Cross classing a Dread Necromancer??? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Cross classing a Dread Necromancer???

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Unbalanced_fly
Oct 29, 2012 18:09:11 Hey guys I'm super keen on playing a Dread Necro!
I love the idea of a necromantic, semi-undead, fearless caster... But I'm just not sold investing all the way to level 20. I definitely want to get to level 8, but after that, my interest wanes.
I'm definitely not interesting in becoming a lich.

Two other classes I've had a look at and really like the sound of, are the Shadowcaster and the Binder, but I'm having trouble working out how I'd go about optimizing and really making a potent and powerful character.
I planned on going Strongheart Halfling or Human and using one of my feats to get tomb tainted soul, and, hence, rely on negative energy for healing. The other flavour of the Dread Necro I really like is the fear aura, so if I can somehow enhance that, that's also something I'd be interested in.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers guys.
#2
draco1119
Oct 29, 2012 20:04:22 Have you considered the Bone Knight from Five Nations? It's a divine prestige class that gives you some undead immunities without (quite) turning you undead.
#3
Unbalanced_fly
Oct 29, 2012 21:37:46 Just had a read. Its not really the direction I was after. But thanks.
#4
frost.fire
Oct 30, 2012 13:43:14 If you want to focu son the fear aura look into things like the hexblade or the binder
#5
Tempest_Stormwind
Oct 30, 2012 14:36:15 Or the Dread Witch, which is the only way I know of to breach fear immunity. It'd continue to advance your spellcasting as well, which is largely the rule in making powerful and effective characters (as opposed to mixing in alternate system classes - basically the only way you can make binder work here is with Anima Mage, which is badass, but most effective if you like metamagic).
#6
The_Fred
Oct 30, 2012 14:50:03 I would suggest just looking at other spellcasting PrCs. At the end of the day, the Dread Necro is a primary caster (though with slightly weaker casting for cooler features).
#7
toryn
Oct 30, 2012 21:58:00 I always had fun with crusader and then going into Jade Phoenix Mage.
#8
Caker
Oct 31, 2012 10:11:40 Rainbow Servant can get you the entire cleric spell list spontaneously if that is your thing.
#9
draco1119
Oct 31, 2012 13:32:13
Rainbow Servant can get you the entire cleric spell list spontaneously if that is your thing.

Aren't Rainbow Servants required to be good, and Dread Necros required to be non-good, if not flat-out evil?
#10
Caker
Oct 31, 2012 13:53:18 Rainbow sevant can't be evil or chaotic, and this it what they have to say about dread necros:

Not all dread necromancers are evil, althoughthe best of them could easily be described as evil-tolerant. Nodread necromancer can have a good alignment. Performingevil acts is a basic feature of the class, but some dread necromancersmanage to balance evil acts with good intentions,remaining solidly neutral (most PC dread necromancers fall into this category).

#11
draco1119
Oct 31, 2012 13:57:42
Rainbow sevant can't be evil or chaotic, and this it what they have to say about dread necros:

Not all dread necromancers are evil, althoughthe best of them could easily be described as evil-tolerant. Nodread necromancer can have a good alignment. Performingevil acts is a basic feature of the class, but some dread necromancersmanage to balance evil acts with good intentions,remaining solidly neutral (most PC dread necromancers fall into this category).

RRRRAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!

*bites Caker*

#12
alsebra
Oct 31, 2012 13:59:58
Aren't Rainbow Servants required to be good, and Dread Necros required to be non-good, if not flat-out evil?

