Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nessaj 12-04-06, 01:52 AM	I'm looking at a 21st level character for a one-shot duel/monster bashing campaign, and I've got a Dread Necromancer 20/Cleric 1 I've been working on. He's pretty fun looking, and I think he could work, if not for two things: Death Ward and other mages. How should I go about getting around these, and other hurdles you all might forsee? Knowstones, Staves, Scrolls and UMD (and a familiar who can use his ranks) are a big part of his build, as he has a Cha score of 34, so he can put scrolls to good use. I was thinking Staves of Abjuration and Passage were good to have. A Knowstone of Ruin Delver's Fortune should keep nasty Evocations and Disintegrate at bay, but what about Death Ward? Against noncasters, Death Ward items should be easy enough to Dispel Magic, but one cast by a Cleric might be harder to undo...I'm not too concerned with Turning/Rebuking...He's got +8 turn resistance being a lich + an item, and I havent even explored feats, spells and items that grant even higher bonuses yet. Creatures such as Constructs give me pause as well...I considered investing in a Greater Shadesteel Golem, but one doesn't seem quite up to the task (and the price isn't listed). Any ideas on how I should do him up? Divine Metamagic and Persistent Spell rank high here...If the DM won't let me start with corpses I plan on collecting some as I go through the dungeon, and use scrolls of Polymorph any Object if they're not to my liking. Any more suggestions? Yes, I have seen the Necromancer's Handbook. Not quite finished with all of it, however.
Thomas_Covenant 12-04-06, 03:36 AM	I really love the flavor of the DN, and it's an effective character, but not in a 21st level duel/arena setting, it's just not gonna cut it. Death Ward isn't the worst problem, the Soulfire armor enhancement is. At 21st level, any build that doesn't already have the immunities will get it, that simple. Divine Metamagic specifically works only on *divine* spells, so no go. Constructs are a joke, you have no-SR spontaneous battlefield control spells, you shouldn't be threatened.
paolung 12-07-06, 03:23 PM	Are there any supplements that address epic DN?
EldonG 12-07-06, 04:15 PM	I love DNs...and a level 20 DN is certainly viable...IF what you're looking to do is field an ARMY of undead. If that isn't an option...do something else. Just about anything else. Simply put, that undead army is a DN's bread and butter. Play the cleric.
Friendlyfish 12-07-06, 04:55 PM	Dread Necromancers are not particularly strong for a caster. Your 9th level spells are lacking the mightiest spells of the arcanist: Shapechange, PaO, Gate, Wish, Time Stop, Mord's DJ. You can indeed field an large army of what are basically ineffectual undead that can't hit anything at that level, unless you're allowed to give them magical items. They'll probably be blasted apart in a trice. Most individuals (especially clerics) will find a way to become immune to both mind-effecting and death effects at 20th level, so your best save or dies are out. You'd do a lot better to play a straight wizard or cleric than a dread necromancer. And I only mention cleric because it gets Gate and Miracle as well. A well-played cleric in the duel will simply drop as many gates as possible and fill the battlefield with 40-HD epic beasts that will roll you. A well-played arcanist will Shapechange into a 25-HD tank then Time Stop and drop about 3 Gates. There's no win for the poor DN.
EldonG 12-07-06, 05:15 PM	Dread Necromancers are not particularly strong for a caster. Your 9th level spells are lacking the mightiest spells of the arcanist: Shapechange, PaO, Gate, Wish, Time Stop, Mord's DJ. You can indeed field an large army of what are basically ineffectual undead that can't hit anything at that level, unless you're allowed to give them magical items. They'll probably be blasted apart in a trice. Most individuals (especially clerics) will find a way to become immune to both mind-effecting and death effects at 20th level, so your best save or dies are out. You'd do a lot better to play a straight wizard or cleric than a dread necromancer. And I only mention cleric because it gets Gate and Miracle as well. A well-played cleric in the duel will simply drop as many gates as possible and fill the battlefield with 40-HD epic beasts that will roll you. A well-played arcanist will Shapechange into a 25-HD tank then Time Stop and drop about 3 Gates. There's no win for the poor DN. Oh...you can make some effective undead, at that level...damned effective undead...still...the DN, himself, might as well sit back and watch. Another caster will definitely be more powerful, individually. Ya want effective undead? Try a zombie dragon...name your flavor...with corpsecrafting and necromantic presence feats...and don't forget to take undead leadership...that's a GIGANTIC army...
Iry 12-18-06, 12:16 AM	21st level Campaign? Demi-Lich. Have a nice day.