I've decided I'm going to roll a necromancer character because the thought of raising felled enemies to fight for me is just far to awesome for me to ignore. I have a basic build I want to do in mind but would like some input from those necromancers who have walked on the dark path and are more familiar with its intricacies.

Race: High Elf

This will just be my 'core' build and won't take many levels to accomplish. Any perks spent after the core is finished will be just for flavor. So without further ado:

Destruction - Novice, Dual Cast, Impact, Augmented Frost 2/2

Conjuration - Novice, Necromancy, Dark Souls, Twin Souls

Alteration - Novice, Apprentice, Mage Armor 3/3, Adept, Stability, Expert, Atronach*

Restoration - Novice, Regen, Necromage*


This is the basic build I have in mind, as you can see it won't take too many levels (21) for it to be completed leaving plenty of perks for flavor. I do have a few questions that would like some input on if you're so inclined.

1. I realize the permanent dead thrall spells take a lot of magicka in order to cast so I'm curious what my base magic should be at in order to cast these comfortably. Tentatively I'm thinking of 300 to 400 base magic?

2. Conjuration Dual Casting, do I need to dual cast my zombie spells in order to raise more powerful zombies or would I be okay with casting from a single hand?

3. Alteration Dual Cast, same question as conjuration, does the improvement in how long my flesh spells last make up for the cost in casting it? Is it also worth it to go all the way up to Atronach in this tree to get the resist or are raise zombie spells treated like atronach spells in that they are 'cast on self' which often leads to absorbing your own magic?

4. Restoration tree, I'm really toying with the idea of perking into this in order to get Necromage, I haven't yet decided if I want to become a vampire but if I do the 25% bonus to spells seems to good to pass up. If I do become a vampire can I stay at stage 1 vampirism and still benefit fully from this perk? Some experienced necromancers who have used this would be most welcome.

I searched the forums and didn't see too many threads on necromancers, and those I did see didn't answer these questions specifically or if they did I just completely missed them.

Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks.

* Must become a vampire and get the necromage perk before taking the atronach perk to achieve 100% magic absorb with atronach stone.

Edit: Updated to reflect build changes

1. Dead Thrall unperked is 520ish magicka. You can do the math and factor in Master perk and 15% reduction and +50 magicka from Archmage robes if you get those.

2. Dualcast Conjuration only increases duration. Not worth the perk nor magicka

3. Magicka Absorption will cancel summoning spells

4. It works at any stage.

The Necromage perk only applies to the undead, so take that into consideration before you grind Restoration. http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Restoration#Notes

Edit: crap, you already indicated you knew this in your post.

520ish I can handle that. I'm not planning to perk up the skill portion of the tree (ie novice, adept, expert etc) but plan on using fortify conjuration gear, gives me a good idea where I want to go with the magic pool.

The absorption counting against a spell like raise dead seems odd considering they appear to be 'targeted' spells in game. Is the Dead Thrall spell actually cast differently than a regular raise zombie spell?

I suppose I should have checked the thread before I went ahead and made my necromancer, appears I wasted a point in conjuration dual cast. Oh well, plenty more flavor perks where that came from.

Love it, stage 1 vampirism it is then!

thanks wtflag

No worries, I'll catch myself misreading posts all the time

Adding Enchanting to the max is a good way to bring down the cost of spells, it may be worth it in the end.

That's the plan, I'm also not being my usual packrat self on this guy and sell pretty much everything. Anything with an enchantment gets picked up and disenchanted or sold. I collect iron daggers to enchant and then sell as well.

My last character was a Neromancer, Illusionist Assassin. Breton too. It was pretty awesome. A little disappointed that it's not limitless (can't dead thrall arch anythings), but I did get a strong satisfaction from having a tough battle and then rasing that felled foe to serve me as an undead. Be prepared to hear A LOT of the same dialogue about how "That spell looks dangerous!" and kids screaming "Get away from me!" A small price to pay to have an undead posse.

I think the dual casting conjuration is a complete waste btw. If you're going to do it you should avoid the Atronach complete and just go Novice, Necromancy, Twin Souls. If you're planning to buff your gear to bring the spell cost down you probably only need that arc in the perk tree.

So far that's what I have, nothing on the atronach side in conjuration just straight necromancy. The dialogue can't be as annoying as Lydia and her carry my burdens line... that just grated on me.

I'm still concerned with the atronach perk in the alteration tree, according to wtflag the dead thrall spell is treated as a cast on self spell (maybe all zombie spells are?) which means I'd just absorb my own magic half the time. I've been down this road on a Breton atronach conjurer and don't wanna do that again, so annoying absorbing your own spells.

I'll wait and hope wtflag stops back in and clarifies a bit for me, or if someone else has experience with it I'm all ears, but from the sounds of it it looks like getting the atronach perk in the alteration tree is a no go.

Magic Absorption does not stop dead thrall.

Look to this thread to view some findings on the use of dead Thralls.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1333470-complete-character-design-freedom-damage-resist-caps-and-ridiculous-damage-thread-9/page__st__120

Wow, that's some solid info in that link wtflag. I had no idea you had tested thralls so extensively.

It seems I'd be remiss if I didn't become a vampire and get the necromage perk, in fact It'd be flat out silly not to.

It is very important to be aware that you MUST get vampire + necromage BEFORE getting the Magic Resist or Atronach Perk in the alternation school. The effects of the perks will be amplified even though it is not shown.

100% Magic Absorption is possible with Atronach Guardian Stone + Atronach Perk in this manner if you wish to go for Vampire-Necromage. This means Magic Resist Perk is "a waste" at the end of such a built and the strongest race is High-elf for the 50 magicka.

Good to know, I never even considered that the necromage perk would affect the atronach perk if you get necromage/vampire first. Not having to invest in the magic resist perk saves a further 3 points, which is pretty cool.