What classes would you put into this character concept?

[magnusmalkus]

I'd like to design a 10th lvl undead warlord

He could be undead himself (adding ecl's) but doesn't have to be.

I'd like him to be able to command a small squadron of undead at all times.
I'd like him to be able to summon undead magically.
I'd like for him to have an assortment of offensive necromantic and fear inducing spells available.
I'd like for him to combat able himself.

Divine power isn't important but I don't know how i'd pull off being able to command undead otherwise.
I'd like his power to be arcane and have a wide arsenal of spells available. The Spellsword PrC seems attractive.
I'm planning on equiping him with Twilight enchanted mithiril armor so his spell failure chance will be minimal while wearing armor.
Can we pull this off without doing both cleric AND mage?
I guess I could toy with the idea that he'd be a cleric of a god of death and magic (weejas).

???

 

[Quartz]

I think you're looking at a pure cleric. Maybe a Blackguard.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I suggest Undead Leadership (a feat from Libris Mortis.) Apart from that, there aren't really too many ways, that I'm aware of - in WotC books - to gain permanent control of undead at such relatively low class levels.

I guess Cleric (or something derivative) would be the best bet, given you want them to able to fight much at all. Trying to add in mage of any kind will only kill off some combat effectiveness and nerf both types of casting.

 

[szilard]

Divine power isn't important but I don't know how i'd pull off being able to command undead otherwise.

Easy. Use intelligent undead who are either loyal to him (or someone above him) or following him for the moment. Maybe he feeds his ghouls really well...

-Stuart

 

[Corsair]

+0 LA Necropolitan. Basically just gives you the undead type, with no other changes.

 

[szilard]

I was assuming this was an NPC...

Is it supposed to be a PC? That makes it trickier...

Dread Necromancer?

-Stuart

 

[magnusmalkus]

I was assuming this was an NPC...

Is it supposed to be a PC? That makes it trickier...

Dread Necromancer?

-Stuart

Yes, a PC. Where is Dread Necromancer printed?

 

[Maleketh]

Dread Necromancer is from Heroes of Horror. However, I personally recommend the Death Master class from the Dragon Compendium, if you've got it, which is specifically built around creating and commanding undead. You even get free lichdom at 20th level! They can also fight reasonably well, and secialize in necromancy. By all accounts this is almost precisely what you're looking for.

Death Masters don't have access to Summon Undead spells as printed, but you can probably convince your DM to let you add them to your class's list.

 

[Slaved]

With 9 levels in the Incarnate class from Magic of Incarnum you can get an undead companion and a lot of interesting other abilities. Necrocarnum Circlet will give you your companion, changeable quickly as needed, and boost undead Turn Resistance within thirty feet. With a Vitality Belt your Hit Points can be very high. With Illusion Veil you can increase the Saving Difficulty Class and durations of Illusion Spells and Spell-like Abilities! Being able to see through Invisibility and gain a bonus on Spot checks and Saving Throws against Illusions is an added bonus. Any other abilities you would like might be available as well since there are a lot of options!

The extra level could be used to pick up the Spellstitched Template from Complete Arcane. As long as your Wisdom is high enough you will gain all of the spells you are likely to want as Spell-like Abilities so you can ignore the Material Component cost.

With the Necrocarnum Circlet, Undead Leadership, and a couple well chosen Spell-like Abilities you should be set!

 

[sukael]

Dread Necromancer is from Heroes of Horror. However, I personally recommend the Death Master class from the Dragon Compendium, if you've got it, which is specifically built around creating and commanding undead. You even get free lichdom at 20th level! They can also fight reasonably well, and secialize in necromancy. By all accounts this is almost precisely what you're looking for.

Death Masters don't have access to Summon Undead spells as printed, but you can probably convince your DM to let you add them to your class's list.

Dread Necromancer gets lichdom at 20th, along with more spells per day, a lot more class features, spontaneous casting (off its full spell list - this is relatively small, understandably) instead of prepared, and it doesn't have that whole "follower of Orcus" thing.

Death Master gets a larger class list, including some oddly non-necromantic-at-all spells (like shapechange and wind wall), and the undead minion (which you can generally make up for with lots of normally-controlled undead).

I'd say to go with Dread Necromancer if you want to be a super-necromantic specialist without much fuss, or a normal specialist wizard if you want necromancy but normal versatility, or specialist wizard/cleric/true necromancer (Libris Mortis) if you really want the full package.

EDIT: Incidentally, dread necromancer gets proficiency in light armor (no casting failure in it) and a single martial weapon.