My Excellent 1st lvl Necromancer

[Qbis]

Hi,

here's my (super cheesy) 1st level Wizard. Any opinions about how I could possibly boost it anymore? The idea is to cast fear and scare spells and to give as many attacks of opportinity as possible to my skeletal minion and the rest of the party. The obvious problem is HP (only 6), but I plan to cast shield and bone armor and use my skeletal minion as cover (13+7+7+4 = AC 31), when ever possible. As soon as I get any money (50 gp) I will create an other skeleton to defend me.

Oh, BTW, I am 30 years old and I have beem DMing for almost 20 years and I do know that this character is supersupercheesy. I'm just humoring myself, when one of my players promised to DM for a few sessions.

Any ideas?

Kusti from Finland

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Malice LaVey
16 Year-Old Neutral-Evil Female Human
Level 1 Focused Specialist Necromancer
120 lbs / 5’ 5” / Chocolate / Brunette / Pale Skin
Devoted Worshipper of Vecna

STR 12 +1 43 lbs / 86 lbs / 130 lbs
DEX 17 +3
CON 14 +2
INT 18 +4
WIS 11 +0
CHA 12 +1

HP 6
AC 13
BA +0
Speed 30 ft
Initiative +3
FORT +2
REF +3
WILL +2

Feats (2 Extra Feats from Flaws): Precocious Apprentice, Scribe Scroll, Skeletal Minion (Replaces Familiar), Spellcasting Prodigy, Spell Focus: Necromancy, Dexterous Magic
Skills: Concentration +4, Hide +3, Knowledge: Arcana +8, Knowledge: Necrology +8, Listen -2, Search +6, Spellcraft +10, Spot -3, Tumble +3
Languages: Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Infernal, Primeval; Flaws: Feeble, Inattentive; Traits: Focused

Oak Club: +1 to hit / 1d6+1 dmg x2 10 ft B/P
Silver Dagger: +1 to hit / 1d4+1 dmg 19-20 / x2 10 ft P
Crossbow Bolts: +3 to hit / 1d8 dmg 19-20 / x2 80 ft P

Holy Symbol of Vecna (P), Oak Club (3 lb, P), Dagger (1 lb, P), 20 Light Crossbow Bolts (2 lb, P), Black Robe (2 lb, P), Bag (2 lb), Blanket (3 lb, B), 10 Black Candles (B), Map Case (0,5 lb, P), 5 Chalks (P), Flint and Steel (P), Ink & Pen (B), Soap (0,5 lb, B), 2-Liter Water Skin (4 lb, B), Spell Component Pouch (3 lb, P), Spellbook (3 lb, P), Skull (1 lb, B), 4 Trail Rations (2 lb, B), Rope 50’ (10 lb, B), Caltrops (2 lb, P)
Treasure: 4 gp, 5 sp, 6 cp
Total Weight: 39 lbs / Light Load (14,5 lbs Without Backpack)
P= On Person; B = In Bag

Spellbook (Specialization: Necromancy; Prohibited Schools: Conjuration, Enchantment and Illusion)
Level 0 (2+3/day, Save DC 16/20): Chill Touch, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Disrupt Undead, Launch Bolt, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Open/Close, Prestidigitation, Ray of Fire (as Ray of Frost), Read Magic, Resistance, Spook, Thunderhead
Level 1 (2+3/day, Save DC 17/21): Animate Skeleton, Bone Armor, Cause Fear , Light of Lunia, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, Skeletal Form
Level 2 (1/day, Caster Level Check DC 8 to succeed, Save DC 22): Scare

Salem, the Human Warrior Skeleton Minion
Medium Undead; Neutral Evil; HD1; HP 12; Initiative +5; Speed 30 ft; AC 18; Battleaxe +1/1d8+1 (Crit x3); Damage Reduction 5/Bludgeoning, Darkvision 60ft, Immunity to Cold, Undead Traits, Improved Initiative; FORT - , REF +1, WILL +2; STR 13, DEX 13, CON - , INT - , WIS 10, CHA 1; Hide Armor, Large Wooden Shield, Battleaxe, Sack, 4 Torches, Flint & Steel, 2-Liter Water Skin (49,5 lb / Light Load

Alternative Class Feature: Focused Specialist [Complete Mage]
Class: Wizard
Level: 1st
Special Requirement: You must be a specialist wizard.
Replaces: You lose one spell slot from each level of wizards spells you can cast. You must choos an extra prohibited school.
Benefit: You can prepare two additional spells of your specialty school per spell level each day.

