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Building the Uber-lich
- Thread starter Ipissimus
- Start date
BlueBlackRed
Explorer
Project Image + disjunction will leave a mark early on.
Follow that with a horde of servants, and then finally V who has only cast 2 spells + buff spells.
It should be a fair challenge by the end with their power about equal to hers.
Follow that with a horde of servants, and then finally V who has only cast 2 spells + buff spells.
It should be a fair challenge by the end with their power about equal to hers.
Thanael
Explorer
I think i remember Wizardru did play that particular adventure and got a custom built advanced roper minion for the Queen from Blackdirge to further challenge the heroes. Can't find the thread though...
Edit: Here it is: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=44315&page=2&pp=40 (search for Kepnekarak)
Edit: Here it is: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=44315&page=2&pp=40 (search for Kepnekarak)
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Thanks, everyone for the ideas, sorry for not replying sooner. Real Life's been pesky.
I'm playing again this weekend, but the PCs won't reach her next session. So approximately 3 weeks, most likely is the time frame for those interested.
Yes, looking closer at Dread Necromancer, it's a bit of a dud. Spells Known are too focussed on necromancy, not enough spells that go boom. Demigod status is a definite, if just for the Divine Spellcasting (or whatever it's called) Salient Ability. Dread Lich from Advanced Bestiary is also a great idea, Demilich has the problem of being a +8CR already on top of +2 for the Lich template. It works to bring her up to CR35 but, eh, as I've said it's a bit flavorless. Vlaakith isn't Aecerack.
Vlaakith is a Githyanki, as detailed in Dungeon #100. Base stats minus enhancement, insight, inherent and lich bonuses but inclusive of racial bonuses are:
Str: 16 Dex: 16 Con: - (undead) Int: 18 Wis: 14 Cha: 17
As written, she's a 25th level Wizard Lich (CR 27), but I'm willing to change this. Her final CR has to be 35.
The only mandatory equipment is her two artefacts: The Crown of Corruption and the Scepter of Ephelomon. The Crown gives her rulership powers, creates undead and suck out levels and experience points. Basically, I'm taking this special ability basically by allowing her an unlimited number of 'Dark Craft Experience Points' as detailed by the BoVD for the creation of evil magical items.
As background, Vlaakith rules a vast empire of the Githyanki, the module states that she has conquered 7 or 8 prime material worlds. She is based on a planar metropolis purched upon the remains of a dead god on the Astral Plane known as 'The One In The Void'. She is siphoning diefic power from this dead god in an attempt to steal his divine spark and become the Goddess of the Githyanki (who are, as a race, tempermentally unsuited to religion).
This last gave me the idea on making her a 23/10 Wizard/Ur-Priest, plus the Lich template brings her to CR35 with a bit of 'feat maenuvring' and equipment buffs to bring her Caster level back up to snuff. Not set in stone, of course, Ur-Priest has some significant disadvantages.
Githyanki do have a few Psionic powers, so maybe something can be done with those for a more interesting villain? I'm not up on Psionics, my players have never expressed an interest in them so we've always just gone with the 'it's all just magic' explanation and left it there.
I do plan on dumping the multiheaded red dragon that Vlaakith keeps as a pet and replacing him with Demodragon from the latest Dungeon, I'm hoping that will give them pause for thought. Paragon Terrasque is a good idea. One monster that I'm working into the dungeon is an Atropal Scion, that should boost the undead in the general viscinity.
One thing I am working on also is upgrading the 'Palace of Whispers', Vlaakith's home. In the module, it's made out of the petrified bodies of dead Githyanki imbued with their souls. Going one step further, I'm working on the idea of the Palace being one gigantic 'undead golem' construction that really doesn't like unwelcome guests. The Githyanki have also done alot of research into the Negative Material Plane, indicitive of an entire Prestiege Class based around 'powers of the void' known as the Blackweave Warlock in the books. I'll be replacing these with the new Warlocks, buffed with energy drain type Eldrich Infusions and such, but also I'll be looking at using negative material as walls and such.
Epic spells are a must, you're all correct. I am bumping up Vlaakith's 'kill subordinate' policy one level to 17th (she drains them of experience, then turns them into undead creatures bound to her will). Otherwise the minions will be no fun.
To put the challenge of fighting these PCs, let me give an example from last session. Their town was attacked by a Githyanki invasion force consisting of one Collossal Planar Raider, two Planar Brigs and many assorted Astral Skiffs, literally hundreds of soldiers of different levels and 4 17th level Blackguards riding Adult Red Dragons.
They blew them all out of the sky. Gotta love epic play.
