Undead Mining? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Undead Mining? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wfurlong78
05-08-07, 12:46 PM I was thinking of making a Dread Necromancer and using the undead that is animated to mine for unrefined gems. Also, I was thinking of if the undead could actually take direction and build a dungeon?
kaionon
05-08-07, 01:09 PM If your thinking of useing mindless undead, don't bother. Even unskilled laborers don't need to be told to do every single action. Plus if I recall commanding undead was a standard mental action? Unless your dread necro is cleaver enough to give perfectly instructed and repeating commands to the undead it won't work. I think that's outside the limits of the spell anyway.

Better off trying to make a bunch of necropolitan laborers do your bidding with rebuke/ command XD
Rerecros
05-08-07, 01:59 PM the best thing to do is take over a kobold mine, and use undead as "kobold resource management" :D
And start mining black onyx.
Ryuu_Tenshi
05-08-07, 02:02 PM If your thinking of useing mindless undead, don't bother. Even unskilled laborers don't need to be told to do every single action. Plus if I recall commanding undead was a standard mental action? Unless your dread necro is cleaver enough to give perfectly instructed and repeating commands to the undead it won't work. I thDink that's outside the limits of the spell anyway.

Actually, if you consider undead to be "programmable" it would be possible... just like using robot machinery. The issue would be creating a proper, bug-free "program" to run your undead with.

PS: When I saw the thread title, I thought we meant mining FOR undead. XD
JulesCARV
05-08-07, 04:18 PM Some people say a man is made out of mud
A skeleton's made out of evil and bone
Evil and bone and sorcery
A mind that's gone and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another bit of your old life you forget
The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the necromancer

I was animated one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of jet black onyx
And the necromancer said "you'll make me profits."

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another bit of your old life you forget
The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the necromancer

I was animated one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
Horror and evil are my middle name
I was animated in a Mabar manifest zone
Cain't no undead-turnin' paladin scare my bones

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another bit of your old life you forget
The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the necromancer

If you see me comin', better step aside
A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died
Two claw attacks and DR 5/bludgeonin'
If you have swords or bows, you'd better get a-runnin'

You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
Another bit of your old life you forget
The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the necromancer
Vharuck
05-08-07, 06:27 PM [insert awesome here]

I am awed. There is no other word for it, nor a need for embellishment.

I am awed.
mahavira
05-08-07, 06:55 PM Undead would need supervision, unless you're using a variant on the means to construct Karranthi undead, but once that's dealt with (some kind of amulet for a skilled miner accompanying the undead) there are several advantages, even for a good mine operator.
1) limited need for lights: undead have darkvision, so even if you need light you're probably paying less to have your supervisor use a sunrod than having all the workers use torches. This is also important because miners often encounter explosive gas pockets, which torches and lanterns set off.

2) limited use of air: in the event of a cave in, your miners can only survive for as long as there's enough air. Even if a live supervisor is trapped, he's the only one breathing, so the air will last much longer.

3) mining is dangerous work (even now it's one of the most dangerous jobs on earth), here the victims of any mischance are largely zombies or skeletons and who cares about them?

4) if zombies unionize, adventurers are usually willing to wipe them out without much of a fuss: ask a good party to kill live union organizers and see what response you get...
RogueElement
05-08-07, 07:28 PM ...

Awesome stuff! Does Marilyn Manson have a remake of this yet?
RogueElement
05-08-07, 07:30 PM If your thinking of useing mindless undead, don't bother. Even unskilled laborers don't need to be told to do every single action. Plus if I recall commanding undead was a standard mental action? Unless your dread necro is cleaver enough to give perfectly instructed and repeating commands to the undead it won't work. I think that's outside the limits of the spell anyway.

I think you could do it, just be sure you check on your programmed minions every once in a while or you'll get a Sorcerer's Apprentice situation on your hands that could get very un-Disney.
JulesCARV
05-08-07, 09:42 PM Does Marilyn Manson have a remake of this yet?

A Marilyn Manson cover of "Sixteen Tons?" Now there's an idea that had never occured to me.
Cifer
05-09-07, 05:48 PM I'd say it's quite reasonable as long as you've got competent foremen supervising the undead - order them to take commands from people you designate.

@Mahavira
I'd suggest using eternal torches instead of sunrods. They're flameless as well and cost less in the long run.
wfurlong78
05-10-07, 09:23 AM I was looking this over and found that you can only tell non-intell undead one word commands like fight, run, stand and sit. Although a ghoul has an intel of 13 which they can take direct orders. So I think I will command a bunch of ghouls led by a Mining Professional.
Cifer
05-11-07, 07:45 AM I was looking this over and found that you can only tell non-intell undead one word commands like fight, run, stand and sit.
"Dig!", "Carry!" and "Pull!" while pointing in the appropriate direction should usually be enough when they're supervised. I'd deem swinging a sword to be much more complex than swinging a pickaxe.
I'd avoid Ghouls, they tend to get messy because of their feeding habits.
lukelightning
05-11-07, 10:30 AM Personally I'd rule that it just wouldn't be terribly effective.

"No, don't pick up that piece of rock...pick up the OTHER piece of rock...now put it down. No, not on the ground, in the cart! Do I have to do everything?!?!?
Melvin the Mediocre
05-11-07, 11:06 AM I was looking this over and found that you can only tell non-intell undead one word commands like fight, run, stand and sit. Although a ghoul has an intel of 13 which they can take direct orders. So I think I will command a bunch of ghouls led by a Mining Professional.

