D&D General A paladin just joined the group. I'm a necromancer.

[FrogReaver]

PHB 118

"Most people see necromancers as menacing, or even villainous, due to the close association with death. Not all necromancers are evil, but the forces they manipulate are considered taboo by many societies."

To paraphrase: Necromancers don't have to be evil - but society will likely see them as such.

 

[Flamestrike]

PHB 118

"Most people see necromancers as menacing, or even villainous, due to the close association with death. Not all necromancers are evil, but the forces they manipulate are considered taboo by many societies."

To paraphrase: Necromancers don't have to be evil - but society will likely see them as such.

If they frequently animate the the dead they're evil. Says so in the PHB.

Not all Necromancers animate the dead. There are tons of necromancy spells other than animate dead.

So while many Necromancers are evil, not all are. A rare few might even be Good aligned (but they're the ones that either refrain from animating the dead, or only do so very very rarely).

 

[Dausuul]

I suppose it comes down to what is considered Regularly and thats pretty much GM fiat. Is one skeleton animation a week regular? Or does it require the Necromancy to be creating a daily army?

In terms of active adventuring time, a full 1-20 campaign takes place over a couple of months, out of a PC lifespan of decades or even centuries. If you raise undead only for these vital missions, and get rid of them as soon as the adventure is over, that is hardly "regularly."

Now, if you spend your whole life with a retinue of undead trailing you around, sure. You get the big E stamped on your forehead. However, paladins have not been forbidden to work with evil allies since 3E. Specific oaths would be a problem--it's pretty tough to square an Ancients paladin working with a necromancer, or a Crown paladin (given the risks, it's safe to assume most legal codes take a dim view of necromancy). A Devotion or Redemption paladin would probably spend a lot of time trying to get the necromancer to see the light, but could still work alongside them in the meantime. A Vengeance or Conquest paladin would give the necromancer a fist bump and point out the benefits of Aura of Protection with Undead Fortitude.

 

[FrogReaver]

If they frequently animate the the dead they're evil. Says so in the PHB.

Not all Necromancers animate the dead. There are tons of necromancy spells other than animate dead.

So while many Necromancers are evil, not all are. A rare few might even be Good aligned (but they're the ones that either refrain from animating the dead, or only do so very very rarely).

Then that rule is incorrect.

PHB 203 does say:

"Creating the undead through the use of necromancy spells such as animate dead is not a good act, and only evil casters use such spells frequently"

 

[Flamestrike]

Then that rule is incorrect.

PHB 203 does say:

"Creating the undead through the use of necromancy spells such as animate dead is not a good act, and only evil casters use such spells frequently"

Yeah. It's not a Good act and only Evil casters use such spells frequently.

The corollary is an Evil necromancer tends to use animate dead frequently. A Neutral necromancer tends to animate dead occasionally if at all (and never frequently, or he would be evil). A Good necromancer animates the dead rarely, if at all, and only as a last resort.

Secondary sources for the magic that creates Undead can be found in the Monster Manual, where it is described as 'forbidden magic', 'dark', 'unholy' 'black magic' etc, and linked to Gods of evil or darkness.

I'm struggling seeing a Good person motivated to learn that kind of 'Forbidden, dark, unholy black magic' that animates the dead, let alone actually use such magic wantonly or without an extreme reason, and even then only as an absolute last resort.

They know full well what kind of magic they're using (black magic) and the fact they're creating a horrible evil monster, powered by literal negative energy and unholy energy, that would kill babies if left uncontrolled.

Probably why many (if not most) necromancers are evil. Not all of them, but certainly a lot.

 

[FrogReaver]

Yeah. It's not a Good act and only Evil casters use such spells frequently.

The corollary is an Evil necromancer tends to use animate dead frequently. A Neutral necromancer tends to animate dead occasionally if at all (and never frequently, or he would be evil). A Good necromancer animates the dead rarely, if at all, and only as a last resort.

Secondary sources for the magic that creates Undead can be found in the Monster Manual, where it is described as 'forbidden magic', 'dark', 'unholy' 'black magic' etc, and linked to Gods of evil or darkness.

I'm struggling seeing a Good person motivated to learn that kind of 'Forbidden, dark, unholy black magic' that animates the dead, let alone actually use such magic wantonly or without an extreme reason, and even then only as an absolute last resort.

They know full well what kind of magic they're using (black magic) and the fact they're creating a horrible evil monster, powered by literal negative energy and unholy energy, that would kill babies if left uncontrolled.

Probably why many (if not most) necromancers are evil. Not all of them, but certainly a lot.

Or the rule you are quoting is incorrect.

 

[Flamestrike]

Or the rule you are quoting is incorrect.

Wut?

 

[FrogReaver]

Wut?

The rule is wrong.

 

[Flamestrike]

The rule is wrong.

Right or wrong, its the rule. In your own games, feel free to remove it if you want to. Have Demon summoners and Necromancers and baby murderers or whatever be Good aligned. It's your game.

Id love to play such a game with a LG necromancer who re-animates dead people into evil monsters, much to the horror of their families who have laid them to rest, using dark unholy black magic 'for the greater good'.

In my game that dude would be Evil (with a capital E), but hey. It's your game.

 

[FrogReaver]

Right or wrong, its the rule. In your own games, feel free to remove it if you want to. Have Demon summoners and Necromancers and baby murderers or whatever be Good aligned. It's your game.

Id love to play such a game with a LG necromancer who re-animates dead people into evil monsters, much to the horror of their families who have laid them to rest, using dark unholy black magic 'for the greater good'.

In my game that dude would be Evil (with a capital E), but hey. It's your game.

No. If the rule is wrong then it's not a legitimate rule.