Corpsegrafter and UA Necromancer skeleton

[Lopke_Quasath]

In Unearthed Arcana they have some specialist wizard variants.

For the Necromancer you have the Skeletal Minion option (pg 63). The description says

Obtaining this minion takes 24 hours and uses up magicals materials that cost 100 gp

So, my question is: Can the Corpsegrafter feat (from Libris Mortis pg. 25) apply to your skeletal minion?

The feat says

Each undead you raise or create with any necromancy spell gains a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength and +2 hit points per Hit Die.

Emphasis mine

According to UA, the minion is made in a ceremony and no "spell" is used.

So, again, can you use the Corpsegrafter feat on your minion?

It can easily be made a house rule I know, but I want the RAW verdict.

Cheers

 

[Alpha Polaris]

You seem to wait for us to answer "no", so, for the sake of discussion, I will tell you why I'd say "yes". The skeletal minion is obtained through a ceremony that lasts 24 hours and requires 100 gp of magical components. Not a spell per se, but pretty close, you'll admit. Short of a necromancy spell, what kind of ritual could provide you with a skeleton cohort ? Do you think you could summon it ? Create it out of thin air ? Browse it on Ebay ?

The RAW says no, but yes seems agreeable.

 

[Lopke_Quasath]

I personally have no problem making the feat work if I were the current DM in my campaign.

But I am not, so I am looking for a possible RAW explanation for my DM.

It makes sense thematically to have the feat work, it's just the wording of the skeletal minion creation that is vague.

But thanks anyway

 

[Zandel]

RAW says no but i'd say yes.

 

[moritheil]

Not a spell . . .

The RAW says no, but yes seems agreeable.

This sums it up nicely.

 

[Krelios]

Ask your DM how the servant is created if it's not magic...

 

[Drowbane]

On a related note...

That same Necromancer Variant can also choose an ability (3rd option: Enhanced Undead) that is in everyway like Corpsecrafter. Not only would I allow this ability to affect the Necromancer's Skeletal Minion... but I'd allow it to act as a Virtual Feat in regards to the Corpsecrafter line. Unfortunately, both Enhanced Undead and Corpsecrafter gives enhancement bonuses... or perhaps Fortunately

Skeletal Minion and Enhanced Undead, with Destruction Retribution and the icy claws feat...