The cleric can turn, oh god, lots. He's a 14/10 Cleric/Radient Servant of Pelor, with the Sun Domain and the Extra Turning Feat required for his class. And, of course, his healing spells are all automatically Empowered and Maximized. The Undead's nightmare.
To quote Chevy Chase as Fletch: "It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am not a big man."
I'm playing again this weekend, but the PCs won't reach her next session. So approximately 3 weeks, most likely is the time frame for those interested.
Yes, looking closer at Dread Necromancer, it's a bit of a dud. Spells Known are too focussed on necromancy, not enough spells that go boom. Demigod status is a definite, if just for the Divine Spellcasting (or whatever it's called) Salient Ability. Dread Lich from Advanced Bestiary is also a great idea, Demilich has the problem of being a +8CR already on top of +2 for the Lich template. It works to bring her up to CR35 but, eh, as I've said it's a bit flavorless. Vlaakith isn't Aecerack.
Vlaakith is a Githyanki, as detailed in Dungeon #100. Base stats minus enhancement, insight, inherent and lich bonuses but inclusive of racial bonuses are:
Str: 16 Dex: 16 Con: - (undead) Int: 18 Wis: 14 Cha: 17
As written, she's a 25th level Wizard Lich (CR 27), but I'm willing to change this. Her final CR has to be 35.
The only mandatory equipment is her two artefacts: The Crown of Corruption and the Scepter of Ephelomon. The Crown gives her rulership powers, creates undead and suck out levels and experience points. Basically, I'm taking this special ability basically by allowing her an unlimited number of 'Dark Craft Experience Points' as detailed by the BoVD for the creation of evil magical items.
As background, Vlaakith rules a vast empire of the Githyanki, the module states that she has conquered 7 or 8 prime material worlds. She is based on a planar metropolis purched upon the remains of a dead god on the Astral Plane known as 'The One In The Void'. She is siphoning diefic power from this dead god in an attempt to steal his divine spark and become the Goddess of the Githyanki (who are, as a race, tempermentally unsuited to religion).
This last gave me the idea on making her a 23/10 Wizard/Ur-Priest, plus the Lich template brings her to CR35 with a bit of 'feat maenuvring' and equipment buffs to bring her Caster level back up to snuff. Not set in stone, of course, Ur-Priest has some significant disadvantages.
Githyanki do have a few Psionic powers, so maybe something can be done with those for a more interesting villain? I'm not up on Psionics, my players have never expressed an interest in them so we've always just gone with the 'it's all just magic' explanation and left it there.
I do plan on dumping the multiheaded red dragon that Vlaakith keeps as a pet and replacing him with Demodragon from the latest Dungeon, I'm hoping that will give them pause for thought. Paragon Terrasque is a good idea. One monster that I'm working into the dungeon is an Atropal Scion, that should boost the undead in the general viscinity.
One thing I am working on also is upgrading the 'Palace of Whispers', Vlaakith's home. In the module, it's made out of the petrified bodies of dead Githyanki imbued with their souls. Going one step further, I'm working on the idea of the Palace being one gigantic 'undead golem' construction that really doesn't like unwelcome guests. The Githyanki have also done alot of research into the Negative Material Plane, indicitive of an entire Prestiege Class based around 'powers of the void' known as the Blackweave Warlock in the books. I'll be replacing these with the new Warlocks, buffed with energy drain type Eldrich Infusions and such, but also I'll be looking at using negative material as walls and such.
Epic spells are a must, you're all correct. I am bumping up Vlaakith's 'kill subordinate' policy one level to 17th (she drains them of experience, then turns them into undead creatures bound to her will). Otherwise the minions will be no fun.
To put the challenge of fighting these PCs, let me give an example from last session. Their town was attacked by a Githyanki invasion force consisting of one Collossal Planar Raider, two Planar Brigs and many assorted Astral Skiffs, literally hundreds of soldiers of different levels and 4 17th level Blackguards riding Adult Red Dragons.
They blew them all out of the sky. Gotta love epic play.
The cleric can turn, oh god, lots. He's a 14/10 Cleric/Radient Servant of Pelor, with the Sun Domain and the Extra Turning Feat required for his class. And, of course, his healing spells are all automatically Empowered and Maximized. The Undead's nightmare.
Alzrius said:
To quote Chevy Chase as Fletch: "It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am not a big man."
BLACKDIRGE
Adventurer
There is a fairly easy fix if you want to buff Vlaakith up without changing her appearance or flavor. Use the paragon template from the ELH (or SRD). Apply the template to her as a mortal githyanki, add her class levels, and then add the lich template. That should get you a CR in the range you are looking for.
