Animate dead, maximum undead under control, and school/descriptor specific CL boosts: [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animate dead, maximum undead under control, and school/descriptor specific CL boosts: [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
03-19-08, 08:14 PM Suppose I'm a level 5 cleric of the Blood of Vol with the necromancer (+1 caster level to necromancy spells) and evil (+1 caster level to evil spells) domains.

Animate dead is a necromancy [evil] spell. One of its stipulations is:

No matter how many times you use this spell, however, you can control only 4 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level. If you exceed this number, all the newly created creatures fall under your control, and any excess undead from previous castings become uncontrolled.

My question is, does the 4 HD/caster level limit use your caster level specifically with regard to casting animate dead, or does it just use your caster level in general? In short, can this level 5 cleric of the Blood of Vol control 5 x 4 = 20 HD of undead (without using rebuking, command undead, etc), or 7 x 4 = 28 HD of undead?
jaelis
03-19-08, 10:08 PM Seems like a DM call, but I would say the caster level here refers to that of animate dead only, since it is explicitly a separate pool of HD from that you get from your rebuking ability. So yes, your +2 CL from domains would count.
green_yawgmoth
03-20-08, 02:13 PM Caster level refers to your caster level. If something gives you a bonus to caster level, it increases all of the effects of your spells that pertain to that bonus. If you a caster level 5 and you get a bonus to evil spells and a bonus to necromancy spells, then casting an evil necromancy spell would give both bonuses. Enjoy your extra 8 HD of undead.
Bihlbo
03-20-08, 03:10 PM I agree with Green.
Harzon
03-21-08, 05:44 PM Do seperate casting classes apply? for example, allowing for survival of the character, I'm going to have a True necromancer. Do the HD of the undead created by divine Animate dead spells count seperately from the undead created by arcane animate dead spells?
green_yawgmoth
03-21-08, 09:25 PM Do seperate casting classes apply? for example, allowing for survival of the character, I'm going to have a True necromancer. Do the HD of the undead created by divine Animate dead spells count seperately from the undead created by arcane animate dead spells?Yes. which is why the true necro is so great at creating hordes of undead.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 03-19-08, 08:14 PM	Suppose I'm a level 5 cleric of the Blood of Vol with the necromancer (+1 caster level to necromancy spells) and evil (+1 caster level to evil spells) domains. Animate dead is a necromancy [evil] spell. One of its stipulations is: No matter how many times you use this spell, however, you can control only 4 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level. If you exceed this number, all the newly created creatures fall under your control, and any excess undead from previous castings become uncontrolled. My question is, does the 4 HD/caster level limit use your caster level specifically with regard to casting animate dead, or does it just use your caster level in general? In short, can this level 5 cleric of the Blood of Vol control 5 x 4 = 20 HD of undead (without using rebuking, command undead, etc), or 7 x 4 = 28 HD of undead?
jaelis 03-19-08, 10:08 PM	Seems like a DM call, but I would say the caster level here refers to that of animate dead only, since it is explicitly a separate pool of HD from that you get from your rebuking ability. So yes, your +2 CL from domains would count.
green_yawgmoth 03-20-08, 02:13 PM	Caster level refers to your caster level. If something gives you a bonus to caster level, it increases all of the effects of your spells that pertain to that bonus. If you a caster level 5 and you get a bonus to evil spells and a bonus to necromancy spells, then casting an evil necromancy spell would give both bonuses. Enjoy your extra 8 HD of undead.
Bihlbo 03-20-08, 03:10 PM	I agree with Green.
Harzon 03-21-08, 05:44 PM	Do seperate casting classes apply? for example, allowing for survival of the character, I'm going to have a True necromancer. Do the HD of the undead created by divine Animate dead spells count seperately from the undead created by arcane animate dead spells?
green_yawgmoth 03-21-08, 09:25 PM	Do seperate casting classes apply? for example, allowing for survival of the character, I'm going to have a True necromancer. Do the HD of the undead created by divine Animate dead spells count seperately from the undead created by arcane animate dead spells?Yes. which is why the true necro is so great at creating hordes of undead.