Necromancer[ v0.4.

2here,mostrecent]
Robesbillowingaroundhim,ahumanstandsatopahillwatchinglegionsofundeadmarchtowardsacity
inthedeadofnight.Asthefrontlinesreachthegatesanalarmgoesoffwithinthecity,butitisalready
toolate.Thecityissurrounded,andtheresnohelpcoming.
Withherscythecuttingthroughthelaststalkofwheat,anelfwipesthesweatfromherbrowandtakesa
momenttoobservethefiftyorsoskeletonsinfrontofher,allwithscythescuttingwheatthemselves.Out
ofthecornerofhereye,shenoticesaghoulshamblingoveranearbyhill.Withaquickglarefromtheelf,
theghoulstopsandturnsaround,reportingtoherthatthereisanarmyfollowingit.Theelftakesoff
runningwithwhatwheatshehasandtheskeletonsfollowher.
Ahalflingkneelsbehindacolumnatthebodyofhisbestfriend,adwarf.Crying,hereachesouttothe
bodyandmuttersdisdainfully.Heasksoutloudifhisfriendwouldlendhimhisstrengthsothatoneof
themmightbeabletolive.Afterafewseconds,thenowundeaddwarfstandsupandchargesanearby
goblin,buyingthehalflingjustenoughtimetogetaway.Herunsbacktotownjustintimetowarnthem
ofthecominggoblinhorde.
Necromancerschannelthepoweroflifeanddeath.Theymaybeweakthemselves,buttheymakeupforit
bysurroundingthemselveswithundeadminionsthattheycontrolasiftheywereanextensionofthe
necromancersownbody.Necromancyisnotsomethingpeopleundertakelightly,asafalsestepinthe
wrongcompanymaycauseonetolosetheirhead.

UndeadMinions
Necromancersexertcontroloverundeadcreaturesasiftheywerepartofthesamecreature.Unlikehordes
ofwildundead,theundeadcontrolledbyanecromanceractasoneunit,oftenrunning(orshambling)to
eachothersaidwhenamemberofthehordeisinjuredordestroyed.

ALifeofConsequences
Necromancersdonthavethebesthistorywithpeople.Thoughthelargemajorityofnecromancersmerely
wanttohelppeople,whetheritbeincommunicatingwithdeadfamilymembersoroverthrowing
tyrannicalkings,evilnecromancersarebyfarmorewellknownfortheoccasionalinvasionofapeaceful
city,whichpeopledonttendtotakekindlyto.
Anecromancermustalwaysbecarefulofhiscompany,becausewhilemanypeoplewillseekto
understandhisintentions,justasmanywillignorethemaltogetherintheassumptionheisevil.

CreatingaNecromancer
Themostimportantthingtoconsiderwhencreatinganecromancerarethereasonsyoubecamea
necromancer.Wereyoudriventotheedgewhensomeoneyoulovewaskilledordidanoppressive
governmentleadtoyourseekingrebellion?Eitherway,anecromancerisoftenmisunderstoodbythose
aroundthem.Necromancersmustusuallyhidetheirabilitiestoavoidpersecution.

QuickBuild
YoucanmakeaNecromancerquicklybyfollowingthesesuggestions.First,makeCharismayourhighest
abilityscore,followedbyConstitution,andStrengthorDexterityafterthatifyouplanontakingthe
ReaperArchetype.Second,choosetheSagebackground.
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TheNecromancer

Level

Proficiency
Bonus

Features

1st

+2

ControlUndead,RaiseUndead

2nd

+2

Lifetap

3rd

+2

Archetype

4th

+2

AbilityScoreImprovement

5th

+3

CharnelTouch,AuraofUndeath

6th

+3

ArchetypeFeature

7th

+3

DarkEnergyBurst

8th

+3

AbilityScoreImprovement

9th

+4

ControlandRaiseUndeadImprovement

10th

+4

ArchetypeFeature

11th

+4

AuraofUndeathImprovement

12th

+4

AbilityScoreImprovement

13th

+5

DominateUndead,SacrificeUndead

14th

+5

ArchetypeFeature

15th

+5

EtherealMind

16th

+5

AbilityScoreImprovement

17th

+6

AuraofUndeathImprovement

18th

+6

RaiseUndeadImprovement

19th

+6

AbilityScoreImprovement

20th

+6

DeathGeneral

MulticlassingRequirements:Constitution13,Charisma13
MulticlassingProficiencies:EmbalmingTools,SimpleWeapons,noarmor

ClassFeatures
AsaNecromancer,yougainthefollowingclassfeatures.

