There is a lot of general advice for making undead, but I'm wondering more about the gimmick here. How unaware does this guy need to be taht he isn't actually bringing people back to life?
The main issue I see with this concept is that any 7th level cleric can "cure death" via Raise Dead. There is a spell that does what you're looking for, Flesh Puppet (also check out the mass version on the boottom of that page), but it's 4th level, so comes online a mere two levels before Raise Dead. Worse yet, it only works for 48 hours. Other necromancy spells don't create lifelike undead creatures, but rather undead creatures like skeletons and zombies, which don't look remotely like a cure to death.
Also note that apells animating undead are always Evil, which means your Cleric can't be Good or they can't even cast those spells.
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It sounds like you want to play a character so deluded that they think that creating undead is raising people from the dead. To pull this off you will need a character that can cast cure spells and animate dead. A WIS based caster is not going to work, because wisdom represents common sense and awareness. A INT based caster is also going to have problems as intelligence represents reasoning. That leaves a CHA based caster. A sorcerer is not a good choice because they don’t have access to healing spells.
That leaves an Oracle as your obvious choice. Oracles don’t choose to be what they are, they are chosen by the power of their mystery. They can even be unwilling pawns chosen by some power they do not agree with or even oppose. Your character could have been a devout worshiper of a good god studying to be a cleric when you were chosen by a dark power to be their tool. This broke the characters mind, and he refuses to accept the reality of his condition. His alignment is chaotic neutral. He mostly tries to be good, but still uses necromancy.
Dump the characters WIS and maybe even their INT to boost your CHA. An oracle of bones with the lich curse seems like it would be appropriate. Oracles get either the cure or inflict spells added to their spells known and this choice is not dependent on alignment. This allows you the choice of which spells to get added to your list. If you can still get access to the others by choosing them as spells known. I would probably only do that for one spell.
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It sounds like you want to play a character so deluded that they think that creating undead is raising people from the dead. To pull this off you will need a character that can cast cure spells and animate dead. A WIS based caster is not going to work, because wisdom represents common sense and awareness. A INT based caster is also going to have problems as intelligence represents reasoning. That leaves a CHA based caster. A sorcerer is not a good choice because they don’t have access to healing spells.
While I agree with you there is a wisdom based cleric with the Madness or Insanity domains that could have a reason to be, well, insane.
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A cleric’s domains are often represented something the cleric is looking to spread rather than something they are, especially when it is something negative or harmful. A cleric with the insanity domain might embrace insanity but would probably still be able to control his actions. My impression of this character is that they have lost touch with reality on this and are completely delusional. A CHA based caster just seems a lot more appropriate.
The character is also supposed to be a necromancer. Madness is not really that good of a domain for a necromancer. Every one of its domain spells are mind affecting that don’t work on undead. Usually, a necromancy focused cleric goes for domains like undead, death, fear, evil, destruction or other domains that will help fit the death and undead theme.
Well, what if, and hear me out, you were a FALSE priest... instead of, you know, a real priest (aka Cleric)...
Our dear lord and saviour, The Living God, Razmir, offers certain "powers" to his faithful followers. A Razmiran Priest (Sorcerer) has access to Cleric-like healing abilities, and the necessary necromencer spells, to pull this off. Maybe a Dhampir that can't tell the difference, or doesn't care. Razmir offers Charm, Evil, Law, and Trickery as Domains to the devoted... a Razmiran Priest Sorcerer could VMC Cleric for access to those, if they wanted, and it would further help our false priest pull off being a believable Cleric.
Either way, you could pick up two of those aforementioned Domains (three if you VMC Cleric) by entering the Razmiran Priest prestige class. Personally, I would take 10 levels of Razmiran Priest Sorcerer before entering the Razmiran Priest prestige class, but you could enter it at level 7 (as a Sorcerer). However, I feel the extra levels as a Sorcerer are worth it for the archetype ability at level 9... and as a 1/2 BAB class, might as well stick it out until 10 so you don't lose two BAB's in a row. The prestige class is 3/4 BAB, if that means anything to you, but does lose 3 levels of spell progression.
Razmiran Priest 10/Razmiran Priest 10/VMC Cleric would have BAB+12, base saves are +6/+6/+12, Caster Level is 17, 8th-level spells, three Domains, and you have real Channel Energy 3+Cha/day for 9D6, and False Channel 3+Cha/day for 5D6. It's all a hilarious hoax. Again, it would be great if this character were to be a Dhampir. Could even be Lawful Neutral, channel negative energy, take Command Undead if you wanted to really do the necromancer stuff. Using bluffs and charms to try convince everyone what you're doing is totally okay or for the greater "good"... the Undead Bloodline arcana allows charm spells to work on a lot of Undead, and your Charm Domain powers work on the living.
Not saying it's at all "optimal", but it could pull it off thematically.
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Okay, another Dhampir, but this one is a Shaman... a Spirit Warden to be exact. The fun thing about this particular combination is that you get to channel energy ONLY to harm Undead, regardless of your alignment... being one such Undead is, well, hilarious. It's not even ironic, just tragically coincidental. Probably go with the Bones Spirit, pick up the Battle Spirit via Wandering Spirit... could even grab Flame Blade Dervish at level 5, if you're into that. Spirit Warden also makes a pretty legit chassis for an Intimidate build, if you're into that.
