Southern Dread Necromancer Incantatrix (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

Here I present to you a Necromancer build that does not focus on summoning a massive undead horde because who want's to keep track of all that? It can even wind up slowing combat down if you are not prepared/organized enough.

References

Heroes of horror, races of faerun, Libris Mortis, Player's guide to Faerun, Complete Mage, and Complete Divine. as well as a few of the "necromancer handbooks" for some great tips, but nothing exactly like I wanted.

Game Rule Components

You're not going to be a powerful caster at all until much later, but until then enjoy free light armor with no spell failure chance, DR2 at lvl 2, and nearly "free" healing with your special ability and a very useful feat. You will also need to sacrifice your familiar via the metamagic speacialist alternate feature for Sorcerers/spontaneous casters that get a familiar.

Spells, Powers, Soulmelds, Stances, etc...

All spells will be derived from the Dread necromancer's spell list with the exception of spells granted by Advanced learning. Those are mainly self preference but for this build the Shivering touch spell at 8th level is one heck of a spell to pick.

Items

None used particularly in this build, because Like Mick Jagger once said: "You can't always get what you want"

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): I'm used to rolling, so whatever you get you get! But obviously focus on CHA foremost, then probably constitution to keep health up since you won't be obtaining lich status while becoming a metamagic specialist. Dex is probably pretty good for ranged touch attacks. Str is obviously pretty useless..

Race (Templates): Human, particularly from Mulan (if your DM allows/cares) The feat's requirements are "Mulan human" and "ability to cast 2nd level spells"

Starting Racial Traits: Bonus feat yo! use that to take Tomb-tainted soul. Probably the best and most useful feat for a necromancer, almost like they specifically made it for the dread necro. Either way it enables you to heal via negative energy. That means that your 1st level Dread Necro ability automatically turns into what is essentially a cleric's cure light wounds usable once per round but at will.

Other Components

After 18th level, feel free to take any other class that suits your needs. For spells list and detailed information on class abilities of the Dread necromancer or Incantatrix please visit your preferred D&D 3.5 source material. or check it out here http://dndtools.pw/classes/dread-necromancer/ and http://dndtools.pw/classes/players-guide-to-faerun--22/incantatrix/

Highlights

Dread necro gets access to a lot touch spells as well as other cool debilitating spells that when combined with metamagics become very powerful. But with a few particular feats you can reduce how much of a penalty these metamagics induce on your spell slot availability. This class really starts benefiting if theres

Munchkin-Size Me

If your DM allows the use of Dragon magazines, there are a couple more useful feats that help reduce metamagic costs like "Easy metamagic".

Side Notes

The Heighten spell feat can really do some work when using the rebuke attempts as costs for metamagics via the divine metamagic feat. 3+CHA mod (-1) of "free" level adjustment to make a Fear save throw (granted they aren't immune) very difficult to beat.

Honestly you could probably go with any metamagic feats you like once you're an Incantatrix, the world is your dead oyster.

Limitations

It works when you can convince your DM that he should let you use all the books. Everything in this Build is "official" D&D Wotc source material, though technically the "Southern Magician" feat is from 3.0 edition.

DM Counters

just about anything that can kill a normal caster, like high fort/reflex save spells and the such.

Miscellaneous

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ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Special
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Dread necromancer 1	+0	+0	+0	+2	Tomb-tainted soul	Charnel touch, rebuke undead	Iron will as bonus feat
2nd	Dread necromancer 2	+1	+0	+0	+3		Lich body DR 2	<- other stuff ->
3rd	Dread necromancer 3	+1	+1	+1	+3	reach spell	Negative energy burst 1/day
4th	Dread necromancer 4	+2	+1	+1	+4		Advanced learning, mental bastion +2
5th	Dread necromancer 5	+2	+1	+1	+4		Fear aura
6th	Dread necromancer 6	+3	+2	+2	+5	Southern Magician	Scabrous touch 1/day
7th	Dread necromancer 7	+3	+2	+2	+5		Lich body DR 4, summon familiar
8th	Dread necromancer 8	+4	+2	+2	+6		Advanced learning, negative energy burst 2/day, undead mastery
9th	Dread/Incantatrix 1	+4	+2	+2	+8	Divine metamagic	Bonus metamagic feat, focused study	split ray as bonus feat
10th	Dread/Incantatrix 2	+5	+2	+2	+9		Cooperative metamagic
11th	Dread/Incantatrix 3	+5	+3	+3	+9		Metamagic effect
12th	Dread/Incantatrix 4	+6	+3	+3	+10	Spell focus Necromancy	Bonus metamagic feat	empower as bonus feat
13th	Dread/Incantatrix 5	+6	+3	+3	+10		Metamagic spell trigger
14th	Dread/Incantatrix 6	+7	+4	+4	+11		Seize concentration
15th	Dread/Incantatrix 7	+7	+4	+4	+11	metamagic school focus	Bonus metamagic feat, instant metamagic 1/day	Maximize as bonus feat
16th	Dread/Incantatrix 8	+8	+4	+4	+12		Snatch spell
17th	Dread/Incantatrix 9	+8	+5	+5	+12		Instant metamagic 2/day
18th	Dread/Incantatrix 10	+9	+5	+5	+13	Heighten spell	Bonus metamagic feat, improved metamagic	twin spell as bonus feat