talking to/controlling undead spawn

[Theo R Cwithin]

Is there an official rule for how an Undead communicates with its spawn in order to control them?

For example, a PC slain by Mr.Wight rises as a wight under Mr.Wight's control. By RAW, how does Mr.Wight communicate with the fresh wight? Speech? Telepathy? Semaphore?

I'm wondering if a Mr.Wight can secretly command his new thrall from rising immediately, perhaps to hide his wightish nature from his opponents, or to gain some tactical surprise.

 

[Dandu]

Speech, as far as I can tell.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

That's what I'm gathering, as well-- or at least I can't find any justification to play it otherwise.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Dandu]

If the character had telepathy, that might work, though if you rule telepathy to be mind affecting the undead would be immune to that.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Interesting idea.
Looking at telepathy-related bits in the srd, it looks like that ruling could go either way, too.

Definitely something to consider....

 

[frankthedm]

I can't find any justification to play it otherwise.

Clerical command of the undead is mental and being spawned certainly sounds like a similar connection.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Clerical command of the undead is mental and being spawned certainly sounds like a similar connection.

Son of a gun! You're right:

(excerpted from SRD: Turn or Rebuke Undead)
...Commanded
A commanded undead creature is under the mental control of the evil cleric. The cleric must take a standard action to give mental orders to a commanded undead. At any one time, the cleric may command any number of undead whose total Hit Dice do not exceed his level. He may voluntarily relinquish command on any commanded undead creature or creatures in order to command new ones.

...

That sets a really good precedent. Thanks for pointing it out.