I have an idea for a character, Black Draconblood Dragonborn necromancer.
Problem is, I Really don't like playing wizards. They are easily my least favorite class but idk if I can be a necromancer without being a wizard, at least in multiclass. Is there a way I can make a necro build without having to dip into wizard?
Curious... you don't like playing Wizards, but you picked the Dragonborn variant that gives Int, which is useful only to Wizards and Artificers....
I'd suggest going Bard, with either Collage of Lore or Collage of Whispers. While the Bard spell list itself doesn't contain Animate Dead, any Bard can use their Magical Secrets class feature to obtain it. This would come online earlier for the Lore Bard, however... I'd have to say that thematically the Whispers Bard would be pretty much perfect to flesh out the concept. You get to use your Bardic Inspiration as almost a Psychic damage Smite, which grows like a cantrip. You can spend 1 minute to induce paranoia in a target, making it Frightened of you or another creature, but the creature doesn't figure it out if it failed to work. When a humanoid dies near you, you can disguise yourself as that creature for 1 hour, complete with access to general "surface" memories of that humanoid to better push the persona. And you can convince a target you know it's darkest secret, and basically blackmail it for 8 hours to do almost anything you want for fear of you giving away the secret. And afterward, it doesn't even know why it was terrified of you.
Whatever instrument you choose as your Bardic Focus, reskin it to be made from bones. If its a string instrument, the strings are made from ligaments and tendons. If it's a flute or similar, its carved from a single bone. Etc. And since you might well end up as the party face, push it into Intimidation rather than Persuasion.
Clerics and warlocks also get access to the create undead spell, if that’s what you are going for.
Clerics and Sorcerers get access to a decent amount of Necromancy spells so, they could be pretty effective. Warlocks have access to quite a few more spells from Necromancy, I think that's the route I would take personally IF I was focusing on a Necromancer theme.
If Sorcerers have necroamancy spells that Clerics don't have(I really don't know), you can always take that Sorcerer subclass that gives you full access to the Cleric spell list.
But I think a Death domain cleric is probably the best way to go. It's a subclass designed for necromancers.
I would also talk to your DM about reflavoring other spells. Turn Spiritual Weapon in to Summon Ghost or something. If your DM let's you, change the damage to necrotic. But if not, force damage is fine (force damage is actually mechanically optimal, but necrotic is more on brand).
I would either do a Death Domain Cleric, a Divine Soul Sorcerer (taking necromancy spells, though), or an Oathbreaker Paladin. Sure, you could do an Undying Warlock, but let's be honest, they suck.
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Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Curious... you don't like playing Wizards, but you picked the Dragonborn variant that gives Int, which is useful only to Wizards and Artificers....
Not interesting in min-maxing stats. Like a race, like a class, play them. Orcish rangers, kobold bards, goblin fighters. I'm trying to have fun, not focus solely on race/class synergy.
Oathbreaker Paladin doesn't have the sheer numbers of a necromancer, but they can control some really impressive undead. Even Death Knights!
GOO Tome Warlock has great numbers, since you can stay awake all night animating dead. You can roleplay your GOO being Orcus or something, and your Thrall stays charmed after death, so you can make them undead.
Warlocks make incredible Necromancers. I like Hexblades for it since they can make a specter 1ce/LR for free, but any Warlock is amazing as a Necromancer.
I think the best Necromancer I built was an Oathbreaker 13/Hexblade 7. With that combo you can control up to CR 13 undead because of the Oathbreaker, and still do many other nasty things too. But I could see going Oathbreaker 11/Hexblade 9 to get those 5th level Warlock spells and slots.
Warlocks make incredible Necromancers. I like Hexblades for it since they can make a specter 1ce/LR for free, but any Warlock is amazing as a Necromancer.
I think the best Necromancer I built was an Oathbreaker 13/Hexblade 7. With that combo you can control up to CR 13 undead because of the Oathbreaker, and still do many other nasty things too. But I could see going Oathbreaker 11/Hexblade 9 to get those 5th level Warlock spells and slots.
I love Hexblade Warlock necromancers. Danse Macabre is super useful for a quick burst of extra undead.
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
Might I just bring up the Circle of Spores Druid gets Animate Dead, as well as a 6th level class ability that uses a reaction to make instant zombies out of any humanoid or beast that dies near them. There are also some other tricks they have up their sleeve, mostly with dealing Necrotic and Poison damage.
Spore Druids make for a very spooky and alien kind of Necromancer.
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I have an idea for a character, Black Draconblood Dragonborn necromancer.
