Unsacntioned Necromacny

[The Sideromancer]

I'm helping a friend build a paladin at high level, and he's interested in Unsanctioned Knowledge, in particular for necromancy spells. I am aware of the fear spells from the bard list, but their effectiveness as already fallen off (pally level 17). Are there any necromancy spells that are both accessible and effective for a paladin?

[Tarik Blackhands]

Combat effective necromancer spells on a paladin are probably not going to happen at L17, not the least of which because you're unable to poach Enervation and the like.

I'd focus on more utility spells from the school.

Speak with Dead comes to mind (Cleric/Inq 3), as does Deathwatch (Cleric 1), and Hide from Undead (Cleric/Inq 1).

That's after a cursory glance anyway.

[Ectar]

Bestow curse doesn't really ever go out of style. 3rd level cleric.
Wow, actually, you could add animate dead, instead. Nothing in either the feat nor the paladin spellcasting prevents you from casting evil spells. Good luck selling that one your GM, but it is technically legal.

Wall of bone is a neat battlefield control option at cleric level 4.

[Tarik Blackhands]

Actually animate dead is illegal since it's been ruled that casting aligned spells counts as an act of that alignment. So evil spell -> evil act -> fallen paladin.

[Hubaris]

Ectar wrote:

Bestow curse doesn't really ever go out of style. 3rd level cleric.

Wow, actually, you could add animate dead, instead. Nothing in either the feat nor the paladin spellcasting prevents you from casting evil spells. Good luck selling that one your GM, but it is technically legal.

Wall of bone is a neat battlefield control option at cleric level 4.

Its Legal to take but it is an Evil Act as per the clarification provided in Horror Adventurers and would cause you to fall immediately. As would using [Poison] descriptor spells.

Blindness/Deafness (and its Wall) are great, Deadly Juggernaut, Speak With Dead, Bestow Curse are all usable.

I shouldn't leave a post open for fear of Ninjas

[Kileanna]

Ectar wrote:

Bestow curse doesn't really ever go out of style. 3rd level cleric.

Wow, actually, you could add animate dead, instead. Nothing in either the feat nor the paladin spellcasting prevents you from casting evil spells. Good luck selling that one your GM, but it is technically legal.

Wall of bone is a neat battlefield control option at cleric level 4.

It is technically legal.

But that the GM makes you fall for using an evil spell to twist a soul fragment to create an evil creature... well, I think that would be technically legal too XD

Anyway, as spells come from your faith, I think your character's faith should be a bit off from the start to come to this kind of spell as a part of your spell.

What kind of necromancy spells does he want, anyway? Because it's very different a necromancy spell related to undead from a necromancy spells which deal with life forces.

[The Sideromancer]

The hilarious part is that nothing from Horror Adventures is in play, so Animate Dead may still be a valid option.

The other suggestions are good too, keep them coming!

[Kileanna]

Even though you might not having your alignment changed by casting Animate Dead, that doesn't mean that casting an evil spell isn't an evil act, which it is.

[Entryhazard]

Aligned Spell = Aligned Action has been an active rule since before Horror Adventures

[Ravingdork]

Entryhazard wrote:

Aligned Spell = Aligned Action has been an active rule since before Horror Adventures

An unwritten rule, but a rule nonetheless. •wink•