HitPoints
HitDice:1d6perNecromancerlevel
HitPointsat1stlevel:6+yourConstitutionmodifier
HitPointsatHigherLevels:1d6(or4)+yourConstitutionmodifierperNecromancerlevelafter1st

Proficiencies
Armor:Lightarmor
Weapons:Allsimpleweapons,scythes
Tools:E
mbalmingtools
SavingThrows:Constitution,Charisma
Skills:ChoosetwofromArcana,Deception,History,Insight,Intimidation,Medicine,Persuasion,and
Religion
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Equipment
Youstartwiththefollowingequipment,inadditiontotheequipmentgrantedbyyourbackground:
(a)leatherarmorandtwodaggersor(b)alightcrossbowand20bolts
Anarcanefocusandembalmingtools
(a)anysimpleweaponor(b)ascythe
(a)adungeoneerspackor(b)ascholarspack

ControlUndead
At1stlevel,yougaintheabilitytobringwildundeadunderyourcontrolbyforce.Asanaction,targetan
uncontrolledundeadwithanIntelligencelowerthan8within30feetofyou.Theundeadmakesa
CharismasaveDC8+yourproficiencybonus+yourCharismamodifier,andifitfailsitisbroughtunder
yourcontrolindefinitely,butifitsucceedsyoucannotusethisfeatureonitagainfor24hours.Youmay
onlycontrolundeadinthiswaythatdonothaveaCRgreaterthanyourlevel.Whenyoutakeover
undeadinthisway,theyareconsideredanimatedbyyou,andifyoudonotalreadycontroltheundead
youtakedamageequalto1per1/8CRofundeadcontrolled(minimum1)andyourHPmaximumis
reducedbyanequalamount.ThisDamageandHPreductioncannotbereducedbyanymeans.Yourhit
pointmaximumisrestoredasthecontrolledundeaddieorleaveyourcontrol,butyouarenothealed.You
maycontrolamaximumnumberofUndeadequaltoyourCharismamodifier(minimum1)timesyour
Necromancerlevel.
Youmaycontrolanyundeadyoucontrolasanactiononyourturn.At9thlevel,thischangestoabonus
action.Ifyouarenotactivelycontrollingyourundead,theywillattempttoexecuteyourlastorderstothe
bestoftheirability.Youonlymaintaincontrolofyourundeadaslongastheyarewithin1mileofyou.If
theyleavea1mileradius,theyleaveyourcontrolandactasnormalundead.
Undeadyoucontrolreporttoyoupsychicallyanycreaturesorenvironmentthattheycansee.You
innatelyknowthegeneraldirectionanddistanceofallcontrolledundead.

RaiseUndead
Startingat1stlevel,youmayuseyourownlifeforcetoanimaterecentlydeadcorpses.Usingyouraction,
youmaytouchacreaturethatdiedinthelastminuteandraiseitasanundeadunderyourcontrol
indefinitely.Youmustspendanhourraisingacreatureifithasbeendeadforlongerthanaminute.
Wheneveryouusethisclassfeature,youtakedamageequalto1per1/8CRofundeadcontrolled
(minimum1)andyourHPmaximumisreducedbyanequalamount.ThisDamageandHPreduction
cannotbereducedbyanymeans.Yourhitpointmaximumisrestoredasthecontrolledundeaddieor
leaveyourcontrol,butyouarenothealed.YoumayonlyraiseundeadinthiswaythatdonothaveaCR
greaterthanyourlevel,andyouarelimitedtoundeadwithanintelligencelowerthat8.At9thlevel,you
gaintheabilitytocreateundeadwithanintelligencescoreof8orhigher,butitmustbelessthan13.At
18thlevel,younolongerhaverestrictionsonthekindsofundeadyoucancreatebasedonintelligence
score.

