Okay, so I am assembling a Necromancer cult, and I am using the combination of Varisian Tattoo (Necromancy) and Agent of the Grave to distinguish the members of the cult.
I have a level 20 Worm that Walks:
JuJu Oracle-4/
Gravewalker Witch-3/
Agent of the Grave-5/
Mystic Theurge-8
A level 18 Incorporeal Lich
Blight Druid-13/
Agent of the Grave-5
And a level 11 Initiate
Gravewalker, Hex Channeler Witch-6/
Agent of the Grave-5
I know there's at least one each Cleric and Wizard specifically designed for Necromancy, but I haven't really looked at them, yet.
What other fun or effective combinations with Agent of the Grave should I include or look at?
I assume you're only interested in full caster builds. I have builds of the following that could work with Agent of the grave
(Human or Half-elf) Oracle[Juju](1)/Undead Lord Cleric(X) [Orcus]
.
(Human or Half-elf) Oracle[Juju](1)/Divine Paragon Cleric(X) [Orcus(CE), Chamiaholom(CE), Urgathoa(NE), Circiatto(LE)]
.
(Duskwalker) Oracle[Juju](1)/Necromancy (Undead) Wizard (X) [Urgathoa]
.
(Human or Half-elf) Oracle[Juju](1)/Undead Lord or Separatist{Undead & Inevitable} Cleric(X) [Urgathoa]
.
(Human or Half-elf) Spirit Guide[Bones] Oracle[Juju](X) [Urgathoa]
.
(Duskwalker) Crossblooded Sorcerer(1){Undead & Ghoul}/School Savant[Undead] Arcanist or Exploiter & Pact Wizard(X)
.
(Any) Reanimator Alchemist(X)
.
(Any)Sacrament Alchemist[Death Domain](X)
.
(Elf) Ancient Lore keeper & Bonded Spirit[Bones] Oracle[Juju](X)
.
(Duskwalker) Wizard[Necromancy](X)
.
(Duskwalker) Undead Master Wizard[Not Necromancy](X)
Edit: I've removed combinations that you already listed in your original post. But the FCB for Duskwalker is pretty nice for any build based on arcanist, wizard or witch.
I will have to look at a few of those... I am a big fan of the Divine Paragon Cleric, so that one definitely interests me.
There will absolutely be at least one Ratfolk Alchemist! I am pretty sure that the Electoplasm Master/Plague Bringer/Reanimator all stack... which is fantastically gross, even though it can't be in the Agent of the Grave PrC.
I also really like the Sorcerer-1/School Savant Arcanist combination, I will check that one out, too.
Edit:
And I am not necessarily only interested in full caster builds... the thought of level 11 Bloodrager Liches that have only been casting spells for 7 levels is funny to me, so anything that can be rightfully Necromancy-themed is a go.
How about a Human Wizard[Necromancer] with (Enhance Undead)(1) / Dread Necromancer 8 / Ostiomancer (1-10)
If Ostiomancer is not an option then some thing that will let him/her get a [Fell Energy] Desecrated area, with an altar going on.
It's not Agent of the Grave but the idea of a Knight of the Sepulcher antipaladin with command undead who is a carrier for ghoul fever makes me smile. Their fort save ahould throw off the disease pretty quickly, but just they just keep snogging their ghouls and getting reinfected.
One of the better archetypes of the occultist is the haunt collector. Not that the haunted implements are necessarily necromantic but they seem in-theme. They could go into the agent of the grave PrC though losing progression with their implements would be annoying.
A magus with spell blending could get into the PrC if you want a weapon-user. Given that this group has meat shields to burn maybe an eldritch archer.
Ooh, thanks everyone.
Antipaladin is a class that I have been meaning to explore. And the Graveknight template is very appropriate. I need some muscle, too, since Necromancy seems to attract more high level spellcasters than anything else.
I also want to work in a Dirge Bard. It would work for another level 11 Initiate...
Dirge Bard-6/Agent of the Grave-5
But it's also just a Bard, playing a pipe organ... so I won't feel bad making he/she/it higher level.
Eldritch Archer is definitely interesting. I will look into that, too.
If partial casters could work there's also Eldritch Scoundrel. It's also worth noting that a few levels in Pathfinder Savant would allow any spellcaster to meet the pre-reqs of the Agent of the Grave PRC by adding Animate dead to their spell list. Also, any class can become a "necromancer" via Fiendish Obedience [Circiatto]. Since, at the appropriate levels you get
Command Undead 2/day
Animate Dead 2/day
Create Undead 2/day
all as spell-like abilities based solely on the level of the character. While this wont' qualify them for agent of the grave, it could easily augment any members, servants or wannabes of the group. It's similarly possible to give any character access to the command undead feat via Adept Channel or Exotic Heritage + Eldritch Heritage[Empyreal].
I also have a build involving the Arcane Healer Bard archetype and Versatile Channeler. But, unless I'm missing something, I don't think that combination works.
As with any respectable Necromancer cult; forethought, planning, and preparation are key.
Remember: heroes have morals and villain's have work ethic, I mean after all volcano bases don't build themselves and someone has to make payroll.
So with that in mind. The following should bring the minions.
