i finally got my conjuration maxed out, and... as i got these master spells, i thought i was gonna have some real fun, but the ultimate necromancy spell svcks!

i mean, come on... the strongest temporary spell, dread zombie, allows me to raise draugr... DRAUGR.

i was excited thinking, with dead thrall, i'd be able to run around with two draugr lords as my servants all over skyrim.

but, no... for some reason, the MOST POWERFUL of all the necromancy spells cant do something a WEAKER necromancy spell is capable of doing.

whats the point of this spell, now... my necromantic dream has been spat on.

seriously, it doesnt make any sense... why am i allowed to raise draugr at all with the lesser spells, but not the most powerful one?

i also have to ask... does anyone know a good use for "dead thrall"?

i mean, are there any powerful, or interesting/unique things i AM allowed to raise with it?

oh, one final question... since dread zombie seems to be capable of raising things dead thrall cant, such as draugr... are there any other things i can raise with it? i havent really experimented too much with it... i know horses cant be raised, though... i murdered someone's horse just to find out.

Dead Thrall is mostly effective when used on high level vampires and special NPCs.
With the Necromage perk you can use it on vampires higher than level 40.
And some NPCs have specialties, like Orchendor (part of a deadric quest) who can teleport and is 100% resistant to magic.
Also, you can unequip bodies, enchant the gear/weapon and replace the gear on the body and the Thrall will use it.

necromage?

...damn, thats part of restoration, isnt it?

i dont suppose there is a fast way to train restoration? does using healing hands on an essential NPC during their recovery state work well? if so, i'll go beat on arrald frozen-heart at the hjaalmarch stormcloak camp.

Each dead thrall will effectively act as an additional follower. Their gear can be enchanted and there are several incredibly strong choices. Dead thrall is the single spell that makes conjuration as a school worthwhile and I encourage you to invest time reading link below as well as doing some experimentation. I think you will be extremely satisfied with the end results. Your dreams aren't crushed, just yet unrealized.

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dead_Thrall

You can train restoration with Equilibrium+Healling.

You obviously have never had two archer forsworn ravagers equipped with storm atronach staves and enchanted and upgraded weapons and armor. The draugr pale in comparison.

I read that there are dual wielding forsworn, do you know a good place to find them as I never remember seeing them.
I want to try out different things as I am getting tired of Orchendor and feel bad cause whenever he dies he says "thank-you". Guy needs a vacation from thrallitude.

edit: After reading the page lendial linked I see what I am looking for.

They are called forsworn ravagers as well, you have to see if they are dual-wielding in combat to tell if they are the right type. They are around Markarth (the reach) in the redoubt areas.

The dual-wielders hit crazy hard, but I prefer the archer types because they will summon atronachs with staves almost every single time at the start of battle.

If you equip them with fortify archery gauntlets and headress and an enchanted and upgraded bow with good arrows, they also hit super hard.

Also, you can just collect and enchant and upgrade forsworn armor ahead of time, they are the only thralls that will equip ANY forsworn armor you give them. It doesn't have to be their specific armor found on their corpses, which makes it easier to make and stockpile batches of enchanted and upgraded armors. Which makes them expendable and less of a hassle if you lose them.

The forsworn are the reason my main house is in Markarth, that and more blood is always better.

No need to completely get rid of Orchendor though, his corpse will not disappear if you leave it in the cooler in your home.

May I suggest Sild the Warlock if you haven't gotten him already, his corpse will also not disappear in the cooler, and he will readily use summoning/offensive staves and has a preference for fire magic, but also uses a one hander in melee which makes him the most spellsword-like npc I have ever found. He also sports a badass mohawk and usually wears necromancer robes.

Cool! Thanks for all those tips Berserkenstein.
Now I have much experimenting to do. Such an expensive hobby. lol

Dead thralls are fun, especially when you put some weapons or staves on the corpses before you raise them. Hand them each a sword with paralysis on it can be pretty fun. Or hand them each a staff that summons something.

But ultimately my problem with raise dead and dead thrall is your reliance on pathing. If an atronach or dremora won't come to the fight, I'll just resummon them. Two dremora lords that I can place wherever I want trumps that cool Mage thrall that's still standing in the previous room trying to figure out how to get to me.

The greatest benefit to reaching master conjuration is so that you can have two pets. Dead thrall is more for fun IMO.

Having a meat shield that deals damage to be available whenever and wherever you want them is most important.

I always see someone I've killed and I think, he would make a great thrall, so I thrall him, "oh he casts some cool spells" I think to myself, then a few fights go by with my thrall nowhere to be found. That eventually leads me back to my dremora lords, always.

Trust me, Dead Thrall is broken. I am a necro fanatic, but it's BROKEN to the MAX! I have 5 Dead Thralls and 2 Flame THralls somewhere in the world! So that is 7 thralls that are MISSING. They ALWAYS disappear on me after fast travel or get hostile!

Dead Thrall is awesome. I have Orchendor equipped with Sanguine Rose and a Staff of Storm Atronach as one thrall and a female High Elf Master Necromancer packing a Legendary Daedric Dagger enchanted with Absorb Health and Soul Trap who fills my soul gems for me. She oddly enough, does not reanimate corpses but she has an ice spell capable of taking me out in one hit. They can plow through most everything other than groups of high-level melee enemies. They don't last too long against multiple ebony weapons.