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Yeah, but what you can do, your enemy can too. What happens when the skeletons kill all your cows and fling them right back at you? You're boned.
Dammit, we have to take that risk. Lives are at steak!
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The risk is that the zombie cattle are going to be a lot more effective at, say "knocking down a barred gate" than normal skeletons and zombies are.
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How much black onyx do these enemies have? Jibbers Crabst...
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How much black onyx do these enemies have? Jibbers Crabst...
The well-prepared necromancer will create several golems made entirely of black onyx to accompany their army. Not only do they provide heavy-hitters, but you can just chip a bit off every time you need to raise something from the dead and you don't actually have to carry the several tons of onyx.
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How much black onyx do these enemies have? Jibbers Crabst...The well-prepared necromancer will create several golems made entirely of black onyx to accompany their army. Not only do they provide heavy-hitters, but you can just chip a bit off every time you need to raise something from the dead and you don't actually have to carry the several tons of onyx.
That stuff should be the fantasy world equivalent of yellow cake uranium or something... in fact, a GM of my acquaintance has an entire order of paladins who do nothing but track black onyx traffic (just to keep me in line, tho he denies it).
Too bad I figured out blood money.
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Raise your own undead army!
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That stuff should be the fantasy world equivalent of yellow cake uranium or something... in fact, a GM of my acquaintance has an entire order of paladins who do nothing but track black onyx traffic (just to keep me in line, tho he denies it).
The problem is that it's Si02, so in a world where there's plenty of sand, onyx shouldn't be *that* rare. Though I imagine you could consider a situation where the world's onyx reserves have dwindled because of generations of magisters who didn't practice sustainable necromancy.
Thinking about it though, diamonds are only carbon and they're actually fairly common as gemstones go, their value is just elevated due to cartels creating artificial scarcity. So perhaps the same thing could happen with black onyx in a fantasy land.
That would certainly place you on the horns of a dilema except...
Stampeding out of city gates is a lot easier than stampeding in
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That stuff should be the fantasy world equivalent of yellow cake uranium or something... in fact, a GM of my acquaintance has an entire order of paladins who do nothing but track black onyx traffic (just to keep me in line, tho he denies it).The problem is that it's Si02, so in a world where there's plenty of sand, onyx shouldn't be *that* rare. Though I imagine you could consider a situation where the world's onyx reserves have dwindled because of generations of magisters who didn't practice sustainable necromancy.
Thinking about it though, diamonds are only carbon and they're actually fairly common as gemstones go, their value is just elevated due to cartels creating artificial scarcity. So perhaps the same thing could happen with black onyx in a fantasy land.
Right. I would assume so. For instance, you have to figure Geb sends out agents all over Golarion to manipulate the black onyx markets to get their hands on huge shipments. All kinds of things are relatively common and yet illegal--you'd have to figure black onyx might fall into that category in any nation or region that wanted to control or eliminate the production of undead. They might not be successful at it (any more than governments on Earth have successfully eliminated contraband like drugs), but at least they would try.
At any rate, the fact that there is a material component explicitly spelled out does help GMs keep some control of necromancer players who want to raise everything and its cousin--as well as providing potential hooks for players seeking to stop necromancer NPCs. You could have a whole campaign (or at least a decent chapter of a campaign) around defending a local mine where black onyx had been found from intruding necromancers.
None of this, of course, helps the original poster--by the time the undead army has shown up at your town, it's too late to manipulate the gem supply that created them.
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I wonder how the "at least 25 gp per Hit Die" thing with Onyx actually deals with fluctuations in the price of onyx. Could someone attempt to inflate the value of Onyx on the open market so that they can create more undead, since what they've got is then more valuable?
Like if Diamonds became really cheap for some reason, would you need to carry huge sacks of dust to cast restoration?
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I wonder how the "at least 25 gp per Hit Die" thing with Onyx actually deals with fluctuations in the price of onyx. Could someone attempt to inflate the value of Onyx on the open market so that they can create more undead, since what they've got is then more valuable?
Like if Diamonds became really cheap for some reason, would you need to carry huge sacks of dust to cast restoration?
Turn back... that way madness lies...
I'd like to see actual 'magical climate change' issues but it's a bit hard when you have supposedly infinite planes of stuff that can just pour into the material plane like so much cheap wine and copper pieces.
I think this particular scenario is above and beyond supply-side economic theory.
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There's a few things I would suggest;
1) Reach weapons and ranged attacks for defenders on the walls. And by defenders, I mean the hundreds of NPCs that should be up there.
2) Harsh as this sounds, any defender who dies on the wall should be pushed off the wall (and out of the town).
3) If possible, invest in training up the militia, or at least a bunch of them. The retraining rules is a decent template to use for such, and would let you retain 1st level commoners into warriors in 1 day, or a PC class in 7 (cutting it close).
