Dread Necromancer (Dungeons & Dragons)

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The Dread Necromancer is a character class in the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition, introduced along with the Archivist in Heroes of Horror. Whereas specialist wizards focusing on Necromancy still devote some study to other schools of magic, the dread necromancer is a more focused student of the grim powers of undeath, fear-inducing magic, and evil-aligned spells. Surrendering a broader selection of spells for increased power, dread necromancers are more combat-oriented than most arcane spellcasters, bolstering their spells with numerous abilities related to their studies.

Like several other spellcasting classes, dread necromancers most heavily on these ability scores:

• Charisma: Dread necromancers cannot cast spells without having a Charisma score of at least 10, plus the spell's level, and most have this as their highest score.
• Dexterity: Since the somatic part of the Dread Necromancers' spells are fairly simple, they can wear light armour without risking arcane spell failure, however they still risk spell failure if using a shield or medium to heavy armour. Consequently, a good dexterity is important to avoid being hit in combat.
• Constitution: Although they have a higher hit die than sorcerers or wizards, the environments and energies that dread necromancers work with can be taxing on their physical health, demanding a high constitution.

Although no currently published race has the dread necromancer as a favourite class, humans are described as being the most likely of the standard races to choose this class, as well as some elves and half-orcs. Githyanki and Drow dread necromancers also exist, although the githyanki are the only known race whose culture as a whole praises these spellcasters. The Drow despise the dread necromancer, since it inevitably means turning away from their goddess, Lolth.

Contents 1 Class Features 1.1 Alignment 1.2 Spells 1.3 Familiar 1.4 Other Abilities 2 References

[edit] Class Features

Although dread necromancers learn new spells slower than wizards or sorcerers, they make up for this in numerous other abilities.

[edit] Alignment

Dread necromancers can be of any non-good alignment, and many of their abilities are implicitly or explicitly described as evil. Some (most likely PCs) may balance their evil acts with good intentions, however they will never be entirely good

[edit] Spells

Although they have a unique spell list, dread necromancers otherwise learn new spells automatically and cast spontaneously as sorcerers do, without preparation.

[edit] Familiar

As they become more powerful, dread necromancers gain the option of summoning a familiar. Unlike other spellcasters, they may only choose from a small list of innately evil creatures: imp, quasit, vargouille, or ghostly visage.

[edit] Other Abilities

• Charnel Touch: This ability allows a dread necromancer to channel negative energy through their hands, which they can use to either attack living foes or heal undead. At 6th level, this ability is improved upon as a Scabrous Touch, allowing the dread necromancer to inflict targets with a disease of their choice at a touch; and by 12th level, they gain an Enervating Touch which bestows negative levels on targets.
• Rebuke Undead: Like a cleric, dread necromancers can command or rebuke undead.
• Lich Body: As they advance in levels, a dread necromancer becomes more and more like the undead creatures they study, transforming into a full-fledged lich at 20th level. This transformation does not require the expenditure of gold or experience points to create a phylactery.
• Negative Energy Burst: an explosion of energy which harms living creatures and heals undead, emanating from the dread necromancer.
• Advanced Learning: Through the dedication to necromancy, dread necromancers are able to eventually add spells from the cleric and sorceror/wizard spell lists to their own.
• Mental Bastion: Dread necromancers gain a stronger resistance to sleep spells and effects, poison, stunning, paralysis, or disease as they advance in levels.
• Fear Aura: Like some monsters, more powerful dread necromancers naturally exude a 5-foot fear aura.
• Undead Mastery: At later levels, undead creatures created by dread necromancers are exceptionally powerful, and more may be commanded through the animate dead and control undead spells than by other spellcasters.
• Negative Energy Resistance: Through their studies and exposure to negative energy, dread necromancers become adept at resisting spells and effects which utilise it.
• Light Fortification: Equivalent to the armour special ability of the same name, this ability grants dread necromancers resistance to critical hits which improves as they advance in level.
• Craft Wondrous Item: In order to prepare their phylactery for becoming a lich, dread necromancers receive this feat as a bonus feat at 19th level.

[edit] References