A disclaimer on this thread:
This is for Ideas surrounding the Create Undead Spell when dealing with PC corpses. Not changes to the spells that summon undead or animate skeletal remains
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Right, here goes.
With the spell Resurrection spells requiring Diamonds to bring PCs back from the dead as being a material component, it gives it a bit of an awesome ambulance feel to it.
I was going to suggest adding a similar script but adding Black Sapphires to the loot tables (varying sizes) and essentially replicate the resurrection script changing the failures (zombification) to spell failure or corpslosion (impare or skeletalize). Changing the failure chance locations from hostile areas to peaceful locations (druid hotspots, areas with 'hallowed ground like outskirts). This coupled with a bit more power to the undead, such as giving them arms/armor that stay on the corpse. (Restricted to simple weapons and medium armor, no gauntlets, rings etc. This way true blue necros get a little more bang for their buck if they go out and snag a body to lug around.