How does a lich heal himself?

[TheAuldGrump]

Inflict *foo* Wounds potions for combat/emergencies.

Wand of Inflict *foo* + UMD (Liches generally have a decent CHA) for general healage.

Or wait for unnature to do it's thing.

Yep, that was going to be my suggestion as well... and the look of surprise when somebody chugs the bottle labeled 'healing' would be amusing...

Or give him a cleric as a cohort or companion.

The Auld Grump

 

[Elephant]

<snip>
I'm sure there are plenty of other ways, including diaglo's theory: use summon creature and do nasty things to it, finishing it off with a death knell. Hell, even summoning a planar being and then getting it to heal you would work, if it's the right kind of being and can be bound or dominated. The level of danger associated with such an action varies, naturally.

Now there's a funny idea:

Lich uses a Planar Binding spell to summon a Trumpet Archon or a Planetar and compels his victim to cast a few Inflict Wounds spells on him.

Summoning an Efreeti would also be an option - he could use the granted Wishes of the Efreeti for Harm spells. A LE lich would likely be able to form a long-term contract with a particular Efreeti for mutual benefit.

Limited Wish could duplicate the effects of an Inflict Wounds spell

As noted above, Plane Shift to the Negative Energy Plane would provide rapid healing to the Lich - assuming he was unmolested there.

 

[Nightfall]

*shudders at the fact anyone WITHOUT the lich loved feat would molest a lich...gender issues aside.*

 

[Kesh]

Er... he's a lich. If you destroy a lich, without destroying its phylactery, it reforms at full strength X amount of time later.

This leaves two scenarios:

1) Simply having a phylactery means that the lich will eventually heal over time, as the magic in the phylactery tries to restore it to its original state.
2) The lich blows itself up, so it can reform fully.

 

[Romnipotent]

what part of giving the Lich Coldfire is bad? Its 6d10 healing a round if need be... Otherwise just have the lich spend the money and create a new Arcane method of negetive energy touching

 

[TheGogmagog]

That is a funny idea, the lich flees combat then decides to distroy himself to heal. Given that option, I would consider having the phylactery grant fast healing 1 at least.

Limited wish is the best core method of casting inflict spells. Tad expensive.

Use weapon with profane burst. That should work.

If it's a kinky lich it could be a whip or cat of nine tails with profane burst. Capture a PC and make them whip it.

 

[Nightfall]

Considering all the options mentioned, maybe it should be a COLDFIRE flail.

 

[Yig]

Not sure if this would fit with your campaign.

Do you have MM3 ?

If so, the lich could always have a hidden shadesteel golem or 2... When it does it negative energy burst it will hurt the party and heal the lich.

 

[D-rock]

If I was a lich I woudn't go the destroy yourself route. No way I would want some nosey adventurers looking for my phylactery while I was helpless. If it was just standard core rules, I like the shifting into the negative energy plane. It has almost nothing in it to confront. It also has the benefit of healing him pretty fast. If he can wait natural healing will let him recover his hp. You would also think any lich worth his salt would have a few potions around to.

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the cool suggestions. I agree with some posters that it feels like a cop-out if all negative energy attacks heal instead of harm the lich. Seems too easy. Some of the other suggestions are a bit outside the power level of the campaign (granted, he is a *lich* but still... I've tried hard to justify every spell the lich has as having come from one of his spell books, and I *don't* want limited wish falling into the hands of the heroes just yet ;-)

I think I'll go with the idea that the phylactery provides a form of natural (unnatural?) healing.

Thanks guys!

ironregime