What makes a good elite undead man-at-arms?

[Errant]

Mmmm, Wight Template could work nicely. Especially with the variant Con damage (gives them a similarity to Death Knights). I think they'd be at least CR +2 though.

Definite potential. Thanks Hong. Thanks for everyone's feedback for that matter.

If anyone else has any suggestions, or thoughts on swapping the Create Spawn ability for DR 5/+1, I'm still grateful to hear them.

 

[the Jester]

How about huecuva with monk levels? I used one of those once... it was a cool treat.

Or there's always the good ol' son of kyuss...

Wraiths might make a good choice, especially advanced ones (so the save DC on their con damage would go up)... but then, using wight variants like you were discussing above would also have the same effect.

 

[FireLance]

Forget undead - why hand those pesky clerics and paladins an advantage against your elite guard? Not to mention PRCs like Hunter of the Dead and magic weapons with the Disruption property.

Go for constructs instead. While most of the constructs listed in the MM are unintelligent, I see no reason why the process for making magic items intelligent can't be used to make an iron golem smart. If you're feeling nasty, let them gain character levels, too.

 

[2late]

Why mess around with Undead or constructs?

Use empowered Simulacrums of 20+ level Characters: 100% loyal, usally more flexible, and you can make nearly to inifinite number of Simulacrums of the same Person (As long as this person is alive to regrow the needed body parts(HAir, nail, etc...)).

Talk to elminsters Hairdresser if he still employs workers for temporary help and cleaning the ground

Why mess around wth undead if you can have (50+1w10%)x1.5 of any powerful NPC you can imagine?

And if you have a few levels of incantrix you can empower twice (50+1w10%)x1.5 x1.5

And also they are much cheaper than most Golems: 100gp+1000xp in oposite to a flesh golem 50000Gp+1000xp

And as a nice suprise for all adventurers which try to raid your tomb: Simulacrums of Your-Lich-Self, Looks Undead(Although a magical construct), looks like you, casts Spells like you, and if they got the sense that there are infinte numbers of you, they'll try to leave ASAP.

 

[Cheerio]

Swordwraiths?

(from Living Greyhawk Journal - can't remember the issue though)

 

[Zhure]

Elven high level NE Druids and LN Monks live freakin' forever. Well, a long time.

Greg

 

[Nightfall]

I've always been a fan of binding low level fiends to act as shock troops. They're smart, fairly good at fighting AND if you play your cards right, work out well as guardsmen.

Ferals for example, about 3d4 packs of them, make for great troops since when they die, the others gain their HD AND increase their respect strength.

Leonine Demons, smart hardier fighters AND they enjoy blood letting.

Retreviers, contrusts AND they can be ordered by anyone IF you get the right leader to handle them.

For undead, Crypt Spawn, or just adding the Undead template from Necromancy works too.