Undead Controller (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
This character shows all those second rate clerics and wizards what it truly means to control the undead.
References
Heroes of Horror, Libris Mortis, Spell Compendium, Complete Mage.
Game Rule Components
Race and Templates
Human
Classes
Dread Necromancer/Heroes of Horror
Feats
Mother Cyst, Tomb Tainted Soul
Spells, Powers, Items
Cloak of Charisma. Beg, borrow, buy, cheat, or steal for one. The higher, the better.
Miscellaneous
At level 8, you should be able to control 80+ HD worth of undead. And it just gets better as you go. This class nearly builds itself.
Progression
The only stat we're worried about here is Cha. It'd be nice to have an 18 to start with, but if you're working off a point buy, 16 is workable. As a d6 class, Con is nice, but by level 20 we'll fix that regardless. Don't waste points in it.
At first level, make sure to put skill points in K: Arcana and K: Religion for the Mother Cyst feat.
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dread Necro | Mother Cyst (Human), Tomb-Tainted Soul | Martial Weapon Proficiency (Spear, Trident, anything with Range), Rebuke Undead |
| 2nd | Dread Necro | N/A | |
| 3rd | Dread Necro | Sickening Grasp (Reserve feat, C. Mage) | |
| 4th | Dread Necro | Advanced Learning: Bonefiddle Stat point: Cha +1 | |
| 5th | Dread Necro | Fear Aura | |
| 6th | Dread Necro | Eschew Materials | |
| 7th | Dread Necro | Summon Familiar: Ghostly Visage | |
| 8th | Dread Necro | Undead Mastery Stat point: Cha +1 |
Highlights
By 8th level, you should be able to get a hold of a Cloak of Charisma. +4 is what we're shooting for, and if it's the only magical item you own, not too hard to get.. If you started with an 18 Cha, you'll have a 24 by now, but 22 with a starting 16 Cha.
Undead Mastery allows you to control (4 + your Cha modifier) HD undead per level with an animate dead spell, instead of the standard 4 HD/level. With a +6 or a +7 Cha modifier, That's either 10 or 11 HD per level and at 8th level, is 80 or 88 HD, which only goes up as you get higher level. That's 4 undead young adult red dragon skeletons at your beck and call. If you can find their corpses.
As for your own melee combat, at the 10' mark, manifest your familiar on your body, forcing the attacker to save at DC 13 Will or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. If the attacker saves, he gives you an AOO from your range weapon. Once he steps into combat with you, he immediately has to make a Will save of DC: (10+ 1/2 class levels+Cha modifier) or fall under your fear effect. At level 8, that's a minimum of a 20 Will save or be shaken.
Munchkin-Size Me
DM's discression only--- At lvl 9 take a level as a cleric of the Deathbound Domain increasing your limit for controling undead with spells to three times your caster level (libris mortis page 60) this does not include animated but it will increse your # of undead if you meet any on your travels. And finally get yourself a Rod of undead mastery (M175) which doubles your # of controled undead which will take you from 80HD to 160HD or from 88HD to 172HD. You Must Ask your DM if these effects Stack
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