Nope...Rainbow Servants need to be non-evil and non-chaotic; Dread Necromancers only need to be non-good (as stated in their alignment header).
#13
radicaltaoist
Oct 31, 2012 16:26:33 No love for Binder/Anima Mage?
#14
The_Fred
Oct 31, 2012 19:00:40 That would probably work quite well - unlike most similar PrCs, Anima Mage only needs a single level of one of its base classes (Binder) if you take Improved Binding (which you will) so there's nothing lost by being a slower-progression caster. I think the abilities and flavour would mesh quite well, too.
#15
Caker
Oct 31, 2012 19:55:07 Be an illumian with the naenhoon sigil and also an anima mage and you can persist 5 spells a day for free.
#16
frost.fire
Oct 31, 2012 20:49:26 I feel binder better fits from a cross class to presteige class like the op wanted, especially since he seemed intrigued by the fear aura
#17
Caker
Oct 31, 2012 22:00:06 Plus binder is just such a neat class, but is fairly weak on it's own. This way you get full binder AND caster progression.
#18
frost.fire
Oct 31, 2012 22:16:03 Its not weak early on. But falls off later with kotss and anima mage being the strong dips for it to make it amazing, or if you have access to online vestiges which make you a solid t2
#19
radicaltaoist
Nov 01, 2012 9:05:01 Fear aura + Focalor + Chupoclops = $@£! your saves and attack rolls.
#20
Unbalanced_fly
Nov 07, 2012 13:30:52 Loving the sound of this guys.
Dread Necro/Binder/Anima Mage.

Next question is feat selection??
I'd really, if possible, like to be able to avoid most combat.
If need be, touch attacks, preferrably ranged. Otherwise I'd like my undead summons and fear aura (in combination with my team-mates) to deal with most problems.

Stats will look something like this:

STR 8
DEX 13
CON 12
INT 12
WIS 10
CHA 18
#21
The_Fred
Nov 08, 2012 16:38:02 Your number one fear should probably be Improved Binding, IMO. Tomb-Tainted Soul allows you to heal yourself infinitely via Charnal Touch. Spell Focus: Necromancy would be an unexciting way to give your DCs a boost. Also, you will at some point want metamagic to use with Vestige Metamagic (it's great for Persistant Spell, in particular).

