Rebuke variant: Animate Dead

[CleverNickName]

My current campaign is using the alternate Turn Undead rule from Complete Divine, that deals positive energy to undead within a burst area. It's working out fine; I have no complaints. But now, the party is heading up against a BBEG who has levels of cleric. Now I don't know what to do with his Rebuke Undead ability...the rules in Complete Divine are only for Good clerics.

This is what I am thinking about doing...it would fit the idiom of the villain, and would definately be something that the party wouldn't see coming.

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Rebuke Undead Variant - Animate Dead

Instead of rebuking the undead, the cleric may animate all dead bodies within a 20' radius burst, creating either skeletons or zombies (player's choice, limited by the condition of the remains). Up to 2 HD of undead can be created per cleric level.

The undead created by this ability are under the control of the cleric who created them. Regardless of the number of undead created (i.e., through multiple uses of the Animate Dead ability, or through other spells or effects), the cleric may not control more than 4 HD of undead per cleric level. Refer to the Animate Dead spell for more information.

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Is it too terribly broken? Feedback and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

 

[CleverNickName]

Fixed the numbers. 2 HD created per level, 4 HD controlled per level, to be more consistent with the SRD.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Reminds me of the lesser invocation that warlocks get- The Dead Walk. It is only available at 6th level, but can be done at will. One thing about the ability that you might want to incorporate is the duration; unless 25 gp/hd of onyx are used, the dead crumble into dust after 1 minute/caster level.

 

[phindar]

On the one hand, it gives a 1st level cleric a 3rd level spell ability. On the other, it ain't exactly Fireball, you know. I don't think its unbalancing, though a good measure might be if you had an evil cleric in the party, where would his x number of free animates a day become annoying?

 

[Thondor]

The evil cleric sould be able to heal their undead. Just like the good cleric can damage undead the evil cleric can heal their undead with use of rebuke. Any hp gain above the undeads total hitpoints would become temporary hitpoints. (Is their a standard time duration for temporary hit points?) I would suggest temporary hitpoints from this lasting 1/hr per level.

This does not necessarily mean you have to throw out your idea of him being able to animate dead with his rebuke ability but . . . It should be for a short duration only. Maybe used chiefly to re-animate undead who have just been 'slain'.