Advice on a Necromancer Character

[Werewolf_26]

I recently joined up with a party that was going for a more sinister way of doing things (back stabs, deception, poison, use of mind control, undead, etc.). I decided since the party was mageless, I would create a Necromancer to join them, and try to figure out the best path to take for power over the undead.

Thus far the Character Has as follows:
Level 3 Human Necromancer (Divination as Barred School)

STR 11
Dex 14
Con 16
Int 18
Wis 13
Cha 10

HP 19

Human Feat : Extend Spell
1st Level Feat: Spell Focus Necromancy
3rd Level Feat: Greater Spell Focus Necromancy

Extended Chill Touch and Spectral Hand have been my main combat spells thus far (haven't had the opportunity to cast ray of enfeeblement that much).

__________________

I have reviewed the Pale Master & True Necromancer from T&B, as well as the Shade Seer from Spells & Magic.

I could not qualify for True Necromancer until 10th (due to Multi-classing Wiz/Clr 5/5 for the PrC). Pale Master does not seem to be the way I'd like to go with the character either. Shade Seer would grant me all the necessary abilities to become a powerful necromancer, but I'd have to lose a level from negative energy draining (might have to have the party hunt down a Wight, control it, and fail the save for the level loss) as the first and only feat required for the class has the following requirements: Wis 15+ (both of my stat points for 4th & 8th) and subject must have suffered a negative level from undead. This would put me behind in levels with the rest of the party, but would grant me undead rebuking and creation at 12th & 14th levels.

I was wondering, what PrC would be best to aim for in ya'lls opinions, as well as information about Necromantic spell caster classes that I have not included on the small list of ones i've reviewed for the character. The reason for going after a PrC with the character is for better undead control and creation abilities beyond what the Necromancer normally gets.

The Party is currently headed towards the following PrCs, if that helps with any kind of decision based on pairing of party abilities:
Assassin
Master of Shrouds
Fighter Prc?
Fighter PrC? (We have two undecided fighters)


Thanks for ya'lls help.

Werewolf_26
"Red Wizard shot the potion."

 

[Drakmar]

um.. I believe that with the right spells you can get rid of the level loss.. Restoration is the spell (don't have my books on me) so you could qualifiy.. so if you go to the effort of losing the level.. you can also pre-prepare a scroll or potion to get rid of the level loss.

so.. you can qualify (depending on the wording of the prereq)

a multi-class mage/cleric is probably a more powerful necromancer..cause the Cleric abilities are just rockin for Undead control/creation.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

would your DM allow the Shadow Adept from FRCS? I think a specialist necromancer would be wicked once the shadow feats and spell power kicks in. once you completed the 10 levels, (with the right feats and skills) you could qualify for Archmage, which could increase your spell power and spell penetration even more.

 

[Xarlen]

My suggestion? If it was Me, I wouldn't get a PrC. Pure wizard is awesome (Unless you find one with pure +1 per caster level).

Also:
Check out the necromancer PDF floating around.
Secret College of the Necromancer.
And Mongoose Publishing's 'Necromancy: Beyond the Grave'.
Magic of Faerun has some Great spells for a necromancer!

The latter, I fully endorse. The two others, I donn about, but they have spells and prestige classes, I'm sure.

Necromancy: Beyond the grave gives you Negative Energy feats, which are a cool concept. They give you a power, and everytime you use that power, you have to make a 'Negative Energy Check'. It's a Low DC, but you'll eventually fail, likely. The Feats are things like 'Augment Animating', basicly beefing up zombies, a Death touch, touch attack which you roll a d6 for every caster level, and if your roll is higher then their HPs, they die, and lots of other cool stuff.

Anyways, if you fail the check, you roll a d20, adding or subtracting your caster level from the roll (your choice). The result on a table says what happens to you. Your hand could become a bony claw, you could carry a disease (but not contract it), crave human flesh, become a human cadaver (Your body rots), you get qualities of the Undead, Healing does less damage, your body becomes brittle (Take extra damage from hits), and so on.

Lots of Cool varients, that would give your character some neat quirks.

Edit: Shadowmagic can be benefitial. It gives a +1 Caster level to Necromancy, Illusion and Enchantment. However, a -1 caster level to Evoction and Transmutation, so be careful. Also, no spells which produce light.

 

[Nightfall]

Personally I think you're missing out on just one. Hollowfaust, city of Necromancers. The Animator Pr-class is one GREAT little spellcasting one. (And yes it has +1 per level along with other benefits... )

 

[Xarlen]

Hollowfaust is cool, yes.

 

[Nightfall]

Thank you. I feel complete. Nemorga take me. *pauses* Darn we must have lost the connection.

 

[Voadam]

Red wizard is a good complement for the ultra spell focus angle.

Crypt lord from Relics and Rituals is also a 1/1 necromancer who actually becomes a lich at 10th level. I forget what their abilities are as far as animating versus other aspects of necromancy.

The mongoose necromancy prcs do not focus on animating, (well the necrophage only animates limbs) from what I remember.

 

[Nightfall]

Vo, not as much but you can do some undead raising. Crypt Lords though don't do it as much as Animators.

 

[Xarlen]

Still, the necromancer PrCs in Mongoose are awesome.