What is the general opinion of the Undead Master Archetype (not the feat)? Is it a worthwhile one to make a Necromancer?
Here's my review:
Necromantic Focus is basically a given.
Necropolitan is suboptimal, even for a focused necromancer. Diplomacy penalty means the evil-icky necromancer will struggle to convince undead haters to not kill him on sight. And when was the last time a necromancer has rolled Diplomacy to talk with undead creatures? Might be useful at mid-to-high levels where negotiating with potential undead allies (like ghouls, ghosts, and vampires). The knowledge thing is not a deal-maker nor a deal-breaker.
Corpse Bond basically means you can't have a familiar (goodbye all those benefits), and must choose between a bonded object and Undead Lord's corpse companion. Both of them are suboptimal to the basic familiar. Thematic, definitely, but this is a big minus in optimization.
They also get Improved Channel as a bonus feat, instead of Scribe Scroll. I'd take that deal. Scrolls can be bought with gold: Scribe Scroll just saves money.
Reanimator is amazing for a focused necromancer: you get animate dead (and lesser) the same time as a cleric would, thus removing a big downside of the necro-wizard. Undead Masters also have early access to create undead, getting them even faster than a cleric does. On top of that, there's the spontaneous casting of these spells. Amazing! The price to pay is the lost bonus feats, but I think this is a fair trade for a necromancer.
Lich-Loved is a capstone so whatever. It's nice I guess?
Conclusion: 3.5 out of 5
If you want an archetype for your focused (as in, "I want to command a lot of undead minions") necromancer, you can take this and not feel like you shot yourself in the leg too much. For any other wizard, even for the basic necromancer, this is pretty suboptimal because the loss of a familiar hurts badly. Moreover, the benefits of Reanimator can be duplicated by just preparing the appropriate scrolls: you can buy onyx and scrolls, but you can't buy Bonus Feats.
What is your thought on exactly how the Reanimator potion works? To me it sounds like, being a 2nd level spell normally, that it effectively becomes a 1st level spell with them being 1 level lower. Which would mean casting it as a 1st level caster. However, you get it as a bonus spell at 3rd level which then makes me think you don't really get it early but once you get it it counts like a 1st level spell slot instead of a 2nd level.spell slot? Being that I'm playing one right now, your insight and thoughts on it could be invaluable. Or anyone else's thoughts really to help straighten it out. TIA.
Lesser animate dead is a 3rd level spell for a wizard normally. With this wizard archetype it becomes 2nd. Animate dead goes from 4th to 3rd likewise.
The archetype effectively makes them the same level as they'd be for a cleric, but not lower.
I do love me some necromancy...
Personally, I like the Undead Master Wizard for entry into Agent of the Grave, literally the moment it is possible... Wizard 5/Agent of the Grave 5...
Then I like 10 levels of Ectoplasm-Reanimator Alchemist, almost like a prestige class...
At 20, you end up with:
BAB +11
Base saves +11/+10/+10
CL 9, 5th level Wizard spells
CL 10, 4th level extracts
It's just fun... not powerful... but useful when it comes to adding the unliving to the party.
Honestly, you are better off with the Cleric, Oracle, or Witch... or the combination of Oracle and Witch and Agent of the Grave and Mystic Theurge...
What, exactly, are you looking to actually accomplish?
When it comes to necromancy, I have options... so if you tell me what it is you want to do and play, I may have something I can dig up, if you know what I mean.
Eldritch Scoundrel UnRogue 4/
Arcane Trickster 6/
Agent of the Grave 5/
become a Lich...
So many options, and honestly, that particular Wizard archetype just isn't optimal when it comes to necromancy... oddly enough.
Eldritch Archer-Hexcrafter Magus 12/
Agent of the Grave 5/
VMC Witch
@17:
BAB: +11/+6/+1
Base Saves: +11/+6/+11
CL16, 6th level spells
Dirge Bard 10/
Agent of the Grave 5
@15:
BAB: +9/+4
Base Saves: +6/+9/+10
CL14, 5th level spells
Witchguard Ranger 15/
Agent of the Grave 5/
VMC Witch [Plague Patron]
@20:
BAB +17/+12/+7/+2
Base Saves: +12/+11/+8
CL15, 4th level spells
Spirit Warden Shaman 5/
Agent of the Grave 5
@10:
BAB: +5
Base Saves: +4/+3/+7
CL9, 5th level spells
Gravewalker-Hex Channeler Witch 6/
Agent of the Grave 5
@11:
BAB: +5
Base Saves: +5/+4/+8
CL10, 5th level spells
Pick your poison, we have options down here...
JuJu Oracle / Agent of the Grave has max HP Zombies and 6HD per CL instead of the regular 4HD per CL *shudders*