knight Magenta wrote:

@ Kirth: I believe that the limit for control is in fac[t] 4xHD.

Either way -- the point is that there's an existing rule that's in place for a reason. Casting a single spell shouldn't be enough for you to circumvent it at will.

[Umbral Reaver]

And here I came into the thread expecting to find a spell designed to send creepy love letters.

[Selgard]

Umbral Reaver wrote:

And here I came into the thread expecting to find a spell designed to send creepy love letters.

Well if a zombie is the courier, the love letter is creepy regardless of contents.

;)

-S