Command Undead and CR/EL

[sfedi]

How does undead that can be created or commanded by creatures fit in the CR/EL calculations for that creature/encounter?

A 2nd level human Cleric can command 2 skeletons (if my math is right) (although he cannot create them)

A 5th level human Cleric could raise have 20 hd of undead:
20 skeletons
10 zombies
Etc...

 

[Bad Paper]

The undead do not change the cleric's CR. They bump up the EL of the encounter a little bit. e.g. a 5th level cleric with ten human zombies would probably be about an EL 6. If instead he had twenty human skeletons...with a nasty setup I could see that becoming an EL 7.

 

[moritheil]

I personally would go so far as to change nothing - the cleric has spent spells and rebuke attempts to get his followers, and those spells and rebuke attempts are part of his CR. This has sparked more than one argument in the past, however, so be warned.

(Note that I would give an XP bonus of perhaps 25%, per the Guide to Traps and Puzzles, for an especially nasty setup. But I wouldn't alter the EL if I had the cleric spend resources.)

 

[frankthedm]

No CR increase, but as was said, some bonus XP for a harder encounter. Anyone who balks at that has to remember most undead the NPC cleric can control the PC cleric can turn. {possibly 'poof' with the sun domain].

Randomize the skeletons though, a few orcs, some humans, maybe a wolf.

A good idea for the cleric is to have a skeletonized heavy war horse.

And have the remainder of the cleric's gear be in onyx gems of 25, 50 and 100 gp sizes rather than gold or plat.