kalani
First Post
Not true. I actually am very fond of minion-mancy (and summon minions from time to time myself). I am not fond of people who lack the maturity to accept table variation as being an inherent part of it in AL.
Here is your requested answer (which is a paraphrase of everything we have been saying, and which the admins have been saying since day 1).
Animate Dead/Create Undead/Necromancy is a legal and perfectly viable strategy, although table variation should be expected.
You are misconstruing my stance, and my words. All I have said is that you cannot guarantee that any undead you create will be allowed in a future adventure, and to expect table variation. That is it. I champion necromancers at my table, but make it clear to them that some DMs may expect them to create all undead at the table itself (from corpses found during the current adventure), and that the player cannot start an adventure (at their table) with pre-animated undead.
I have also said that some DMs will allow players to start play with pre-animated undead. That is the point of table variation - that you should expect both results to happen on occasion. If there was a rule stating that no player could begin play with undead, I would not phrase it as "table variation" but as a non-optional rule. The fact that there are no rules regarding undead between adventures is exactly WHY table variation should be expected.
Here is your requested answer (which is a paraphrase of everything we have been saying, and which the admins have been saying since day 1).
Animate Dead/Create Undead/Necromancy is a legal and perfectly viable strategy, although table variation should be expected.
- DMs cannot prohibit players from summoning undead at their tables (as the spells which summon undead are legal character options)
- There are no rules regarding what happens to undead between adventures. As such, DMs are allowed to create a ruling for pre-animated undead at their table. Players are expected to abide by such rulings (as the DMs word is final for their table).
- Players should expect table variation regarding the above, and should not expect their DM to honor pre-animated undead from prior adventures.
- Players who summon minions (minion-mancers) should be careful that their turns do not take too long, as this can be disruptive to other players.
- Players who summon minions should be careful that their minions do not hog the spotlight and/or block/prevent other players from participating. This is especially true regarding PC melee combatants.
- Everyone should have equal lime-light, including choice of targets / participating in battle in the manner that they wish. Players cannot prohibit a necromancer from animating dead, nor can the necromancer use their undead to prevent other players from engaging preferred hostile targets in combat. Tactics should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis as needed.
- Minionmancers should allow other PCs to have opportunities to find / disable traps, not just use their undead as walking mine-detectors. Use of this strategy is viable, but only if used sparingly.
- Players who summon minions should be careful that they do not choose all the best targets, leaving none for other PCs.
- Players should not willfully attack a minion-mancers minions for any reason. "Its what my character would do" is not a valid excuse.
- Players casting AoE spells should make every effort to avoid other PCs and their minions. Other PCs should be aware that sometimes - excluding PCs / minions from a spell effect is unavoidable.
You are misconstruing my stance, and my words. All I have said is that you cannot guarantee that any undead you create will be allowed in a future adventure, and to expect table variation. That is it. I champion necromancers at my table, but make it clear to them that some DMs may expect them to create all undead at the table itself (from corpses found during the current adventure), and that the player cannot start an adventure (at their table) with pre-animated undead.
I have also said that some DMs will allow players to start play with pre-animated undead. That is the point of table variation - that you should expect both results to happen on occasion. If there was a rule stating that no player could begin play with undead, I would not phrase it as "table variation" but as a non-optional rule. The fact that there are no rules regarding undead between adventures is exactly WHY table variation should be expected.
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