Wizard Variant: Skeletal Minion [Unearthed Arcana]
1st-level necromancer using this variant can begin play with an undead minion (a human warrior skeleton). Obtaining this minion takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. This creature is a loyal servant that follows the necromancer's commands and accompanies her on adventures if desired. If the skeletal minion is destroyed, the necromancer suffers no ill effects and may replace it by performing a ceremony identical to the one that allowed her to obtain her first servant. At 1st level, the skeleton is completely typical, but it gains power as the necromancer gains levels. The skeleton has a number of Hit Dice equal to the necromancer's class level. Add one-half the necromancer's class level to the skeleton's natural armor bonus. Add one-third of the necromancer's class level to the skeleton's Strength and Dexterity scores. A necromancer using this variant permanently gives up the ability to obtain a familiar

Precocious Apprentice Feat [Complete Arcane]
Your master has shown you the basics of a spell beyond the normal limits of your experience and training.
Prequisites: INT 15 or Cha 15, arcane spellcaster level 1
Benefit: Choose one 2nd-level spell from a school that is not barred to you. You can cast that spell once per day. In effect, you have an extra 2nd-level spell slot that must be used to cast the chosen spell, and cannot be used for any other purpose. If you cannot cast 2nd-level spells yet, you must succeed on a caster level check (DC 8) to successfully cast the spell; if you fail, you miscast the spell to no effect. Your caster level with the chosen spell is your normal caster level, even if this is insufficient to cast the spell under normal circumstance. When you become able to cast 2nd-level spells, you lose the previous benefit described above. Instead, you simply have an extra 2nd-level spell slot, which you may use to prepare (or spontaneously cast, if you are a spontaneous caster) 2nd-level or lower spells as you normally would.
You also gain a +2 bonus on all Spellcraft checks.
Special: You can only take this feat as a 1st-level character

Dexterous Magic Feat [Primer of Practical Magic] <-- What is the real name of this feat?!!?!
You may add your Dexterity bonus to the DC of any spell you cast, in addition to the normal ability score bonus.

Spellcasting Prodigy Feat [Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting]
You have an exceptional gift for magic.
Benefit: For the purpose of determining bonus spells and the saving throw DCs of spells you cast, treat your primary spellcasting ability score (Charisma for bards and sorcerers, Wisdom for divine spellcasters, Intelligence for wizards) as 2 points higher than its actual value. If you have more than one spellcasting class, the bonus applies to only one of those classes.
Special: You may only take this feat as a 1st-level character. If you take this feat more than once (for example, if you are a human or another type of creature that gets more than one feat at 1st level), it applies to a different spellcasting class each time. You can take this feat even if you don't have any spellcasting classes yet.

Knowledge (Necronomy) Skill [Encyclopaedia Arcane Necromancy]
This represents a character’s entire knowledge of the realms of undeath and the utilization of negative energy. It may be used to identify specific undead or manifestations of negative energy and predict their possible threat or abilities, as well as in more regular studies. Presented below are some examples of what may be attempted with skill, along with suggested DC’s.
DC 10: Telling the difference between a zombie and a ghoul.
DC 15: Recognizing a vampire as it manifests its powers.
DC 30: Recalling the history and lore of a famed but ancient lich.

Character Flaws (+1 feat each) [Unearthed Arcana]
Feeble: You take a -2 penalty on Strength-, Dexterity-, and Constitution-based ability checks and skill checks
Inattentive: You take a -4 penalty to Listen checks and Spot checks.

Character Traits [Unearthed Arcana]
Focused: You can keep your attention on a task despite many distractions; however, events in the background pass you by.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on Concentration checks.
Drawback: You take a -1 penalty to Listen checks and Spot checks.

Launch Bolt [Spell Compendium]
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One crossbow bolt in your possession
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Launch crossbow bolt from your hand as from light crossbow. Range increment 80 feet. All properties (magical, masterwork, feats) of the bolt apply. Drawing a bolt for this spell is a free action.
Material component: The crossbow bolt to be fired.

Spook [Secret College of Necromancy]
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Close (25 ft + 5 ft / level)
Target: One Animal
Duration: 1 Round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell puts a jolt of fear into an animal’s brain. Affected creature either run for one round or attack the nearest living creature. Roll percentile dice. On a 1-50, the target fights, and on a 51-100 it flees.

