I had this idea for a elf who wanted to become immortal,and have a army of undead slaves,and thought:druids (especially level 18+ moon druids) are almost immortal,but when i went looking into their spell list,l was not only disapointed in the non existence of zombie makeing spells,but the lack of any form of makeing a corpse get up and fight. The only spells i could find were the 5th lv reincarnate (which is super expensive and forces a race change unless the dm decides to ignore that part,or rolls super luckily) and True Resurrection (which is also super expensive,and very end game).
Yes l know this is likely to avoid stepping on the proverbial toes of clerics,and yes l know if l am the dm l can just decide to allow druids to have the spell,but the real reason l made this post is really to ask one question: Does anyone know a good homebrew druid subclass that allows a full necromancer playstyle? (by that l mean knowing spells like spare the dying, revivify and raise dead,but also chill touch,inflict wounds,animate dead,create undead,finger of death, ect.) (and please give a link,and only give me ones made on dndbeyond)
(ps,yeah,spores is kinda close,but not exactly what l want,and though nature druid is closer,its still not what l am looking for,though something l would be willing to settle with if absolutely necessary.)
(pps,the closer the subclass is to the moon druid,the better,as its better wild shape is amazing)
EDIT:in other words,l guess l want divine soul sorcerer who can wild shape like a moon druid (and eventually like a archdruid) and has a timeless body that ages at 1/10th the normal speed. (and also maybe can use the clone spell?) Does anyone know of anyting like that? (thats on dndbeyond?)
or,in another different way,i want a subclass thats basically the moon druid,but with access to the necromancy spells from the cleric and sorcerer(or better yet,the wizard's) spell lists.
also,though a divine soul sorcerer can use polymorph,it is nowhere near as good as wild shape.
And yes,l know that some/most of you reading must be thinking: "well if you want it,just make it yourself",and i would,but l don't have the time or knowledge to make it myself,so l am leaveing this so anyone who does have the time and skill can use this idea and give me the link if/when its made.
EDIT: I found THIS and think it could work,and HERE is a link to the one mentioned below
Closest thing I have is my blight druid, which is to the druid as the oathbreaker is to the paladin, and the death domain is to the druid. You can find an older draft on my homebrew thread, linked in my sig.
It might just be easier to ask your DM if you can add some of the necromancy spells to the duid list if you remove some of the duid ones on a like for like basis (so add a lvl 3 necromancy spell if you remove a lvl 3 druid spell) have it that your ability was taught to you by a Hag Coven or Evil Archfey or some Druid coven that wants to merge the shadowfell with the material plane so it gives you a ready made story reason for being ther way you are and you can go full cirlce of the moon and remove the need to test some homebrew mechanics.
It might just be easier to ask your DM if you can add some of the necromancy spells to the duid list if you remove some of the duid ones on a like for like basis (so add a lvl 3 necromancy spell if you remove a lvl 3 druid spell) have it that your ability was taught to you by a Hag Coven or Evil Archfey or some Druid coven that wants to merge the shadowfell with the material plane so it gives you a ready made story reason for being ther way you are and you can go full cirlce of the moon and remove the need to test some homebrew mechanics.
That,is a very good idea,and definitely one I will use,(though haveing something fully in the dndbeyond character maker,without haveing to keep a note of which spells have been artificially added and removed would be nice)
I find that the most exciting things in D&D are exceptions that happen in the setting, not the usual day-to-day happenings.
An animal-loving forest Druid is fine and all, but an animal-loving forest Druid who is carnage-prone is better - often ends up doing things more horrifying than the CE Warlock, sometimes accidentally (and regretting it) and sometimes deliberately (with no regrets). (Merilwen's Meatgrinder has been accidental. Merilwen's Microwave was totally intentional.)
That party also encountered a materialistic Druid NPC who was selling miracle elixirs that turned some people into animals as an unintended side effect - hardly the stereotype of a Druid but loads more entertaining. (The same Druid was later responsible for creating a deforesting machine while looking to harvest an evil, forbidden grove in the woods for his own purposes.)
A Druid that does necromancy? Sure. The explanation given seems sound enough to pursue such a character in my (and only my) opinion. Would be quite the shock when others see a Druid using such powers for the first time. The key is to balance the character. Suggestions in this thread seem good to me, but I'm no strategist when it comes to Druid stuff.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I actually sort of consider the Wildfire Druid to be something like a necromancer...at least, from a "destruction" to "rejuvenation" standpoint.
They get the spell "Raise Dead" on their spell list...they get a Reaction every time an enemy dies to heal allies, sort of a "life transfer" ability...
...you could even re-flavor the "Wildfire Spirit" as a resurrected flaming zombie.
This actually has promise...what if every time they transform into a beast, they burst into flames and are reduced to a pile of ash...then the animal springs from the ashes?
Ooh..."Raise Dead" could be flavored the same way...you burn the corpse like a viking pyre...and then the person rises from the ashes, completely whole.
