Looking at proper necromancy spells in 5e and see that Create Undead has an expensive material component: "One clay pot filled with grave dirt, one clay pot filled with brackish water, and one 150 gp black onyx stone for each corpse." This is a bit expensive for a fairly insignificant mook, but may be worth playing around with once or twice. I notice two things: one of which is the lack of any mention of whether the material is consumed, and whether it is necessary when reasserting control. My question is, is this material consumed on animation, or merely a material focus? Additionally, if it is consumed, do more need to be acquired and consumed to reassert control? Reasserting control reads: "To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to three creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating new ones." Corpse seems to be somewhat ambiguous, the animated ghouls are considered creatures, but are they also considered to be corpses for this purpose?
Looking at proper necromancy spells in 5e and see that Create Undead has an expensive material component: "One clay pot filled with grave dirt, one clay pot filled with brackish water, and one 150 gp black onyx stone for each corpse." This is a bit expensive for a fairly insignificant mook, but may be worth playing around with once or twice. I notice two things: one of which is the lack of any mention of whether the material is consumed, and whether it is necessary when reasserting control. My question is, is this material consumed on animation, or merely a material focus? Additionally, if it is consumed, do more need to be acquired and consumed to reassert control? Reasserting control reads: "To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to three creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating new ones." Corpse seems to be somewhat ambiguous, the animated ghouls are considered creatures, but are they also considered to be corpses for this purpose?
The gems are not consumed, so it is a one-off expense. At the time you first cast the spell you would want to have three of the gems (450gp) and those will animate and continue to control the three ghouls. For higher level castings to make/control more ghouls you would need more gems, but if you choose to create the other more powerful undead then you make less of those and will not need more than the initial three gems.
I'm my games we don't track individual spell components, and just abstract the costs away whether you learn or cast a costed spell. For this spell I would just charge 450gp to learn the spell initially, then think nothing further about it.
Reasserting control reads: "To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to three creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating new ones." Corpse seems to be somewhat ambiguous, the animated ghouls are considered creatures, but are they also considered to be corpses for this purpose?
They are not corpses (which would be classed as objects), they are creatures but as it says in the text you can use the spell on creatures if they are creatures you have reanimated.
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Greetings necromantic enthusiasts,
Looking at proper necromancy spells in 5e and see that Create Undead has an expensive material component: "One clay pot filled with grave dirt, one clay pot filled with brackish water, and one 150 gp black onyx stone for each corpse." This is a bit expensive for a fairly insignificant mook, but may be worth playing around with once or twice. I notice two things: one of which is the lack of any mention of whether the material is consumed, and whether it is necessary when reasserting control. My question is, is this material consumed on animation, or merely a material focus? Additionally, if it is consumed, do more need to be acquired and consumed to reassert control? Reasserting control reads: "To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control over up to three creatures you have animated with this spell, rather than animating new ones." Corpse seems to be somewhat ambiguous, the animated ghouls are considered creatures, but are they also considered to be corpses for this purpose?
The gems are not consumed, so it is a one-off expense. At the time you first cast the spell you would want to have three of the gems (450gp) and those will animate and continue to control the three ghouls. For higher level castings to make/control more ghouls you would need more gems, but if you choose to create the other more powerful undead then you make less of those and will not need more than the initial three gems.
I'm my games we don't track individual spell components, and just abstract the costs away whether you learn or cast a costed spell. For this spell I would just charge 450gp to learn the spell initially, then think nothing further about it.
They are not corpses (which would be classed as objects), they are creatures but as it says in the text you can use the spell on creatures if they are creatures you have reanimated.