Dread necromancer: Difference between revisions

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 rely 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. However, it is important to note that the dread necromancer eventually become liches themselves, which have no 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.

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

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

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

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.