Evil Dead? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Evil Dead? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Deathstalker
11-02-04, 01:51 PM Just a random question. According to most of the books I've read, undead are pretty much entirely evil, with a few being neutral here and there. I was just wondering if it was possible that there were actually any undead who existed of a generally good alignment that players might encounter. I seem to remember hearing about something called a baelnorn a while back which was an elven patriarch that became a lich so that he could guide his family through the ages, and there was another book by fantasy flight games called mythic races which introduced a race called eleti I believe that were generally neutral or good undead. Any comments on this?
Beamup
11-02-04, 01:57 PM The Book of Exalted Deeds has the "deathless" type, which is basically good undead powered by positive energy instead of negative. And MM Ghosts can be any alignment IIRC, including Good.
Etsu_ElfRanger
11-04-04, 01:03 AM The deathless type (from the eberron campaign setting or BoED) is probably the best way to go for good undead. There are several good liches (including the baelnorn) in the FR monstrous compendium. But, I think that most of the good undead that I've seen have all been ghosts, at least in popular mythology. For some reason, the things that come back from beyond the grave don't tend towards good very often.
Judicator Shekar
11-04-04, 04:36 PM The Libris Mortis devotes a couple of paragraphs to the existance of good liches. This can be found on page 156, complete with game-rule information for these creatures. Also, any intelligent undead can be good providing the circumstances are right. In the campaign I'm currently running, the players are negotiating with a vampire who lives an abandoned dwarven hold in the Thunder Peaks (FR). This vampire uses the tunnels under the hold to descend into the Underdark from time to time and preys upon Duergar and Drow war parties, supplementing his diet with goblinoids from the city of Briklexxt. He is Chaotic Good and he seems intent on helping the party out, despite the negative energy upon which his existance is based. I'm sure you could think of something similar.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
11-04-04, 10:01 PM 3.5 Mummies can be of any alignment, and 3.0 zombies and skeletons are valid subjects for the celestial template.

Deathless are a very bad way to go. If you have negative energy powering evil undead and positive energy for good ones, what the hell are the neutral ones powered by? D cell batteries? And all living things, including demons, are powered by positive energy, whereas undead by negative so making undead that's positive energy driven kind of makes them not fit some of the criteria.
Melpomene
11-04-04, 10:09 PM Aw snap. ::frantically makes plans for a zombie powered by D-cells.::
Cravensson
11-05-04, 12:41 PM Aw snap. ::frantically makes plans for a zombie powered by D-cells.::

Wouldn't that be a flesh golem?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Deathstalker 11-02-04, 01:51 PM	Just a random question. According to most of the books I've read, undead are pretty much entirely evil, with a few being neutral here and there. I was just wondering if it was possible that there were actually any undead who existed of a generally good alignment that players might encounter. I seem to remember hearing about something called a baelnorn a while back which was an elven patriarch that became a lich so that he could guide his family through the ages, and there was another book by fantasy flight games called mythic races which introduced a race called eleti I believe that were generally neutral or good undead. Any comments on this?
Beamup 11-02-04, 01:57 PM	The Book of Exalted Deeds has the "deathless" type, which is basically good undead powered by positive energy instead of negative. And MM Ghosts can be any alignment IIRC, including Good.
Etsu_ElfRanger 11-04-04, 01:03 AM	The deathless type (from the eberron campaign setting or BoED) is probably the best way to go for good undead. There are several good liches (including the baelnorn) in the FR monstrous compendium. But, I think that most of the good undead that I've seen have all been ghosts, at least in popular mythology. For some reason, the things that come back from beyond the grave don't tend towards good very often.
Judicator Shekar 11-04-04, 04:36 PM	The Libris Mortis devotes a couple of paragraphs to the existance of good liches. This can be found on page 156, complete with game-rule information for these creatures. Also, any intelligent undead can be good providing the circumstances are right. In the campaign I'm currently running, the players are negotiating with a vampire who lives an abandoned dwarven hold in the Thunder Peaks (FR). This vampire uses the tunnels under the hold to descend into the Underdark from time to time and preys upon Duergar and Drow war parties, supplementing his diet with goblinoids from the city of Briklexxt. He is Chaotic Good and he seems intent on helping the party out, despite the negative energy upon which his existance is based. I'm sure you could think of something similar.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 11-04-04, 10:01 PM	3.5 Mummies can be of any alignment, and 3.0 zombies and skeletons are valid subjects for the celestial template. Deathless are a very bad way to go. If you have negative energy powering evil undead and positive energy for good ones, what the hell are the neutral ones powered by? D cell batteries? And all living things, including demons, are powered by positive energy, whereas undead by negative so making undead that's positive energy driven kind of makes them not fit some of the criteria.
Melpomene 11-04-04, 10:09 PM	Aw snap. ::frantically makes plans for a zombie powered by D-cells.::
Cravensson 11-05-04, 12:41 PM	Aw snap. ::frantically makes plans for a zombie powered by D-cells.:: Wouldn't that be a flesh golem?