As you scatter the spell component bones of this loathsome spell, undead creatures claw their way forth from the earth. Select 8 points worth of creatures from the following list:
- Ghast or ogre zombie: 8 points
- Ghoul or dread warrior: 4 points
- Skeleton or zombie: 1 point
Roll initiative for the undead as a group with a +0 bonus, which has its own turns. The undead creatures are friendly to you and your companions as long as you are within 60 feet. They obey any verbal commands that you issue to them (no action required by you). If you don't issue any commands to them or your orders have been fulfilled, they attack creatures other than you indiscriminately unless ordered not to.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, you receive 4 additional points worth of creatures for each slot level above 3rd.
* - (a handful of bones)
What happens at the end of the 1 hour of concentration?
Crumbles to dust I suppose, or otherwise disappears like Conjure Animals.
Great, it wasn't in the spell, so I thought I would ask what your thoughts were on the subject. Could also just go on about their own agenda?
Both the crumbles to dust and the continues shambling uncontrolled have pros and cons depending on the circumstances and alignment of the caster. As a DM, I would say they continue on, potentially causing consequences if not dealt with.
This is just like conjure animals, but for undead. I love it!
Here's my version of your spell. I modified it so you can create stronger undead at higher levels (expending more points). It doesn't require concentration, just like animate dead, but for balencing you can only have one of these spells active at a time. Unlike your spell, my version gives any undead summoned with this spell a bonus to initiative and attack rolls equal to your spellcasting ability modifier. I also added a more broader spectrum of undead which you can summon.
The link to the spell is here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/1370117-legion-of-undead
I love this spell concept, but as a 3rd level spell.... WAY to over powered, 3rd level is when you learn animate dead as a wizard, which even as a school of necromancy Wizard, you only get 2 Zombies or Skeletons, This spell Gives you 8! make this a 6th or 7th level spell and it would be AWESOME!
Yeah, two zombies or skeletons - but permanently. And three the next day, then 4, 5, all the way to 8 permanent undead, two a day if they are a level 6 School of Necromancy wizard. This spell allows for an immediate eight undead, but only for an hour and with concentration. Are the other tiers balanced? I doubt it. But summoning eight undead temporarily with a 3rd level spell slot is balanced.
No, the spell is over powered. Animate dead creates permanent zombies or skeletons, but they are NOT under your permanent control, your control lasts only 24 hours, and must be renewed with an additional casting of the spell. This spell is similar to Dance Macabre, which is 5th level.
The only way to have undead PERMANENTLY under your control is via the 7th level spell Finger of Death. Since even a 20th level wizard only has two 7th level slots, it would take forever to create the undead army necromancers dream of.