CR 25 Encounter [Archive] - Wizards Community

CR 25 Encounter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Goblinchaser
10-05-07, 08:05 AM I have an epic campign getting ready to kick off, and having a streak of a loss of imagination for a specific encounter, and was wanting some Ideas.

The Encounter will entail having a Lich Wizard capable of 9th level spells, and I figure some Minions. The party is pretty beefy (originally buily with 48 points *The original DM Regretted every minute of it*) The party is large as well composed of 6 23rd level and two 20th level, and VERY much geared towards undead, with a Warforged with Undead bane great axe, Necropotent, and other Weapon supporting feats (Greater WPN Spec, Slashing Fury, Leap Attack). I also have a twinked out Cleric of Pelor (the typical undead turn build with Master of radiance and RSoP Levels) And a Paladin capable of a Nasty Charging Smite, Holy weapon, and Sacred Vengeance.

It is an encounter they should Win, but not easily, not looking to overpower but to challenge. I expect due to the party size I may have to kick up the CR some. I know My group they will go directly for the BBEG if they have the chance. The wizard while powerful (20Wiz/3Arch) sometimes is not the most resourceful, but capable of spells like Disjuction, wish, and protecting herself with Prismatic Sphere coupled with Mobile spellcasting.

We have most of the books, and I am not beyond going out and purchasing one for a encounter if need be.

The party encountered the Lich Previously, but it was a one time encounter, and it has been about ten years, so somethings changed obviously.

One power he has demonstrated is Dark Speech, but this was more of a story element than any sort of Power.

Any Ideas on Builds or encounter set up would be appreciated.
Orchomenos
10-05-07, 08:51 AM Does it have to be a Lich? You say the PC met the wizard 10 years ago, was he already a lich? Do the PCs know this is a Lich, or do they only have rumors telling this wizard is somewhat immortal? You could use a Worm that Walks (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/epicNonAbominations.html#worm-that-walks) instead, that would make for a good surprise when not only the Warforged's Undead Bane Greataxe won't work, but when he will be litterally engulfed by the wizard...

Another nasty surprise could be to change it to a ghost with malevolance, and have that ghost possess a wartroll. This could be done with a Magic Jar spell as well.
Goblinchaser
10-05-07, 09:02 AM Yeah it was a lich already, and considering the group Played through the Age of Worms they had their encounter with a worm that walks. (thus the focus on Undead, as many of the encounters were undead).

After the Battle With kyuss, they PC's entered semi-retirement to rebuild and reshape Alhaster, but one of the old PC's did not enter, and now is the Antagonist. Aside from that, the first encounter was when the party was 18 or 19th level, and he was a Lich. The party vowed to hunt him down, but could never get a bead on his phylactary, and the Lich kept a low profile, plotting until he could strike. With one of the group out of the picture, or atleast occupied, and the PC's away from their resources and followers he feels it is the right time to attack, he does want his spellbook back from the insipent wizard :mad:

While I will have a great deal of time to surprise the group with things they have not encountered, Such as the 5 headed Fiendish red dragon, or Corrupted Solar, and a ye' old 50' pit trap with a Mob of Rust monsters (A moment of Silence for the Armor of the paladin, or perhaps the Warforged*Note need to figure out if it can be affected*)

This is a grudge match both for the PC's and the Lich.
Goblinchaser
10-05-07, 09:07 AM Another nasty surprise could be to change it to a ghost with malevolance, and have that ghost possess a wartroll. This could be done with a Magic Jar spell as well.

I do enjoy this Idea though, I can imagin a lich with several Thralls awaiting to be blessed by his spirit to honor their Leige in glorious combat. :P
Gnarl
10-05-07, 03:43 PM For PCs this level you should increase the CR (as you have guessed).
8 characters of average level 22-23 should be able to handle a CR 28-30 encounter (for 4 characters a hard fight is CR +3/+4).
If the PCs manage to get directly to the lich without fighting its minions first, the fight will almost certainly be too easy. You need to get rid of these annoying buffs and lure them into using some of their best spells against weaker minions.

You could have them face one of his apprentice first (disguised as the lich of course :D). The sole purpose of this apprentice would be to lure the PCs into using some of their more powerful spells and to get one or two chain dispels (PH2) on them. Be careful not to remove all those buffs with a disjunction or they will most certainly retreat after the fight.

Your big lich needs epic spellcasting and a decent intelligence buffing spells.