Lifetap
At2ndlevel,youlearntofreelymanipulateyourownlifeenergy.Asanaction,youmaytouchany
undeadyouhaveanimatedanddealanyamountofdamagetoituptoitscurrenthealth,givingyou
temporaryhitpointsorhealinganyotherundeadyoucantouchthatyouhaveanimatedforanamount
equaltothedamagedealt.Alternatively,youcanuseanactiontotouchanycreatureandchannelyour
ownlifeforceintoit.Thisdamagesyouforanyamountuptohalfyourmaximumhitpointsoryour
currenthitpoints,whicheverislower,thatyouchooseandthenhealsthetargetforanequalamount.

NecromanticAspiration
At3rdlevelchooseaNecromanticAspiration:Caretaker,Reaper,andSummoner,alldetailedattheend
oftheclassdescription.Yourchoicegrantsyoufeaturesat3rdlevel,andagainat6th,10th,and14th
level.

AbilityScoreImprovement
Whenyoureach4thlevel,andagainat8th,12th,16th,and19thlevel,youcanincreaseoneabilityscore
ofyourchoiceby2,oryoucanincreasetwoabilityscoresofyourchoiceby1.Asnormal,youcant
increaseanabilityscoreabove20usingthisfeature.

CharnelTouch
At5thlevel,youlearntotouchthelivesofyourfoesandstealthemforyourself.Asanaction,youmay
makearangedspellattack(proficiency+Charismamodifier)againstalivingcreaturewithin60feet.If
theattackhits,thetargettakes1d8damageplusyourcharismamodifier.Thisdamageincreasesto2d8at
11thlevel,andto3d8at17thlevel.
Additionally,ifthetargetoftheattackdies,yougaintemporaryhitpointsequaltohalfthedamagedealt.

AuraofUndeath
Startingat5thlevel,yougainanauraofundeath.Youmayuseabonusactiontoactivateanyorallauras
youknowandyoumayturnanyofthemoffatanytimeforfreeonyourturn.
Youchooseoneofthefollowingauraswhenyougainthisfeature,andagainat11thand17thlevels.
WhenyourAuraofUndeathisturnedonyoumaintainanyaurasyouchooseuntilyoudismisstheeffect.
YoumayuseabonusactiononfutureturnstoactivateadditionalAuraeffects,butmaydismissthemfor
free.YourAuraofUndeathhasaradiusof30ft,andaffectsallundeadyoucontrolwithinit.SomeAura
effectsrequireyoutotakedamageatthebeginningofyourturnstomaintainthem.Thiscostisnotedon
eachAuraeffect.
IfanUnholyAuraandaHolyAuraoverlap,creaturesintheoverlappingareasgetnoneofthebenefitsof
either(soAuraofUndeathandaPaladinsDevotionAurawouldcancelout).

AuraofFerocity
Costs2hp/round.
AffectedcreaturesmayaddyourCharismamodifiertotheirdamagerollswithweaponattacks.

AuraofResilience
Costs1hp/round.
AffectedcreaturesmayaddyourCharismamodifiertoanysavingthrowstheymake.

AuraofRetaliation
Costs2hp/round.
Affectedcreaturesmaymakeanattackofopportunityagainstanycreaturethatattacksthemwith
ameleeweaponormeleespellattack.

AuraofTenacity
Costs3hp/round.
Affectedcreaturestakelessdamagefromnonmagicalbludgeoning,piercing,andslashing
damageequaltohalfyourCharismaModifier,roundedup(minimum1).

AuraofTerror
Costs2hp/round.
Affectedcreaturesbecomemoremenacing.Anyenemycreaturethatstartsitsturnormoves
within5feetofanaffectedcreaturemustmakeawisdomsavingthrowagainstDC8+your
proficiencybonus+yourcharismamodifierorbecomefrightenedfor1minute.Theymayrepeat
thissaveattheendofeachoftheirturns.Iftheysucceedontheirsave,theybecomeimmuneto
thiseffectfor24hours.Anycreaturesthatarefrightenedwhenthisauraendsstopbeing
frightened.