I actually sort of consider the Wildfire Druid to be something like a necromancer...at least, from a "destruction" to "rejuvenation" standpoint.
They get the spell "Raise Dead" on their spell list...they get a Reaction every time an enemy dies to heal allies, sort of a "life transfer" ability...
...you could even re-flavor the "Wildfire Spirit" as a resurrected flaming zombie.
This actually has promise...what if every time they transform into a beast, they burst into flames and are reduced to a pile of ash...then the animal springs from the ashes?
Ooh..."Raise Dead" could be flavored the same way...you burn the corpse like a viking pyre...and then the person rises from the ashes, completely whole.
Might also be worth seeing if your DM will allow the raising of creatures as undead using the following adjusts from the Dungeon Masters Guide:
Creatures raised as Skeletons have the following modifications: +2 Dex, -4 Int, -4 Cha, Vulnerable to bludgeoning damage; immune to poison damage and exhaustion; can't be poisoned; Darkvision 60ft.; can't speak but understands the languages it knew in life.
Creatures raised as Zombies have the following modifications: +1 Str, +2 Con, -6 Int, -4 Wis, -4 Cha, Undead Fortitude (as per Zombie in the Monster Manual); immune to poison damage; can't be poisoned; Darkvision 60ft.; can't speak but understands the languages it knew in life.
Because armies of zombies can be scary, but packs of zombie wolves using pack tactics are a much scarier deal.
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* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
For a different, but WOTC published take on Druid with "undead" affinity (thought calling this necromancy I think is a bit of a misnomer), have you checked out the Circle of Spores? Basically a Myconid sympathizer. But there's some "zombification" it can do, don't think it keeps a wild shape on the level of what you're looking for.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Just had a thought....you might need bestow curse for this one but also look into a spell or ritual to create scarecrows (pg 268 of the monster manual), they are constructs but if you take the skeleton of something and bind it together with clothing and vines so they resemble skeletons with sack cloth hoods on they would also make for nasty little surprises in a horde. And just referring to the Blight Monsters (page31 of the monster manual) you've also got the story/legend of the Gulthias Tree which invovlved as mad Druid so there is another potential link for a backstory to explain why you might have some necromantic powers
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
Have you thought about a Nature domain Cleric themed as a druid? If your dm is on board you may be able to homebrew it to allow wild shape instead of your channel divinity, (may need to make additional alterations if you really want the improved wildshape from moon druid).
Depending on how your game goes, if you have your dm's buy in there are always homebrew Items that allow you to cast a spell x times a day, then you could be a moon druid and get your spells.
(if this belongs more in a different forum,feel free to move it)
EDIT:l just made my own subclass. Here's THE LINK
I had this idea for a elf who wanted to become immortal,and have a army of undead slaves,and thought:druids (especially level 18+ moon druids) are almost immortal,but when i went looking into their spell list,l was not only disapointed in the non existence of zombie makeing spells,but the lack of any form of makeing a corpse get up and fight. The only spells i could find were the 5th lv reincarnate (which is super expensive and forces a race change unless the dm decides to ignore that part,or rolls super luckily) and True Resurrection (which is also super expensive,and very end game).
Yes l know this is likely to avoid stepping on the proverbial toes of clerics,and yes l know if l am the dm l can just decide to allow druids to have the spell,but the real reason l made this post is really to ask one question: Does anyone know a good homebrew druid subclass that allows a full necromancer playstyle? (by that l mean knowing spells like spare the dying, revivify and raise dead,but also chill touch,inflict wounds,animate dead,create undead,finger of death, ect.) (and please give a link,and only give me ones made on dndbeyond)
(ps,yeah,spores is kinda close,but not exactly what l want,and though nature druid is closer,its still not what l am looking for,though something l would be willing to settle with if absolutely necessary.)
(pps,the closer the subclass is to the moon druid,the better,as its better wild shape is amazing)
EDIT:in other words,l guess l want divine soul sorcerer who can wild shape like a moon druid (and eventually like a archdruid) and has a timeless body that ages at 1/10th the normal speed. (and also maybe can use the clone spell?) Does anyone know of anyting like that? (thats on dndbeyond?)
or,in another different way,i want a subclass thats basically the moon druid,but with access to the necromancy spells from the cleric and sorcerer(or better yet,the wizard's) spell lists.
also,though a divine soul sorcerer can use polymorph,it is nowhere near as good as wild shape.
And yes,l know that some/most of you reading must be thinking: "well if you want it,just make it yourself",and i would,but l don't have the time or knowledge to make it myself,so l am leaveing this so anyone who does have the time and skill can use this idea and give me the link if/when its made.
EDIT: I found THIS and think it could work,and HERE is a link to the one mentioned below
Closest thing I have is my blight druid, which is to the druid as the oathbreaker is to the paladin, and the death domain is to the druid. You can find an older draft on my homebrew thread, linked in my sig.