Your lich also need to protect itself from disjunction, or better yet, turn a disjunction against the PCs. Duelward (Spell Compendium) really helps with this, especially when combined with Srinshee’s Spell Shift (Lost Empires of Faerūn) :D.

You might consider preparing the fight at the lich’s advantage. In one of the fights with a lich I had prepared, the lich was burning noxious fumes that went to the ceiling. The ceiling also had numerous trap doors with poisonous spikes underneath that would open if gravity was reversed. On the first round, the lich casted Reverse Gravity. The PCs went to the ceiling, got poisoned and lost a little hit points because of the spikes. I’m pretty sure this would work with one of the epic poisons proposed in the old epic insight columns.

The lich also needs some minions to kill the PCs. A lich is not going to be doing a lot of damage. It should weaken, confuse and divide. I would suggest adding a few low level paragon undeads such as drowned (MM3), dust wights (MM3) or ephemeral swarms (MM3). I personally favor the swarm :D.

If you can get your hands on a copy of champions of ruin, you have some very nasty material for evil spellcasters. If the fight takes place in a node of evil and the lich has the right node feats, it could get some quicken spells for a mere +1 adjustment.

And to finish, I would suggest a [add a **** load of metamagic feats] death throes (Spell Compendium) just to kill two or three before it dies.
runestar
10-05-07, 10:25 PM It is also worth noting that npc class crs are fairly inaccurate to begin with. At epic lvs, they cannot keep up with racial HD, so a suggested progression rate would be 2 class lvs = +1cr.

Thus, a wizard 30 lich would be cr27.

Alternatively, you could consider a demilich (cr29).
The_Cheeseman
10-06-07, 12:03 AM Strongly consider adding some special salient abilities to your epic lich, such as those listed in Monsters of Faerun or the White Wolf supplement, Ravenloft Player's Handbook. The addition of abilities that the characters don't know about will make the fight a lot more exciting and unpredictable (I know all the people in my play group have read the monster manuals cover to cover many times).

Secondly, remember that liches possess superhuman intelligence, and as much time as they could ever want to prepare and plan. Also, since your lich is already aware of the party, he should use every means at his disposal to directly counter each PC's unique talents. If tailoring encounters for your party's abilities makes you uneasy, then drop a few precursor encounters in the mix, where the minions of the lich are "testing" the PC's and gathering information on their abilities.

Make sure the lich is fighting on his own terms. The battle should take place in a location of the lich's choosing, where he has had time to lay traps and alter the battlefield to his advantage. Poison gas, freezing temperatures, airless halls, or constant lightning storms are great ways to take advantage of the lich's innate immunities. For extra fun, the lich could open a complete planar breach (see the Planar Handbook for details) to the Negative Energy Plane, causing the area around the battlefield to become major negative dominant.

Finally, make sure the lich is acting in his own interests. Remember that he is a person (or used to be), with his own plans, goals, and motivations, and he isn't likely to risk his unlife simply for revenge. There is no reason why he should risk death by facing the PC's one-on-one when he can use hordes of minions, lead by a projected image of his astral projection. He should also maintain a healthy supply of stasis clones or other failsafe devices, as well as ensuring that his phylactery is guarded against divination. Make generous use of defensive spells like delay death (SpC), effulgent empuration (SpC), greater mirror image (PH2), contingency, and spell turning. Also make sure to take advantage of control spells such as blacklight (SpC), antimagic ray (SpC), forcecage, prismatic wall, and dimensional lock.

One of my favorite strategies is a contingency spell that casts celerity (PH2), set to go off as soon as another creature attacks the lich. The lich uses the standard action to cast time stop, giving him 1d4 rounds to buff up or summon some allies. If it comes down to it, make sure he's memorized a wish or two for emergencies. Hope this helps!
Goblinchaser
10-06-07, 01:39 AM All the advise and tips have been great, It is greatly appreciated. I worked on the encounter this evening some, setting him at level 25, applying the lich template on top of that, his epic feats are improved spell capacity.

I want to stay away from the epic spellcasting at this time, since this is not the real encounter of the over all campaign, I want to bring those guns out as that fight nears.

I certainly like the ideas of Location and Setting the stage complimenting the lich's abilities. Much appreciated.
robed_lich
10-06-07, 02:46 AM it may or may not be helpful, but this idea is partially taken from the others and from movies..

