Control of Animated Undead Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Control of Animated Undead Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Warmage-in-Onley
10-01-05, 02:55 PM Say you are a Wizard using Animate Dead. The undead that you animate using Animate Dead are under your control indefinitely (paraphrase). They follow your spoken commands. What happens to your control of them if an evil cleric successfully commands them by virtue of a rebuke check? Does the cleric's control override yours temporarily, does it co-exist with yours (similar to a subject under 2 Charm spells from different casters), or does it end yours? And is the duration 10 rounds (for the cleric, anyway) in all these cases?

I tend to believe that it co-exists only because there is no language in the spell description that suggests your control as the animator is ever ended.

Thoughts / Comments ?
slade_caizer
10-02-05, 01:06 AM If a cleric successfully commands your undead minions, you'd better get wise and recast your control spell. A cleric's command of undead has no duration. I've used this advantage before against my DM. He was very shocked to see me command not just a few of his skeletons, but ALL of them. The NPC wizard promptly fled...his familiar wasn't so lucky.
Jaid
10-02-05, 10:55 AM ummm... there's no "recasting the controlling spell" involved here, you already have indefinite duration control, and i believe the spell is instantaneous and therefore cannot be dispelled even.

anyways, i would rule that the two effects co-exist, although i would say it would be more like a creature under two domination effects rather than two charm effects. but that's just me.
Warmage-in-Onley
10-02-05, 03:29 PM I've noticed there's another thread about duration of the command from the rebuke check.

I wasn't referring to any use of the Control Undead spell, simply the control established from using Animate Dead.

Jaid, I'd even go one step further than your Domination effect of the control. As mindless undead with no volition of their own, I believe you have absolute control of them as the animator. Even self-destructive commands would be followed.

Thanks for the input!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Warmage-in-Onley 10-01-05, 02:55 PM	Say you are a Wizard using Animate Dead. The undead that you animate using Animate Dead are under your control indefinitely (paraphrase). They follow your spoken commands. What happens to your control of them if an evil cleric successfully commands them by virtue of a rebuke check? Does the cleric's control override yours temporarily, does it co-exist with yours (similar to a subject under 2 Charm spells from different casters), or does it end yours? And is the duration 10 rounds (for the cleric, anyway) in all these cases? I tend to believe that it co-exists only because there is no language in the spell description that suggests your control as the animator is ever ended. Thoughts / Comments ?
slade_caizer 10-02-05, 01:06 AM	If a cleric successfully commands your undead minions, you'd better get wise and recast your control spell. A cleric's command of undead has no duration. I've used this advantage before against my DM. He was very shocked to see me command not just a few of his skeletons, but ALL of them. The NPC wizard promptly fled...his familiar wasn't so lucky.
Jaid 10-02-05, 10:55 AM	ummm... there's no "recasting the controlling spell" involved here, you already have indefinite duration control, and i believe the spell is instantaneous and therefore cannot be dispelled even. anyways, i would rule that the two effects co-exist, although i would say it would be more like a creature under two domination effects rather than two charm effects. but that's just me.
Warmage-in-Onley 10-02-05, 03:29 PM	I've noticed there's another thread about duration of the command from the rebuke check. I wasn't referring to any use of the Control Undead spell, simply the control established from using Animate Dead. Jaid, I'd even go one step further than your Domination effect of the control. As mindless undead with no volition of their own, I believe you have absolute control of them as the animator. Even self-destructive commands would be followed. Thanks for the input!