Undead PC Campaign - Horrible Idea?

[phloog]

This didn't really feel like a 3.5 RULES issue, but if this belongs elsewhere, mods, feel free to use the thread translocationator on it.

Here's the scenario -- Campaign based in 3.5 ruleset. Group of 5-6 players.

Each of the characters is going to start at 1st level, with a class/race/etc. from the absolute basic barebones PHB. The only limitation on their characters is that all will be completely indebted to the extreme to a powerful NPC. This NPC will have near complete power over them.

What the players will not know at the start: the NPC is a powerful necromancer, and any of his servants who fall in combat will be raised as some form of undead creature. The campaign will also feature initially many combats with undead that can 'convert' enemies.

The extremely powerful enemy of the NPC is another NPC who, as has been prophesied, cannot be killed by any living creature. The first NPC wants to develop this young talent and eventually have it grow in power to do his fighting for him once they are powerful enough to have a shot at the enemy.

Throughout the campaign, as characters die, they will return as undead. This will hopefully be obvious with the first character death, but should be completely obvious once a second character shifts.

The plan is to use the rules from Libris Mortis, which as we all know is the ancient book describing rectangular cavities in wood.

I'm deliberately leaving out some details, because my concerns are really rules/system/mechanics based.

I'm looking for advice, stories, experiences that might tie into this - in particular I have concerns like:

- Do undead PCs completely ruin your ability to use standard CRs?

- Are undead PCs from L.M. 'broken' completely?

- Is the immunity to critical hits a 'broken' element of undead PCs?

- Does the 0 hp = destruction issue relieve the issue with critical immunity, but at the cost of even more brokenness?

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[frankthedm]

- Do undead PCs completely ruin your ability to use standard CRs?

Not completely, just most CRs. Monsters that focus on damage become too tough unless the PCs have DR, while if the PCs have DR, than most monsters who don't focus on damage are too weak. Most monsters that work on status effects and poisons will be too weak for their CR. And given that undead flesh is not something even hungry monsters will eat, that throws out most Mindless, Int 1 & Int 2 critters.

- Is the immunity to critical hits a 'broken' element of undead PCs?

Against enemy rogues and other creatures that effects that work of being crit, yes. Against foes in general, the characters will seem fragile without con bonus HP.

- Does the 0 hp = destruction issue relieve the issue with critical immunity, but at the cost of even more brokenness

Relieve? not really.

 

[Dagredhel]

Hi phloog.

Are you familiar with the "Tome of Necromancy" on the Wizards Boards?

There are a wealth of ideas there (as well as a fully "fleshed out" alternate rule set for everything related to the undead.)

The most immediately significant are the alternate subtypes in post #6. They make the intelligent undead more like "living constructs" ala Eberon's Warforged.

IMHO, it is actually much better than Libris Mortis as a resource.

Alternately, you could just repackage that subtype for your PC undead, and avoid some of the issues you'd otherwise face.

 

[Drowbane]

....Are you familiar with the "Tome of Necromancy" on the Wizards Boards?

Awesome link, Dagredhel! I'm sure that my players won't thank you.

 

[Halivar]

- Do undead PCs completely ruin your ability to use standard CRs?

Yes. But it's still loads of un.

- Are undead PCs from L.M. 'broken' completely?

I've never used it, but I have played with the standard undead templates from the MM extensively, and those are broken in many ways. But ti's still fun.

- Is the immunity to critical hits a 'broken' element of undead PCs?

Consider the increase in vulnerabilities as a counter to this. A non-undead fighter can get the same effect with heavy fortification, so I don't think it's a problem.