Necromancer Builds - which work and which don't

[Shar Tahl]

I was wondering, which classes make good necromancers? There are a few that can do the job, but don't know how they work in actual game-play

Gravewalker Witch
Bones Oracle
Wizard with Necromancy Specialization
Sorcerer (undead bloodline to keep theme?)
Undead Lord Cleric
Some others I missed

[kyrt-ryder]

Juju Oracle works pretty well IIRC.

Arcanists can artificially inflate the HD of Undead they can create/command with Arcane Pool and Potent Magic.

[Meager Rolmug]

Dirge bard...but only really beyond 9th level...although they do add necromancy spells to their list...i've made decent use of chill touch, and am now using vampiric touch also...spectral hand hasn't worked out real well...but that has a lot to do with my particular build and the parties i'm in.

[kyrt-ryder]

Ewwww, Dance of the Dead is garbage compared to the regular necromancer schtick.

Might work well in a campaign themed entirely around mass battles with tons of corpses everywhere, but otherwise it strikes me as horribly weaksauce.

[Meager Rolmug]

kyrt-ryder wrote:

Ewwww, Dance of the Dead is garbage compared to the regular necromancer schtick.

Might work well in a campaign themed entirely around mass battles with tons of corpses everywhere, but otherwise it strikes me as horribly weaksauce.

there is no doubt about that, if comparing only the "undead creating abilities" but necromancers do more than that and his party might need some bardy stuff...I particularly like being able to have a high AC and HP's when i go to deliver touch spells. At any rate he asked for ones he missed...

[Rogar Stonebow]

I'm a witch who casts all spells silent and still. Uses shadow projection and flies around with an empowered vampiric touch. After I slumber them. I coup DE Gras for 30d6 damage. If they survive the damage. 30d6 +10 DC constitution check is hard to make. Plus for an hour I get loads of temporary hit points.

[Skyler Malik]

Necroccultist

[Swordjockey]

A Re-animater alcamist.

[Shar Tahl]

Hmm. Completely forgot about that alchemist archetype. That may be a fun one to play with, having him be like Qyburn in Song of Ice and Fire (game of thrones)

[Castilonium]

Here is Brewer's Guide to Undeath. I'll give you the quick version:

Wizards are better at debuffing, clerics are better at minion mastery. You need Animate Dead, Desecrate, and either Remove Paralysis or Haste. Don't use Create Undead. The only minions you should consider raising are Bloody Skeletons and Fast Zombies. Bloody Skeletons for immortal beatsticks, Fast Zombies for flying mounts. The only things you need to know from your GM when you raise a given creature are its HD, size, str, dex, and number of natural attacks.

[Shub-Niggurath's cousin Al]

Words of Power sorcerer. The Undeath word is glorious.

[Malag]

I personally think that regular necromancer wizard is cool enough. You don't have to animate dead to keep up with the fluff and if you skip it entirely, it keeps you away from moral dilemmas that might come up in the party.

[Grond]

Kinda funny that undead lord archetype is not as good at being an undead lord as a regular cleric.