D&D 5E Warlock liches?

[Corwin]

I don't feel the patron necessarily has to have anything to do with becoming a lich.

Warlock decides "I want to be immortal" finds or develops the appropriate ritual...BAM...lich.

Granted the patrons will have varying responses to this as folks have listed above, but they are not required for the transformation.

Yeah. Depending on the relationship, some patrons might consider it cheating. Others happy to see their ward will continue to exude influence in the world for a long time to come. I'm sure others still would either not care at all, or ever know, or have even a hint.

 

[TheNoremac42]

I'll definitely discuss the idea with my group during our next session. I imagine even druids can eventually ascend to be a lich-like nature spirit. It would probably be like the process of undead lichdom - except the opposite or something.

 

[Soul Stigma]

I'll definitely discuss the idea with my group during our next session. I imagine even druids can eventually ascend to be a lich-like nature spirit. It would probably be like the process of undead lichdom - except the opposite or something.

I'm not as sure about a Druid, since undeath is a mockery of the natural cycle of things.


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[TheNoremac42]

I'm not as sure about a Druid, since undeath is a mockery of the natural cycle of things.

Thus "lich-like" . He could be infusing his body with enough nature magic to turn himself into a dryad, transplant his spirit into a tree, or tie his essence to the land itself. It would essentially be an "anti-lich" if there would ever be such a thing.

That's actually an interesting idea for an encounter...

 

[TheNoremac42]

Now that I've thought about it a little more, I think the best patron for this particular warlock would be the great old one. Most don't really give a damn about their wards, so there's no guaranteed worry about an arch devil coming for your soul when you die. This warlock will also be a manipulator, and the old one has many abilities that will help him with that. Now I have to decide on the pact type... Chain for surveillance or tome for knowledge...

 

[Corwin]

...so there's no guaranteed worry about an arch devil coming for your soul when you die.

As I said earlier, I don't see why a fiendish patron couldn't also be in favor of certain warlocks becoming liches. Even if the original pact involved forfeiture of their soul upon demise. Maybe the fiend has long-term interests in the material world that the lich, now with plenty of time, can facilitate? Having a powerful, immortal spellcaster as an agent in the world has plenty of upsides. Of course, not all warlocks are interested in such deals. But some certainly would be.

 

[gyor]

True Polymorphic I believe can turn you into a Lich (or anyone else powerful enough).

Honestly I'd rather be a Mummy Lord then a Lich, Mummy Lords don't have to worry about feeding on souls or blood like vampires.

 

[cbwjm]

True Polymorphic I believe can turn you into a Lich (or anyone else powerful enough).

Honestly I'd rather be a Mummy Lord then a Lich, Mummy Lords don't have to worry about feeding on souls or blood like vampires.

Yeah, but it only lasts an hour at most and requires you to use your 9th level spell slot. I think the OP wanted something a little more long lasting.

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[TheNoremac42]

Yeah, but it only lasts an hour at most and requires you to use your 9th level spell slot. I think the OP wanted something a little more long lasting.

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"If you concentrate on this spell for the full duration, the transformation becomes permanent."

"If you turn a creature into another kind of creature, the new form can be any kind you choose whose challenge rating is equal to or less than the target’s (or its level, if the target doesn’t have a challenge rating)."

By the spell's description, the only way you can change a character into a lich that way would be to transform a level 18 character into a demilich (CR 18) since a vanilla lich has a CR of 21. However, since the spell presumably wouldn't create a phylactery, the new demilich would never be able to assume its "true form".

 

[cbwjm]

"If you concentrate on this spell for the full duration, the transformation becomes permanent."

"If you turn a creature into another kind of creature, the new form can be any kind you choose whose challenge rating is equal to or less than the target’s (or its level, if the target doesn’t have a challenge rating)."

By the spell's description, the only way you can change a character into a lich that way would be to transform a level 18 character into a demilich (CR 18) since a vanilla lich has a CR of 21. However, since the spell presumably wouldn't create a phylactery, the new demilich would never be able to assume its "true form".

I totally missed the permanent bit. Kind of takes away a lot of the mystery around becoming a lich since someone powerful enough could just use the spell. Even if a lich is too powerful to assume the form of, another powerful undead could be used. I don't think I like this spell.