True Necromancer

[Li Shenron]

Is there ANY way (another Prestige Class somewhere) to qualify for the T&B's True Necromancer without being a Cleric?

I am trying to build a NPC who is a necromantic specialist, something like a super-scientist (not necessarily evil), and the True Necromancer seems the best PrCl to represent my idea. But I dislike the idea of him being a Cleric: the NPC is supposed to be very selfish and individual, someone who would not devote himself to anything or anyone except his studies (True Neutral or Neutral Evil).
To qualify for True Necromancer he needs Death domain (see my other thread), 3rd level divine spells and Animate Dead; these seem to exclude any other class/prCl I know.

Before I modify the True Necromancer PrCl (or make my own PrCl from zero), I wish to know if anyone has another idea.
At least I could indeed make him Cleric, but with no faith. Still it sounds as a stress...

 

[Baron Von StarBlade]

I think it would be possible to gain access to the Death Domain via the Contemplative Presitge Class from DotF. Therefore a 10 Wizard/1 Contemplative of Wee Jas could take the Death Domain as his Prestige Domain. That would leave you 9 Levels for True Necromancer.

[EDIT] Sorc's would need Comsopolitan feat from FRCS to get Knowledge Religion as a Class Skill. So I changed it to a Wizard. [/EDIT]

 

[Gator]

At least I could indeed make him Cleric, but with no faith. Still it sounds as a stress...

If I remember correctly in the PHB it does state that you can be a cleric with no god. And instead worship or draw power from a set of beliefs or ideals.


I could be wrong though

 

[Li Shenron]

If I remember correctly in the PHB it does state that you can be a cleric with no god. And instead worship or draw power from a set of beliefs or ideals.

Yes, I was exactly thinking about it! I never very much liked that idea, let's think of it at the last resource.

Therefore a 10 Wizard/1 Contemplative of Wee Jas could take the Death Domain as his Prestige Domain.

Good idea, but somehow still a bit too much "devoted" to a deity. Ok I can manage to change the meaning of the PrCl, but it's just not completely fair. I still hope to find another way...

 

[AuraSeer]

If the prereq says "3rd level divine spells", you must be a divine caster. You could choose between Pal11, Rgr11, Clr5, or Drd5, but I don't think any of those would fit your conception any better.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

If the prereq says "3rd level divine spells", you must be a divine caster. You could choose between Pal11, Rgr11, Clr5, or Drd5, but I don't think any of those would fit your conception any better.

? if you took one of those cleric splat book prestige classes that gave a domain if you conitnued to progress in your arcane spells, would the spells gained form the domain count as divine or arcane spells.


Other than that, I'd just take the other necromancer like prestige class in T&B for 3 levels or so, so I got necromancer flavor maybe the animate dead ability, and yet only lost a couple levels form my spellcasting power. Maybe quite not the same level of necromance flavor as the true necromancer but it's close.

 

[Li Shenron]

? if you took one of those cleric splat book prestige classes that gave a domain if you conitnued to progress in your arcane spells, would the spells gained form the domain count as divine or arcane spells.

Eeh.. that's what I'm asking for help!

But all the PrCl that grants domains require you to already be a Cleric! (except Contemplative perhaps). Palemaster is fine for Animate Dead as spell-like abilities, but still I need divine spellcasting and Death Domain from some other class.

 

[aliensex]

Well, without bying the Diablo source book, which has a Diablo like Necromancer core class, your only other option is to create your own mini Prestige class.

Maybe something like this:

Arcane Necromancer

Requirements:
Must be able to caste Arcane Spells
Con 14+
Must specialize in Necromancy spells

(Just give him the standard Wizard BAB and Save progression)

Level Ability
1 Caster Level +1, Ability to learn and prepare spells from
the Death clerical Domain
2 Caster Level +1
3 Caster Level +1, Able to control twice as many HD of
undead
4 Caster Level +1
5 Caster Level +1, Able to control three times as many HD
of undead

Something like that. Now he gets the groovy Cleric create/control undead spells as arcane spells, and greater ability to control undead. Just make up a nice little mini prestige class like this, which won't interfere with his spell progression either.

 

[Usurper]

If you don't mind a little shopping, Green Ronin has a book called Secret College of Necromancy with a necromancer core class. There's no alignment requirement for it, so you can have a good or neutral character use it.

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

Honestly, if you want a "True Necromancer" without divine spells, just have a single-classed Wizard (Necromancer). You don't need a PrC to round out the NPC.

Besides, the True Necromancer in the T&B is completely worthless. A single classed cleric or wizard is better. Both get their respective necromancy spells faster than the TN, and the TN doesn't even give anything useful. Besides, a True Necromancer NPC is a lower challenge than either of the base classes.