4) Mindless undead are mindless, and gravity is your friend. See if you can get those commoners to work digging trenches and pits, and if the GM allows, add some crude metal blades to the bottom as a slashing version of a spiked pit. Bludgeoning falling damage plus slashing blade damage is a good general-purpose undead killer, at least until the corpses pile up too high.
5) If your GM allows it, I would recommend using shot ammunition (which does AoE) from the 3.5 book Heroes of Battle for catapults and trebuchets.
6) If your GM allows it, I would recommend looking at commander auras from Heroes of Battle too. There was some interesting ideas in there.
7) Soldiers. A well trained army of several hundred soldiers can do an incredible amount, provided they don't panic. Try to bolster morale (Heroes of Battle has more ideas here) and focus on unit tactics; bows at range, stones when the undead are at the wall, readied attacks with polearms as they pile/climb up.
8) Fire. Oil burns hot, but briefly. I'd recommend lines of logs, tinder and oil-soaked rags that can be lit up to produce a literal fire-wall that will damage or deter undead clambering over and through.
9) Control movement and create choke points. Pits, fires and other barriers to control the movement of the undead horde will make all the difference, as the longer it takes them to reach the wall, the more effective ranged attacks will be.
10) Have your casters and PCs focus on anything that looks intelligent, or worse, incorporeal. A disciplined army can handle 10 times their number of skeletons or zombies. Incorporeal things can only be handled with magic, and for that you need PCs.
Just some thoughts off the top of my head :)
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these cow puns are utterly unbearable
And unbelievabull too.
Draft all city bards to bolster the morale of your soldiers. Fear is the big killer against undead. Maybe keep all non combatants in the keep. 80% Rez Rate means that each overrun house starts making more foes. And of the keep falls you lost anyway. And make sure incorpreals can't just fly into the keep to murder them all, even if it just means a few guards with magic weapons.
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BOVINE HOOF CHEESE CREAM DAIRY LEATHER STEAK MINCE GLUE MOO FARM FARMER GRASS CUD CHEW FOUR STOMACHS TAIL DUNG PADDIES CALF HEIFER BULL WIENLING YEARLING
It is done. It's over. Hopefully we can steer this topic back on track.
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And thus began the great revolution of Cow Tse Tongue...
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BOVINE HOOF CHEESE CREAM DAIRY LEATHER STEAK MINCE GLUE MOO FARM FARMER GRASS CUD CHEW FOUR STOMACHS TAIL DUNG PADDIES CALF HEIFER BULL WIENLING YEARLING
It is done. It's over. Hopefully we can steer this topic back on track.
It's so rare to find someone who takes these things seriously these days.
So well done to you sir I say.All these puns are really getting over-done if you ask me.
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Too right
So what other tricks do we have in the bullpe..dammit.
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new rule, when you use the same pun as someone else, you're out to pasture.
Warpriest can Channel Energy, right? Make sure they have Turn Undead (or better, Control Undead) as well as a super high DC. Retrain feats if needed. Then stock up on items that give more Channels, like Meditation mats and stuff.
At any rate, ask the GM if any item exists to aid you--if you seriously need help he has the opportunity to give you guys some assurance while also making a mini-quest within a quest.
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All the tricks listed thus far are entirely useless. They are baseless presumptions of the inferiority of the undead and are intent on spreading misinformation. One might think that this forum is filled with necromancer spies spreading lies and infiltrating the waste pits you call homes and discussion spaces with the intent of weakening your chances against the overwhelming pallid flesh on the horizon. Such things are incredulous, but in the event of such worrying concerns, I am here to provide you with true information that is well documented and from a very reliable source. I am not a necromancer.
If you wish to cease the advance of the undead hordes, refer to the following tricks and spread them among the righteous forces:
1. Undead hate brains, and you should leave your skulls nice and exposed. If an undead creature believes you possess a tasty and readily exposed brain, then they will flee in the opposite direction. This might be difficult for you cretins to achieve.
2. Undead dislike diseased meat and flesh. If you are riddled with horrible afflictions, this will destroy the undead from within. Such is biological warfare. I presume that weaklings such as yourselves are magnets for filth, so this should be easily accomplished.
3. Undead cannot cross into areas blessed by the powers of the darker gods. Consider contacting the dark lady Urgathoa and begging for her mercy and forgiveness in the face of her mighty forces, and that she might have the dead pass over your lands with minimum affliction or dismemberment. Present humanoids in sacrifice. Gorge on the flesh of the fallen. Wander into the surrounding wilderness exposed and welcoming of all that might approach, preying that Urgathoa might take pity on you and your pathetic forms.
4. There is little worth in holy symbology of weaker gods and the assistance of their sycophants. Cast them out of your homes and settlements. It is well documented that their presence attracts the dead, and that they are beacons of sustenance for powerful undead beings, such as liches and vampires. Allow in the worshippers of Urgathoa, however. Their presence will quell any advancing undead force and protect your homes from danger for only a meager tithe every fortnight and a lump payment every full moon.
