Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dragon Eye 09-06-06, 11:02 AM	I have some basic questions about liches I am hoping you guys can help with. What happens when a lich reappears? Does it reappear right next to its phylactery or within a certain distance? Also, what does the reappearance look like? Does the body form out of thin air or does it have to possess a new body? Finally, what would be the state of the lich? How many HPs, any equipment, memorized spells? Thanks for the help.
aotrscommander 09-06-06, 12:05 PM	It could appear in whatever manner you feel is most appropriatly dramatic. How far from it's phalactory is unclear and to a degree dependant pn where the phalactory, but I would suggest probably something like in the region of the same room, or the nearest available space large enough to accomdate this. You could even say that these effects are determined by the Lich on phalactory creation. I would personally say it would reappear at full health with all spells. Whether it could have changed the spells is memorised (accounting for spellbook lack) in between time is debatable. Equipment would probably be a no, unless the whole body discoporates on death or something.
Nobody_ 09-06-06, 12:36 PM	It could appear in whatever manner you feel is most appropriatly dramatic. How far from it's phalactory is unclear and to a degree dependant pn where the phalactory, but I would suggest probably something like in the region of the same room, or the nearest available space large enough to accomdate this. You could even say that these effects are determined by the Lich on phalactory creation. I would personally say it would reappear at full health with all spells. Whether it could have changed the spells is memorised (accounting for spellbook lack) in between time is debatable. Equipment would probably be a no, unless the whole body discoporates on death or something. Translation: "The RAW doesn't say. Use your best guess. It is all DM's preferences." -Nobody
Snake_Oil 09-06-06, 02:42 PM	Okay, I'm pretty new to the game, but I always envisioned that a lich's soul as having to first return to their phalactory first, remain ther for a while to recover (say 1 round or so) then they can inhabit any non-livig body within a certain area of their phalactory, ussualy one they've prepared in advance for just this occasion, so it would have its own equipment. Anyway thats what I always thought. Feel free to ignore me completely.
Purkake 09-06-06, 02:52 PM	It worked that way in 2e IIRC and it still works like that for Dracoliches...
dragor_shadowfury 09-06-06, 02:53 PM	well snake_oil, that is exactly the way a dracolich works, normal liches does not specifically have to inhabit a new body (at least the MM doesn't say so)
malignor 09-06-06, 03:02 PM	I've always envisioned the Lich as always decaying unless the body is maintained. Should the body be destroyed, it slowly reforms in the nearest available space to the phylactery that would accomodate the Lich's body. Furthermore, the time that the lich is forming, it's body is in the state it was at the most recent destruction, but is also decaying (unmaintained) during that recovery period. Thus a lich will always come back a little more decayed. Furthermore, no spells or equipment. However, a wise (Wizard-based) lich would have a spare spellbook and/or spell components/focuses near his phylactery, and likely some gear to get it "back on its feet" as it were. My advice for a Lich depends on its original class. = Wizard/Sorcerer/Bard = - have spellbooks, expensive components and/or equipment stashed in hidden locations, each location having an Arcane Mark which you can easily scry on and/or teleport to. By hidden, I mean in places only you can go (hostile environments, uninteresting secluded places, etc). Also mark your stuff, so if anyone steals it you can find them and take it back. - Take Spell Mastery for Teleport & Scry, or get Teleport & Scry as spell-like abilities through some means. With just these you have awareness and mobility which, combined with just your supernatural abilities and intellect, will provide you the means to always re-acquire power, at least to some notable measure. = Cleric = - Stash holy symbols and/or equipment in many places where you can find them. = Druid/Ranger = - Keep your phylactery in a place where you can quickly get to a natural setting from, populated by alot of local fauna. Getting an Animal Companion is a useful step to your climb to recollecting power.
Sildatorak 09-06-06, 05:27 PM	Thus a lich will always come back a little more decayed. Since undead don't seem to rot (there are no rules for zombies becoming skeletons over time), I think that something like this must happen or liches would always look like fresh corpses. This is just a matter of flavor, though. Equipment would not be reformed with the lich as it will likely still be in the grasp of the adventurers who semi-slew him in the first place. For spells I would treat it like a rez on a living wizard. You come back with whatever you had memorized when you died. The lich hasn't had 8 hours of rest, nor is there anything to indicate that its mind has been wiped, so it should just keep what it had at the moment of destruction.