Undead Cohort!

[lordvoo]

Hi!
So I am currently in an evil themed 3.5 game, the DM has said it is okay for me to take undead leadership, and I'm just wondering what I should make. We are currently lvl 7, and I am playing a blind Dread Necromancer (Granted BlindSight) with a Ghostly Visage familiar.. I was thinking of making my cohort an undead bard with the feat that allows music to affect undead, so he can buff up my army of minions I will eventually have, but not sure how the best way to build that would be. Any suggestions?

[phaedrusxy]

Here is a bardic "gish" that I made for a Ravenloft game that might make a decent start for you. Slap the necropolitan template on him, and he should be good to go.

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Yeah I was thinking necropolitan too, and LA Buy-off.  The cohort exp mini-game takes care of all that.

2 flaws, for that feat that gives +2 to turning resistance ... idk maybe last year on fun finds.

[lordvoo]

the DM has nix'd flaws - I like the posted build, a few things I'll probably tweak but I like the concept. Any further information would be greatly appreciated! I especially like the + to charge dmg, as right now at lvl 7 I only have 2 minions, which are Minotaur zombies, so extra charge damage is nice. Would you make the level progression 1-5 Bard, then 6+ warblade, or just the 1 splash of warblade for the starting maneuvers?

[phaedrusxy]

the DM has nix'd flaws - I like the posted build, a few things I'll probably tweak but I like the concept. Any further information would be greatly appreciated! I especially like the + to charge dmg, as right now at lvl 7 I only have 2 minions, which are Minotaur zombies, so extra charge damage is nice. Would you make the level progression 1-5 Bard, then 6+ warblade, or just the 1 splash of warblade for the starting maneuvers?

Well that game started (and ended... ) at 6th. So I put the warblade dip at the end to get 2nd level maneuvers starting out.

I think my plan to continue it was to just progress bard, or PrCs that advanced the bard's casting (and maybe music, if possible). Jade Phoenix Mage would be one PrC to consider, if you can qualify (I don't remember the prereqs off-hand). The bard's casting is pretty good, but you don't want to delay it anymore than possible. Otherwise it's almost not worth bothering. Sublime Chord is another option, of course.

The charge damage was just from a ToB maneuver and stance. Only the stance would transfer to the zombies. Of course, his bardic music could affect them as well.

[lordvoo]

Yeah, hrm, I would possibly get rid of the warblade then and go something else, I'd want him to be more ranged based, especially with the flying

[phaedrusxy]

A warblade dip is great for the concentration-based Diamond-Mind counters (especially Mind Over Body) and Iron Heart Surge, even on a ranged character. You could pick up 2 of the counters with the dip, and the other + IHS from magic items.