Is there any evidence that reasonably maintained real world weapons broke or wore away to uselessness quickly enough that implementing time/usage based weapon breaking rules even makes sense?
Because initial searches are coming up with weapon 'lifespans' of a couple of years or more, which...
The vast majority of the actual first party books (core and otherwise) functionally don't exist for most players (and DMs) given how few people actually read them, so it's really hard to be sympathetic here.
From the spell itself:
And so:
3rd level slot: Animate 1 Skeleton (2 with Undead Thralls) or Maintain control over 4
4th level slot: Animate 3 Skeletons (4 with Undead Thralls) or Maintain control over 6
5th level slot: Animate 5 Skeletons (6 with Undead Thralls) or Maintain control over 8...
Not sure who started the 18 skeleton thing. Multiples of 4 (8, 12, 16) are better.
Anyway, having 18 Skeletons RAW isn't as difficult as you described.
You really only need to be a 7th level Necromancer if you're willing to work more than a day on it, 8th if you can wait a short rest, or 9th...
If my skeleton squad makes me so unbalanced that the rest of the party is irrelevant, then I'm clearly slumming around.
Normally, I'd take that opportunity to manage the less interesting but necessary stuff so that they can handle what most interests them with a sort of safety net.
Have not gotten up to date with the thread, but I am a necromancer player thoroughly disgusted with the proposed changes to the Necromancy subclass that absolutely wants the ability to control 16 skeletons a turn entailing everything said skeletons might do.
Unfamiliar druid and her huge pet constrictor snake strolls towards your camp and...
Declares intent to (re)claim the area for nature
Allows bandit to strike first when they dispute the claim
Seems completely unconcerned by the arrow sticking out of her body
The bandits should have realized...
If attacks from creatures you control count (it probably shouldn't), then wraithmaxing is a strategy:
Somehow get True Polymorph'd into an Atropal.
Use its Summon Wraith ability every round it is available until you have as many wraiths as desired.
Command your wraith army/horde/swarm to attack.