Dread Necromancer Gestalt - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dread Necromancer Gestalt

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jensaarai_sira
Jul 20, 2008 14:46:24 For an upcoming game, I'm working on a Spell-Stitched Necropolitan Dread Necromancer for a gestalt game. However I can not for the life of me decide what would be good options for use of the second class. Any suggestions?
#2
tshern
Jul 20, 2008 16:28:11 I would probably simply combining stuff that gives you plenty of charisma synergy and a decent amount of BAB. Paladin of Tyranny and Hexblade are good examples of this.
#3
jensaarai_sira
Jul 20, 2008 18:32:30 Yea thats the general idea though I can't decide which would work best. Its a Good/Neutral game, so I'm trying to stay away from being TOO evil. Hexblade might be a good idea though.
#4
ninjarabbit
Jul 20, 2008 18:56:24 I'll agree with anything with cha-synergy and possibly a good set of class skills and skill points.

Hexblade, warlock, marshal, and bard are solid choices, especially the last two if you want to have an army of the undead.
#5
tshern
Jul 20, 2008 19:05:14
I'll agree with anything with cha-synergy and possibly a good set of class skills and skill points.

Hexblade, warlock, marshal, and bard are solid choices, especially the last two if you want to have an army of the undead.

Can you get around the immunity to mind-affecting abilities? If not, then Bard is not the way to go.
#6
jensaarai_sira
Jul 20, 2008 19:23:57 Well the feat Reqiuem in Libiris Mortis allows Bard mind affecting abilities to work on undead.
#7
rebel7284
Jul 20, 2008 19:38:40 What will your primary role be in the party?

Perhaps sorcerer/swiftblade gish on the other side? Wings of cover/flurry are nice and you get great spell diversity.
#8
jensaarai_sira
Jul 20, 2008 20:12:29 General Damage Dealing/Some tanking. (Hopefully with undead rather then myself.) Other members of the party include a Shifter Warblade/Swordsage, a Human Rogue/Scout, and and a human Paladin/Cleric. The DM said to focus on mostly dealing damage so...we are.
#9
kurashu
Jul 20, 2008 20:31:48 Libris Mortis' Requiem feat allows bardic music to affect undead.

Good synergy may be Duskblade to channel those nasty spells into your opponents. Hexblade will really be a waste, even in gestalt. Unless you're going for a super debuffer: Bard 1/Paladin of Tyranny 5/Hexblade 4/Blackguard 10. Take devoted performer, doomspeak and either dreadful or frightful presense. This'll net you near full BAB too and good hit points so front liner isn't a stretch (especially with your DR). Take the charging smite variant in PHBII. Find out if your two aura of despair stack or not. And talk your DM into letting blackguard stack with bard as part of devoted performer. Doomspeak -> Charge -> Fear Save (with between -14 and -16 modifier) if they live.

If all else fails, crusader 20 is never a bad option. Just PrC out of Dread Necromancer after 8th level. Pale Master isn't a bad option.
#10
jaronk
Jul 21, 2008 3:17:36 One build I've been playing with a lot recently is Dread Necromancer 20//Binder 1/Archivist 3/Anima Mage 10/Tainted Scholar 1/Tenebrous Apostate 5. Use the divine adaptation of Anima Mage, and make good use of an item that gives you the Diamond Mind will save manuever to avoid taking more Tainted Scholar levels. Tons of power, tons of flavor, tons of fun.

JaronK
#11
golem1972
Jul 26, 2008 16:21:13 My gestalt Dread Necromancer: The Truely Tainted Dread Priest (Richard)

Spellstitched Bone Creature Illumian
Warlock 20 // Dread Necromancer 8 / Tainted Scholar 1 / Ur-Priest 2 / Contemplative 1 / True Necromancer 8.

The Dread side is poorly optimized, but it was a theme build. Seventh level arcane spells and ninth level divine spells (barely). Keep your taint level low untill you're ready to take nothing but Tainted Scholar levels. Consumptive field abuse scores a nice caster level boost (up to 50%) and a hideous boost to strength / temporary hp.

