Control Undead [Archive] - Wizards Community

Control Undead [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mesraic
07-20-05, 11:44 AM Am I the only person that thinks control undead the spell is very overpowered? I just personally think that the spell allows the characters to control an awful large amount of control over some very useful tools.

Thanks for all your thoughts
tarkin
07-20-05, 12:16 PM They are balanced by several factors:

1) They only really work on low level creatures unless you are so high that medium creatures are nothing compared to you.

2) They have a reputation for evil that causes severe social problems for non-evil people that use them.

3) Clerics are common, and they just crush undead.
Witchblade
07-20-05, 12:21 PM The short duration makes it hard to use them to great effect. Spellcasters could be commanded to heal you etc. but they'll probably succeed their Will Save. Besides, it's a level 7 spell. I prefer Destruction, Reverse Gravity and Mass Hold Person any day.
Mesraic
07-22-05, 12:41 AM my apologies, Command Undead the 2nd level spell. Duration 1 day/level. No HD restrictions and no save if the undead isn't intelligent.
Bonzai
07-22-05, 10:03 AM Not really, it is an imperfect control, like a charm. So while they won't attack you, they won't necassarily be your slave either.
Mesraic
07-22-05, 08:12 PM they are your slave, true they're dumb slaves but they'll attack what you tell them to attack, and not attack what you dont want them to. spells stats you can give them simple order.fighting is one of those orders
Witchblade
07-22-05, 09:24 PM Oh, that one. :)

You can try to give the subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check to convince it to do anything it wouldn’t ordinarily do. (Retries are not allowed.)
That's a pretty important sentence. Also, it's vocal, you have to be able to speak with them to give them orders.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mesraic 07-20-05, 11:44 AM	Am I the only person that thinks control undead the spell is very overpowered? I just personally think that the spell allows the characters to control an awful large amount of control over some very useful tools. Thanks for all your thoughts
tarkin 07-20-05, 12:16 PM	They are balanced by several factors: 1) They only really work on low level creatures unless you are so high that medium creatures are nothing compared to you. 2) They have a reputation for evil that causes severe social problems for non-evil people that use them. 3) Clerics are common, and they just crush undead.
Witchblade 07-20-05, 12:21 PM	The short duration makes it hard to use them to great effect. Spellcasters could be commanded to heal you etc. but they'll probably succeed their Will Save. Besides, it's a level 7 spell. I prefer Destruction, Reverse Gravity and Mass Hold Person any day.
Mesraic 07-22-05, 12:41 AM	my apologies, Command Undead the 2nd level spell. Duration 1 day/level. No HD restrictions and no save if the undead isn't intelligent.
Bonzai 07-22-05, 10:03 AM	Not really, it is an imperfect control, like a charm. So while they won't attack you, they won't necassarily be your slave either.
Mesraic 07-22-05, 08:12 PM	they are your slave, true they're dumb slaves but they'll attack what you tell them to attack, and not attack what you dont want them to. spells stats you can give them simple order.fighting is one of those orders
Witchblade 07-22-05, 09:24 PM	Oh, that one. :) You can try to give the subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check to convince it to do anything it wouldn’t ordinarily do. (Retries are not allowed.) That's a pretty important sentence. Also, it's vocal, you have to be able to speak with them to give them orders.