D&D 4E Idea for Necromancer in 4e

[catsclaw227]

Hollowfaust, for the Scarred Lands, was essentially a city full of Lawful Neutral Necromancers. There is some interesting philosophy in there that may be of interest.

 

[Voss]

Having Speak with Dead is a must, since thats what the term 'necromancy' means if you go back to the roots. Divination through communication with the dead.

But yes, I expect to see some variation of the dread necromancer at some point. Hopefully without some of the nonsense class abilities. DR, lich transformation imbedded in the class, etc.

 

[Larrin]

The necromancer should definitely be able to play both sides of the good/evil coin. There is a lot of flavor in some one who uses necromancy to ward off evils, investigate crimes against nature, and to raise (truly raise, not zombify) fallen friends. I hope they don't overlook that. And i hope they don't spend too much making it a "Pet Class". While they'll need their little skelly minions, too much power/focus in this department really adds more bookkeeping. more abuseable power, and would take away from the necros other possible skills, and puts it on the path to being the new druid (full spells, fighter in its pocket, etc). Giving a Class a Pet of any sort of power, tends to shorthand the classes that don't. any pets the necromancer has should follow the mook/minion rules.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

yeah, base a class on fear and Slow Damage per round spells...
WOW what a great idea

EverQuest had it first, by six or so years.

 

[Stone Dog]

I'm of the opinion that the "whitest" a necromancer should get would be along the lines of Amethyst wizards or priests of Morr from Warhammer.

They may be on our side, but they are still terrifying people who deal in dark and unpleasant forces from the other side of Life.

With luck shadowfel aspected warlocks (or whatever the deathly ones may be called) will do my needs just nicely.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I like the idea of a white necromancer that focuses on healing, attacks vs undead, and undead protection. Throw in a smattering of speaking with undead and some divination (communing with spirits) and you're good to go.

We've already got that guy. He's called "the Cleric."

Oh, you meant a more bookish type? "Cloistered Cleric."

I'd really hate for a necromancer to be limited to evil-only

"Of course the principle of suction is centuries old, but instead of sucking water, I'm sucking life."

Those words were not spoken by a happy-nice man who was sustained by love alone and pooped rainbows. Face it, the Necromancer's four chief weapons are Fear, Surprise, Death, Undeath and Strength Drain.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but if you're a Necromancer, you're evil. Asking for a "good version" of the Necromancer is like asking for "chocolate-flavored vanilla ice cream." Not even Schrödinger's cat can do that.

 

[Irda Ranger]

With luck shadowfel aspected warlocks (or whatever the deathly ones may be called) will do my needs just nicely.

I also suspect this will be the case.

 

[Voss]

Hmm. Neither fear, surprise, death or strength drain strike me as inherently evil. And undeath only does if you attach a certain kind of flavor to it.

'I'd like to propose a round table discussion about animating corpses being grounds for leniency in murder cases because its less wasteful'. Switch animating corpses back to cannibalism, and you've got one of the best Calvin and Hobbes strips ever.

You left out inflicting negative levels, though, one of the most useful things a 3e necromancer can do. Again, not inherently evil to me.

But there is a space for 'white' necromancy outside the cleric, as well. Lots of mythological archetypes, mostly focused around communing with the dead. Even the crazy old wizard in Conan the Barbarian.

 

[Rechan]

I will probably get pelted by tomatoes for this but I would like to see a necromancer in the vain of the Diablo 2 necro.

That's the Warlock.

Seriously. Curses? Check. Summon things? Check.

 

[Stone Dog]

Lots of mythological archetypes, mostly focused around communing with the dead. Even the crazy old wizard in Conan the Barbarian.

Emphasis on "crazy." Even in Conan dealing with the dead is a Bad Idea.

Dealing with the dead should never be white. At best we are looking at black arts used for noble causes, but it should never be forgotten that a "good" necromancer is walking a razor's edge for his abilities.