D&D 5E DM advice: Necromancers, Undead, and Attunement

GMforPowergamers · Oct 26, 2017

Hey guys...

I have a PC playing a necromancer. He animated 2 dead gnolls as skeletons. He now wants to take a magic breast plate and put it on one. The +1 just makes since would transfer to the gnoll...no issue. However it has a power if you attune to it that can be activated. My question is, can the skeletons use it? I know the final answer will be up to me (THE DM) but I'm looking for other DMs and Players point of views.

cbwjm · Oct 26, 2017

I'd say no, the skeleton is unable to attune to the breastplate and can only use the passive +1 effect.

Phazonfish · Oct 26, 2017

I don't think their is anything RAW that stops them.

Hawk Diesel · Oct 26, 2017

Personally, I would say that unintelligent undead cannot attune magic items. However, I would allow the necromancer to use one of his own attunement slots for the undead minion to make full use of the item.

dco · Oct 26, 2017

Why not? Skeletons can take a short rest like any other creature, they can choose to regain their hp or attune to a magic item if they meat the prerequisites.

The Crimson Binome · Oct 26, 2017

I know that skeletons are actually somewhat intelligent in this edition, but I would suggest against letting them attune to magic items. It risks setting a bad precedent for arguments that they count as people and have souls.

Likewise, I wouldn't allow a golem to attune to anything. It's just easier that way.

Fanaelialae · Oct 26, 2017

I might allow it. Unless you're running some kind of crazy Montey Haul game, how many attunement items will the party honestly have that they want to waste on skeletons? On the other hand, if the party has a lot of useful attunement items and the necromancer is basically trying to circumvent the 3 item limit, then I'd be inclined not to allow it. If attunement has a particular explanation in your setting ( [MENTION=6775031]Saelorn[/MENTION] 's idea that only creatures with souls can attune) then obviously go with that.

I don't think there is one right answer for every campaign. My answer would likely be different for a fun one-shot than for a high magic, epic campaign.

CapnZapp · Oct 26, 2017

The core question is: does this ability benefit only the wearer?

If yes, I have a hard time imagining something broken, and I'd be inclined to say yes.

On the other hand, if the ability somehow benefits others it's a hard no, unless you go with the suggestion the necromancer needs to use one of his own attunement slots.

Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app

dco · Oct 26, 2017

Saelorn said:
I know that skeletons are actually somewhat intelligent in this edition, but I would suggest against letting them attune to magic items. It risks setting a bad precedent for arguments that they count as people and have souls.

Likewise, I wouldn't allow a golem to attune to anything. It's just easier that way.

And a human hireling?
There is nothing said about intelligence, race, souls... the rules talk about creatures and prerequisites, I don't see the problem, a skeleton should be able to don an armor, the same as a hireling elf, human, orc, etc.

MasterYogurt · Oct 26, 2017

I'm in a similar situation with a Necromancer but he hasn't tried this yet. I'm not sure, but I *suppose* I'd allow this. As dco says, a human hireling could also wear the breastplate. The effect wouldn't go back to the necromancer in any way, though.