My caligni chaokineticist has just enough gold to use her animate undead wild talent to make a 16 HD undead bodyguard. The problem is I don't know what beast would best suit her abilities.
Currently, I'm leaning towards a 16-headed hydra, but I'm all-too-aware of the inherent weaknesses of the hydra (slow speed, no flight, etc). It's also kind of big and not portable.
Does anyone know of any other ideas that might make for a good bodyguard, preferably something that will complement my character's abilities?
Skeletons get to keep magical flight abilities, so something like an adult sky dragon would be good.
I take it that you meant animate dead. I generally assume that to get the most bang for your buck with that particular spell, a giant or dragon is your best bet. For portability though, I also found it funny to get an aurumvorax skeleton. They got a lot of attacks. Not sure if the grab ability still works though. They normally have 12 HD, but if your GM is kind, you might have found a 16 HD version.
I am sure others will chime in with some better ideas.
Cheers!
dot
Seems like skeletons lose all of their special attacks and most of their special qualities, so I'm not sure how magical creatures are going to be much better than non-magical creatures.
Scorpions don't have skeletons (they have exoskeletons), so I don't see how you could have raised one as a skeleton. Isn't having a skeleton a requirement of the template?
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Scorpions don't have skeletons (they have exoskeletons), so I don't see how you could have raised one as a skeleton. Isn't having a skeleton a requirement of the template?
One would think so, but one would be both right and wrong!
Behold! The exoskeleton template! Specifically for all your undead vermin needs!
Actually, I just wondered something: is it not technically legal (rules-wise) to animate something into a skeleton even it had another template prior to death? For example, if a creature lacks a burrow speed due to race, but gains it via a template, is that creature still eligible as a candidate for the animate dead spell so long it's HD is within the HD limits of the spell (based on caster level) and that it possessed an actual skeletal frame?
I think it still does, and if the burrow speed was extraordinary in nature, I think the resulting skeleton would still possess it.
Obviously, even if this was legitimate, it is not like you are going to find the exact type of creature with all of the templates you want. Still, it's an interesting thought experiment. As far as I can tell, aside from the requirement of a skeletal frame and the HD limits, you could conceivably animate something with a ridiculously high CR but a lower HD in comparison.
Scorpions don't have skeletons (they have exoskeletons), so I don't see how you could have raised one as a skeleton. Isn't having a skeleton a requirement of the template?One would think so, but one would be both right and wrong!
Behold! The exoskeleton template! Specifically for all your undead vermin needs!
Well, in that spirit, what other kinds of undead can be created with animate (not un-)dead?
Actually, I just wondered something: is it not technically legal (rules-wise) to animate something into a skeleton even it had another template prior to death? For example, if a creature lacks a burrow speed due to race, but gains it via a template, is that creature still eligible as a candidate for the animate dead spell so long it's HD is within the HD limits of the spell (based on caster level) and that it possessed an actual skeletal frame?
I think it still does, and if the burrow speed was extraordinary in nature, I think the resulting skeleton would still possess it.
Obviously, even if this was legitimate, it is not like you are going to find the exact type of creature with all of the templates you want. Still, it's an interesting thought experiment. As far as I can tell, aside from the requirement of a skeletal frame and the HD limits, you could conceivably animate something with a ridiculously high CR but a lower HD in comparison.
Certainly an interesting thought!
Actually, I just wondered something: is it not technically legal (rules-wise) to animate something into a skeleton even it had another template prior to death? For example, if a creature lacks a burrow speed due to race, but gains it via a template, is that creature still eligible as a candidate for the animate dead spell so long it's HD is within the HD limits of the spell (based on caster level) and that it possessed an actual skeletal frame?
I think it still does, and if the burrow speed was extraordinary in nature, I think the resulting skeleton would still possess it.
Obviously, even if this was legitimate, it is not like you are going to find the exact type of creature with all of the templates you want. Still, it's an interesting thought experiment. As far as I can tell, aside from the requirement of a skeletal frame and the HD limits, you could conceivably animate something with a ridiculously high CR but a lower HD in comparison.
I don't see why not, for the most part, as long as it still qualifies. The original creature is no longer existent after what ever templates you gave, as this is now a new and original creature that's typically made out of game.
Nice! Just might use that! Thanks! :D