Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 23, 2004 22:11:16	Ok so we're playing a new game (see Tarrasque Help)..yeah we died..but everyone already saw that coming....anyways...so now I'm a priest and I have this animate dead spell (we're still playing second edition)...now i'm not too sure on how this spell can really be used..can someone explain to me the whole deal behind the spell.. sphere:necromancy range:10 yards components: V,S,M Duration:Permanent casting time:1 round Area of effect:special saving throw:none this spell creates the lowest of the undead monsters, skeletons or zombies usually from the bones or bodies of dead humans, humanoids, or demihumans. the spell causes these remains to become animated and obey the simple verbal commands of the caster regardless of how they communicated in life. the skeletons or zombies can follow the caster, remain in the area and attack any creature(or just a specific type of creature) entering the place etc. the undead remain dead until they are destroyed in combat or are turned. the magic can not be dispelled. the priest can animate one skeleton or one zombie for each experience level he has attained. if creatures with more than one hit dice are animated the number is determined by the monster hit dice. skeletal forms have the hit dice of the original creature, while zombie forms have 1 more hit die. thus a 12th level priest could animate 12 dwarven skeletons or 6 dwarven zombies four zombie gnolls or a single zombie fire giant. note that this is based on the standard racial hit die norm. thus a high level adventurer would be animated as a skeleton of one or two hit dice and without special or racial abilities. the caster can alternatively animate two small animal skeletons 1-1 hit die or less, for every level of experience he has achieved. a drop of blood, a piece of flesh from the animal and a bone shard or bone powder from the animal are needed. ..so the spell says the creature created keeps the hit dice it had it lyfe.....so let's say i'm a 6th level priest and my group has just slain 6 weretigers with 6 hit dice each...does that mean i can animate all six?....or just one?...or what....just a little confused here...sorry for my ignorance...any help would be greatly appreciated...i want to play fair and all...
#2 zombiegleemax May 23, 2004 22:13:15	duration: permanent...sorry..damn smilies
#3 zombiegleemax May 24, 2004 1:35:39	You can animate a number of hit dice equal to your level. So in your example you could animate one of the weretigers as a skeleton but none of them as zombies (the zombie-weretigers would have 7 hit dice each). It's a handy spell, just make sure you don't have any locals around who are likely to be offended. ;)
#4 tas May 25, 2004 15:04:58	Watch out for alignment considerations too! This spell is generally considered a no-no for the good guys. Cheers Tas
#5 zombiegleemax May 25, 2004 15:57:41	I'm chaotic neutral so I have the alignment of a madman...So no real worries there...lol the sad thing is I'm alot like my character...