Thunderhead [Dragon Magazine #302]
Evocation [Electricity]
Level: Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Close (25 ft + 5 ft / level)
Target: One Creature
Duration: 3 Rounds
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Thunderhead creates a small thundercloud over the target’s head. Every round a miniature bolt of lightning strikes for 1 point of electricity damage. Save each round.
Material component: Small piece of copper wire.

Animate Skeleton [Encyclopaedia Arcane Necromancy]
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Targets: One corpse touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Animate 1 skeleton. Skeleton obeys all commands. If skeleton is made from a corpse, the flesh falls off the bones. The statistics of the skeleton depend on its size; they do not depend on what abilities the creature may have has whilst alive.
Material component: A small black onyx gem worth at least 50 gp must be placed into the mouth. The magic of the spell makes the gem worthless.

Bone Armor [Secret College of Necromancy]
Necromancy
Level: Necromancy 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Caster
Duration: 10 minutes / level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Provides +7 natural armor bonus against all physical forms of attack. The bone armor is destroyed by the attacks it absorbs; when it has absorbed hp of damage equal to twice your caster level, the armor falls into shards.
Material component: A rib bone form a humanoid slain within 7 days.

Light of Lunia [Spell Compendium]
Evocation [Good, Light]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft + 10 ft / level)
Targets: You and up to two rays
Duration: 10 minutes / level or until discharged
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

The silvery radiance created by this spell emanates from you in a 30-foot radius, and dim light extends for an additional 30 feet. Beginning one turn after you cast this spell, you can choose to expend some or all of the light of Lunia as a ray of light. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack that deals 1d6 points of damage, or 2d6 point of damage against undead or evil outsiders, with a range of 30 feet. Spell resistance applies to this attack. This dims your silvery radiance to half (15 + 15 ft). You can choose to fire one additional ray either on the same round or on a subsequent round. Firing the second ray ends the spell.

Skeletal Form [Forbidden Arcana]
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 1 hour / level
Saving Throw: Will Negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Skeletal features, +2 natural armor bonus to AC, damage reduction 5/Bludgeoning

Material Components:
Miniature Cloak, Mineral Prism, Pinch of Wool, Piece of Phosphorescent Moss, Piece of Copper Wire, Brass Key, Fine Sand, Human Skull, Pinch of Soot, Salt, Piece of Bone, Human Rib Bone, Skeletal Hand

Background:
Malice LaVey was born in a small rural village on the night of the Midsummer’s Eve. She is the youngest of a family of six daughters. At age of four Malice showed signs of magical aptitude and unhealthy interest towards death. She would often run away form home and was always found in the nearby cemetery close to open graves. When she was 13 her parents and all of her sisters died of an unknown disease. Malice moved away from the village and lived alone in a small hut in the nearby forest. The people of her home village feared her and started telling stories about the Witch in the forest. A wondering adventurer named Salem heard these rumors and went into the woods to investigate. Nobody knows what happened to him, but Malice disappeared the same night, never to be seen again.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

'Dextrous magic' is just plain cheesey, so are bone armor and skeletal form.

I might be incorrect about the spells, but that feat is just simply wrong.

But the skeletal minion ability is pretty cool and I like the 1st level spell that lets you create a skeleton.

 

[Nifft]

120 lbs / 5’ 5” / Chocolate / Brunette / Pale Skin

Add whipped cream?

- - -

I'd never choose Conjuration as a prohibited school. Evocation would go away first. This is doubly true if you have access to the Spell Compendium.

With the errata and limitations on Precocious Apprentice, I wouldn't ever take that feat either. It can't be used to get into Mystic Theurge early, so it sucks.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Yeah, never in a million years would I allow that Dextrous Magic feat.

The other problem I see is that your 100 gp skeleton is going to get continually smoked, at least for a couple levels (and especially if you're using it for cover).

That's a pretty expensive minion...

 

[UltimaGabe]

Dexterous Magic Feat [Primer of Practical Magic] <-- What is the real name of this feat?!!?!
You may add your Dexterity bonus to the DC of any spell you cast, in addition to the normal ability score bonus.

This feat is WAY too good. Every single caster who ever lived would have this feat. Practically free way to almost double your save DCs? Sign me up!

Bone Armor [Secret College of Necromancy]
Necromancy
Level: Necromancy 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Caster
Duration: 10 minutes / level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Provides +7 natural armor bonus against all physical forms of attack. The bone armor is destroyed by the attacks it absorbs; when it has absorbed hp of damage equal to twice your caster level, the armor falls into shards.
Material component: A rib bone form a humanoid slain within 7 days.

