Spirit Whisperer Arcane School?

[Adam Baldwin]

Hi all,

I'm trying to play a necromancer wizard, and I wanted to be able to actually ask permission before raising the dead. The easiest way I could find was to be a spirit whisperer with the ancestor spirit, and gain Intercession hex (no need to multiclass, and it comes into effect same level as lesser animate dead is available). However, I'm worried that this will prevent me from specialising in the necro school, and collapsing the whole school.

It does say in the archetype overview that it replaces school, but the main text doesn't expand on this to confirm it. Can someone help please?

[Framane]

Spirit Link (Su) wrote:

At 1st level, a spirit whisperer forms a mystical bond with a spirit. The spirit whisperer picks a spirit from the shaman’s list of spirits. At 1st level, he gains a spirit ability granted by that spirit. At 8th level, he gains the greater spirit ability granted by that spirit. At 20th level, the spirit whisperer gains the manifestation ability granted by the spirit. He uses his wizard level as his shaman level for determining the effects and DCs of abilities granted by the spirit. In addition, he uses his Intelligence modifier in place of his Wisdom modifier for these abilities. He does not gain hexes, spirit magic spells, or the true spirit ability typically granted to a shaman by these spirits.

This ability replaces arcane school and the bonus feat gained at 20th level.

It was hidden with the level 20 feat replacement ;-)

Also, finding a way to add Speak with dead to your spell list could work. Easiest way would be to ask your DM.
Personally, if my player asks for a spell that make a flavorful match with their concept and it doesn't impact their power in a meaningful way, I would grant them. Worst case scenario, I would have them research it as if creating a new spell and simply assume they succeed on the research since the spell they are searching has already proven balanced.

But I'm sure there are other RAW ways to communicate with dead people.

[Adam Baldwin]

Thanks Framane, I did think right from the start that not being able to actually communicate with the dead seemed to fly entirely in the face of the whole necromancer concept (since that's the original definition of the craft). At least one of my lodge's GMs would probably allow the research though, and this means I don't have to be shackled with a familiar either :D