so far it seems like we prolly will have a rakshasa, a lich and a doppelganger in our party. i was thinking of being something with "create spawn" so that i could have minions, who in turn also had minions, and so forth.
i've really never played anything like this, so i could use any helpful advice. but i do have a few things in particular:
1) what are some decent templates/races that have "create spawn?" so far i've been looking at an evolved wight, as it's only a +5 LA compared to most other things that have a +7 or more. seems like i want the smallest LA as possible as the number of controlled spawn is based of HD.
2)so far the only thing i can find with create spawn is undead. i'm not opposed to that, but is there any other options?
3) what are some ways to improve my spawn?
4) what are some ways ways to increase the number of spawns i can control at one time?
5) any other useful advise for a character bent on world domination
1) what are some decent templates/races that have "create spawn?" so far i've been looking at an evolved wight, as it's only a +5 LA compared to most other things that have a +7 or more. seems like i want the smallest LA as possible as the number of controlled spawn is based of HD.
Shadows don't have a listed LA and they can create spawn.
Gravetouched Ghoul is a +1 LA template that creates spawn that die from Ghoul Fever (though these spawned ghouls aren't automagically controlled).
Regular Wight's get create spawn at ECL 8 (+4 LA)
3) what are some ways to improve my spawn?
If you create corporeal spawn, Spell-stitching (MM2) is a good start for undead. You can also look at the Swarm-shifter and evolved undead templates from Librus Mortis. If your DM allows it to work (it doesn't by RAW), the corpsecrafter line of feats can add some punch. As can spells like Vile Death (add fiendish template to undead), or Iron Bones (increase natural armor) from Spell Compendium. Past that, it's either class levels, equipment, or monster progression advancement. A rod of Chain Spell paired with spells like Greater Magic Weapon, Greater Mighty Wallop, Greater Magic Fang, or Magic Vestment is also a good option.
4) what are some ways ways to increase the number of spawns i can control at one time?
Rod of Undead mastery (MIC) doubles the number of undead you can control. It doesn't specify spawn in it's description, but it doesn't deny it either. I think there is also an armor enhancement somewhere that does it.
5) any other useful advise for a character bent on world domination
Money makes the world go round. It's easier to buy world domination than to fight for it. A spell like Fabricate paired with a feat like Mercantile Background and a few ranks in a skill like Craft Metalworking can earn you more money faster than anything that isn't the 'walmart' method. If your DM lets you get away with it, a spell like Water to Acid can bring in 1000s of gold in profit per casting.
Use your minions to protect your wealth, not the other way around.
-theres a frequently referenced ring which produces a desecrate effect. the link is under 'dead life' iirc, in the handy links for CO work sticky. desecrate is gravy for undead, unless you're trying to control them through rebuking (see K's guide)
-also, though the debate is up in the air, undead may spawn as a result of death from ability drain or level drain. In the most technical sense, corpsecrafter feats which affect undead "...created by a necromancy spell" should affect those killed by a fell drain chill touch &c.
quote from the SRD: A character with negative levels at least equal to her current level, or drained below 1st level, is instantly slain. Depending on the creature that killed her, she may rise the next night as a monster of that kind. If not, she rises as a wight. (emphasis mine)
what book is shadow in? cuz i figure you must mean one of two things. the monster "shadow" from MM1. but that can't even speak intelligently so it's not a good race for a pc (plus i didn't mention this before hand, but i'd rather not be incorporeal if i cab help it). or you could mean "shadow creature" from MotP but it doesn't have create spawn (the example shadow creature does, but only cuz it's a wight). or maybe you're thinking of something completely different?
but good eye oprick, chill touch FTW!
not sure what you're getting at with the last quote tho from srd. it doesn't mention that they are controlled by you, so i'm not sure how that helps much. but it's entirely possible that i'm missing your point
but thanks again to you both for the advise!
id suggest that ive been on a big generic class kick lately, and with the generic spellcaster, you can take turn undead as a 'bonus feat' and pick spells off any list. that could solve your controlling undead problem. or you can take dread necro or cleric or anything else that gets you rebuking.
or why not be a vampire?
-its LA + 8, so you could take seven class levels, or six and the 'evolved undead' template or some other.
-they create spawn (and vampire spawn are pretty decent), and those spawn can create spawn.
-the master vampire prc from Libris Mortis is tailored to controlling spawn, increasing yor control limit, and buffing your spawn. its 3 levels, so you could take the whole thing. it also is 2/3 spellcasting, so maybe dip one spellcaster for the added benefits.
-LM has great feats to enhance your abilities
although since with a +8 LA, you're only going to get 7 hd max
1. Play a cleric
2. Go into the woods at night
3. Find a squirrel
4. Cast summon undead to summon a shadow, and kill the squirrel with it
5. Dismiss the shadow you summoned, and wait for the squirrel to spawn a shadow
6. Use rebuke undead to take permanent control of the shadow
7. ???
8. PROFIT!
Wights are also fairly easy to do, because anything that dies of negative levels and doesn't specifically spawn into something else as a result rises as a wight next sundown. I like going into pet shops and doing a Fell Drain'd Kelgore's Grave Mist, killing all the kittens, then you bring as many kittens as you can command wights out into the woods and wait for it.
phaedrusxy: yeah thats why i wanted to go with the create spawn route. it wouldn't take very long before you could amass a huge army of spawns, and spawns of spawns, etc.
what book is shadow in? cuz i figure you must mean one of two things. the monster "shadow" from MM1. but that can't even speak intelligently so it's not a good race for a pc (plus i didn't mention this before hand, but i'd rather not be incorporeal if i cab help it). or you could mean "shadow creature" from MotP but it doesn't have create spawn (the example shadow creature does, but only cuz it's a wight). or maybe you're thinking of something completely different?
I was talking about Shadow from the Monster Manual. The speaking intelligibly thing can be gotten around. By ECL 15, if you went spellcaster, you could easily have taken a level of Mindbender for communication, and silent spell for spellcasting. Or take a raven familiar and have rary's telepathic bond permanencied to the two of you, and have your raven do all the talking. Or heck, just cast message for communication (you only have to mouth the words for your comrades to hear you).
Shadows do not have a limit to the number of spawn they can control, and they don't have an LA. If you can get away with playing one, they're potentially one of the best 'minion masters' in the game.
(Just don't let your DM see the entry for them in Savage Species. It's 3.0, but it more accurately measures their relative power for a PC at ECL 10 (+7 LA).)
Note, though, to the person above who suggested killing a squirrel, only humanoids that are killed by shadows rise as shadows.
Note, however, that you'll need some way to control your spawn (maybe through a mother cyst or whatever); otherwise they'll just be like-minded NPCs.
hogarth: i've never heard of that book. where can i find it? is it published by wotc?
hogarth: i've never heard of that book. where can i find it? is it published by wotc?
No, it's published by Malhavoc Press.
out of curiosity, where can i find the book?
out of curiosity, where can i find the book?
At your favorite retailer. It's published just like any other book, it's just done by a 3rd party. There are a couple places online where you can purchase electronic copies of most of Malhavoc's stuff. Otherwise, see amazon (et al) or your local Comic shop.
Now there is another nifty way of doing the army thing without even being a necromancer: Be a cleric with domains that grant rebuking for certain monster types. THEN get another domain with shapechange and do above....
.Now obviously all of this relies on being a non-monster character, at most a necropolitan so you don't have to worry about LA.