DarkNova
At7thlevel,yougaintheabilitytochannelyourlifeforcetodamagenearbyenemies.Asanaction,you
releaseDarkenergyina10ft.radiusspherewithyourselfasthepointoforigin.Creatureshitbythis
burstofdarkenergymaymakeaConstitutionsavingthrowDC=8+yourproficiencybonus+your
Charismamodifier.Onafailuretheytake3d8necroticdamageandarepushed5feetawayfromyou.On
asuccessfulsave,theytakehalfdamageandarenotpushed.Thisdamageincreasesto5d8at11thlevel,
andto7d8at17thlevel.YoumayusethisabilityanumberoftimesperlongrestequaltoyourCharisma
Modifier.

SacrificeUndead
Startingat10thlevel,yougaintheabilitytosacrificeyourcontrolledundeadtorestoreyourlifewhen
youwouldbeknockedunconscious.Asareactiontotakingdamagethatwouldreduceyouto0hitpoints,
youmaysacrificeanundeadyoucontrolwithin30feettoinsteaddropto1hitpoint.Youmayusethis
featureonceperlongrest.

DominateUndead
At13thlevel,theabilitiesofyourControlundeadfeatureextendtointelligentundeadandundead
controlledbyothernecromancers.Intelligentundeadarehardertocontrolinthisway.Ifthetargethasan
Intelligenceof8orhigher,ithasadvantageonthesavingthrow.Ifitfailsthesavingthrowandhasan
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Intelligenceof12orhigher,itcanrepeatthesavingthrowattheendofeveryhouruntilitsucceedsand
breaksfree.
Ifanundeadyouaretryingtocontroliscontrolledbysomeoneelse,youmayinsteaduseyouractionto
initiateacontestagainstsaidcreature.Bothofyouroll1d20andaddyourProficiencybonusand
Charismamodifiers.Ifyouwinthecontest,theundeadisbroughtunderyourcontrol,butintheeventofa
tieorifyoulose,nothinghappens.Onceanundeadhasbeencontestedlikethis,itcannotbecontested
againfor1hour.IftheundeadhasanIntelligenceof8orhigher,itmaygrantadvantageinthiscontestto
eithernecromancer.

EtherealMind
Startingat15thlevel,yourknowledgeofnecromancyallowsyoutounderstandconceptsofspirituality
foreigntonormalpeople.First,onceperday,youmayuseyouractiontosee60feetintotheethereal
planefor10minutes.
Additionally,onceperday,whentouchingadeadbody,youmaybegina1hourritual,duringwhichyou
mayconversefreelywiththesoulthatpreviouslyinhabitedit,providedthesouliswilling.Ifyouhavea
possessionofthespirityouaretryingtocontact,youmayalsousethattocontactthem

DeathGeneral
At20thlevel,yougaintheabilitytochooseasinglecontrolledundeadasyourDeathGeneral.This
undeadcanbechosenfromanyundeadyoucontrolandgainsanumberofadditionalbenefits.
CreatingaDeathGeneralrequiresperformingan8hourritualeverydayforaweekand5,000gpworthof
materials.
YourGeneralsHPcostisincreasedby20HP.
YourGeneralsHitPointsaretheirnormalHPor100,whicheverishigher.
YourGeneralsIntelligence,Wisdom,andCharismaarereplacedwithyourown,andtheyadd
yourweaponandarmorproficienciestotheirown.
Yourgeneralhasacontrolradiusequaltoyourownandyoumaycontrolundeadwithinthat
radius.YourGeneralcanbecontrolledaslongasyouexistonthesameplaneofexistence,andhe
willacttoreachyouifyouareseparatedinsuchaway.
WhenyoumanifestyourAuraofUndeath,ControlUndead,orDarkNovaclassfeatures,you
maydosofromyourGeneralslocation,buttheydonotmanifestfromyourownlocationifyou
dothis.
YoumayuseanactiontobeginseeingthroughyourGeneralssenses.Thislastsuntilyouendit
andcausesyoutobecomeblindanddeaftoanythingaroundyourownbody.
YouinnatelyknowthegeneraldirectionanddistanceofanyundeadwithintheGeneralscontrol
radius,andifanundeadiswithinbothyoursandyourGeneralsradiusyouknowitsexact
location.
Anytimeyouwoulddieforanyreason.YourGeneraldiesinstead,andyourbodyisteleportedto
asafeplacechosenbyyourDMonthesameplaneofexistence,unconsciousbutstable.Any
undeadyoucontrolleaveyourinfluenceandbecomewild.

