Explain the Lich, Please.

[Reynard]

I was rumaging through the MM in search of a decent "end boss" for a heroic tier campaign (I want to create something of a sandbox with an ultimate goal) and happened upon the Lich. I am, however, confused.

Is the Lich a full 13th (or whatever) level wizard, with additional abilities presented in the MM, or is the lich limited to the powers shown in its MM entry?

 

[Fede]

It's limited to what you see in the stat block

 

[Nebulous]

I was rumaging through the MM in search of a decent "end boss" for a heroic tier campaign (I want to create something of a sandbox with an ultimate goal) and happened upon the Lich. I am, however, confused.

Is the Lich a full 13th (or whatever) level wizard, with additional abilities presented in the MM, or is the lich limited to the powers shown in its MM entry?

The lich in the Monster Manual is an "example" of what a lich would look like, including all of its powers. It is not intended to be a template to add onto a full level wizard.

That said, the lich in the MM is extremely boring IMO, and i were you, i would search through the spell lists and find some cool effects you want your lich to have, and add them onto the stats in the MM, either as at will, encounter or daily powers. Or, just make something up.

Chain Lightning, Limited Teleport, and Invisibility would make him MUCH more fun.

 

[chaotix42]

There are a lot of cool new liches in Open Grave - check it out if you haven't yet. Otherwise I would suggest using the lich template in the DMG for crafting a BBEG.

As Nebulous said, you could always take the base lich, use the DMG guidelines for making him a solo, and slap on a few extra powers. The class templates are great too.

 

[Jack99]

There is a lich template in the DMG. So if you want a lich that is closer to a spell-caster turned undead, you can make a NPC wizard and slap the Lich template on him.

Or, if you want something really nasty, you can pick a monster, slap a wizard template on it (making it elite) and then add a lich template, and wupti, you have yourself a solo lich, ready to face your players. Okay, a few of the powers might need some tweaking if it's a solo, but still. It's easy and quick.

 

[LostSoul]

Yeah, I'd use the Lich template plus a Wizard NPC.

Actually, what I'd do is make up a new monster. Give him cool new powers, like Grave Hand: it's like Mage Hand, but it deals necrotic damage and "paralyzes" (Stuns or Restrains) you.

(He should probably be a solo or elite, so attacking with a minor action is one of the things you want.)

 

[Reynard]

Thanks all. My brain is still running largely in 3.x mode and I want to give running 4E an honest try, while still running the game in the style I prefer.

 

[Nebulous]

Honestly, making monsters in 4e is my favorite part of the game (aside from like, playing). The Monster Manual is a decent starting point for ideas, but your own creativity can take it all kinds of new and fun directions.

You could easily recreate a lich that is something like the liches from 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions by just giving them powers that mimic your favorite spells. I'd personally make a lich an elite and back him up with some powerful undead allies. I ordered Open Grave yesterday and i can't wait to get it!

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Perhaps OT, but I was thinking the other day that being a lich would be a neat paragon path or epic destiny. Perhaps only a modification to the Archmage destiny is required?

 

[LostSoul]

Honestly, making monsters in 4e is my favorite part of the game (aside from like, playing). The Monster Manual is a decent starting point for ideas, but your own creativity can take it all kinds of new and fun directions.

I look at the MM for inspiration, but for the most part I like to think: What does this guy do? How can I translate that into mechanics?

Some of the MM creatures are sub-par. There's so much cool stuff you can do, I'm surprised they didn't add more to the monsters in there.

You could easily recreate a lich that is something like the liches from 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions by just giving them powers that mimic your favorite spells. I'd personally make a lich an elite and back him up with some powerful undead allies. I ordered Open Grave yesterday and i can't wait to get it!

I wonder how you'd stat up Xaltotun. edit: And stay true to the themes that The Hour of the Dragon introduces.