BD
BD
Erywin
First Post
Ipissimus said:
Just a note from my understanding is that only the Domain spells of a RSoP are empowered and maximized. Now if he has Spontaneous Domain casting, thats another issue altogether.
Cheers,
E
PS. I would love to see the final stats on this lich, it will take forever for my party to hit EPIC but I would love to have something up my sleeve if it does happen.
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Your game sounds great. 
My PCs took a different tack; they went to Hell, freed Gith herself from bondage by Tiamat, and (with Ephemelon's complicity) broke the pact between githyanki and red dragons. (As a side effect they accidentally bound all the githzerai to the githyanki as slaves for a few hours, too; oops.) Thus, with Vlaakith's rod of Ephemolon destroyed (it was a symbol of the draconic pact), they then told Gith what Vlaakith had been up to and how she had squandered every sacrifice that Gith had made for her people.
Gith was pissed.
So I don't have to stat Vlaakith; the PCs sent Gith to do their dirty work for them, while they get down to business.
Still, I envy you the upcoming fight!
My PCs took a different tack; they went to Hell, freed Gith herself from bondage by Tiamat, and (with Ephemelon's complicity) broke the pact between githyanki and red dragons. (As a side effect they accidentally bound all the githzerai to the githyanki as slaves for a few hours, too; oops.) Thus, with Vlaakith's rod of Ephemolon destroyed (it was a symbol of the draconic pact), they then told Gith what Vlaakith had been up to and how she had squandered every sacrifice that Gith had made for her people.
Gith was pissed.
So I don't have to stat Vlaakith; the PCs sent Gith to do their dirty work for them, while they get down to business.
Still, I envy you the upcoming fight!
Thanks, Piratecat, your game sounds pretty cool too. My PCs are, er, a bit more gung-ho and alot more treasure happy from the sounds of things 
which is good because a nice bribe will always keep them on track.
Ok, an interesting twist here.
I was glancing over the Divine abilities and it states that 'a deity that can cast cleric spells can cast any divine spell that they know spontaneously' or some such. Which gave me an idea.
Vlaakith's ally is Tiamat the dragon. So, take the 'Rainbow Servant' PrC from Complete Arcane (I think it is) and twist it around to 'Chromatic Servant' as a Lawful Evil version of the same class. Make her a Wizard/Archmage/Chromatic Servant 17/5/10 with the Dread Lich template and a Divine Rank of 1 and take the 'Divine Spellcasting' Salient ability.
I've got her Int up to something around 47 with epic enhancement buffs, inherent bonuses, etc., which means that with all that she can memorize up to 18th level wizard spells and spontaneously cast any cleric spell.
In a word: Ouch.
I borrowed Dragotha for tonight's battle and they did kill the poor Dracolich. Just not powerful enough to deal with wizards shapechanged into Great Wyrm Gold Dragons. Of course, they haven't realized yet that they missed his phylactery...![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
which is good because a nice bribe will always keep them on track.Ok, an interesting twist here.
I was glancing over the Divine abilities and it states that 'a deity that can cast cleric spells can cast any divine spell that they know spontaneously' or some such. Which gave me an idea.
Vlaakith's ally is Tiamat the dragon. So, take the 'Rainbow Servant' PrC from Complete Arcane (I think it is) and twist it around to 'Chromatic Servant' as a Lawful Evil version of the same class. Make her a Wizard/Archmage/Chromatic Servant 17/5/10 with the Dread Lich template and a Divine Rank of 1 and take the 'Divine Spellcasting' Salient ability.
I've got her Int up to something around 47 with epic enhancement buffs, inherent bonuses, etc., which means that with all that she can memorize up to 18th level wizard spells and spontaneously cast any cleric spell.
In a word: Ouch.
I borrowed Dragotha for tonight's battle and they did kill the poor Dracolich. Just not powerful enough to deal with wizards shapechanged into Great Wyrm Gold Dragons. Of course, they haven't realized yet that they missed his phylactery...
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I'll see what I can do, with any luck I'll be able to post a blow-by-blow or something close. It won't be for two whole months now, for the fact that two of my players are getting married in the interim.
I did offer to DM on their honeymoon but they didn't take kindly to the idea. LOL
Anyway, I'll do up the full stats for CR 35 Vlaakith and post them in the meantime for perusal and yoinking.
I did offer to DM on their honeymoon but they didn't take kindly to the idea.
LOLAnyway, I'll do up the full stats for CR 35 Vlaakith and post them in the meantime for perusal and yoinking.
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