Intelligent, low level undead [Archive] - Wizards Community

Intelligent, low level undead [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Illithid00
08-13-07, 05:13 PM Is there an intelligent, low level undead that would be appropriate for a BBEG in a 1st level adventure? I'm currently trying to come up with an undead-themed adventure and I need a villain. Thanks in advance!
Sul_Zain_Aserbet
08-13-07, 05:17 PM hmm... this might not be the best place for this thread, but a necropolitan from LB wouldnt be a bad option at all. Pretty much just have the undead subtype.
Illithid00
08-13-07, 05:21 PM hmm... this might not be the best place for this thread, but a necropolitan from LB wouldnt be a bad option at all. Pretty much just have the undead subtype.

LB? What book is that?
Richmud
08-13-07, 05:25 PM I believe necropolitans are in libris mortis
Einvaldurinn_mikli
08-13-07, 05:32 PM It's a typo. Libris Mortis has the Necropolitan.
Shedeo
08-13-07, 05:41 PM If you have access to the Book of Vile Darkness, there's Corpse Creatures and Skeletal Creatures. Effectively, just slap on the template and make them whatever level you see fit for your adventure.
Illithid00
08-13-07, 06:26 PM I have Libris Mortis, but I don't have BoVD. Is there anywhere online where I can find the skeletal creature template?
Shedeo
08-13-07, 07:03 PM I doubt it very much.

However, its easy to create something similar yourself. Just give any creature undead traits, d12 hit dice for all its hit dice, and immunity to cold. Voila! Insta-bones. Just add flavor!
queenfange
08-13-07, 07:54 PM Make a low level vampire. I think somewhere in the rules it tells you not to, but if you keep an eye open as far as balancing, weakening or tossing abilities that would be too hard, you could make a level 1 humanoid with a vampire ish template that could be CR 2 or 3.

Shedeo's suggestion is good too, and might be easier. Heck, do that, throw in a charm person ability usable once per day and a 2d3 damage blood drain grapple and you essentially have a make shift weak vampire template.
runestar
08-13-07, 08:55 PM A ghoul with a single class lv (maybe barb?) might work fine. Ghast and wight might be slightly too strong (cr3), but could be worth considering.
Nephlite
08-13-07, 09:24 PM Make a low level vampire. I think somewhere in the rules it tells you not to, but if you keep an eye open as far as balancing, weakening or tossing abilities that would be too hard, you could make a level 1 humanoid with a vampire ish template that could be CR 2 or 3.

You mean a Vampire Spawn.
Grogg Toth
08-14-07, 02:41 AM Intelligent skeletons might work, shadows, pretty much any of your lesser undead, I think.

It's times like this that I miss good old 2nd edition, The Grim Harvest campaign set in Ravenloft allowed your pc's to be undead and gave you rules for customizing them and even rules for fighting off the corruption of the negative energy that gave the characters unlife.

You could make a zombie that drained levels, str, dex, con, pretty much any of them or all of them, plus turn or rebuke undead and create spawn. In short it was really cool!
MarkHall
08-14-07, 02:52 AM I'd suggest a Wight with a class level or two... it's about right for a 1st level adventure, though they're going to hate the energy drain.
runestar
08-14-07, 04:56 AM I'd suggest a Wight with a class level or two... it's about right for a 1st level adventure, though they're going to hate the energy drain.

Each successful hit will instantly kill any 1st lv PC, despite its crappy claw damage. Doesn't this seem a tad harsh?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Illithid00 08-13-07, 05:13 PM	Is there an intelligent, low level undead that would be appropriate for a BBEG in a 1st level adventure? I'm currently trying to come up with an undead-themed adventure and I need a villain. Thanks in advance!
Sul_Zain_Aserbet 08-13-07, 05:17 PM	hmm... this might not be the best place for this thread, but a necropolitan from LB wouldnt be a bad option at all. Pretty much just have the undead subtype.
Illithid00 08-13-07, 05:21 PM	hmm... this might not be the best place for this thread, but a necropolitan from LB wouldnt be a bad option at all. Pretty much just have the undead subtype. LB? What book is that?
Richmud 08-13-07, 05:25 PM	I believe necropolitans are in libris mortis
Einvaldurinn_mikli 08-13-07, 05:32 PM	It's a typo. Libris Mortis has the Necropolitan.
Shedeo 08-13-07, 05:41 PM	If you have access to the Book of Vile Darkness, there's Corpse Creatures and Skeletal Creatures. Effectively, just slap on the template and make them whatever level you see fit for your adventure.
Illithid00 08-13-07, 06:26 PM	I have Libris Mortis, but I don't have BoVD. Is there anywhere online where I can find the skeletal creature template?
Shedeo 08-13-07, 07:03 PM	I doubt it very much. However, its easy to create something similar yourself. Just give any creature undead traits, d12 hit dice for all its hit dice, and immunity to cold. Voila! Insta-bones. Just add flavor!
queenfange 08-13-07, 07:54 PM	Make a low level vampire. I think somewhere in the rules it tells you not to, but if you keep an eye open as far as balancing, weakening or tossing abilities that would be too hard, you could make a level 1 humanoid with a vampire ish template that could be CR 2 or 3. Shedeo's suggestion is good too, and might be easier. Heck, do that, throw in a charm person ability usable once per day and a 2d3 damage blood drain grapple and you essentially have a make shift weak vampire template.
runestar 08-13-07, 08:55 PM	A ghoul with a single class lv (maybe barb?) might work fine. Ghast and wight might be slightly too strong (cr3), but could be worth considering.
Nephlite 08-13-07, 09:24 PM	Make a low level vampire. I think somewhere in the rules it tells you not to, but if you keep an eye open as far as balancing, weakening or tossing abilities that would be too hard, you could make a level 1 humanoid with a vampire ish template that could be CR 2 or 3. You mean a Vampire Spawn.
Grogg Toth 08-14-07, 02:41 AM	Intelligent skeletons might work, shadows, pretty much any of your lesser undead, I think. It's times like this that I miss good old 2nd edition, The Grim Harvest campaign set in Ravenloft allowed your pc's to be undead and gave you rules for customizing them and even rules for fighting off the corruption of the negative energy that gave the characters unlife. You could make a zombie that drained levels, str, dex, con, pretty much any of them or all of them, plus turn or rebuke undead and create spawn. In short it was really cool!
MarkHall 08-14-07, 02:52 AM	I'd suggest a Wight with a class level or two... it's about right for a 1st level adventure, though they're going to hate the energy drain.
runestar 08-14-07, 04:56 AM	I'd suggest a Wight with a class level or two... it's about right for a 1st level adventure, though they're going to hate the energy drain. Each successful hit will instantly kill any 1st lv PC, despite its crappy claw damage. Doesn't this seem a tad harsh?