Assistance with a Cleric Necromancer - Noob! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ghoulcaller_Borvis Jun 18, 2014 19:43:49	Alright! Time for a long story. I've just recently decided that I would like to try out D&D. I've played various MMOs and love roleplaying, so why not? Now that I have significant motivation to play, however, I'd like to start with 3.5e (which is what most people I know play, and seems to be cast in a much more positive light than 4.0.) So you know what I'm doing here now- my difficulty lies in the core of the game- character creation. While I understand the character creation (and have done a good deal of researching on the subject, including peering into the 3.5 handbook and feasting on the words of the Libris Mortis, I have decided to roll a cleric (necromancy has been my main goal all along). So. I have all that down. I want to have a few strong deaders by my side, and I want to be able to heal them or tear my enemies apart with negative energy magic (and possibly resurrect them as undead to serve me! Muahaha!) Apart from this, I do have some basic character creation readied. Human - Cleric - Some Evil Alignment, lawful if at all possible but will change for better necromancy My Ability scores are (currently as rolled): STR: 10 DEX:12 CON: 15 INT: 15 WIS: 18 CHA: 16 I have also taken skills that I believed (and different sources told me) would be good for a Necromancer Cleric: Concentration - 4 Heal - 4 Knowledge (Religion) - 4 Knowledge (History) - 4 (I actually specced into this one because I wasn't sure what else to go into!) Diplomacy - 4 All of these are easily changeable if I get some feedback- part of the reason I'm posting here is because I'm new! Feats are where I'm a bit stumped. I know I'd like to use the "Corpsecrafter" feats from Libris Mortis, along with other necromancy feats that that book came with, but the program I'm using to make my character (Redblade) does not have said feats therefore that section is blank. I tried looking at character sheets but they seem... really confusing to someone who knows only the basics of the game. As for languages, I currently have all of the 'religious' ones listed. Abyssal, Infernal, and Celestial (with common being given). Beginning items, I have no idea where to start. Any advice here would be amazing. My domains are another place I'm sort of lost at. I -want- to use Undeath as a domain, with whatever else the god I end up choosing will have. I have consistently read that the actual Death domain is a poor choice for a Necromancer despite the additional hit die allowance (I'm really not looking at having a horde of undead following me- that would just be a pain to do) And lastly, I think I can handle spells. Of course I'll want the raise dead as soon as possible, and several negative energy spells for offense and healing my minions. So! Sorry for the novel, but do you guys have any advice for a noobie looking for this kind of character? EDIT: And as a synopsis... 1.) Is human a good choice for this type of character? 2.) What diety is best (or at least recommended) for this type of necro? 3.) Any feedback on the stats? 4.) Should the skills I chose suffice? Are there others more relevant? 5.) Is the Corpsecrafter feat line a good way to go? 6.) Are those languages generally revelant? 7.) Can I get a link or something to info about 'buying' items for a starting character? 8.) Any recommended spells?
#2 Tempest_Stormwind Jun 19, 2014 11:18:23	Hello, and welcome!
#3 Andarious-Rosethorn Jun 18, 2014 22:07:33	Dread Necromancer literally does all the awesome undead things, and is simple as caster building is concerned. Does exactly what it says on the tin. You'll get unique abilities for dealing with undead and access to just about every non-class unique feat or spell that would matter for this cause.
#4 Krusk Jun 20, 2014 15:00:26	Tempest_Stormwind wrote:
#5 Morty_Jhones Jun 26, 2014 0:01:02	good ansers from all so far. thought as for skills and feats the best ansere is another question. WHAT SORT OF CLERIC ARE YOU? you say you whant to spashalise in undead thats fine BUT WHY ? ? are you seeking lost knoilage in which case load up on 'old' langages and mabie take the feat 'Lingist' wich makes buying exstra langages cheaper. after all after you have rased it you need to speek to it. also history and achiolergy skilles are gona be important as you need to find the old tombs to raise the corect corpse. are you a guarden of the dead? is you charicter dedicated to keeping the dead in there grave ? (this is the easyest flavoreing to a cleric) fine take the death orentated domaines, Extra turning and improved turning will come in handy so you can rebuck or control more undead at one time and get them to go where they belong. Skill wise Knolage dungionering is your best frend as you can use it to id undead and most foes. are you a death seeker? intrested in imortality ? again death orented domains are great along with knolage of 'old' langages you will need to talk to your DM about what is an old langage most us clasical and often will seed a sprinkleing of others. add ontop of that some combat casting feats (undead don't give up there secret's easy) skill wise a combo of dungionering and history will help but ant esenltle finaly are you a raiser ? ok not intrested in the shambling hord? try droping a single massive giant skelinton on your foe at level 1, death domane is esental for the extra HD of control, improved summoning feats make what you create tougher and bigger. skill wise you will need lots of crafting skills, stone leather jems & flesh to make it work best, in addition to turning and more traditional cleric skills. You see the best thing and the worst about 3.5 is it's flexability theres loads of choise and you can do it your way...... good luck
#6 Andarious-Rosethorn Jun 26, 2014 11:15:12	I didn't think of this until now but Cloistered Cleric may be a much better choice for you if you are still against Dread Necromancer. It's an Unearthed Arcana variant, more caster/skill monkey than caster/bruiser. Knowledge (Religion) of course covers Undead information. You may want more Knowledge skills to be able to identify base racial HD of creatures to be raised (in character) so you know if you can raise them and control them, also so you know how much material component is needed.