Better would have been the True Lich:
Dread Necromancer 20 // Archivist X / Walker in the Waste 10 / ?
Or, Paladin variant 2 / Favored Soul X / Walker in the Waste 10 / Blackguard X

Charisma synergy could be achieved through Favored Soul, with Paladin and/or Blackguard (I know, non-evil) for Charisma to HP, saves x2, and SP abilities (mystic wanderer (3.0) would add in Charisma to Deflection)

Either way, don't forget to keep a few ghosts on duty for abilities you don't have. "I drained the soul of a monk once, it tasted like chocolate."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jensaarai_sira Jul 20, 2008 14:46:24	For an upcoming game, I'm working on a Spell-Stitched Necropolitan Dread Necromancer for a gestalt game. However I can not for the life of me decide what would be good options for use of the second class. Any suggestions?
#2 tshern Jul 20, 2008 16:28:11	I would probably simply combining stuff that gives you plenty of charisma synergy and a decent amount of BAB. Paladin of Tyranny and Hexblade are good examples of this.
#3 jensaarai_sira Jul 20, 2008 18:32:30	Yea thats the general idea though I can't decide which would work best. Its a Good/Neutral game, so I'm trying to stay away from being TOO evil. Hexblade might be a good idea though.
#4 ninjarabbit Jul 20, 2008 18:56:24	I'll agree with anything with cha-synergy and possibly a good set of class skills and skill points. Hexblade, warlock, marshal, and bard are solid choices, especially the last two if you want to have an army of the undead.
#5 tshern Jul 20, 2008 19:05:14	I'll agree with anything with cha-synergy and possibly a good set of class skills and skill points. Hexblade, warlock, marshal, and bard are solid choices, especially the last two if you want to have an army of the undead. Can you get around the immunity to mind-affecting abilities? If not, then Bard is not the way to go.
#6 jensaarai_sira Jul 20, 2008 19:23:57	Well the feat Reqiuem in Libiris Mortis allows Bard mind affecting abilities to work on undead.
#7 rebel7284 Jul 20, 2008 19:38:40	What will your primary role be in the party? Perhaps sorcerer/swiftblade gish on the other side? Wings of cover/flurry are nice and you get great spell diversity.
#8 jensaarai_sira Jul 20, 2008 20:12:29	General Damage Dealing/Some tanking. (Hopefully with undead rather then myself.) Other members of the party include a Shifter Warblade/Swordsage, a Human Rogue/Scout, and and a human Paladin/Cleric. The DM said to focus on mostly dealing damage so...we are.
#9 kurashu Jul 20, 2008 20:31:48	Libris Mortis' Requiem feat allows bardic music to affect undead. Good synergy may be Duskblade to channel those nasty spells into your opponents. Hexblade will really be a waste, even in gestalt. Unless you're going for a super debuffer: Bard 1/Paladin of Tyranny 5/Hexblade 4/Blackguard 10. Take devoted performer, doomspeak and either dreadful or frightful presense. This'll net you near full BAB too and good hit points so front liner isn't a stretch (especially with your DR). Take the charging smite variant in PHBII. Find out if your two aura of despair stack or not. And talk your DM into letting blackguard stack with bard as part of devoted performer. Doomspeak -> Charge -> Fear Save (with between -14 and -16 modifier) if they live. If all else fails, crusader 20 is never a bad option. Just PrC out of Dread Necromancer after 8th level. Pale Master isn't a bad option.
#10 jaronk Jul 21, 2008 3:17:36	One build I've been playing with a lot recently is Dread Necromancer 20//Binder 1/Archivist 3/Anima Mage 10/Tainted Scholar 1/Tenebrous Apostate 5. Use the divine adaptation of Anima Mage, and make good use of an item that gives you the Diamond Mind will save manuever to avoid taking more Tainted Scholar levels. Tons of power, tons of flavor, tons of fun. JaronK
#11 golem1972 Jul 26, 2008 16:21:13	My gestalt Dread Necromancer: The Truely Tainted Dread Priest (Richard) Spellstitched Bone Creature Illumian Warlock 20 // Dread Necromancer 8 / Tainted Scholar 1 / Ur-Priest 2 / Contemplative 1 / True Necromancer 8. The Dread side is poorly optimized, but it was a theme build. Seventh level arcane spells and ninth level divine spells (barely). Keep your taint level low untill you're ready to take nothing but Tainted Scholar levels. Consumptive field abuse scores a nice caster level boost (up to 50%) and a hideous boost to strength / temporary hp. Better would have been the True Lich: Dread Necromancer 20 // Archivist X / Walker in the Waste 10 / ? Or, Paladin variant 2 / Favored Soul X / Walker in the Waste 10 / Blackguard X Charisma synergy could be achieved through Favored Soul, with Paladin and/or Blackguard (I know, non-evil) for Charisma to HP, saves x2, and SP abilities (mystic wanderer (3.0) would add in Charisma to Deflection) Either way, don't forget to keep a few ghosts on duty for abilities you don't have. "I drained the soul of a monk once, it tasted like chocolate."