High-Level Reanimators: A Weird Tale

[I'm Hiding In Your Closet]

The Reanimator could've been written better, and is underpowered as is; I accept that much - HOWEVER, something very weird is going on at high-levels, and I hope there's at least been some errata somewhere along the way:

The Reanimator wrote:

Create Undead: At 13th level, a reanimator adds create undead to his formula book as a 4th-level extract. When he uses that extract, rather than drinking it, he injects it into the corpse he intends to animate, which rises as an uncontrolled undead 1 hour later. The extract can only create corporeal undead. This ability replaces the increase to bomb damage at this level.

Create Greater Undead: At 15th level, a reanimator adds create greater undead to his formula book as a 5th-level extract. This otherwise acts similarly to a create undead extract. This ability replaces the increase to bomb damage at this level.

Now let's take a lookee at create greater undead; it can create...

...shadows, wraiths, specters, and devourerers. See the problem?

Only ONE of these is corporeal, and that only at CL 20th!

Like I said, I'm REALLY hoping there was some errata; whoever designed it did not seem to have thought it through.

For what it's worth, I actually presented my own hypothetical means of fixing it years ago here.

[I grok do u]

Add it to the pile of alchemists not working quite right with all formulae and extracts in general...

However, there are a few more undead added to these spells, just a hunt to find them in other rule sources (bestiaries, mostly).

Examples:
Mummified creature template:

Create:

To create a mummified creature, a corpse must be prepared through embalming, with its internal organs replaced with dried herbs and flowers and its dead skin preserved through the application of sacred oils. Unlike with standard mummies, a mummified creature’s brain is not removed from its skull after death. Injected with strange chemicals and tattooed with mystical hieroglyphs, a mummified creature’s brain retains the base creature’s mind and abilities, though the process does result in the loss of some mental faculties. Once this process is complete, the body is wrapped in special purified linens marked with hieroglyphs that grant the mummified creature its new abilities (as well as its weakness). Finally, the creator must cast a create greater undead spell to give the mummified creature its unlife

Bodak:

create:

A 20th-level spellcaster can use create greater undead to create a bodak, but only if the spell is cast while the spellcaster is located on one of the evil outer planes (traditionally the Abyss).

YMMV as to GMs who allow these.
GitP forum post with lists

[Azothath]

this should be in the Homebrew forum

[I'm Hiding In Your Closet]

I grok do u wrote:

Add it to the pile of alchemists not working quite right with all formulae and extracts in general...

However, there are a few more undead added to these spells, just a hunt to find them in other rule sources (bestiaries, mostly).

Examples:
Mummified creature template:

Oh really?? Your link there doesn't work, BUT this otherwise sounds encouraging (Bodaks, not so much :P)!

I grok do u wrote:

YMMV as to GMs who allow these.

Well, I have Organized Play in mind, presently (in which the Reanimator is and always has been fully legal).

[Diego Rossi]

I'm Hiding In Your Closet wrote:

I grok do u wrote:

Add it to the pile of alchemists not working quite right with all formulae and extracts in general...

However, there are a few more undead added to these spells, just a hunt to find them in other rule sources (bestiaries, mostly).

Examples:
Mummified creature template:

Oh really?? Your link there doesn't work, BUT this otherwise sounds encouraging (Bodaks, not so much :P)!

For me, it works.

Here is it to copy/paste in your browser:
https://aonprd.com/MonsterTemplates.aspx?ItemName=Mummified%20Creature

[I grok do u]

Diego Rossi wrote:

I'm Hiding In Your Closet wrote:

I grok do u wrote:

Add it to the pile of alchemists not working quite right with all formulae and extracts in general...

However, there are a few more undead added to these spells, just a hunt to find them in other rule sources (bestiaries, mostly).

Examples:
Mummified creature template:

Oh really?? Your link there doesn't work, BUT this otherwise sounds encouraging (Bodaks, not so much :P)!

For me, it works.

Here is it to copy/paste in your browser:
https://aonprd.com/MonsterTemplates.aspx?ItemName=Mummified%20Creature

Aonprd.com was down for awhile earlier, that's why the link was failing.