D&D 5E (2024) The Undead Army Necromancer is not Designable

[mellored]

I think if there is a necromancer they should be able to control 10ish minions. Thus, I don’t really think there should be a necromancer due to gameplay issues associated with that. But if you want to design one, that’s what I require.

So that's 1 person.

Anyone else think there should be 10 individual creatures?

 

[mellored]

Just so long as the army starts at lower level (1 skeleton/zombie at the least by level 3 at the latest). and increases as I increase in level.

Warlock 1 can get you a skeleton familiar.
Beastmaster 5, companion and summon beast spell.
Battlesmith 3, construct
Paladin 5, find steed
Wizard 5, unseen servant, phantom steed.
= that's 7 at once.

Maybe Fathomless 3 to get a tentacle, not sure id you would count that or not.

 

[FrogReaver]

Warlock 1 can get you a skeleton familiar.
Beastmaster 5, companion and summon beast spell.
Battlesmith 3, construct
Paladin 5, find steed
Wizard 5, unseen servant, phantom steed.
= that's 7 at once.

Maybe Fathomless 3 to get a tentacle, not sure id you would count that or not.

It’s like you didn’t even listen to my requirement.

 

[mellored]

It’s like you didn’t even listen to my requirement.

You got 1 skeleton by level 1 (which is less than 3rd). And your army grows every 2/3 levels after that.

That was the post I quoted.

Didn't see a way to get 10, but there's a few levels left.

 

[DavyGreenwind]

Well they definitely made it thematic and not OP. Seems possibly a bit weak and still has the turns / aoe issues. I don’t view it as a solution to the problem presented. But it is interesting and fun!

It's not perfect, but I think it is the closest I have ever seen. And the class has built in sliders: a variant rule under which Undead animated by other spells (like raise dead) don't count against your thrall total. It includes a disclaimer that this means more skellies to juggle.

I also like this class's subclasses. They are each built off of a different Undead. You got your classic lich Necromancer, and also your vampire, mummy, death knight, etc. It's fun.

 

[MGibster]

I am once again reminded that D&D cannot be all things to all people.

 

[TiQuinn]

I am once again reminded that D&D cannot be all things to all people.

Well, not at least any single edition for all cases. I still think D&D is more than just the current edition.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well, not at least any single edition for all cases. I still think D&D is more than just the current edition.

More than just the current IP owner too, by my reckoning.

 

[grimmgoose]

It's designable, but it's going to require some swings.

WOTC is (understandably) avoidant of summons, which makes sense. Even a single extra-NPC is a full new set of health to track, attack rolls to figure out, damage to deal out, etc. It can significantly increase the time a round takes.

But...it seems to me, embracing 4E-style minions could fix the problem. Let the necromancer either summon a swarm (single entity, just like we see in 5E) or a number of 1-hp minions that use the necromancer's spell-attack, with set-damage (no dice roll needed).

This is a steep-departure from typical 5E, but with a new leadership team in charge, maybe now is the time to try some out-of-left-field adjustments?

 

[FrogReaver]

It's designable, but it's going to require some swings.

WOTC is (understandably) avoidant of summons, which makes sense. Even a single extra-NPC is a full new set of health to track, attack rolls to figure out, damage to deal out, etc. It can significantly increase the time a round takes.

But...it seems to me, embracing 4E-style minions could fix the problem. Let the necromancer either summon a swarm (single entity, just like we see in 5E) or a number of 1-hp minions that use the necromancer's spell-attack, with set-damage (no dice roll needed).

This is a steep-departure from typical 5E, but with a new leadership team in charge, maybe now is the time to try some out-of-left-field adjustments?

What problem are you trying to address?