D&D 3.5: Review a Necromantic Cleric

[kelemvelor]

Hey all,

am planning for a scholarly cleric with roots in knowledge and undeath. Please have a look through and give a review:

Character is a true neutral cleric with no deity (I really do not like Affluent) but is dedicated to the acquisition of knowledge. He researches into undeath in order to achieve immortality as life is a mere stumble block into his path of knowledge.

True-Neutral Human (Necropolitian Template)
15 Cloistered Cleric / 5 Paragnostic Apostle
ACF: Cloistered Cleric & Divine Magician
Domains: Deathbound
Devotion: Knowledge Devotion (Knowledge: Nature as class skill)
Rebukes Undead / Spontaneous Inflict Wounds

LVL   CLASS                        FEAT OR CLASS FEATURE
01   Cloistered Cleric            Extend & Protection Devotion
02   Cloistered Cleric
03   Cloistered Cleric            Corpsecrafter
04   Cloistered Cleric
05   Cloistered Cleric
06   Paragnostic Apostle      KIP()*, Fell Animate
07   Paragnostic Apostle      KIP(Penetrating Insight),
08   Paragnostic Apostle      KIP()*,
09   Paragnostic Apostle      KIP(See through the Veil), DMM (Fell Animate)
10   Paragnostic Apostle      KIP()*,
11   Cloistered Cleric
12   Cloistered Cleric            Craft Contingent Spell   
13   Cloistered Cleric
14   Cloistered Cleric
15   Cloistered Cleric            Chain Spell
16   Cloistered Cleric
17   Cloistered Cleric
18   Cloistered Cleric            DMM (Chain Spell)
19   Cloistered Cleric
20   Cloistered Cleric

This build retains full spellcasting level as well as rebuking levels (with +2 turning level bonus from See through the Veil).

With Cloistered Cleric generous skill points, we can cover knowledge of arcana, religion, the planes and nature. This covers a very wide spread of nearly all types of enemies. It also has Lore (bardic knowledge) roll of: 1d20 + CC Level + 2 x PA lvl + Int Mod.

DMM Chain Spell is nice for a couple of spells; Greater Magic Weapon (skeleton/zombie horde!), Undetectable Alignment, Mindblank, Shatter, Command Undead (non-intelligent mass control!)

DivMag **
1   Lesser, Shivering Touch
2   Command Undead
3   Anticipate Teleportation
4   Orb of Negative Energy
5   Spiritwall
6   Fleshshiver
7   Waves of Exhaustion
8   Mind Blank

* Need suggestions on what to take for Knowledge is Power. Divine Understanding seems nice but I don't see which domains have spells which would benefit it really (unless I go Blasphemy but i prefer to remain good).
** If there are better spells I am open to suggestion

[sirpercival]

Too much straight-up cleric.  You can get class features which are better than more skill points.  Also, the tone of this is just screaming Archivist and not cleric...

[kelemvelor]

Well it is true that the straight up cleric has no class features. However it is not of the issue that I am in it for the skill pts but rather I couldn't find an alternative prestige class that fits other that Paragnostic Apostle.

Perhaps if I were to list out my expected goals, we could find a better prestige than a straight up cleric?

• To advance spellcasting level
• To advance rebuking level

And... that is about it. I am basically looking for a prestige that can retain caster levels and still advance rebuking. Had a look at the splat books and the only thing similar (aside from Paragnostic Apostle) is Sacred Exorcist (but that reqs that character to be good so no rebuking....boo!).

I guess I would have to make sacrifices on either one to obtain class features. Hmm back to the books!

[linklord231]

Bone Knight, Eberron Five Nations pg 117.
That said, I agree with SirP about Archivist fitting your flavor perfectly.  Have you seen it?  Heroes of Horror, pg 82.

[AugustusGloop]

While searching for a PRC to follow up my own very similar concept character (I'm going master of shrouds, with a true necro dip for early entry) I found this:
http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19861446/Cleric_PrC_wfull_spellcastingturn_progression&post_num=4#338110178

As for full casting/turning PrCs: Bone Knight loses one level and you can only rebuke (even if you're good), Master of Shrouds continues rebuking (you must be any non-good to enter), Sacred Exorcist continues turning (and grants it if you don't have it), Master of Radiance from Libris Mortis continues this, Deadgrim from...Five Nations? continues it. Paragnostic Apostle or whichever one continues spellcasting also continues turning.

As for Archivist, it does not advance turn/rebuke at all.

[linklord231]

Serious question:  Did you plan on using your Turn/Rebuke Undead attempts to atcually Turn Undead, or for fueling [Divine] feats?
If the former, you should be aware that Turning is only useful at lowish levels (7 or below, give or take) because the HD on undead advance so fast relative to CR.
If the latter, you don't need to worry about advancing turning because you won't be using it for actually turning undead.

[sirpercival]

I think he's planning to use it to Command undead.

[kelemvelor]

linklord231

Yup, I plan to use my rebukes to command undead. However, I foresee that I would have free turn attempts left to power DMM especially since I am close to convincing DM in regards to nightsticks.

Anyway I have three pools of undead control:

• Rebuke: Command Undead
• Animate Dead
• Command Undead Spell

The undead from "rebuke undead" and "animate dead" remain in control indefinitely but with HD limit. My crack undead would be controlled in this manner: Awakened Hydra Zombies, Awakened Planar-binded Outsiders/Elemental, Wight/Wraith Generals and their spawns, personal undead flying mount.

The Command Undead spell would be used for fodder, the non-intelligent undead. Misc wandering skeleton/zombies and fell-animated foes are fair game. I could control them for a fairly long time with no saves (1 day/caster level which can be extended). I could even renew the commanded undead fairly easily with DMM (Chain spell).

AugustusGloop:
That is cool. We are currently in Greyhawk but i run the list pass DM to see if we can include Eberron.

[linklord231]

Unfortunately, Archivist won't work for this purpose.  It doesn't grant Turning of it's own, which means you'll be woefully behind (even more than a straight Cleric at mid levels).
What level will you be starting at?  Knowing that, we can suggest gear to pump your effective turning level. 
Have you seen K's Revised Necromancer Handbook?  There's a bunch of pretty good advice on making your very own army of the damned. 

[kelemvelor]

Yup, had a good read on the guide and have an idea of the undead that i do want. Of course that is dependant on whether we encounter them in the campaign.

Sadly we are starting at level 6 and the gold obtained at that level. So it would be quite a long way before I can get some turning level equipments though DM promised a freebie Hat of Disguise or its effect to be combined to the same slot. For some reason he thinks my necropolitian would cause some stir in his campaign travelling around Greyhawk *shrug*.

[Mithril Leaf]

Bone Knight is a pretty great deal, especially for cloistered clerics. You pick up even more free stuff.

[littha]

Bone Knight, Eberron Five Nations pg 117.
That said, I agree with SirP about Archivist fitting your flavor perfectly.  Have you seen it?  Heroes of Horror, pg 82.

I would have gone Dread Necromancer personally, If you are focused on controlling undead hordes they are the go to class...

[Greyknight666]

How about Necrotheurge of Chemosh, from Dragonlance Holy Order of the Stars? Just need to change the flavor if your in core setting to Nerull. Has almost all the same domains, or what other death god you like. After the fact i remembered your un-patron desire, but figured i'd mention it.