Problem is, I Really don't like playing wizards. They are easily my least favorite class but idk if I can be a necromancer without being a wizard, at least in multiclass. Is there a way I can make a necro build without having to dip into wizard?
Clerics and warlocks also get access to the create undead spell, if that’s what you are going for.
Maybe the Death Domain Cleric or Paladin Oathbreaker? They both are centered around animating undead.
There is no dawn after eternal night.
Homebrew: Magic items, Subclasses
Curious... you don't like playing Wizards, but you picked the Dragonborn variant that gives Int, which is useful only to Wizards and Artificers....
I'd suggest going Bard, with either Collage of Lore or Collage of Whispers. While the Bard spell list itself doesn't contain Animate Dead, any Bard can use their Magical Secrets class feature to obtain it. This would come online earlier for the Lore Bard, however... I'd have to say that thematically the Whispers Bard would be pretty much perfect to flesh out the concept. You get to use your Bardic Inspiration as almost a Psychic damage Smite, which grows like a cantrip. You can spend 1 minute to induce paranoia in a target, making it Frightened of you or another creature, but the creature doesn't figure it out if it failed to work. When a humanoid dies near you, you can disguise yourself as that creature for 1 hour, complete with access to general "surface" memories of that humanoid to better push the persona. And you can convince a target you know it's darkest secret, and basically blackmail it for 8 hours to do almost anything you want for fear of you giving away the secret. And afterward, it doesn't even know why it was terrified of you.
Whatever instrument you choose as your Bardic Focus, reskin it to be made from bones. If its a string instrument, the strings are made from ligaments and tendons. If it's a flute or similar, its carved from a single bone. Etc. And since you might well end up as the party face, push it into Intimidation rather than Persuasion.
Clerics and Sorcerers get access to a decent amount of Necromancy spells so, they could be pretty effective. Warlocks have access to quite a few more spells from Necromancy, I think that's the route I would take personally IF I was focusing on a Necromancer theme.
If Sorcerers have necroamancy spells that Clerics don't have(I really don't know), you can always take that Sorcerer subclass that gives you full access to the Cleric spell list.
But I think a Death domain cleric is probably the best way to go. It's a subclass designed for necromancers.
I would also talk to your DM about reflavoring other spells. Turn Spiritual Weapon in to Summon Ghost or something. If your DM let's you, change the damage to necrotic. But if not, force damage is fine (force damage is actually mechanically optimal, but necrotic is more on brand).
I would either do a Death Domain Cleric, a Divine Soul Sorcerer (taking necromancy spells, though), or an Oathbreaker Paladin. Sure, you could do an Undying Warlock, but let's be honest, they suck.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Not interesting in min-maxing stats. Like a race, like a class, play them. Orcish rangers, kobold bards, goblin fighters. I'm trying to have fun, not focus solely on race/class synergy.
Oathbreaker Paladin doesn't have the sheer numbers of a necromancer, but they can control some really impressive undead. Even Death Knights!
GOO Tome Warlock has great numbers, since you can stay awake all night animating dead. You can roleplay your GOO being Orcus or something, and your Thrall stays charmed after death, so you can make them undead.
Animate dead isn't on the warlock spell list.
Warlocks make incredible Necromancers. I like Hexblades for it since they can make a specter 1ce/LR for free, but any Warlock is amazing as a Necromancer.
I think the best Necromancer I built was an Oathbreaker 13/Hexblade 7. With that combo you can control up to CR 13 undead because of the Oathbreaker, and still do many other nasty things too. But I could see going Oathbreaker 11/Hexblade 9 to get those 5th level Warlock spells and slots.
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That's about the most watered down Undead spell anyway. Warlock gets much better ones.
I love Hexblade Warlock necromancers. Danse Macabre is super useful for a quick burst of extra undead.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
ahh. Danse Macabre. I thought it was a spell that made dancing bears. I was sorely disappointed
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
So, I have to ask, where the heck did you get anything to do with bears from that name?
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my friend read it from the book and pronounced it "dance McBear"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
The UA Class Variants gives them Animate Dead, and it's the most popular UA by a landslide.
It’s also on the Oathbreaker spell list, and that’s almost a no-brainer multiclass for a Warlock necromancer.
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Hex blade Warlocks have the most baked in necromancy support, with the ability to bring back the shades of your enemies to serve you.
Might I just bring up the Circle of Spores Druid gets Animate Dead, as well as a 6th level class ability that uses a reaction to make instant zombies out of any humanoid or beast that dies near them. There are also some other tricks they have up their sleeve, mostly with dealing Necrotic and Poison damage.
Spore Druids make for a very spooky and alien kind of Necromancer.