Location: large cavern
Spells: Greater Prying Eyes or Arcane Eyes
Minions: Zombie monkies about 8 of them, awaken them after applying a few Zombie specific templates from Libris Mortis, now after the monkies are awakened, add a few HD to get the Spring Attack feat for the monkies
Templates: Unkillable, Hunter, Fast, Blood-thirsty, and Diseased

have a poisonous fog fill the bottom of the cavern, then have the monkies test out some of the characters abilities, using a few Dispel Magic Traps (found in Dungeonscape) to target Light and Air spells

If the monkies make it 10 rounds with said party, have them retreat and send in larger zombies (like Ogres with the Hive-infested template found in Dungeonscape) to keep the group occupied for a few rounds

Then as the finale of the "test" encounter, seal the cavern and possibly cause a cave in, having the magical sensors (most likely Arcane Eyes instead of Greater Prying Eyes) relay that information to you...

If you don't want the players to escape by extradimensional travel (such as with teleport and planeshifting spells), the mist found in dungeonscape, anchoring mist, would prevent that mode of escape

well, my 2 cents.
Gnarl
10-06-07, 03:41 AM All the advise and tips have been great, It is greatly appreciated. I worked on the encounter this evening some, setting him at level 25, applying the lich template on top of that, his epic feats are improved spell capacity.

I want to stay away from the epic spellcasting at this time, since this is not the real encounter of the over all campaign, I want to bring those guns out as that fight nears.

I certainly like the ideas of Location and Setting the stage complimenting the lich's abilities. Much appreciated.

I guess necrotic empowerment (Libris Mortis) should do the trick then.
Necroramo
10-06-07, 04:54 PM My personal idea:

1. Make the lich a gish and put him in the front line. I am being serious right now. It will unnerve the players because (1) the lich is fighting in the front and (2) he's probably kicking butt while doing so.
2. Give him seriously macabre undead servants. Really advanced necronauts, horrific vasuthuants, effigies, and angels of decay come to mind.
Garonak
10-06-07, 06:39 PM Vampire Ninja Apes, can't go wrong with them.

Where's his Advanced Greater Stone Golem guards? Beef them up to Gargantuan and the party should have som problems with them.

You can't go wrong with a Paladin 20 either, that is, a Paladin 20 that's traded in 10 of his lvls to become Blackguard 10/Paladin 10. And since the naughty lich turned the ex-pally into a Death Knight (MM2) the party should be able to get a challenge. Smite Good and all that.
Slagger the Chuul
10-06-07, 10:33 PM With the astral projection, don't forget that the effect can include one additional creature for every two caster levels. This means that the lich can include his favourite lieutenants so that they can turn up for more than one encounter.
orion73
10-13-07, 04:06 AM Been working a bit on the encounter and terrian sort'a speaking.

Plan on running an encounter with the lich prior to them finding his lair, and make it somewhat of an easy fight, a few big spells and poor choice of terrain for the lich, to make the group confident that they can take him. But give them determination to him out, such as a disjunction, taking some of thier precious items possibly.

I am sure at this point there will be a few divinatin spells, commune spells, and the bard dropping a great deal of cash to learn the location of the lich. I understand the lich will be hard to find, but I need them to find him for the game to procede so they will learn of it, easily or hard depending on their approach, He does have enemies to after all.

I plan on giving the PC's the feel of superiority by using weaker undead and abominations. Something to burn the turn attempts of the cleric. I figure he will burn through most of them with ease, but a few will get through to cause a drain on resources.

I do like the Idea of the node spellcasting and will be using a evil node as the lair of the lich.

Of course there will be a few challenging encounters, one of which will be the death knight blackguard, with a cloak of Ethealness, who will strike while the PC's are busy with some lesser creatures (from the rear, and probably at the wizard who hangs out in the back normally after battle begins).

With the lich (should he survive) will be said Death night along with a few clerics, who will make a concentrated effort to use several hiegthened Divine interdiction (Spell Compendium) on the cleric while the lich stays a healthy distance away and above the ground to rain death on the PC's working to bring down the wizard and the cleric first, unless they get the axe swinger up in the air.

The Deathknight will confront the Warforged with a mace of Smiting, and Corrupt Weapon active.

With a level node 3 up, and the lich and the deathknight work together on Dark Chant (BoVD) will beef up the Turn resistance for the Lich alone by 10, and maybe add a few other undead to bring it down to 6 or so.