Dread Necro 20 Necropolitan Strongheart Halfling
Dread Necro 20 LN Illumian
Dread Necro 9/ Ur-Priest 2/ mystic Theurge 8/ Dread Necro 1
Dread Necro 2/ Binder 1/ Anima mage 10/ Dread Necro 3-7
Dread Necro 8/ Warlock 3/ Eldritch Theurge 9
Dread Necro 8/ Shadow Adept 2/ Incanatrix 10 Necropolitan Human
Dread Necro 8/ Sand Shaper 10/ Dread Necro 2
Dread Necro 8 (1-8)/ Shadow Adept 2 (13-14)/ Walker In The Waste 10 (9-12, 15-20)
Fighter 1/ Dread Necro 8/ Abjurant Champ 5/ Eldritch Knight 6
D@MN!!!
I need to start taking this seriously. Lol. I hadn't delved into 3rd party published classes, yet. I didn't even know Duskwalkers were a thing until this thread.
I did casually throw together an
Urgathoa Divine Paragon-5/
Evangelist-10/
Agent of the Grave-5,
VMC Witch.
As far as Clerics are concerned, it's not TOO boring... Death Domain, a Patron and a Familiar I have yet to choose, 18th level Cleric casting, 7D6 Channel, all 3 Evangelist Boons, all 3 Exalted Boons, Blight Hex, Coven Hex, a Major Hex I have yet to choose, and all the Agent of the Grave stuffs.
As with any respectable Necromancer cult; forethought, planning, and preparation are key.
Remember: heroes have morals and villain's have work ethic, I mean after all volcano bases don't build themselves and someone has to make payroll.
You do realize the Dread Necromancer is a 3.5 class right?
3.5 had the strongest support for necromancers of any edition of D&D as they had a whole slew of feats, magic items and even the dedicated dread necromancer base class, which literally has an at will healing ability they can use on themselves and their minions.
I generally assume 3.5 content isn't an option unless it's been stated as such just because of how unbalanced a lot of it is.
Yes I realize that its 3.5 but I could not assume that it was not an option. As you pointed out 3.5 had the strongest support for necromancers of any edition of D&D.
Sometimes you gotta dream big!
Reach for the stars as you walk through the orchard and sometimes you get a low lying apple for your effort.
A Druid with the Shade of the Uskwood feats gets animate dead. Take the Reincarnated Druid archetype and you can reanimated your old body.
I'm not sure if it's worth giving up all fire spells from all classes and items (including UMD) just to pick up animate dead.
Nugrah the Decrepit (my Incorporeal Lich Blight Druid), has Shade of the Uskwood... I am not an experienced enough spellcaster to even notice the lack of fire spells. It's whatever. There are Lightning spells and whatnot to make use of.
Bringing this back (blah blah blah necro-pun)...
A level 20 Worm that Walks*:
JuJu Oracle-4/
Gravewalker Witch-3/
Agent of the Grave-5/
Mystic Theurge-8
A level 20 Incorporeal Lich:
Blight Druid-15/
Agent of the Grave-5
A level 20 Evangelist*:
Divine Paragon-5/
Evangelist-10/
Agent of the Grave-5
A level 17 Magus Archer*:
Eldritch Archer/Hexcrafter-12/
Agent of the Grave-5
A level 15 Dirge Bard:
Dirge Bard-10/
Agent of the Grave-5
A level 15 Arcane Trickster:
Eldritch Scoundrel UnRogue-4/
Arcane Trickster-6/
Agent of the Grave-5
A level 11 Witch*:
Gravewalker, Hex Channeler Witch-6/
Agent of the Grave-5
A level 10 Wizard:
Undead Master-5/
Agent of the Grave-5
And a level 10 Shaman*:
Spirit Warden-5/
Agent of the Grave-5
Those marked with an "*" all possess the Coven Hex, and can partake in Coven-casting...
I still haven't messed with Antipaladins or the Undead Lord Cleric, yet. I found the Undead Master Wizard to be very uninspiring... might continue that one into Ectoplasm/Reanimator Alchemist (because Alchemist are fun and Wizards are lame).
I really need to add some muscle, but I am pretty happy with what I have thusfar... definitely still open for ideas and suggestions.
The Incorporeal Lich, Nugrah the Decrepit, is the Father of it all. The origin. The epicenter...
Nugrah is ancient and timeless. He is evil as he is old. His blight has become his craft, a craft he has honed and mastered over centuries. Nugrah has become death incarnate, and not only has he learned the secrets of creating the undead; he has started a following...
Nugrah the Decrepit is forever linked to a blighted section of forest, that has outlasted every civilization to rise around it. This dark patch of forest has remained untamed since the dawn of man. Nugrah was the first Human to ever wander into this cursed wilderness, and he chose never to leave.
Through the ages, this forest's overwhelming hostility towards civilization has become sanctuary to a number of hags. And even though Nugrah has no use for their pacts and Coven-casting, he welcomes their kind and their dark magics. The forest soon gained the favor of Gyronna, as hunting grounds for her kin to stalk mankind. Nugrah's forest now had purpose, and its purpose is death.
One of Gyronna's devote followers dared to enter the forest... whether through stupidity, bravery, divine guidance, perhaps even a divine test or cruel joke... she won Nugrah's respect and blessing. It was through her that Nugrah was introduced to a true prodigy of Undeath.
This aforementioned prodigy was welcomed into fold via an extremely unpleasant ritual involving being buried alive, and consumed by magical blighted worms whilst still conscious. What climbed out of the grave was neither living or dead, a humanoid mass worms working as one. Nugrah now had a champion, a commander, a herald to carry his words and execute his darkest biddings.
As the pieces fell into place, Nugrah's influence ever increased beyond the reaches of the forest. Soon, followers began to make perilous pilgrimages into the depths of darkness in order to possibly unwrap the secrets of Undeath... to learn from the master.