I like the idea of the necromancer having pets but I think the other games have got the 'progression' of pets quite wrong! Here's how I think they should go:
1. Spirit Orb - a basic pet that had no inherent physical ability but can taunt and cause a small amount of fear (a debuff) to enemies.
2. Spirit - this pet has is a transparent form with glowing eyes, can taunt, do minor physical damage and a small fear debuff effect.
3. Wraith - a vaguely humanoid form with a cold-based attack and a moderate fear debuff effect, can taunt.
4. Zombie - the first physical form that can be summoned/animated. Blunt-force damage, disease causing, minor fear effect/debuff, no taunt.
5. Ghast - same effects as a zombie but can cause enemies to flee.
6. Spectre - a dark-formed wraith with glowing eyes with the same abilities but is able to cause enemies to flee. Has a small chance of turning on the caster once enemies are defeated.**
7. Poltergeist - a dark amorphous form, physical and cold-based damage, can taunt, fear debuff and minor ability to cause enemies to flee. Has a moderate chance of turning on the caster once enemies are defeated.**
8. Skeleton - obedient and permanent until defeated or dismissed. Can equip weapons and armour, very effective taunter, moderate fear debuff.
9. Wight - permanent until defeated or dismissed. Can equip weapons and armour, very effective taunter, moderate fear debuff, can cause cold-based damage. Has a moderate chance of turning on the caster once enemies are defeated.**
10. Lich - spellcasting, intelligent, high damage, totally scary monster that causes groups of enemies to either flee or stay rooted to the spot unable to act. Cannot or will not taunt. Has a moderate chance of turning on the caster once all enemies are defeated.**
11. Vampire - permanent until destroyed. Once summoned it cannot be dismissed. Can cast spells, use weapons and armour, very effective taunter, can charm one enemy to become the vampire's pet or flee. This is permanent until destroyed. When vampire is destroyed it will turn on the caster. Vampire is extremely vulnerable to sunlight but can be kept safe in a small ritual coffin.
** These pets can turn on the caster unless they are given items that please them!
What do you all think?
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I like it but the progression of the pets probably needs a little reworking, not sure I like the idea of a vampire pet. The ultimate pet should be something that would resemble the dark lords right hand in battle which would be something like a lich with similar spells to the necromancer but capable of tanking more. Perhaps a cross between a lich and a gargoyle of some kind? Maybe some kind of shadow knight on steroids? hmm
I think the last idea would be good for anything that is charmed into doing the Necromancers bidding. I always like the idea of being able to charm undead things that are more powerful than the pet I can currently summon. So along those lines you should only be able to charm undead if you've got some kind of trinket or talisman for that particular type of undead creature. Perhaps they could have a semi-hidden quest line for each talisman.