Not only is this spell amazing good, it doesn't even make sense. It's poorly worded. Does it provide a natural armor bonus, or DR? Because if it provides an AC boost (which is way too high), how does it "absorb hp of damage"? In any case, this spell is WAY too good. Boosting your AC by 7 (almost twice that of Shield, and for ten times the duration) will almost guarantee that no attacks will hit, so even if it does go away if it "absorbs hp of damage" (which, as I said, doesn't make sense), chances are it'll rarely do so before the duration ends. Every Wizard that doesn't have Necromancy, as well as every Sorcerer, would take this spell. Combines Shield and Mage Armor into one spell (and stacks with them, no less!), with a duration right in the middle. Sign me up.

Skeletal Form [Forbidden Arcana]
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 1 hour / level
Saving Throw: Will Negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Skeletal features, +2 natural armor bonus to AC, damage reduction 5/Bludgeoning

Material Components:
Miniature Cloak, Mineral Prism, Pinch of Wool, Piece of Phosphorescent Moss, Piece of Copper Wire, Brass Key, Fine Sand, Human Skull, Pinch of Soot, Salt, Piece of Bone, Human Rib Bone, Skeletal Hand

This, right here, is the ultimate ridiculous spell. Not only does it have far too many material components (material components are pointless unless they have a cost, as you're assumed to have everything in your spell component pouch- unless your DM is a stickler about rare or oddly-handled material components, in which case casting this spell would be more of a chore than magic item creation), but a 1st level spell that gives almost as much natural armor as Barkskin (a 2nd level spell), but gives DR of 5/Bludgeoning. What's that? An HOUR per level?! Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Again, every single caster in the entire world would take this spell. Necromancy would suddenly become impossible to ban (like Divination and Universal), because everyone with any common sense would take Necromancy so they could cast this spell. Sign me up once again.

No DM in his right mind would allow any of those three spells. Way too good, way to cheap. WAY too cheasy.

 

[joshjurg]

I would flat out refuse to play in a game like this.

I would just play a core PHB necromancer. Level 1. All the way. Do not worry at this point about breaking numerous feats and spells to make him good. Just accept the fact that you suck at 1st level - besides, when you begin to kick butt and overshadow the party later on, at least you can say the you sucked in the beginning.

Oh and by the way, I am marrying a Finn this spring and I will be in Helsinki from late August to late September - What's a good game shop to visit in Helsinki ?

One more thing - I think posting all of those spells & feats violates the TOS on the boards.

 

[Qbis]

Dexterous Magic

I think I will not use that cheesy dexterous magic feat. I'll take the Greater Spell Focus instead. I would never ever allow my players to take that dexterous magic feat, because it is very unbalanced.

There is only one good game store in Helsinki. It's called Fantasiapelit (Fantasy Games) and it is located in the Kaisaniemi subway station. If you are from the States, there is no point of buying any gaming stuff from Finland, because they are very expensive here. Expect to pay $60 (€40) for PHB or DMG

BTW, the material components listed after Skeletat Form are not for that spell but for all the spells (list of components in my characters component pouch).

I love the skeletal minion. I just need to find a way to keep him aliv... no, keep him undead. Of course, if the DM wants to destroy him, there is not much I can do.

Thanks for your opinions,

Kusti

 

[Darklone]

I don't even think Dex Magic is WotC... not that it means anything. Do you have access to Libris Mortis? Spellcasting Prodigy and Dex Magic: Screw them and take two feats from Libris Mortis and talk your DM into allowing their boosts for your Skeletal Minion...

I've seen one of those builds once, that party didn't need a tanky fightertype. Skeletal Minion went through the opponents like an axe through butter with extra ice damage and other goodies. Extra hitpoints, strength and dex were there also...

You need Desecrate. Urgently. Think about how to get that spell.

Edit: I think Bone armor is from Rituals&Relics.

 

[rgard]

This feat is WAY too good. Every single caster who ever lived would have this feat. Practically free way to almost double your save DCs? Sign me up!

Yes, a pretty strong feat. That said, I could see allowing it with a long pre-req list of feats that need to be taken first.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Piratecat]

Yes, a pretty strong feat. That said, I could see allowing it with a long pre-req list of feats that need to be taken first.

I'm not sure I could.

I'm impressed by the - did I do the math right? - 41 point build, and I agree with the others about the spells and that feat. But overall the PC looks like a lot of fun to play!