Does it have to be unambiguous like the old 2nd edition command spell? If not "mine" could work.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wfurlong78 05-08-07, 12:46 PM	I was thinking of making a Dread Necromancer and using the undead that is animated to mine for unrefined gems. Also, I was thinking of if the undead could actually take direction and build a dungeon?
kaionon 05-08-07, 01:09 PM	If your thinking of useing mindless undead, don't bother. Even unskilled laborers don't need to be told to do every single action. Plus if I recall commanding undead was a standard mental action? Unless your dread necro is cleaver enough to give perfectly instructed and repeating commands to the undead it won't work. I think that's outside the limits of the spell anyway. Better off trying to make a bunch of necropolitan laborers do your bidding with rebuke/ command XD
Rerecros 05-08-07, 01:59 PM	the best thing to do is take over a kobold mine, and use undead as "kobold resource management" :D And start mining black onyx.
Ryuu_Tenshi 05-08-07, 02:02 PM	If your thinking of useing mindless undead, don't bother. Even unskilled laborers don't need to be told to do every single action. Plus if I recall commanding undead was a standard mental action? Unless your dread necro is cleaver enough to give perfectly instructed and repeating commands to the undead it won't work. I thDink that's outside the limits of the spell anyway. Actually, if you consider undead to be "programmable" it would be possible... just like using robot machinery. The issue would be creating a proper, bug-free "program" to run your undead with. PS: When I saw the thread title, I thought we meant mining FOR undead. XD
JulesCARV 05-08-07, 04:18 PM	Some people say a man is made out of mud A skeleton's made out of evil and bone Evil and bone and sorcery A mind that's gone and a back that's strong You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another bit of your old life you forget The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the necromancer I was animated one morning when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and walked to the mine I loaded sixteen tons of jet black onyx And the necromancer said "you'll make me profits." You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another bit of your old life you forget The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the necromancer I was animated one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain Horror and evil are my middle name I was animated in a Mabar manifest zone Cain't no undead-turnin' paladin scare my bones You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another bit of your old life you forget The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the necromancer If you see me comin', better step aside A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died Two claw attacks and DR 5/bludgeonin' If you have swords or bows, you'd better get a-runnin' You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another bit of your old life you forget The Keeper can't call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the necromancer
Vharuck 05-08-07, 06:27 PM	[insert awesome here] I am awed. There is no other word for it, nor a need for embellishment. I am awed.
mahavira 05-08-07, 06:55 PM	Undead would need supervision, unless you're using a variant on the means to construct Karranthi undead, but once that's dealt with (some kind of amulet for a skilled miner accompanying the undead) there are several advantages, even for a good mine operator. 1) limited need for lights: undead have darkvision, so even if you need light you're probably paying less to have your supervisor use a sunrod than having all the workers use torches. This is also important because miners often encounter explosive gas pockets, which torches and lanterns set off. 2) limited use of air: in the event of a cave in, your miners can only survive for as long as there's enough air. Even if a live supervisor is trapped, he's the only one breathing, so the air will last much longer. 3) mining is dangerous work (even now it's one of the most dangerous jobs on earth), here the victims of any mischance are largely zombies or skeletons and who cares about them? 4) if zombies unionize, adventurers are usually willing to wipe them out without much of a fuss: ask a good party to kill live union organizers and see what response you get...
RogueElement 05-08-07, 07:28 PM	... Awesome stuff! Does Marilyn Manson have a remake of this yet?
RogueElement 05-08-07, 07:30 PM	If your thinking of useing mindless undead, don't bother. Even unskilled laborers don't need to be told to do every single action. Plus if I recall commanding undead was a standard mental action? Unless your dread necro is cleaver enough to give perfectly instructed and repeating commands to the undead it won't work. I think that's outside the limits of the spell anyway. I think you could do it, just be sure you check on your programmed minions every once in a while or you'll get a Sorcerer's Apprentice situation on your hands that could get very un-Disney.
JulesCARV 05-08-07, 09:42 PM	Does Marilyn Manson have a remake of this yet? A Marilyn Manson cover of "Sixteen Tons?" Now there's an idea that had never occured to me.
Cifer 05-09-07, 05:48 PM	I'd say it's quite reasonable as long as you've got competent foremen supervising the undead - order them to take commands from people you designate. @Mahavira I'd suggest using eternal torches instead of sunrods. They're flameless as well and cost less in the long run.
wfurlong78 05-10-07, 09:23 AM	I was looking this over and found that you can only tell non-intell undead one word commands like fight, run, stand and sit. Although a ghoul has an intel of 13 which they can take direct orders. So I think I will command a bunch of ghouls led by a Mining Professional.
Cifer 05-11-07, 07:45 AM	I was looking this over and found that you can only tell non-intell undead one word commands like fight, run, stand and sit. "Dig!", "Carry!" and "Pull!" while pointing in the appropriate direction should usually be enough when they're supervised. I'd deem swinging a sword to be much more complex than swinging a pickaxe. I'd avoid Ghouls, they tend to get messy because of their feeding habits.
lukelightning 05-11-07, 10:30 AM	Personally I'd rule that it just wouldn't be terribly effective. "No, don't pick up that piece of rock...pick up the OTHER piece of rock...now put it down. No, not on the ground, in the cart! Do I have to do everything?!?!?
Melvin the Mediocre 05-11-07, 11:06 AM	I was looking this over and found that you can only tell non-intell undead one word commands like fight, run, stand and sit. Although a ghoul has an intel of 13 which they can take direct orders. So I think I will command a bunch of ghouls led by a Mining Professional. Does it have to be unambiguous like the old 2nd edition command spell? If not "mine" could work.