(Spoilers?) Tadpole machine or living dead girl?

[Saridu]

My first playthrough (which is stalled at lv19 for now) I took Fenora which turned my paladin into a bit of a geyser spamming defender but after reading an interesting strat about ghosts and the daunting assault on Castle Karador's necro castle, I've just started a new dark commander paladin.

Anyways I just picked up Rina, after using a pair of boots that gave +1 speed to pirates I reckon +1 speed and initiative to undead could very well rock. And, unlike Frog girl she can't have zombielings! (I wish the devs had written in another response to Fenora's maternal urges - lets have another baby! You respond - Fates woman! We already have three, I'm not a machine! I cannot just perform at the drop of a hat! I have feelings too! Sniff sniff)

On the subject of the tadpoles, I wonder if by say the elven islands I will find enough good items as the tadpoles I had in my first game? (+20% defense, +20%int,+5 defense, and oh +10 rage)

What's the verdict, take a chance on the tadpoles or zombie meat shield? And the army of the unliving? I'm a little concerned that apart from ghosts and zombies the only undead for hire I found were in Demonis (Ancient Vampires and Bone Dragons ) I reckon a dark commander, tolerance build could work if I can find the troops.