Anyways, you already have access to Animate Dead, so you're halfway there for most necromancer stuffs... Expiremental Spellcaster can go a long ways too, as casting the Undeath word requires no special material components. If you want to go full dark side, as a Shaman, you can enter Agent of the Grave as early as level 6... have to pick up Know:Arcana with a trait.
Spirit Warden 5/Agent of the Grave 5
BAB +5
Base saves +4/+3/+7
CL 9, 5th-level spells
Evangelist Cleric, maybe...? The party never stops, even if you die. "You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave" sort of thing... it at least adds some level of something other than complete Undead Lord Cleric, hi everyone, I'm a freaking necromancer. Either way, worship the Pallid Princess, Urgathoa, and choose Death/Undead as your single-minded Domain. Deific Obedience for her 2nd Exalted boon, called Bolstering Channel, and take her associated feat, called Bolster Undead.
Dirge Bard can also be used for a similar vibe... the whole keep dancing even when you die thing. Dirge Bard 10/Agent of the Grave 5 is pretty legit.
Correction to my previous post: Any 9th level cleric can "cure death" via Raise Dead. 7th level is when your character would first be able to actually do their shtick.
Hi all, just wanted to say thanks for all the help on this idea I had that I thought was hilarious.
It's one of those ideas that sound fun in theory, but are hard to roleplay out. I mean, if the party is all over-the-top characters and the story and mechanics take a backseat to the players goofing around, but in any type of "serious" game is rather difficult to play such a character. Not only would you have to ropleplay someone who's literally mad, i.e. has severe mental disorders, if you do it to a too high degree, you'd also extremely likely force the other players to constantly act ouf-of-character, as in all likelyhood the only reason their character would accept your character in their in-universe group was because of out-of-universe reasons.
To make matters worse, this isn't an easy gimmick to even make use off. It doesn't work before 7th level as other other reanimation spells just can't pull it off, and even than you need to first have a friendly character die. So if you want to stick to it, think about what your character does before 7th level (which can tie in the shtick, but be aware that a character that's mainly a healer is a) very weak and b) very boring to play), and how the gimmick is supposed to come into play.
That said, I think a character who claims (or maybe is actually convined) they've found a cheap way of raising dead, only for the party to slowly realize that it's actually just the Flesh Puppet spell, could work. But only as a small aspect of the character, not as the dominating concept.
There is a lot of general advice for making undead, but I'm wondering more about the gimmick here. How unaware does this guy need to be taht he isn't actually bringing people back to life?
Well, you could make wisdom his dump stat.
Otherwise, sounds like a really inventive idea, have fun!
A cleric’s domains are often represented something the cleric is looking to spread rather than something they are, especially when it is something negative or harmful. A cleric with the insanity domain might embrace insanity but would probably still be able to control his actions. My impression of this character is that they have lost touch with reality on this and are completely delusional. A CHA based caster just seems a lot more appropriate.
The character is also supposed to be a necromancer. Madness is not really that good of a domain for a necromancer. Every one of its domain spells are mind affecting that don’t work on undead. Usually, a necromancy focused cleric goes for domains like undead, death, fear, evil, destruction or other domains that will help fit the death and undead theme.
One way to find an example for insane clerics is Lovecraft's short stories. Read some, especially the Dunwich Horror.
Well, you could make wisdom his dump stat.
One way to find an example for insane clerics is Lovecraft's short stories. Read some, especially the Dunwich Horror.
Well, dumping Wisdom would eman the Cleric can't cast at all. Unless they take the one archetype that literally makes them a Lovecraftian insane Cleric, Elder Mythos Cultist. Doesn't really fit the OP's idea, though.
sounds like a really inventive idea
It's one of those cases that work better as an idea than as a character. The main issue is this: Once it was revealed that the Cleric's "cure death" is really just corpse animation, what reason do the other PCs have to not replace the a) clearly insane and b) apparently imcompetent Cleric in the next town?
Well, you could make wisdom his dump stat.One way to find an example for insane clerics is Lovecraft's short stories. Read some, especially the Dunwich Horror.Well, dumping Wisdom would eman the Cleric can't cast at all. Unless they take the one archetype that literally makes them a Lovecraftian insane Cleric, Elder Mythos Cultist. Doesn't really fit the OP's idea, though.
sounds like a really inventive ideaIt's one of those cases that work better as an idea than as a character. The main issue is this: Once it was revealed that the Cleric's "cure death" is really just corpse animation, what reason do the other PCs have to not replace the a) clearly insane and b) apparently imcompetent Cleric in the next town?
Good point
I'll second the bones oracle suggestion. My eldest played one for several levels in PFS, partly as a sort of personal challenge to play a less obnoxious "necromancer" than the one that another local player had built (who would literally cackle in glee as he animated dead foes' corpses to march off to the next encounter). Instead of animating his own undead, Skalren would use Command Undead to steal them from enemy necromancers, and once a day, he could "borrow" (summon) an undead friend from the Boneyard. All while professing his undying devotion to Pharasma! He was b-----t crazy, but in a fun, entertaining way, rather than being a jerk and making the paladins' players wish they could sell their souls to violate PvP.