Lich will summon monster 9, (not sure on what to summon yet) to go harrass the bard and Paladin. The lich will also have a few Reaping (metamagic) spells prepared, thinking of Delayed Blast fireballs with a Timestop, once the party is weakened enough to take one or two out.

Over all the PC's should be able to beat the lich (with a loss or two or three possibly), but the PC's have resources, and asside from a reaping roll going bad for them, they have access to plenty of spells and diamond dust. But it is enough to set the pace for the rest of the campaign. While they may be big and bad, they are still mortal.

I thank everyone for the ideas above and if you have more to flesh it out or a possibility to make the encounter unique and memorable, I am all ears.
The_Cheeseman
10-13-07, 07:12 AM What you have sounds good, to me. But make sure you hide the lich's phylactery well. Nothing motivates players like revenge, and if you really make this a tough fight, they'll want to finish it. Either make the phylactery really well-hidden so that you can use the lich again as a reoccurring villain, or maybe make an adventure out of finding it. Then again, if you're bored with the lich, you could always just sit it in the middle of the room with a big neon sign that says, "Break me, I'm a phylactery!"

Oh thing, if you're going to use ninth-level summoning spells, there is no good reason to cast summon monster IX over gate. The latter is just obscenely powerful, and would allow you to call-in some balors or pit fiends, or even the aspects of some demon lords or archdevils (from the Fiendish Codex I/II). Note, however, that you would not have control over a demon lord or any such unique beings, even though I am sure it would be more than happy to rip the heroes to shreds for you. Sounds like a great escape plan, actually...

Hero: "Ha HA! We have crushed your armies and laid your citadel low, foul lich-king! Now you shall taste steel at last!"

Lich: "Aww, gee... Looks like you really got me, here. Oh! Oh wait, hold on a tick! Looks like my ol' pal Orcus, Lord of the Undead showed up! It's not even poker night. Hey Orcus, why don't you teach these folks how true demons do battle?"

Hero: "Hey... That's not fair!"

