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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pinwheel" data-source="post: 6815637" data-attributes="member: 6804815">Hi folks, There's something a bit (to me at least) ambiguous in the rules for undead, and I was curious how most of the community felt. It seems to be something that is ultimately quite table and DM dependent. So, Animated Dead has the following to say: "On each of your turns you can use a bonus action to mentally command any creature you made with this spell if the creature is within 60 feet of you (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what action the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete."To parse the implications of this ability, let's break things down. 1. Commands you give are mental. No V,S, or M is needed, you simply must be within 60 feet. 2. You can command any/all of your creatures, issuing the same command to each one. 3. Your command includes what action the creature will take, and where it will move during its next turn. 4. A general command may be given. 5. If no command is issued, it will only defend itself against hostile creatures. 6. It will follow an order until the order is fulfilled. So I've been playing as a necromancer for a few levels now and have been really enjoying it overall -- kind of gives a bit of a wargame feel to combat. We've run, however, into a few differences of opinion as far as what is fair game for commanding the skeletons I use. My DM has been more than gracious in working around some of the finicky parts of using Animate Dead, so this isn't coming from a perspective of complaint, but rather, wanting to gauge how the community addresses these issues. Our first issue: "...issuing the same command to each [of the creatures you're commanding this turn]." RaW, this seems to imply that your undead will respond to only the same command. Ex: If I had 5 skeletons, I choose to order two of them to "attack hobgoblin A". Skeletons, for instance, have both swords and shortbows on their profile. I could have specifically stated, "I choose two skeletons to attack hobgoblin A with their bows." That's simple enough. Let's say one of the two skeletons is engaged with Hobgoblin A, and one of them isn't. In this case, would it be fair to state "I choose two skeletons to attack hobgoblin A with their optimal method", meaning that the one in melee wouldn't get disadvantage from using its bow, and the other would attack with its bow just as normal? Is this a meta attitude to have? Does it needlessly complicate things compared to just allowing me to issue each skeleton a different order? Our second issue: general commands. What is fairly included in the scope of a general command? Let's use the example of "Guard the paladin." What does that imply? That they physically will group around them, respond to hostile threats, or provide the help action? How about the example of "Following the paladin within 5 feet, not allowing anything to approach within five feet of them, responding to any threat by grappling them... etc etc etc" At what point are you going beyond the scope of a "general order." Our third issue, in a more general sense, is the toolbox potential of undead. They become a very tempting alternative to a great many threats in the adventuring world. Is that platform trapped? Skeletons across first. We can't push the sandstone block away? Maybe four skeletons will help. Can't beat the opponent in direct combat? Skeletons grapple the opponent and throw themselves off a cliff. From a player perspective, it's very fun and enriching. But it seems to alienate the DM and other players to at least some extent. And this is without even abusing the amount of skeletons I could create if I wanted. Just curious how you guys have fared at your own tables and would love some input into these issues!</blockquote>

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