Converting Monsters from Polyhedron Magazine

[Shade]

Updated.

 

[freyar]

I like what you've got so far!

I vote no on the phylactery transference, and I think the phylactery should be the same as the usual lich.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Speed: Replace with fly x ft. (perfect) or the lich's supernatural (not natural) fly speed, whichever is better. (A demilich is 180 feet, so maybe 90 feet?)

Damage: The semilich gains an enhanced touch attack over that of its previous lich form (it now uses its entire flying skull to make the touch attack), including paralyzing touch. The semilich's touch attack uses negative energy to deal x points of damage to living creatures (no saving throw). Liches with other natural attacks lose them. (The demilich deals 10d6+20, so maybe 5d6+10?)

Organization: x. [Demilich is Solitary or consistory (1 demilich and 3-6 liches)]
Challenge Rating: Same as the lich +x. (Demilich is +6; maybe +3?)
Level Adjustment: Same as the lich +x. (Demilich offers none; lich is +4; I'd estimate it at an additional +3 to +4)

Anything else before moving onto the sample creature?

 

[freyar]

What did you think of flight being limited to a certain number of rounds per day to fit your earlier idea?

How about 5d6+1.5xCha for negative energy damage on the touch?

The consistory is good, but how about also a troupe like a lich (semilich + various other undead servants, maybe vampires).

 

[Shade]

What did you think of flight being limited to a certain number of rounds per day to fit your earlier idea?

I'm OK with that, and equally agreeable to simply giving it a fly speed similar to the demilich (albeit slower).

How about 5d6+1.5xCha for negative energy damage on the touch?

Sounds good.

The consistory is good, but how about also a troupe like a lich (semilich + various other undead servants, maybe vampires).

Sure. I never liked how the lich was limited to vampires, but I'm all for undead servants.

 

[freyar]

Let's go with the slower fly speed rather than anything complicated.

So, troupe (semilich plus various undead servants)? Somehow I feel it should be more specific than that, but I'm having trouble coming up with something that's not too constraining. 1d4 intelligent undead of 10HD+ or 1d6 intelligent undead of less than 10HD plus 1d10 mindless undead of varying HD?

 

[Shade]

How about simplifying it to "assorted undead with total Hit Dice of up to twice the semilich's Hit Dice"?

Did we decide on which of the following bolded bits works best?

Armor Class: The semilich retains the lich's +5 natural armor bonus and gains an insight bonus equal to (Cha modifier/half its Hit Dice), as well as probable size adjustment to AC (for example, +4 for its new Diminutive size for a previously Medium lich).

Attacks: The semilich gains an insight bonus equal to (Cha modifier/half its Hit Dice) as a bonus on its touch attacks.

 

[freyar]

That's a good simplification!

Well, since the demilich uses HD, let's use 1/2 HD.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Challenge Rating: Same as the lich +x. (Demilich is +6; maybe +3?)

Level Adjustment: Same as the lich +x. (Demilich offers none; lich is +4; I'd estimate it at an additional +3 to +4)

 

[freyar]

Yeah, CR+3 is probably about right. Not sure if maybe we should go LA - on these or not. I'm sure there are people that would play one, but I'm sure they'd play a demilich too.