Lich: "And that is why evil will always triumph, because good is dumb." *Lich plane shifts to the Negative Energy Plane to have a six-pack of [evil] brew.*
Obsidianjaerc
10-14-07, 02:15 AM Cheeseman, you have made me guffaw! Congratulations.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Goblinchaser 10-05-07, 08:05 AM	I have an epic campign getting ready to kick off, and having a streak of a loss of imagination for a specific encounter, and was wanting some Ideas. The Encounter will entail having a Lich Wizard capable of 9th level spells, and I figure some Minions. The party is pretty beefy (originally buily with 48 points The original DM Regretted every minute of it) The party is large as well composed of 6 23rd level and two 20th level, and VERY much geared towards undead, with a Warforged with Undead bane great axe, Necropotent, and other Weapon supporting feats (Greater WPN Spec, Slashing Fury, Leap Attack). I also have a twinked out Cleric of Pelor (the typical undead turn build with Master of radiance and RSoP Levels) And a Paladin capable of a Nasty Charging Smite, Holy weapon, and Sacred Vengeance. It is an encounter they should Win, but not easily, not looking to overpower but to challenge. I expect due to the party size I may have to kick up the CR some. I know My group they will go directly for the BBEG if they have the chance. The wizard while powerful (20Wiz/3Arch) sometimes is not the most resourceful, but capable of spells like Disjuction, wish, and protecting herself with Prismatic Sphere coupled with Mobile spellcasting. We have most of the books, and I am not beyond going out and purchasing one for a encounter if need be. The party encountered the Lich Previously, but it was a one time encounter, and it has been about ten years, so somethings changed obviously. One power he has demonstrated is Dark Speech, but this was more of a story element than any sort of Power. Any Ideas on Builds or encounter set up would be appreciated.
Orchomenos 10-05-07, 08:51 AM	Does it have to be a Lich? You say the PC met the wizard 10 years ago, was he already a lich? Do the PCs know this is a Lich, or do they only have rumors telling this wizard is somewhat immortal? You could use a Worm that Walks (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/epicNonAbominations.html#worm-that-walks) instead, that would make for a good surprise when not only the Warforged's Undead Bane Greataxe won't work, but when he will be litterally engulfed by the wizard... Another nasty surprise could be to change it to a ghost with malevolance, and have that ghost possess a wartroll. This could be done with a Magic Jar spell as well.
Goblinchaser 10-05-07, 09:02 AM	Yeah it was a lich already, and considering the group Played through the Age of Worms they had their encounter with a worm that walks. (thus the focus on Undead, as many of the encounters were undead). After the Battle With kyuss, they PC's entered semi-retirement to rebuild and reshape Alhaster, but one of the old PC's did not enter, and now is the Antagonist. Aside from that, the first encounter was when the party was 18 or 19th level, and he was a Lich. The party vowed to hunt him down, but could never get a bead on his phylactary, and the Lich kept a low profile, plotting until he could strike. With one of the group out of the picture, or atleast occupied, and the PC's away from their resources and followers he feels it is the right time to attack, he does want his spellbook back from the insipent wizard :mad: While I will have a great deal of time to surprise the group with things they have not encountered, Such as the 5 headed Fiendish red dragon, or Corrupted Solar, and a ye' old 50' pit trap with a Mob of Rust monsters (A moment of Silence for the Armor of the paladin, or perhaps the WarforgedNote need to figure out if it can be affected) This is a grudge match both for the PC's and the Lich.
Goblinchaser 10-05-07, 09:07 AM	Another nasty surprise could be to change it to a ghost with malevolance, and have that ghost possess a wartroll. This could be done with a Magic Jar spell as well. I do enjoy this Idea though, I can imagin a lich with several Thralls awaiting to be blessed by his spirit to honor their Leige in glorious combat. :P
Gnarl 10-05-07, 03:43 PM	For PCs this level you should increase the CR (as you have guessed). 8 characters of average level 22-23 should be able to handle a CR 28-30 encounter (for 4 characters a hard fight is CR +3/+4). If the PCs manage to get directly to the lich without fighting its minions first, the fight will almost certainly be too easy. You need to get rid of these annoying buffs and lure them into using some of their best spells against weaker minions. You could have them face one of his apprentice first (disguised as the lich of course :D). The sole purpose of this apprentice would be to lure the PCs into using some of their more powerful spells and to get one or two chain dispels (PH2) on them. Be careful not to remove all those buffs with a disjunction or they will most certainly retreat after the fight. Your big lich needs epic spellcasting and a decent intelligence buffing spells. Your lich also need to protect itself from disjunction, or better yet, turn a disjunction against the PCs. Duelward (Spell Compendium) really helps with this, especially when combined with Srinshee’s Spell Shift (Lost Empires of Faerūn) :D. You might consider preparing the fight at the lich’s advantage. In one of the fights with a lich I had prepared, the lich was burning noxious fumes that went to the ceiling. The ceiling also had numerous trap doors with poisonous spikes underneath that would open if gravity was reversed. On the first round, the lich casted Reverse Gravity. The PCs went to the ceiling, got poisoned and lost a little hit points because of the spikes. I’m pretty sure this would work with one of the epic poisons proposed in the old epic insight columns. The lich also needs some minions to kill the PCs. A lich is not going to be doing a lot of damage. It should weaken, confuse and divide. I would suggest adding a few low level paragon undeads such as drowned (MM3), dust wights (MM3) or ephemeral swarms (MM3). I personally favor the swarm :D. If you can get your hands on a copy of champions of ruin, you have some very nasty material for evil spellcasters. If the fight takes place in a node of evil and the lich has the right node feats, it could get some quicken spells for a mere +1 adjustment. And to finish, I would suggest a [add a **** load of metamagic feats] death throes (Spell Compendium) just to kill two or three before it dies.
