best class combination for a minion based necromancer

deathless

I'm looking to make a necromancer that will obviously be using lot's of fun necromancy based spells but making use, primarily, of minions; i.e. Animate dead for skeleton warrior, control undead, and possibly turn undead to command as well...

with this in mind I'm thinking it'd be best to go cleric/sorcerer? confused as to whether dual or multiclass

thoughts opinions?

SionIV

A Cleric/Mage would probably be the best combination for you.

It's going to take a long time before you're high enough level to use Animate Dead and there will be only a few fights where you'll find control undead useful. For you to control undead instead of destroying them with turn undead (cleric) you need to be an evil alignment.

When i read your thread i couldn't help but to think about the necromancer from Diablo 2. There is nothing like that in Baldur's Gate and the minions you summon are mostly for a short duration, there is a cap on 5 summons at one time and you'll have to be a high level to have that many.

Blackraven

Ideal would be to roll a Cleric/Mage multi, and to use a savegame editor to kit your character as a Necromancer for flavor).

If you want to use Turn Undead to command undead, you'll have to be evil-aligned (not good or neutral). However, to be effective at Turn Undead you'd have to be a single-class Cleric, because the Turn Undead ability's power depends on character level. If you'd do a solo or duo run, this problem wouldn't apply to a multiclass Cleric/Necromancer because you'll always be ahead with XP.

deathless

people always want to reference diablo 2 in regards to these threads...hah...no I understand the limitations a bit with Baldur's gate...I've played neverwinter nights 1 for years and currently am....so I'm well aware of the limitations in regards to the max number of summons...even on persistent worlds that allow at max 1 summon 1 familiar and and 1 dominated creature ive managed to do quite well..

with the answers I've been given...(thank you guys)..I have just two questions

1. does a dominated creature or familiar count towards the cap of 5?

2. would a single class cleric of high level be able to command anything worthwhile

3. anyone know the duration for evil cleric's turn undead domination?

SionIV

It's kind of hard not to think about Diablo 2 when you read "minion based necromancer" . There are no minions here and the only necromancer is the mage specialist class that don't go up in summons to start with.

1.) Dominated creatures don't count towards the cap, but they will only be dominated/charmed for a certain amount of time. Only Mage, Bard, Sorcerer and Beast Master can have a familiar, and while they have some nice abilities, they aren't made for combat. Put it in your backpack or be prepared to load, a lot.

2.) Command as in take control over? Not really. Few undead are worthwhile to take control over and clerics have much better and powerful spells to use instead.

3.) You will keep them under your command until you stop using turn undead, and even then it's quite a long duration before they get 'released' in my experience. But there are few fights that are far between where you'll find this useful, and then you'll have to be a very high level to even get the option to charm them.

In short.

While it's a nice idea from a roleplay point of view, it really isn't that efficient when it comes to gameplay. And after doing it a few times you'll notice that it's much quicker and less of a hassle just to put a warrior on the target instead of spending several minutes trying to control it, and then having to kill it anyway.

deathless

"3.) You will keep them under your command until you stop using turn undead, and even then it's quite a long duration before they get 'released' in my experience. But there are few fights that are far between where you'll find this useful, and then you'll have to be a very high level to even get the option to charm them."

could you please tell me how the duration is calculated for commanding via turn undead? is it based on 2.5 rules?

SionIV

deathless said:

"3.) You will keep them under your command until you stop using turn undead, and even then it's quite a long duration before they get 'released' in my experience. But there are few fights that are far between where you'll find this useful, and then you'll have to be a very high level to even get the option to charm them."

could you please tell me how the duration is calculated for commanding via turn undead? is it based on 2.5 rules?

I can't tell you that because i honestly don't know, you'll have to see if someone else answers that question. I never use turn undead on evil clerics because for me it's a waste of time.

Frosty

the best minion necromancer is the jester or skald bard. since the strength of you summons is based on your caster level bards level faster and higher. the Jester can use its bard song to confuse enemy's when your summons kill them. or a skald can make your summons stronger with its bard song.

FinneousPJ

The most powerful summon in the game is the mage's planetar, which isn't undead. I assure you you won't be able to finish the game with just Animate Dead. But I guess "minion" can be anything, not just undead.

elminster

SionIV said:

deathless said:

"3.) You will keep them under your command until you stop using turn undead, and even then it's quite a long duration before they get 'released' in my experience. But there are few fights that are far between where you'll find this useful, and then you'll have to be a very high level to even get the option to charm them."

could you please tell me how the duration is calculated for commanding via turn undead? is it based on 2.5 rules?

I can't tell you that because i honestly don't know, you'll have to see if someone else answers that question. I never use turn undead on evil clerics because for me it's a waste of time.

Yea I tried looking around in Near Infinity. No luck. Maybe its hardcoded?