Warlock Dark Invocation: Create Undead

[Eolin]

The Why: I want Warlocks to be capable of being powerful necromancers. Somewhere between the standard power level of a wizard necromancer and a cleric necromancer.

The What: Dark Invocation, Create Undead as per the spell.

i am also considering a feat or invocation allowing the Eldritch Blast to do negative energy. What level invocation should that be?

Would this make the Warlock a better necromancer? Is it overly powerful? Other thoughts?

Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Clr 6, Death 6, Evil 6, Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One corpse
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Caster Level Undead Created
11th or lower Ghoul
12th-14th Ghast
15th-17th Mummy
18th or higher Mohrg

A much more potent spell than animate dead, this evil spell allows you to create more powerful sorts of undead: ghouls, ghasts, mummies, and mohrgs. The type or types of undead you can create is based on your caster level, as shown on the table below.

You may create less powerful undead than your level would allow if you choose. Created undead are not automatically under the control of their animator. If you are capable of commanding undead, you may attempt to command the undead creature as it forms.

This spell must be cast at night.
Material Component

A clay pot filled with grave dirt and another filled with brackish water. The spell must be cast on a dead body. You must place a black onyx gem worth at least 50 gp per HD of the undead to be created into the mouth or eye socket of each corpse. The magic of the spell turns these gems into worthless shells.

 

[Nifft]

Per usual, the Warlock Invocation should only work on one critter at a time. Also, I'd retard the progression a bit, which would compensate for the Invocation being free.

Cheers, -- N

 

[DogBackward]

I think it's just fine, considering that the undead created aren't under your control, and the Warlock has no way of taking control of them. All you can do is make your Diplomacy ("Don't eat me!") check and hope it works. Perhaps a Lesser Invocation for Command Undead (1 round/level instead of 1 day) would help.

Your "Negative Energy Blast" should also be an eldritch Essence Invocation, not a feat. Your Eldritch Blast deals Negative Energy damage. If it's used against an undead, it instead heals 1 point of damage per 5 class levels. (Similar to the Dread Necromancer's ability) At will healing of undead, at least by the d6 worth, is a bit much, but if it's only a few points at a time, that should be alright. Now, since nothing has NEgative Energy Resistance naturally, but it can be done with a spell, I think this one should be a Lesser Invocation as well.

 

[Eolin]

Your "Negative Energy Blast" should also be an eldritch Essence Invocation, not a feat. Your Eldritch Blast deals Negative Energy damage. If it's used against an undead, it instead heals 1 point of damage per 5 class levels. (Similar to the Dread Necromancer's ability) At will healing of undead, at least by the d6 worth, is a bit much, but if it's only a few points at a time, that should be alright. Now, since nothing has NEgative Energy Resistance naturally, but it can be done with a spell, I think this one should be a Lesser Invocation as well.

To keep it simple, how about it heals 1 point per d6 damage?

 

[DogBackward]

Either way, I guess. Just so long as it's only a few points at a time. Don't forget, though, that this becomes a very handy combo with Tomb-tainted Soul or an undead Warlock.

 

[Nifft]

An Eldritch Essence invocation that healed full Eldritch Blast damage to undead that you created would be fine. Healing undead PCs is not fine, especially not yourself.

How's that? It deals negative energy damage, does nothing to most undead, and heals undead you personally created.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Eolin]

An Eldritch Essence invocation that healed full Eldritch Blast damage to undead that you created would be fine. Healing undead PCs is not fine, especially not yourself.

But ... if it is negative energy, why would it only heal your undead? What's the rationale, other than balance?

 

[Nifft]

But ... if it is negative energy, why would it only heal your undead? What's the rationale, other than balance?

"But it's only got a little negative in it!"

That's right, it's just balance. Same reason I'd restrict the Create Undead invocation to only animate one critter at a time.

If you really can't come up with flavor to fit that mechanic, maybe someone else can? I have in inkling as to how I'd paint it in my game, but I don't feel like defending incomplete flavor; so you go first, please.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Drowbane]

The Why: I want Warlocks to be capable of being powerful necromancers. Somewhere between the standard power level of a wizard necromancer and a cleric necromancer.

The What: Dark Invocation, Create Undead as per the spell.?

Works fine as a Dark. Perhaps Create Undead as a Greater Invocation and with Create Undead-Greater as a Dark Invocation.

i am also considering a feat or invocation allowing the Eldritch Blast to do negative energy. What level invocation should that be??

Utterdark Blast.

Or were you thinking of a Greater thats changes it to Negative Energy without the threat of also throwing on two negative levels?

Would this make the Warlock a better necromancer? Is it overly powerful? Other thoughts?

Makes for an awesomely creepy guy with Undead minions and a killer (hah! I kill me!) Blast. But a better Necromancer overall? No.

 

[Eolin]

Or were you thinking of a Greater thats changes it to Negative Energy without the threat of also throwing on two negative levels?

Right. Change the energy type, as many things do at the lesser level, but do not give the negative levels.

Makes for an awesomely creepy guy with Undead minions and a killer (hah! I kill me!) Blast. But a better Necromancer overall? No.

What would, then?