Undead Clarification and Advice (My players keep out)

[LordVyreth]

For my high-level game, I was thinking about adding in some undead with class levels. However, I had a few questions and watned some suggestions from the board first. First of all, we're talking a 7-person party in the 20-21st level range. What class levels are suggested, and for what undead? How do class HD affect turning checks? And can a rogue incorporeal undead do sneak attack damage with a touch attack, assuming the normal damage for said attack is ability or enegy drain? For that matter, what can an incorporeal use for equipment?

 

[Alzrius]

For my high-level game, I was thinking about adding in some undead with class levels. However, I had a few questions and watned some suggestions from the board first. First of all, we're talking a 7-person party in the 20-21st level range. What class levels are suggested, and for what undead?

Putting Monk levels on mummies is a standard favorite. Also, if you have the Dragonlance Campaign Setting, it's Death Knight template is excellent for putting on a high-level martial opponent, such as a fighter or paladin with blackguard levels. Rogue abilities on incorporeal undead seems good too, but you already mention that one.

In short, the best thing to do is grant classes (and templates), that maximize existing powers undead have. Perhaps that lich has levels in Warmage (Miniaturs Handbook) with levels in the Archmage PrC also. Give that ghost rogue some assassin levels, which can be especially deadly if it uses its malevolence ability on a party member.

How do class HD affect turning checks?

Each level adds a hit die, and turning checks are resolved against an undead's hit dice. Treat class HD the same as normal HD for this purpose.

And can a rogue incorporeal undead do sneak attack damage with a touch attack, assuming the normal damage for said attack is ability or enegy drain?

I don't see why not. The listing for sneak attack just says a rogue needs to make an attack when the opponent is flanked or otherwise denied their Dex bonus to AC, and this grants extra damage. If a creature with an energy drain hit as a sneak attack, it'd inflict a negative level plus the sneak attack damage.

For that matter, what can an incorporeal use for equipment?

Ghost touch equipment, and that's about it. If you're using a ghost, though, it can use equipment brought to the ethereal plane.

 

[Vrecknidj]

The dread wraith is nasty. Since it can sense living things from 60' away, and since it has Spring Attack, and since it drains Constitution when it hits, it's an awesome enemy. Put the good guys in a place where, unless they can fly, they have to walk along things like 5' ledges, and then have these dread wraiths spring attack from the ground, or the walls, or the ceiling--move, touch, move. In addition, it might be good to mix some corporeal monsters with the incorporeal ones. It's not a bad idea to throw some of the weaker undead against the party to get them to use up some of their stuff. And don't forget to throw in some constructs. I found that a room with both stone golems and spectres was enough to make my party go barmy.

On to your specific questions.

A lich with a gob of cleric levels is very, very dangerous. Spend some time reading the cleric spells of 6th to 9th level and give the lich a hundred years or so to have created the armies and traps he's wanted to (symbols, glyphs, etc.).

I think there's an errata somewhere that lists what ghosts can and can't do, and how and where they can do what they do. Just give them ghost touch weapons and then they can strike material beings as well.

Dave