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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 3818118" data-attributes="member: 4937">I'm not sure I understand the problem.  In what is a 5th level character controlling 10 2HD zombies an inappropriate challenge for say a 3rd or 4th level party of characters?  Or a 7th level controlling 14 zombies, for say a 4th or 5th level party?I grant you that at some point, 'zombie master' is going to no longer be a really effective concept as the party's level increases, but for low level characters it sounds find to me.Hmmm... ok, several possibilities.1) Environment: Zombies don't have a Con score, so they generally can ignore Fort saves completely, and the environment entirely.  So you can have the zombie master lair in an environment which is either very cold, very hot, and/or poisonous and its all the same to the zombies.  Zombies also can't drown, so an environment with pools of deep water for zombies to bull rush foes into could be fun.2) Buffs: Core rules, the simplest way to do this is with unhallow attached to some useful spell, no doubt cast around the evil necromancers lair/secret temple.  Between the protection from turning, the protection from good, and some nice debuff like bane, this can make a fight with the zombies somewhat tougher.  There are probably some PrC's/non-core spells out there for enhancing necromancy (Dread Necromancer for instance), but if it was me I'd smith up some house feats in a necromancy chain that buffed the animated creatures (higher hitpoints on the die, higher natural armor bonus, higher attributes, etc.) under your control and/or increased the maximum hit dice you control.  There are similar feats/class abilities out there for summoning creatures which you can use as inspiration.  Just be fair about it, don't create anything you would be afraid to give to a PC (or which is so weak a PC would never consider it).  If you want some help, let me know.3) Who needs control:  Zombies don't have to be under the direct contol of the necromancer to be useful.  Uncontrolled zombies can still be left as gaurds in unused areas, or sent out in expendable waves to wreck havoc.  This is particularly true for necromatic clerics, who can always rebuke any undead that they encounter as needed.4) Throw in a few higher level undead.  A few Juju zombies, ghasts, or such thrown into the mix as allies/minions of the necromancer can boost EL's as needed.</blockquote>

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