Alternatively,youmaychoosetobecometheDeathGeneralyourself.BecomingaDeathGeneralrequires
performingan8hourritualeverydayforaweek,buthasnogoldcost.Whenyoudothis,yougainthe
followingfeatures.
YourMaximumHPisincreasedby40,butthesehitpointscannotbeusedtocontrolundead.
YougainproficiencyinWisdomsavingthrows.
YourCharnelTouchdealsanadditional1d8damage.
TherangesofyourDarkNovaandAuraofUndeatharedoubled.
Yourundeadcontrolradiusisdoubled.

NecromanticAspirations
Necromancerssharetheiraffinitywithundead,buthowtheytreattheirundeadoftenvaries.A
NecromancerthatmindstheirundeadcarefullyisverydifferentfromaNecromancerthatsitsbackwhile
hisarmywageswar,andbothoftheseareverydifferentfromaNecromancerthatfightsonthefrontline
withtheirundeadastheirleader.

Caretaker
Careforandenhanceasmallgroupofundead.

EnhancedAnimation
At3rdlevel,thedamageandmaxHPcostperCRofanimatingundeadincreasesbyyourproficiency
bonus.Asaresult,undeadyoucontrolmayaddyourproficiencybonustohitandhavebonusHPequalto
yournecromancerlevel.

EnhancedResilience
Startingat6thlevel,undeadyoucreatehaveAC=8+yourproficiencybonus+theirdexteritymodifier.

ConsciousAnimations
Startingat10thlevel,youranimationsmaymaintainafacetoftheirlivingconsciousness.Theseundead
arecapableofmakingtheirowndecision,andhaveanintelligenceandwisdomnolowerthan10.

DarkRestoration
Startingat10thlevel,yourDarkNovafeaturehealsundeadyoucontrolforanamountequaltohalfthe
damagetheywouldhavetaken.

SelectiveBinding
Startingat14thlevel,yougaintheabilitytoanimatebodiesbybindingwillingspiritstothem.Youmust
spendanhourbindingthespirittothebody,allowingthespirittoanimateit.Theghostmaintainsthe
abilitytoleavethebody,endingthiseffect.Theanimatedbodyactsasifitwereanormalundead,butis
controlledbythespirit.

Reaper
Cutdownyourenemieswithyourownunholypowers.
7

BonusProficiencies
At3rdlevel,yougainproficiencyinMediumArmorandMartialWeapons.

DarkStrike
Startingat3rdlevel,yourmeleeweaponattacksdealbonusnecroticdamageequaltoyourcharisma
modifier(minimum1)onceperturn.Whenyoudealdamagewiththisfeature,youarehealedforan
amountequaltohalfyourbonusdamageroundedup(minimum1).
At10thlevel,yourDarkStrikedealsanadditional1d8necroticdamage.Thisincreasesto2d8at14th
level.

ExtraAttack
Startingat6thlevel,youmaymakeanadditionalattackwhenyoutaketheattackaction.

Warcaster
At10thlevelyougaintheabilitytointerweaveyourweaponattacksandyourmagic.Whenyoutakethe
Attackactiononyourturn,youmaycastCharnelTouchorDarkNovaasabonusaction.

SoulReaper
Startingat14thlevel,wheneveryoukillacreaturewithDarkStrike,youmayuseyourRaiseUndead
ClassFeatureonthecreatureyoukilledasabonusaction.

