Dungeons & Dragons can easily be described as a game of heroes and villains, almost every quest ends in a confrontation with some kind of monster or evil schemer. You always want these conflicts and the conspiracies surrounding them to be interesting to your players, but that requires a great villain to start with.
Perhaps no type of villain is more synonymous with high fantasy than the diabolical necromancer, a sorcerer with the power and will to raise the dead to do their bidding. The trope is so well-known that it's a cliché, making it difficult to avoid the pitfalls of Necromancer feeling like a parody. We're here to help, with a few top tips to make sure your Necromancer hits the mark.
8 Make them a person
Not just a villain
If all you build is an evil Necromancer, that's all you'll get. A 2D, forgettable villain that your players won't engage with beyond fighting them. However, if you take the time to develop them into a whole person, you'll end up with something much more satisfying.
Think about who they are and what led them down this path. Give them some personality traits and consider whether they are cold or disturbingly friendly, arrogant or timid. The more you invest in making them a person and not just a villain, the more your players will become interested in them and their story.
7 Think motivation
Necromancy is not for everyone
Any villain who becomes an evil Necromancer belongs in a cartoon just for being an evil Necromancer. Instead, think about why your Necromancer took this dark path, their motivations define their character and help you understand how your players will react when they inevitably do something unexpected.
Perhaps they fear their own death and are looking for a way around it, or they are devastated by the loss of a loved one and hope to find the strength to bring them back. Their reasons may not even be related to Necromancy itself, it may just be a means to an unrelated end.
6 Set the tone
Make sure your players are happy
It's easy to get excited about your latest idea for a villain, but make sure you don't kid yourself. Always make sure it matches the tone of the game your players are looking for. Session Zero is perfect for creating this.
Not everyone will enjoy gruesome descriptions of the rising dead, just as not everyone wants their villains to be morally complex. Some players want to fight the bad guy and have a few laughs, while others want a layered villain and a narrative that leans heavily on horror. Be sure to tailor the experience to your player's preferences.
5 Minions are everything
monster mesh
A Necromancer is usually not captured dead or undead without his minions doing his bidding. D&D has tons of incredible undead monsters you can use, so take some time to pick the ones that make the most sense for your Necromancer.
Zombies and skeletons never go out of style, but if your Necromancer is more of a Dr. Frankenstein type, don't overlook the Flesh Golems. If they need to summon Undead somewhere disembodied to use them, running Ghosts is a great option. You are only limited by your Necromancer's imagination.
4 Use them again
never say die
Just because your Necromancer gets defeated by your players doesn't mean they have to be gone forever. Power over death is ultimately their specialty, so they can easily have contingencies in place if they're killed by a group of meddling benefactors.
Killing them can only be temporary, life will return to their bodies once the party is over. Or they may have risen as dead themselves, brought back by their own dark magic. A recurring villain is a great way to surprise players, they usually don't expect it.
Smart players in particular may feel the need to destroy your Necromancer's body, especially if killing them doesn't seem to stick at all. If they do and you want to keep using your Necromancer, just turn them into a ghost and indirectly influence events.
3 Give them a teacher
Everyone has a boss
Your Necromancer may be the ultimate villain in your campaign, but if they're not, it's worth considering whether there's someone more powerful than them who could serve as your next villain. This provides a clear progression from one part of your campaign to the next.
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Perhaps they serve a vampire and hope to become one themselves, or are apprenticed to an ancient lich. They may serve Vecna himself or even Orcus, the Demon Lord of Undeath. For whoever you decide on, think about how they might react to your Necromancer being defeated.
Necromancy isn't everything
It's natural to want to lean heavily on your villain theme, but remember that your Necromancer doesn't have to use Necromancy as his sole solution to every problem. They know other types of magic and have other resources at their disposal.
If you want to keep the topic strong, you can make them more topical. A fireball spell can be made from unsightly green flames, an assassin can be as pale as a corpse, and a corrupt town guard might be able to talk to his dead love instead of receiving coins.
1 Tempt your players and characters
Everyone wants something
Combat is one of Dungeons & Dragons' strongest points, but don't immediately assume it's fun. When faced with threats to your player characters, consider ways your villainous Necromancer might try to tempt them to the dark side.
They may offer powerful magical items from the dark realm, eternal life, or even a chance to reunite with a beloved NPC who has passed away. It doesn't necessarily matter if they can deliver on these promises, it's important to let your players wrestle with the temptation.
