Hey folks, so, I'm kinda looking to making a Necromancer character that is able to actually act directly through the undead it creates.
Like, to be able to see and hear through it's undead minions, and to be able to control them directly from a distance, rather than just issuing commands.
Looking for advice on spells/abilities that would help me achieve this.
Thanks!
The witch archetype gravewalker is able to do this. I would recommend a build along the following.
Class: Witch
Archetype(s): Gravewalker, Hex Channeler
Patron: Elements
Feats: Command Undead
Suggested Feats: Charnel Soldiers, extra channel,
While it might make sense to have a patron like plague it doesn't actually give you anything that the gravewalker archetype doesn't already give you. Gravewalkers are able to use touch spells at range making a patron like elements syngergize well as it gives you shocking grasp. Also, the only reason to take hex channeler is so that you can pick up the command undead feat. The feat doesn't care how many dice you get meaning you don't need to worry about spending additional hexes to increase your channel dice.
Thanks! I just realized there's an Advice forum, so I'm going to repost this there for more.
Hey folks.
So here's the character concept I want to get some advice with.
I want to create a pirate necromancer that uses skeletons as his crew. But I don't want them to be boring and silent.
So I'm looking for two different possibilities.
1. Ways to inject my created undead with intelligence/personality of their own.
2. Ways to take direct control over my created undead. Ideally, abilities that will let me see/hear/speak through them, and control their actions directly, like and actual puppeteer, so I can fake them having a personality around others.
Any spells/feats/abilities that would let me do this, I'd love to hear about them.
Thanks!
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The first thing that comes to mind is the spell skeleton crew it probably doesn't quite achieve what you're looking for. But since it doesn't count against your normal HD limits there's little reason for your pirate necromancer not to use it.
If you want intelligent undead minions you'll want the spell create undead to make Skeletal champions. You might be able to take control of them using spells/abilities like command undead but intelligent undead tend to seek revenge when given the chance after being subjected to something like that. A somewhat safer approach (barring the leadership feat) is to keep them charmed/dominated using one of the following builds.
Bardic Necromancer (Dirge Bard)
Key concepts: An Unconventional Necromancer, a Pied Piper of the dead
Race: Human
Key Race Traits: Heart of the Fey, Focused Study
Class: Bard
Archetype(s): Dirge Bard
Key Feats: Skill Focus[Heal](1st), Fiendish Obedience [Circiatto](1st), Eldritch Heritage[Empyreal] (3rd), Improved Eldritch Heritage[Sacred Cistern] (11th), Command Undead (13th)
Suggested Feats: Extra Channel, Charnel Soldiers, Ensemble, Spirit of the Corps
Key Features • Can Use mind-affecting spells to affect undead as if they were living creatures, provided the spell affects more than just humanoids.
Charming Necromancer
Key concepts: A natural born necromancer that can charm undead humanoids
Class: Sorcerer(1), Arcanist(X)
Sorcerer(1), Wizard(X)
Sorcerer(X)
Exploits: Bloodline Development(5th), Quick Study, Fiendish Proboscis
Archetype: School Savant[Undead] (Arcanist), Crossblooded (Sorcerer), Exploiter Wizard, Pact Wizard[HH](Wizard)
Optional Arch: Unlettered Arcanist (Arcanist)
Bloodlines: Undead & Ghoul
Feats: Spell Focus (Enchantment)(1st), Deceitful(3rd), Subtle Enchantments(5th), Greater Spell Focus(7th), Conceal Spell(9th), Focused Spell(11th)
Suggested Feats: Natural Charmer, Compulsion Mastery, Authoritative Spell, Varisian tattoo, Spell Specialization, Coaxing Spell, Feign Curse, Voice of the Sibyl, Intoxicating Flattery, Confabulist, Veiled Contempt, Sense Assumptions,
Key Features: • Can use mind-affecting spells on corporeal undead that were once humanoids.
As for possessing undead minions, the spell Possession does exactly that, it works on undead and it's available to all of the above classes as a normal spell.