Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 asmodeuslore Apr 09, 2009 23:24:39	Excerpts: Arcane Power Archlich In today’s final Arcane Power preview, we introduce a new epic destiny -- the archlich! Talk about this Preview here.
#2 beej_silver Apr 10, 2009 0:26:49	Whee! Finally, a way to become a lich as a player!! :D *geekgasms* Whew. Okay, that aside, I do have a concern: How will the Archlich's Phylcatery and Mastery over Death co-exist? As long asyou have your phylactery, it seems that you will never die; you just crumble to dust at 0hp. Does this mean that Mastery over Death is only something that'll work if some enterprising BBEG found and destroyed your phylactery? Also, how come I don't gain the undead keyword? Does that mean I can't be affected by stuff that attack undead, say, an opponent cleric's Turn Undead? Or is it because I'm not completely an undead creature?
#3 jimthegray Apr 10, 2009 5:35:09	Whee! Finally, a way to become a lich as a player!! :D *geekgasms* Whew. Okay, that aside, I do have a concern: How will the Archlich's Phylcatery and Mastery over Death co-exist? As long asyou have your phylactery, it seems that you will never die; you just crumble to dust at 0hp. Does this mean that Mastery over Death is only something that'll work if some enterprising BBEG found and destroyed your phylactery? Also, how come I don't gain the undead keyword? Does that mean I can't be affected by stuff that attack undead, say, an opponent cleric's Turn Undead? Or is it because I'm not completely an undead creature? When dming I will prob give a player that takes this the undead keyword, other then this I like this epic path
#4 ranadiel Apr 10, 2009 5:49:06	Also, how come I don't gain the undead keyword? Does that mean I can't be affected by stuff that attack undead, say, an opponent cleric's Turn Undead? Or is it because I'm not completely an undead creature? I think you aren't given the undead keyword because if you were than the party cleric could accidently hurt you if he used turn undead.
#5 n0-1_h3r3 Apr 10, 2009 7:43:22	I think you aren't given the undead keyword because if you were than the party cleric could accidently hurt you if he used turn undead. I fail to see the problem. Being neither dead nor alive, trigger-happy clerics should be an occupational hazard...
#6 beej_silver Apr 10, 2009 8:44:00	The undead keyword, all things considered, is a minor concern. What I'm worried about, however, is how its two features simply won't work properly. If you crumble to dust at 0hp, then that means you practically never die. Meaning Mastery over Death doesn't trigger unless you lose your phylactery. @_@
#7 Faerieheart_Wolf Apr 10, 2009 9:31:44	Or quite simply because you have mastery over death you can choose not to crumble into dust and use the other power instead, crumbling to dust if you find yourself at zero hit points. It's really not all that complicated.
#8 beej_silver Apr 10, 2009 9:35:41	But... You don't die at 0 hit points. I see where you're coming from, though. I think we both have an inkling of how it should work, but the wording leaves much to be desired. I will most likely make it work such that you can use Mastery at 0hp, and use Phylactery at death.
#9 shimeran Apr 10, 2009 10:45:03	The funny thing is it doesn't say you die when you crumble into dust. Granted, that's something I'd normally consider lethal. However, the character in question is an animated corpse. I'm going to go the classic route and say their spirit lingers (death saves) unless their ashes are scattered (reduced to negative bloodied value). Granted, that does make heal checks for second winds kind of hilarious. Bob the Archlich collapses into dust. Jim pokes the pile of dust. The pile of dust springs up and reforms into Bob with a cry of "Hey, watch where your touching, buddy!" :embarrass
#10 dreadmage Apr 10, 2009 14:45:11	Ok, I am an UNDEAD loving FREAK, always have been. Liches are my favorite, and I have played many before. In fourth, I have a wiz that focuses on the necrotic powers, and planned to become a lich, this is great, I LOVE IT! I do have one issue in general with common perceptions though. It seems that the whole D&D concept is based on a corny kind of "Super Power Ranger Evil". I have always disagreed, I think evil can be that way, it can just as often be a less sinister & more effective version. Temptations, and doing "evil" deeds for "good" reasons. Example: Killing an innocent executioner before he can behead the innocent prisoner before him, even though everyone believes he has killed women & children. -OR- Casting a ritual to enslave your neihbors soul to a demon, in exchange for the demon to cure your daughter of the disease that the "good" clerics say you cannot afford to have done. Things that distort the concepts of "right & wrong", that is how I like my evil. I play dark wizards that are usually pretty nice guys, but are VERY willing to commit atrocities if they believe it is for a greater purpose. Sorry, I get livid about my undead, and evil characters & NPC's. I just wanted to vent a little misconception frustration I get.
#11 Bolongo Apr 11, 2009 5:02:14	The undead keyword, all things considered, is a minor concern. What I'm worried about, however, is how its two features simply won't work properly. If you crumble to dust at 0hp, then that means you practically never die. Meaning Mastery over Death doesn't trigger unless you lose your phylactery. @_@ Yeah, it seems this book needs errata before it's even been published. But it's a cool concept, don't get me wrong. :D
#12 RCanine Apr 11, 2009 11:40:27	First off, the flavor of this epic destiny is incredible. Technically? Not so much. I hate to be a troll, but I can't believe they would go press with a death-avoidance power that requires a destructable item no description of what happens if that item is destroyed a power triggered on death RAW, the archlich can never die--at no point in the Archlich’s Phylactery description is the dead status applied to the character. If the phylactery is destroyed, what happens the next day? What effect does "crumble to dust" have on gameplay? Can you be healed? As a pile of dust, can someone force you to spend your second wind with a heal check? Take damage? Be mixed into a delicious Archlich ovaltine? The pity is that these problems are apparent with only a cursory reading, let alone a playtest. The ambiguity can also be remedied by adding 10 words and 3 commas. "When you drop to 0 hit points or fewer, you immediately die, and both you and your possessions crumble to dust. A day later, if you have a phylactery, you reappear..." Dear Wizards, I'm begging you: get more serious about editing these books. You have a HUGE community of rules lawyers that would love to help--probably for cheap or free. Let a larger sample see the rules before the books have been printed--heck, make us sign NDAs--and you should be able to resolve most of these issues.
#13 superdeadsmurf Apr 11, 2009 11:57:52	I plan to make this Epic Destiny only available to worshipers of the Blood of Vol or elvish deathless worshipers in my Eberron game, but I have a feeling no-one would want to anyway. it's pretty cool though. :D
#14 serphet Apr 11, 2009 12:02:30	that seems pretty simple.. "When you drop to 0 hit points or fewer, you immediately die, and both you and your possessions crumble to dust. A day later, if you have a phylactery, you reappear..." the phylactery is the exception to the rule, the rule is when you die, you stay dead until rez'd. (notable there is no body here for resurrection) so when the phylactery is destroyed, you don't return the next day (or ever for that matter).