Uncontrolled Zombies/Skelettons

[Winternight]

If I animate dead and exceed my number of controlled undeads. I can choose which I leave uncontrolled.

What are they doing
a) If they are in a room with a door?
b) If someone enters that room
c) if this SO attacks em.

 

[Li Shenron]

If I animate dead and exceed my number of controlled undeads. I can choose which I leave uncontrolled.

What are they doing
a) If they are in a room with a door?
b) If someone enters that room
c) if this SO attacks em.

I think the spell only creates mindless undead. I suppose it's up to DM's choice decide if they stick around or roam away, and if they are indifferent or hostile to everyone. Maybe you can even roll randomly and let some of them do one thing and some the other. Or you can just consider they are Evil and treat them as random encountered creatures (which, in the case of undead, 99% of the times means hostile).

 

[Magic Slim]

From the MM (3.0)

Skeletons are the animated bones of the dead, mindless automatons that obey the orders of their evil masters.[...]Skeletons do only what they were ordered to do. They can draw no conclusions of their own and take no initiative.

The MM seems to suggest that the skeletons will do zilch, whatever the stimuli may be.

Before letting go of your command of the skeletons, you could give them one last order, perhaps (Guard this room from anyone or anything that enters). I doubt they would "forget" that command once you relinquish control over them...

Slim

 

[Li Shenron]

From the MM (3.0)


The MM seems to suggest that the skeletons will do zilch, whatever the stimuli may be.

I really don't know what you mean, but by your quote I would now say they just stay there barely in motion, and maybe don't even defend themselves if attacked.

 

[dcollins]

"zilch" = American slang for "zero" or "nothing". (Sometimes heard as "zero, zilch, zip, nada, nothing".) Thus I believe you've agreed with him.

 

[Magic Slim]

"zilch" = American slang for "zero" or "nothing". (Sometimes heard as "zero, zilch, zip, nada, nothing".) Thus I believe you've agreed with him.

Actually, "Zilch", in Canada (especially in the Northern Territories), is a peculiar dance in which you invoke the Powers of the Eskimo-God to strike down the Evil Were-Seals that leave yellow snow on your igloo.

Seriously, I did mean that the skeletons will just stand there, not defend themselves, leave interlopers alone, etc.

Slim

 

[Nifft]

Mindless Undead are Neutral Evil. When they're uncontrolled, an insane hatred of all life overcomes them, and they fearlessly (and stupidly and without decent tactics) seek to kill as much as they can before being put down.

-- N

 

[Magic Slim]

Mindless Undead are Neutral Evil. When they're uncontrolled, an insane hatred of all life overcomes them, and they fearlessly (and stupidly and without decent tactics) seek to kill as much as they can before being put down.

-- N

Well waddaya know. They changed that too in 3.5...

In 3.0, skeletons were Always Neutral.

They also made it a template, and not a monster of its own. Which makes sense.

Slim

 

[Norfleet]

Uncontrolled skeletons with no standing orders tend to stand there rather uselessly. Medical students often study them while they do this.

Zombies with no standing orders tend to stand there until they become hungry, then wander about aimlessly in search of brains to snack on.