When you come to vestige selection, Focalor grants a great debuffing aura but note it's very short-range. Works well with Fear Aura, though. At higher levels, Chupoclops. If you want to play with ranged attacks, Leraje (grants Precise Shot) and Andromalius or Malphas (grant sneak attack or sudden strike) are worth a look, but with your Dex and Cha I'd say you want to stick with debuffs and save spells.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Unbalanced_fly Oct 29, 2012 18:09:11	Hey guys I'm super keen on playing a Dread Necro! I love the idea of a necromantic, semi-undead, fearless caster... But I'm just not sold investing all the way to level 20. I definitely want to get to level 8, but after that, my interest wanes. I'm definitely not interesting in becoming a lich. Two other classes I've had a look at and really like the sound of, are the Shadowcaster and the Binder, but I'm having trouble working out how I'd go about optimizing and really making a potent and powerful character. I planned on going Strongheart Halfling or Human and using one of my feats to get tomb tainted soul, and, hence, rely on negative energy for healing. The other flavour of the Dread Necro I really like is the fear aura, so if I can somehow enhance that, that's also something I'd be interested in. Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers guys.
#2 draco1119 Oct 29, 2012 20:04:22	Have you considered the Bone Knight from Five Nations? It's a divine prestige class that gives you some undead immunities without (quite) turning you undead.
#3 Unbalanced_fly Oct 29, 2012 21:37:46	Just had a read. Its not really the direction I was after. But thanks.
#4 frost.fire Oct 30, 2012 13:43:14	If you want to focu son the fear aura look into things like the hexblade or the binder
#5 Tempest_Stormwind Oct 30, 2012 14:36:15	Or the Dread Witch, which is the only way I know of to breach fear immunity. It'd continue to advance your spellcasting as well, which is largely the rule in making powerful and effective characters (as opposed to mixing in alternate system classes - basically the only way you can make binder work here is with Anima Mage, which is badass, but most effective if you like metamagic).
#6 The_Fred Oct 30, 2012 14:50:03	I would suggest just looking at other spellcasting PrCs. At the end of the day, the Dread Necro is a primary caster (though with slightly weaker casting for cooler features).
#7 toryn Oct 30, 2012 21:58:00	I always had fun with crusader and then going into Jade Phoenix Mage.
#8 Caker Oct 31, 2012 10:11:40	Rainbow Servant can get you the entire cleric spell list spontaneously if that is your thing.
#9 draco1119 Oct 31, 2012 13:32:13	Rainbow Servant can get you the entire cleric spell list spontaneously if that is your thing. Aren't Rainbow Servants required to be good, and Dread Necros required to be non-good, if not flat-out evil?
#10 Caker Oct 31, 2012 13:53:18	Rainbow sevant can't be evil or chaotic, and this it what they have to say about dread necros: Not all dread necromancers are evil, althoughthe best of them could easily be described as evil-tolerant. Nodread necromancer can have a good alignment. Performingevil acts is a basic feature of the class, but some dread necromancersmanage to balance evil acts with good intentions,remaining solidly neutral (most PC dread necromancers fall into this category).
#11 draco1119 Oct 31, 2012 13:57:42	Rainbow sevant can't be evil or chaotic, and this it what they have to say about dread necros: Not all dread necromancers are evil, althoughthe best of them could easily be described as evil-tolerant. Nodread necromancer can have a good alignment. Performingevil acts is a basic feature of the class, but some dread necromancersmanage to balance evil acts with good intentions,remaining solidly neutral (most PC dread necromancers fall into this category). RRRRAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!! bites Caker
#12 alsebra Oct 31, 2012 13:59:58	Aren't Rainbow Servants required to be good, and Dread Necros required to be non-good, if not flat-out evil? Nope...Rainbow Servants need to be non-evil and non-chaotic; Dread Necromancers only need to be non-good (as stated in their alignment header).
#13 radicaltaoist Oct 31, 2012 16:26:33	No love for Binder/Anima Mage?
#14 The_Fred Oct 31, 2012 19:00:40	That would probably work quite well - unlike most similar PrCs, Anima Mage only needs a single level of one of its base classes (Binder) if you take Improved Binding (which you will) so there's nothing lost by being a slower-progression caster. I think the abilities and flavour would mesh quite well, too.
#15 Caker Oct 31, 2012 19:55:07	Be an illumian with the naenhoon sigil and also an anima mage and you can persist 5 spells a day for free.
#16 frost.fire Oct 31, 2012 20:49:26	I feel binder better fits from a cross class to presteige class like the op wanted, especially since he seemed intrigued by the fear aura
#17 Caker Oct 31, 2012 22:00:06	Plus binder is just such a neat class, but is fairly weak on it's own. This way you get full binder AND caster progression.
#18 frost.fire Oct 31, 2012 22:16:03	Its not weak early on. But falls off later with kotss and anima mage being the strong dips for it to make it amazing, or if you have access to online vestiges which make you a solid t2
#19 radicaltaoist Nov 01, 2012 9:05:01	Fear aura + Focalor + Chupoclops = $@£! your saves and attack rolls.
#20 Unbalanced_fly Nov 07, 2012 13:30:52	Loving the sound of this guys. Dread Necro/Binder/Anima Mage. Next question is feat selection?? I'd really, if possible, like to be able to avoid most combat. If need be, touch attacks, preferrably ranged. Otherwise I'd like my undead summons and fear aura (in combination with my team-mates) to deal with most problems. Stats will look something like this: STR 8 DEX 13 CON 12 INT 12 WIS 10 CHA 18
#21 The_Fred Nov 08, 2012 16:38:02	Your number one fear should probably be Improved Binding, IMO. Tomb-Tainted Soul allows you to heal yourself infinitely via Charnal Touch. Spell Focus: Necromancy would be an unexciting way to give your DCs a boost. Also, you will at some point want metamagic to use with Vestige Metamagic (it's great for Persistant Spell, in particular). When you come to vestige selection, Focalor grants a great debuffing aura but note it's very short-range. Works well with Fear Aura, though. At higher levels, Chupoclops. If you want to play with ranged attacks, Leraje (grants Precise Shot) and Andromalius or Malphas (grant sneak attack or sudden strike) are worth a look, but with your Dex and Cha I'd say you want to stick with debuffs and save spells.