How to Play a Necromancer in Dungeons and Dragons 5e

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[DungeonDudes]

This is our new take on the "Class Guide" where we take a classic fantasy archetype and discuss how we can realize that character concept using the classes, spells, and features in Dungeons and Dragons 5e. We'll be covering big archetypes like archers, healers, melee damage dealers, blasters, and more. We would love to know what archetypes you'd like to see us cover in the future!

[ArcaneFuror]

Prince:"I have an army"
Necromancer: "So do I"
Prince: "I have money and well equipped soldiers"
Necromancer: "So will I"

[BrenttFease]

After a fire elemental devastated a village we saved, my necromancer used Animate Dead to raise some of the charred bodies as skeletons, then used them to help rebuild the village. The paladin was very conflicted.

[BarokaiRein]

I was absolutely waiting for
''It's not easy to raise a family''
''Not if they're buried close to each other''
''What?''
''What?''
joke

[PJWood]

I will avenge the death of my brother

Elf "You have my bow"
Dwarf "and you have my axe"
Necromancer "and your brother"

[CardinalBiggles]

Necromancy for beginners: Chapter 1 "Correct use of shovel"

[lucasm.]

A necromancer who genuinely believes he is a regular cleric. The people he "heals" just happen to be pretty loyal.

[king-kazma]

"Oh? So whos in your party?"
"A Fighter, a rouge, a Wizard and roughly 30-40 Skeleton archers"

[Chameleonradio]

I've thrown around the idea for a while for a necromancer detective. She would use spells like Speak With Dead to solve mysteries and then mint out poetic justice with the bodies of victims.

[talongreenlee]

I love the necromancer that is practical to the point of insanity.

“Would you take your friend’s boots if they died?”
“Yeah, but...”
“If it’s not wrong to use the belongings of the dead, then why is it wrong to use the bodies of the dead? They weren’t their bodies, they were souls inhabiting the body, like a person living in a house. I’m just inheriting the homes of my enemies.”
“Ok, but...”
“The dead have to be pretty selfish to refuse to give up their life-saving belongings to those that are still alive.”
“That’s fine normally, but you slept through your alarm and now your zombies are trying to kill us!”
“And I’ll make good use of your corpses, don’t worry.”

[robertrockhold]

Necromancy isn’t inherently evil, it’s just recycling.

[FdMBIOSat]

"they are expendable"
i somehow like the ideo of a necromancer who is attached to his undead. or at least to one. i mean... c'mon... it's frank. he was there with you from the beginning. and he always listens when you need someone to talk to

[andrewb]

Had a teacher in highschool who played a lawful good necromancer. He made contracts with peasants to lease the body and would cast speak with dead to get consent. Had a ledger with him if he ran into trouble. The undead would do menial labour so the regular people could learn a trade, dm got pissed.

[CapnAlces]

For real, my girlfriend's last character was a senile necromancer trying to resurrect her dead cat. I laughed so hard when you brought up the cat thing.

[elenemgo]

Noone gonna mention "finger of death"?! Killing a humanoid with this spell, reanimates them as a zombie PERMANENTLY under your command! 7th level but still the best necromancy IMO

[distant_planet]

I love the idea of Wights working for commission. I can imagine them gathering around a boardroom table at the end of a long campaign with the necromancer chairing. "Alright, Grothnorr, your Q1 performance was very strong, but things really began to slide after that orc bit your arm off. You need to work on your threat assessments going forward..."

[ryanpeters]

"Doctor, it's too late. He's dead."

"I didn't get my license revoked for nothing. He will live again!"

My favorite necromancer type: the overzealous healer

[thehappybasilisk]

I'm sad that Kelly's name at the beginning didn't say "Skelly" McLaughlin... its a real missed opportunity

[ZipperonDisney]

Necromancer w/ a skeleton eh? Not biggie for a pally.

If you're having ghoul problems, I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems but a lich ain't one

[ryansullivan]

Or.... Operate a ship? Skeleton crew anyone?