runestar 10-05-07, 10:25 PM	It is also worth noting that npc class crs are fairly inaccurate to begin with. At epic lvs, they cannot keep up with racial HD, so a suggested progression rate would be 2 class lvs = +1cr. Thus, a wizard 30 lich would be cr27. Alternatively, you could consider a demilich (cr29).
The_Cheeseman 10-06-07, 12:03 AM	Strongly consider adding some special salient abilities to your epic lich, such as those listed in Monsters of Faerun or the White Wolf supplement, Ravenloft Player's Handbook. The addition of abilities that the characters don't know about will make the fight a lot more exciting and unpredictable (I know all the people in my play group have read the monster manuals cover to cover many times). Secondly, remember that liches possess superhuman intelligence, and as much time as they could ever want to prepare and plan. Also, since your lich is already aware of the party, he should use every means at his disposal to directly counter each PC's unique talents. If tailoring encounters for your party's abilities makes you uneasy, then drop a few precursor encounters in the mix, where the minions of the lich are "testing" the PC's and gathering information on their abilities. Make sure the lich is fighting on his own terms. The battle should take place in a location of the lich's choosing, where he has had time to lay traps and alter the battlefield to his advantage. Poison gas, freezing temperatures, airless halls, or constant lightning storms are great ways to take advantage of the lich's innate immunities. For extra fun, the lich could open a complete planar breach (see the Planar Handbook for details) to the Negative Energy Plane, causing the area around the battlefield to become major negative dominant. Finally, make sure the lich is acting in his own interests. Remember that he is a person (or used to be), with his own plans, goals, and motivations, and he isn't likely to risk his unlife simply for revenge. There is no reason why he should risk death by facing the PC's one-on-one when he can use hordes of minions, lead by a projected image of his astral projection. He should also maintain a healthy supply of stasis clones or other failsafe devices, as well as ensuring that his phylactery is guarded against divination. Make generous use of defensive spells like delay death (SpC), effulgent empuration (SpC), greater mirror image (PH2), contingency, and spell turning. Also make sure to take advantage of control spells such as blacklight (SpC), antimagic ray (SpC), forcecage, prismatic wall, and dimensional lock. One of my favorite strategies is a contingency spell that casts celerity (PH2), set to go off as soon as another creature attacks the lich. The lich uses the standard action to cast time stop, giving him 1d4 rounds to buff up or summon some allies. If it comes down to it, make sure he's memorized a wish or two for emergencies. Hope this helps!
Goblinchaser 10-06-07, 01:39 AM	All the advise and tips have been great, It is greatly appreciated. I worked on the encounter this evening some, setting him at level 25, applying the lich template on top of that, his epic feats are improved spell capacity. I want to stay away from the epic spellcasting at this time, since this is not the real encounter of the over all campaign, I want to bring those guns out as that fight nears. I certainly like the ideas of Location and Setting the stage complimenting the lich's abilities. Much appreciated.
robed_lich 10-06-07, 02:46 AM	it may or may not be helpful, but this idea is partially taken from the others and from movies.. Location: large cavern Spells: Greater Prying Eyes or Arcane Eyes Minions: Zombie monkies about 8 of them, awaken them after applying a few Zombie specific templates from Libris Mortis, now after the monkies are awakened, add a few HD to get the Spring Attack feat for the monkies Templates: Unkillable, Hunter, Fast, Blood-thirsty, and Diseased have a poisonous fog fill the bottom of the cavern, then have the monkies test out some of the characters abilities, using a few Dispel Magic Traps (found in Dungeonscape) to target Light and Air spells If the monkies make it 10 rounds with said party, have them retreat and send in larger zombies (like Ogres with the Hive-infested template found in Dungeonscape) to keep the group occupied for a few rounds Then as the finale of the "test" encounter, seal the cavern and possibly cause a cave in, having the magical sensors (most likely Arcane Eyes instead of Greater Prying Eyes) relay that information to you... If you don't want the players to escape by extradimensional travel (such as with teleport and planeshifting spells), the mist found in dungeonscape, anchoring mist, would prevent that mode of escape well, my 2 cents.
Gnarl 10-06-07, 03:41 AM	All the advise and tips have been great, It is greatly appreciated. I worked on the encounter this evening some, setting him at level 25, applying the lich template on top of that, his epic feats are improved spell capacity. I want to stay away from the epic spellcasting at this time, since this is not the real encounter of the over all campaign, I want to bring those guns out as that fight nears. I certainly like the ideas of Location and Setting the stage complimenting the lich's abilities. Much appreciated. I guess necrotic empowerment (Libris Mortis) should do the trick then.
