Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pennarin 03-15-04, 10:26 PM	In Dark Sun v3.5 there is a Thinking Zombie, basically someone whose dead but with all the abilities he had when alive, and that can be created by casting a specific spell upon a dead person. I tried to find a way to control such a being (or any intelligent undead, for that matter) and failling I searched the Boards, but alas nothing. Command Undead needs to be cast again after 20 days for a 20th-level Wizard and requires that the controlling spellcaster make opposed Charisma checks to convince it to do anything it wouldn't ordinarily do. Plus it targets only one undead. Control Undead is limited to 1 min./level. The 8th-level Utter Thrall, from the Complete Book of Eldritch Might, affects only Humanoids, not Undeads. Undeads are immune to charm or mind-affecting spells. So how does a 20th-level Wizard kill his enemies and then raise them again under his control? Perhaps a wish could do it, but 5000 XP for each undead to control his too high a price to pay. So aside from creating a new spell to do just that, a kind of Utter Thrall just for undeads, has anyone found a way to do this efficiently, without powerful magical items or minor artefacts or epic feats or spells or taking levels in a necromantic PrC, but with just ordinary spells and ingenuity?
Look Within My Mind 03-15-04, 10:56 PM	You could just make control undead permanent Demonbinder :devil:
Pennarin 03-15-04, 11:11 PM	Control Undead I would never allow to become permanent, seeing what spells can under the Permanency descriptor. But Command Undead, as it lasts for so long, affects only one being, I suppose could be made permanent, although the spells normally made so are those that grant an ability to a creature. Except for Rary's Telepathic Bond, which links 2 or more creatures, all spells affect a creature by giving it some boon. Command Undead is deliterious, just like Bestow Curse. I admit permanency rulings are my least speciality :( Perhaps someone with experience in that domain can jump-in?
Bloodtide_the_Red 03-15-04, 11:28 PM	The time limit is not such a big deal. 1. You don't realy need control of them 24/7. You only need control them when you need to use them. When not in use, simply lock them up or trap them. When you need them go control them and use them. 2.Even in battle you don't need full control, after you command them to attack they will more or less stay in the fight without orders, if to defend themselfs if nothing else. 3.You could always create a wand, potion, scroll or other magic item for continous control. ....Undeads are immune to charm or mind-affecting spells Just note that they can be controled. ........So how does a 20th-level Wizard kill his enemies and then raise them again under his control? With the create undead spells, of course. The Magic of Fareun book has the summon undead spells, an easy cheat for a controlable undead army. You could deligate...simply charm/dominate/thrall evil clerics and have them command the undead. BT
JHelmer 03-16-04, 03:34 AM	I play a human PC in a vampire hunting campaign with the 'Corpse Template' from 'Book of Vile Fun'... errr... 'Darkness'... This character is a sorcerer, and because of his bond with the undead is picking up the command undead spell. Command undead effectively charms them. Remember, nearly every intelligent undead is a life hating despicable MONSTER. It's completely within it's alignment to destroy anything you want it to destroy. For day labor, make skeletons, bub.