Better rules for Animate and Controlling Undead. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Better rules for Animate and Controlling Undead. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
XunValDorl of HouseKilsek
01-01-06, 11:52 AM We have played some heavy necromancer type games lately and we have been animating a lot of undead, but we are having trouble in combat because we argue about how the undead are controlled. Are they controlled like the Control undead spell, or are they controlled verbally? Cause remember Zombies and Skeletons are mindless. Do you have to give them orders ahead of time, do you shout them during combat or what?
Shatteredtower
01-01-06, 04:05 PM According to the text of animate dead, the skeletons and zombies you create "follow your spoken commands."

Taken literally, it means that they will understand the command regardless of what language you use, even if it's not your primary tongue. That might seem a bit odd ("My skeletons understand seventeen languages! Watch!"), but it's hardly unbalancing. Control undead seems to reinforce the idea, because it specifically states that the undead will respond to your verbal commands, regardless of the language you speak. Likewise, command undead states that the undead need to be able to hear you for you to issue directions, but it also lacks the [language-dependent] descriptor.
Rundor The Mighty
01-01-06, 07:09 PM You could consider the fact that they understand you so well one of the many wonders of negative energy and necromancy I guess. It just comes down to game mechanics and not sensible possibilities in this case.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
XunValDorl of HouseKilsek 01-01-06, 11:52 AM	We have played some heavy necromancer type games lately and we have been animating a lot of undead, but we are having trouble in combat because we argue about how the undead are controlled. Are they controlled like the Control undead spell, or are they controlled verbally? Cause remember Zombies and Skeletons are mindless. Do you have to give them orders ahead of time, do you shout them during combat or what?
Shatteredtower 01-01-06, 04:05 PM	According to the text of animate dead, the skeletons and zombies you create "follow your spoken commands." Taken literally, it means that they will understand the command regardless of what language you use, even if it's not your primary tongue. That might seem a bit odd ("My skeletons understand seventeen languages! Watch!"), but it's hardly unbalancing. Control undead seems to reinforce the idea, because it specifically states that the undead will respond to your verbal commands, regardless of the language you speak. Likewise, command undead states that the undead need to be able to hear you for you to issue directions, but it also lacks the [language-dependent] descriptor.
Rundor The Mighty 01-01-06, 07:09 PM	You could consider the fact that they understand you so well one of the many wonders of negative energy and necromancy I guess. It just comes down to game mechanics and not sensible possibilities in this case.