5. Divert rivers into your croplands and salt the earth. This will protect you from wraiths. The only sustenance you require comes from within. This is medically proven. Kill and consume any doctor that says otherwise. They are clearly a necromancer spy.
6. Armour and weapons do not protect you from the undead. Cast out silver, iron, steel, gold and obsidian into your local well so that they do not empower your enemies. Wood is equally as useless against the dead. You must rely on your teeth and nails. I believe your wretches refer to this as 'fighting fire with fire'. Speaking of the fire, please refrain from using any form of fire or illumination. It draws in wisps.
With these proclaimations, simple such that even you inferior minds might grasp the intricacies of their genius, your pathetic dirtholves will be ready for the arrival of your doom.
Warpriest can Channel Energy, right? Make sure they have Turn Undead (or better, Control Undead) as well as a super high DC. Retrain feats if needed. Then stock up on items that give more Channels, like Meditation mats and stuff.
At any rate, ask the GM if any item exists to aid you--if you seriously need help he has the opportunity to give you guys some assurance while also making a mini-quest within a quest.
The Warpriest, being level 3, is 1 level short of having Channel Energy. Even if the Warpriest got a level bump to 4, Channel Energy wouldn't be very efficient -- it uses 2 charges of Divine Fervor (which you won't have a lot of at low levels unless you really went crazy pumping Wisdom at the expense of physical stats or have really good ability score rolls), and scales more slowly than a Cleric's or Paladin's Channel Energy, although fortunately the DC scales at the same rate as that of the other classes (in case you wanted to use it for something other than healing allies or damaging Undead).
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I think everything has been told about strategie.
I can only add, use the week to discipline your militia. How to form ranks, make a shield wall, fire in order, recognize level of threat and defenses positions around town.
None strategie will get done if the militia starts running around burned buildings and stepping on each other, they should understand that the best posibility to survive they have, is by working together.
This should be priority, since with a good Char-check, you should be able to motivate the folks and they should follow your commands in a military fashion. After that, just every strategie explained before.
Regards and good luck.
PS: Also, I am asumming you are sending Raiders to the most closest city to help you defend. Every DM loves the cavalry on the hills scene.
Ooooh, now this is a battle i can get behind! Zombie invasion, few resources, limited power, ah yes! This is what good stories are made out of.
As for actual tactics, as was said, your characters probably won't have a massive impact, considering their level. However, you have week of time to prepare, so have your group split up. No, not combat wise, but give everyone a task of what to do. This battle will most likely be all about how prepeared you are. Use the week of time you have well.
Warpriest should use this time to give his holy talents use, such as making holy water.
Paladin should use this to train the townspeople. Week is more than enough to teach the basics of fighting to any man brave enough to defend. Also be sure to inspire the people. Paladin is a beacon of hope to commonfolk, and if he says they will make it if we fight together, the morale of the people should rise.
The casters should use whatever utility spells they have that could possibly be of use.
Look at your party's craft skills. Lot of skills and item you do not think at first could be vital to your survival. Think creatively.
You should also make sure that the craftsmen of the village go all out, blacksmiths get their forges blazing, distributing weapons for all available hands. Innkeepers should keep their inns open and give ale to all who desire it, as it keeps the morale high. Pretty much all of the village must work together. I don't think money is an issue when the threat of imminent death is right around the corner. keep the towns morale high. If they do not believe they can survive, THEY WON'T.
Find someone from out of town, a butcher or executioner. Put them in charge of decapitating the fallen. triple his grog ration.
make sure they have lots and lots of arrows theres a forrest in the other side of the bridge you can make alot of arrows from just a few trees but you will want to atleast get 20 trees worth of arrows
As has been noted above, the town USED TO HAVE a forest on the other side of the bridge . . . and THIS is one reason you shouldn't cut down all the trees.
Dot
^That's a thought -- any info on nearby settlements?
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I know it's my solution for everything but...
Make a deal with a Devil? GM could roleplay one that forsees your future power, and decides to make an investment. Then it uses it's magic to somehow benefit all of you.
Find out who controls the undead army kill them and take control of the undead army
Easy
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Find out who controls the undead army kill them and take control of the undead army
Easy
A bold maneuver. In fact, I find it delightful. I endorse this course of action. Once you have acquired the necromancer's forces, you should move that army towards the township.
For a victory parade.
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I know it's my solution for everything but...
Make a deal with a Devil?
"Look, do you want the 'undead army problem' solved or not? What? I'm lawful efficient. It says so right on my character sheet. L. E."
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After all, stories of Heroic self-sacrifice are common. And devils require living souls."Look, do you want the 'undead army problem' solved or not? What? I'm lawful efficient. It says so right on my character sheet. L. E."I know it's my solution for everything but...
Make a deal with a Devil?
"Also, this town is full of good people. Their deaths will surely send their souls to the abodes of good deities. But as long as they live, there is hope that they will see the darkness visible... life is long, and the way narrow and slipping is so, so likely. Save us, devil, from this army of the undead."