Summoner
Summonmassivehordesofundeadtocrushyourenemies.

EfficientAnimation
At3rdlevel,thedamageandmaxHPcostperCRofanimatingundeaddecreasesbyyourproficiency
bonuswhencreatingorcontrollingundeadofaCRlessthanorequaltohalfyourlevel(roundedup)or
lower.

SummonUndead
Startingat6thlevel,younolongerrequireacorpsetocreateundead,asyoucanjustaseasilysummon
themtoaspacewithin5feetofyoudirectlyfromanotherplanesuchattheShadowfellortheNegative
Energyplane.Thisprocesstakes1hour.

Grandmaster
Startingat10thlevel,yougaintheabilitytocontrolyourundeadfromupto10milesaway.This
increasesto20milesat20thlevel.

UnholySiegemaster
At14thlevel,yougaintheabilitytocreateundeadsiegeengines.Thesesiegecreaturesfunctionexactly
asiftheywerenormalsiegeequipment,butareconsideredcontrolledundeadwithaCRof1per10HP
theyhave(soaMangonelwith100hpwouldbeconsideredCR10,or75hpisCR7).Eachsiegeengine
takes1hourperCRtocreateanddoesnotrequireacrewtooperate.
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LichRules
Anybodycanbecomealich,thoughittakesextensivearcaneknowledgetocreateaphylactery.

BecomingaLich
LearntheRitesofLichdomarcanesigilsofnaming,binding,immortality,anddarkmagic.Nomortal
knowstheRites,andyoumusteitherbargainwithanevilgodofDeathfortheknowledgeorfindthe
secretwritingsofapastlich.NolichislikelytohelpyoubecomealichforthesamereasonHigh
Wizardsdontsharetheirbestspells:theyareafraidoftheirownknowledgebeingusedagainstthem.
PrepareaPhylacterybywritingtheRitesofLichdomontheinsideofacontainerinsilver.YourDMmay
haveyoumakeDexterityorIntelligence(Arcana)checksifyouarentaproficientscribe.
DrinkaPotionofTransformationmadeofpoisonandthebloodofasentientcreature.
Dieimmediately,thenriseasalichasyoursoulisdrawnintothePhylactery.

LichTraits
YougainthefollowingtraitsuponattainingLichdom:
UndeadTraits:doesnotrequireair,food,drink,orsleep
Resistances:cold,lightning,necrotic
DamageImmunities:poisonbludgeoning,piercing,andslashingdamagefromnonmagicalweapons
ConditionImmunities:charmed,exhaustion,frightened,paralyzed,poisoned
Truesightoutto120feet
LegendaryResistance:3/day
Regeneration:IfyouhaveaPhylactery,whenyouaredestroyedyougainanewbodywithin1d10days,
regainingallhitpointsandbecomingactiveagain.Thenewbodyappearswithin5feetofthephylactery.

FeedingYourPhylactery
Youmustfeedyourphylacteryasoul,imprisonedviaaspecialuseoftheImprisonmentspell,oncea
weekoryouwillgraduallydeteriorateintoademilich.
TheImprisonmentspellhasanadditionaluse,detailedbelow:
TraptheSoul:Thespellcapturesthesoulofacreaturethatdiedinthelast24hours.Thetargetcannot
beresurrectedbyanymeansshortofaTrueResurrectionspell.ThisuseofImprisonmenthasnospecial
materialcomponentcost.

NecromancerArt

http://bradwhitlam.deviantart.com/art/Diablo2NecromancerHoTSidea452571747
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=262669
http://xiwik.deviantart.com/art/Necromancer110364235

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http://benwootten.deviantart.com/art/KarrnathOntheMarch134549482
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/images/d/d9/Dhuum.jpg

Unsourced
http://simonarpalmer.deviantart.com/art/ElfNecromancer163088651

http://www.deviantart.com/art/NecromancerFFG206334375
http://simonarpalmer.deviantart.com/art/TheHiddenPower387901409

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http://hbknight.deviantart.com/art/GuidingTheDamned553200301

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