Alright! Time for a long story.

I've just recently decided that I would like to try out D&D. I've played various MMOs and love roleplaying, so why not?

Now that I have significant motivation to play, however, I'd like to start with 3.5e (which is what most people I know play, and seems to be cast in a much more positive light than 4.0.)

So you know what I'm doing here now- my difficulty lies in the core of the game- character creation.

While I understand the character creation (and have done a good deal of researching on the subject, including peering into the 3.5 handbook and feasting on the words of the Libris Mortis, I have decided to roll a cleric (necromancy has been my main goal all along).

So. I have all that down. I want to have a few strong deaders by my side, and I want to be able to heal them or tear my enemies apart with negative energy magic (and possibly resurrect them as undead to serve me! Muahaha!)

Apart from this, I do have some basic character creation readied.

Human - Cleric - Some Evil Alignment, lawful if at all possible but will change for better necromancy

My Ability scores are (currently as rolled):
STR: 10
DEX:12
CON: 15
INT: 15
WIS: 18
CHA: 16

I have also taken skills that I believed (and different sources told me) would be good for a Necromancer Cleric:

Concentration - 4
Heal - 4
Knowledge (Religion) - 4
Knowledge (History) - 4 (I actually specced into this one because I wasn't sure what else to go into!)
Diplomacy - 4

All of these are easily changeable if I get some feedback- part of the reason I'm posting here is because I'm new!

Feats are where I'm a bit stumped. I know I'd like to use the "Corpsecrafter" feats from Libris Mortis, along with other necromancy feats that that book came with, but the program I'm using to make my character (Redblade) does not have said feats therefore that section is blank. I tried looking at character sheets but they seem... really confusing to someone who knows only the basics of the game.

As for languages, I currently have all of the 'religious' ones listed. Abyssal, Infernal, and Celestial (with common being given).

Beginning items, I have no idea where to start. Any advice here would be amazing.

My domains are another place I'm sort of lost at. I -want- to use Undeath as a domain, with whatever else the god I end up choosing will have. I have consistently read that the actual Death domain is a poor choice for a Necromancer despite the additional hit die allowance (I'm really not looking at having a horde of undead following me- that would just be a pain to do)

And lastly, I think I can handle spells. Of course I'll want the raise dead as soon as possible, and several negative energy spells for offense and healing my minions.

So! Sorry for the novel, but do you guys have any advice for a noobie looking for this kind of character?

EDIT: And as a synopsis...

1.) Is human a good choice for this type of character?
2.) What diety is best (or at least recommended) for this type of necro?
3.) Any feedback on the stats?
4.) Should the skills I chose suffice? Are there others more relevant?
5.) Is the Corpsecrafter feat line a good way to go?
6.) Are those languages generally revelant?
7.) Can I get a link or something to info about 'buying' items for a starting character?
8.) Any recommended spells?