Thanks! It's not exactly what I want,but I guess it's as close as I'm going to get unless I do it myself. (Added)
It might just be easier to ask your DM if you can add some of the necromancy spells to the duid list if you remove some of the duid ones on a like for like basis (so add a lvl 3 necromancy spell if you remove a lvl 3 druid spell) have it that your ability was taught to you by a Hag Coven or Evil Archfey or some Druid coven that wants to merge the shadowfell with the material plane so it gives you a ready made story reason for being ther way you are and you can go full cirlce of the moon and remove the need to test some homebrew mechanics.
That,is a very good idea,and definitely one I will use,(though haveing something fully in the dndbeyond character maker,without haveing to keep a note of which spells have been artificially added and removed would be nice)
Not sure if this has already occurred to you but, Druids are stereo-typically in touch with Nature/Fey, not unnatural undead spawned from dark magic.
I find that the most exciting things in D&D are exceptions that happen in the setting, not the usual day-to-day happenings.
An animal-loving forest Druid is fine and all, but an animal-loving forest Druid who is carnage-prone is better - often ends up doing things more horrifying than the CE Warlock, sometimes accidentally (and regretting it) and sometimes deliberately (with no regrets). (Merilwen's Meatgrinder has been accidental. Merilwen's Microwave was totally intentional.)
That party also encountered a materialistic Druid NPC who was selling miracle elixirs that turned some people into animals as an unintended side effect - hardly the stereotype of a Druid but loads more entertaining. (The same Druid was later responsible for creating a deforesting machine while looking to harvest an evil, forbidden grove in the woods for his own purposes.)
A Druid that does necromancy? Sure. The explanation given seems sound enough to pursue such a character in my (and only my) opinion. Would be quite the shock when others see a Druid using such powers for the first time. The key is to balance the character. Suggestions in this thread seem good to me, but I'm no strategist when it comes to Druid stuff.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I actually sort of consider the Wildfire Druid to be something like a necromancer...at least, from a "destruction" to "rejuvenation" standpoint.
They get the spell "Raise Dead" on their spell list...they get a Reaction every time an enemy dies to heal allies, sort of a "life transfer" ability...
...you could even re-flavor the "Wildfire Spirit" as a resurrected flaming zombie.
This actually has promise...what if every time they transform into a beast, they burst into flames and are reduced to a pile of ash...then the animal springs from the ashes?
Ooh..."Raise Dead" could be flavored the same way...you burn the corpse like a viking pyre...and then the person rises from the ashes, completely whole.
it has,and that is a reason l wanted this in the first place.
not going to lie,that sounds cool.
Might also be worth seeing if your DM will allow the raising of creatures as undead using the following adjusts from the Dungeon Masters Guide:
Creatures raised as Skeletons have the following modifications: +2 Dex, -4 Int, -4 Cha, Vulnerable to bludgeoning damage; immune to poison damage and exhaustion; can't be poisoned; Darkvision 60ft.; can't speak but understands the languages it knew in life.
Creatures raised as Zombies have the following modifications: +1 Str, +2 Con, -6 Int, -4 Wis, -4 Cha, Undead Fortitude (as per Zombie in the Monster Manual); immune to poison damage; can't be poisoned; Darkvision 60ft.; can't speak but understands the languages it knew in life.
Because armies of zombies can be scary, but packs of zombie wolves using pack tactics are a much scarier deal.
For a different, but WOTC published take on Druid with "undead" affinity (thought calling this necromancy I think is a bit of a misnomer), have you checked out the Circle of Spores? Basically a Myconid sympathizer. But there's some "zombification" it can do, don't think it keeps a wild shape on the level of what you're looking for.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Just had a thought....you might need bestow curse for this one but also look into a spell or ritual to create scarecrows (pg 268 of the monster manual), they are constructs but if you take the skeleton of something and bind it together with clothing and vines so they resemble skeletons with sack cloth hoods on they would also make for nasty little surprises in a horde. And just referring to the Blight Monsters (page31 of the monster manual) you've also got the story/legend of the Gulthias Tree which invovlved as mad Druid so there is another potential link for a backstory to explain why you might have some necromantic powers
Have you thought about a Nature domain Cleric themed as a druid? If your dm is on board you may be able to homebrew it to allow wild shape instead of your channel divinity, (may need to make additional alterations if you really want the improved wildshape from moon druid).
Depending on how your game goes, if you have your dm's buy in there are always homebrew Items that allow you to cast a spell x times a day, then you could be a moon druid and get your spells.
Are you sure you looked at Spores druid before you discarded it? It literally makes zombies as its level 6 feature.
Personally I'd just go with that and ask for a magic item or two that has charges of necromantic spells.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
yea l saw it,and though its cool,l didn't want my necromancer to be a FUNGI. (ps.l also decided to make my own,here is the link: HERE