Zombies

[Divine Intervention]

Just something I thought of recently which might finally conclude the animate dead debate.  Why not implement a zombie/skeleton summoning theme?  It would lack permenance of animation and the upgrades, but if you really want to RP your undead horde it provides an interesting alternative to summons.

[Luke Danger]

Lemme guess; Reagent requirement is BRAAAAAIIIINNNNNNNSSSS?

But yeah, this would be intresting, we're just looking at weak undead that can pretty much be only used to Zerg Rush with, right?

But countering that, it does give the purpose of animation a much lesser feel... perhaps make it a reagent-only or DM only-granted theme?

[Nightshadow]

DM/app only, or reagents, I'd say, but this is a really awesome suggestion. A suggestion, have all summons of this theme be extended, but their strength be somewhat less than most other themes.

[Divine Intervention]

Or, just make them normal length and un-upgradable.  This will make them useful in completely different ways to animate dead.  A shambling slow zombie with a little DR and no great stats is by no means more powerful than many other summons.

[Drakill Tannan]

Skeletons might be fine.

I weak skeleton
II Skeleton archer
III Skeleton warrior
IV Skeleton knight
V Skeleton mage?

It could work

[Howlando]

We made a conscious design decision years ago not to do this, in order not to dilute from true animating.

[Porkolt]

I think there's probably a very good reason that summoning spells from the conjuration school are completely different from animation spells from the necromancy school.

[chrijone]

There is a GHOST theme for a reason my friends.