Necroramo 10-06-07, 04:54 PM	My personal idea: 1. Make the lich a gish and put him in the front line. I am being serious right now. It will unnerve the players because (1) the lich is fighting in the front and (2) he's probably kicking butt while doing so. 2. Give him seriously macabre undead servants. Really advanced necronauts, horrific vasuthuants, effigies, and angels of decay come to mind.
Garonak 10-06-07, 06:39 PM	Vampire Ninja Apes, can't go wrong with them. Where's his Advanced Greater Stone Golem guards? Beef them up to Gargantuan and the party should have som problems with them. You can't go wrong with a Paladin 20 either, that is, a Paladin 20 that's traded in 10 of his lvls to become Blackguard 10/Paladin 10. And since the naughty lich turned the ex-pally into a Death Knight (MM2) the party should be able to get a challenge. Smite Good and all that.
Slagger the Chuul 10-06-07, 10:33 PM	With the astral projection, don't forget that the effect can include one additional creature for every two caster levels. This means that the lich can include his favourite lieutenants so that they can turn up for more than one encounter.
orion73 10-13-07, 04:06 AM	Been working a bit on the encounter and terrian sort'a speaking. Plan on running an encounter with the lich prior to them finding his lair, and make it somewhat of an easy fight, a few big spells and poor choice of terrain for the lich, to make the group confident that they can take him. But give them determination to him out, such as a disjunction, taking some of thier precious items possibly. I am sure at this point there will be a few divinatin spells, commune spells, and the bard dropping a great deal of cash to learn the location of the lich. I understand the lich will be hard to find, but I need them to find him for the game to procede so they will learn of it, easily or hard depending on their approach, He does have enemies to after all. I plan on giving the PC's the feel of superiority by using weaker undead and abominations. Something to burn the turn attempts of the cleric. I figure he will burn through most of them with ease, but a few will get through to cause a drain on resources. I do like the Idea of the node spellcasting and will be using a evil node as the lair of the lich. Of course there will be a few challenging encounters, one of which will be the death knight blackguard, with a cloak of Ethealness, who will strike while the PC's are busy with some lesser creatures (from the rear, and probably at the wizard who hangs out in the back normally after battle begins). With the lich (should he survive) will be said Death night along with a few clerics, who will make a concentrated effort to use several hiegthened Divine interdiction (Spell Compendium) on the cleric while the lich stays a healthy distance away and above the ground to rain death on the PC's working to bring down the wizard and the cleric first, unless they get the axe swinger up in the air. The Deathknight will confront the Warforged with a mace of Smiting, and Corrupt Weapon active. With a level node 3 up, and the lich and the deathknight work together on Dark Chant (BoVD) will beef up the Turn resistance for the Lich alone by 10, and maybe add a few other undead to bring it down to 6 or so. Lich will summon monster 9, (not sure on what to summon yet) to go harrass the bard and Paladin. The lich will also have a few Reaping (metamagic) spells prepared, thinking of Delayed Blast fireballs with a Timestop, once the party is weakened enough to take one or two out. Over all the PC's should be able to beat the lich (with a loss or two or three possibly), but the PC's have resources, and asside from a reaping roll going bad for them, they have access to plenty of spells and diamond dust. But it is enough to set the pace for the rest of the campaign. While they may be big and bad, they are still mortal. I thank everyone for the ideas above and if you have more to flesh it out or a possibility to make the encounter unique and memorable, I am all ears.
The_Cheeseman 10-13-07, 07:12 AM	What you have sounds good, to me. But make sure you hide the lich's phylactery well. Nothing motivates players like revenge, and if you really make this a tough fight, they'll want to finish it. Either make the phylactery really well-hidden so that you can use the lich again as a reoccurring villain, or maybe make an adventure out of finding it. Then again, if you're bored with the lich, you could always just sit it in the middle of the room with a big neon sign that says, "Break me, I'm a phylactery!" Oh thing, if you're going to use ninth-level summoning spells, there is no good reason to cast summon monster IX over gate. The latter is just obscenely powerful, and would allow you to call-in some balors or pit fiends, or even the aspects of some demon lords or archdevils (from the Fiendish Codex I/II). Note, however, that you would not have control over a demon lord or any such unique beings, even though I am sure it would be more than happy to rip the heroes to shreds for you. Sounds like a great escape plan, actually... Hero: "Ha HA! We have crushed your armies and laid your citadel low, foul lich-king! Now you shall taste steel at last!" Lich: "Aww, gee... Looks like you really got me, here. Oh! Oh wait, hold on a tick! Looks like my ol' pal Orcus, Lord of the Undead showed up! It's not even poker night. Hey Orcus, why don't you teach these folks how true demons do battle?" Hero: "Hey... That's not fair!" Lich: "And that is why evil will always triumph, because good is dumb." Lich plane shifts to the Negative Energy Plane to have a six-pack of [evil] brew.
Obsidianjaerc 10-14-07, 02:15 AM	Cheeseman, you have made me guffaw! Congratulations.