A lich's fear aura. [Archive] - Wizards Community

A lich's fear aura. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
XunValDorl of HouseKilsek
12-20-06, 11:50 PM ok in order to become a lich a spellcaster has to be at least 12th level correct? When the lich template is addedthe CR goes to 13 or 14. Anyway, the fear aura effects characters 4HD and below. Now tell me, how many 4th level characters are going up against liches? it is dumb for the HD requirement to be so low.Pretty much for the this ability to be of any use, he would need to walk around a small village and scare people away. I think they should up it to about 8HD.
SinisterSeraph
12-21-06, 01:51 AM It'as a holdover from earlier editions, and then it's use was mainly to get rid of the players' followers, cohorts, and hirelings. The party breaks through into the ancient tomb, and when they all stand in shock as the dessicated twisted form of the Lich rises menacingly from it's sepulcher, Thats the point at which all the torchbearers, sages, guides, and whatnot acompanying the PC's all defecate themselves and make like gone. Fear aura. It serves to empty the field of all but the important players, so to speak. The level is low so that the PC's aren't affected, being heroes they're expected to be made of sterner stuff than the hired trackers and packmules.
runestar
12-21-06, 05:28 AM I think its the same logic as giving dragons dr/magic, despite knowing full well that PCs will be more than amply equipped to overcome this. Purely for flavour, with no mechanical in-game impact intended whatsoever.

I can only surmise that the fear aura was never meant to affect the PCs in the first place. It is only to help reinforce the image of the lich as a fearsome foe which strikes fear in the hearts of lesser foes. "Greater adversaries", ie: you, would thus be unaffected.
CzarGarrett
12-21-06, 08:53 AM It could also be a failsafe of sorts against low level PCs who stumble across a Lich.

The Fear Aura makes them run, and the Lich, because they run, sends its random minions after the party rather than deal with them itself.
runestar
12-21-06, 11:15 AM It could also be a failsafe of sorts against low level PCs who stumble across a Lich.
To be fair, the dm should never even contemplate inserting a lich at that lv. Plus, if I am 5th lv and run into lich, I don't need a fear aura to tell me to run for my life...:P

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
XunValDorl of HouseKilsek 12-20-06, 11:50 PM	ok in order to become a lich a spellcaster has to be at least 12th level correct? When the lich template is addedthe CR goes to 13 or 14. Anyway, the fear aura effects characters 4HD and below. Now tell me, how many 4th level characters are going up against liches? it is dumb for the HD requirement to be so low.Pretty much for the this ability to be of any use, he would need to walk around a small village and scare people away. I think they should up it to about 8HD.
SinisterSeraph 12-21-06, 01:51 AM	It'as a holdover from earlier editions, and then it's use was mainly to get rid of the players' followers, cohorts, and hirelings. The party breaks through into the ancient tomb, and when they all stand in shock as the dessicated twisted form of the Lich rises menacingly from it's sepulcher, Thats the point at which all the torchbearers, sages, guides, and whatnot acompanying the PC's all defecate themselves and make like gone. Fear aura. It serves to empty the field of all but the important players, so to speak. The level is low so that the PC's aren't affected, being heroes they're expected to be made of sterner stuff than the hired trackers and packmules.
runestar 12-21-06, 05:28 AM	I think its the same logic as giving dragons dr/magic, despite knowing full well that PCs will be more than amply equipped to overcome this. Purely for flavour, with no mechanical in-game impact intended whatsoever. I can only surmise that the fear aura was never meant to affect the PCs in the first place. It is only to help reinforce the image of the lich as a fearsome foe which strikes fear in the hearts of lesser foes. "Greater adversaries", ie: you, would thus be unaffected.
CzarGarrett 12-21-06, 08:53 AM	It could also be a failsafe of sorts against low level PCs who stumble across a Lich. The Fear Aura makes them run, and the Lich, because they run, sends its random minions after the party rather than deal with them itself.
runestar 12-21-06, 11:15 AM	It could also be a failsafe of sorts against low level PCs who stumble across a Lich. To be fair, the dm should never even contemplate inserting a lich at that lv. Plus, if I am 5th lv and run into lich, I don't need a fear aura to tell me to run for my life...:P