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<blockquote data-quote="Blue" data-source="post: 8565206" data-attributes="member: 20564">I don't believe that every encounter should be tailored to the PCs.&nbsp; I also believe that TPKs suck - but that doesn't mean it's the DMs responsibility to override player agency when they could occur.&nbsp; I do think it's thew DM's responsibility to telegraph when opponents are powerful, and to train players from early on that not all fights will be winnable so that they have that in mind when they approach (or avoid) fights.All of that said, it sounds like you were aiming for a lesser fight and missed.&nbsp; Happens.&nbsp; So, what options do you have at this point while still preserving player agency?The first many have mentioned is that the lich has other plans for them and would be happy if they (or most of them) don't die.&nbsp; So a TPK means ending in something worse than death.&nbsp; You mentioned a complicated backstory, can any of that fit in?Another would be that you mentioned this is an atrophied lich with no phylactery. Is that &quot;hit the table/the players know it&quot; true?&nbsp; Because if not you have the ability to introduce a new element that your players would be expecting.&nbsp; Perhaps it gets unearthed in the action soon.&nbsp; You can go several ways.&nbsp; Maybe they require the phylactery to live since they are atrophied and it can be attacked and destroyed.&nbsp; Maybe whomever is holding it is automatically missed by / makes saves against the Lich and it can turn the tide of battle.&nbsp; But my favorite would have the Alu-Fiend know about it and grab it, cackling in Infernal that it can use it to control the lich, and the lich turns a couple of actions to dealing with the Alu-Fiend, giving the party a chance to regroup.&nbsp; Heck, maybe it was embedded in the Shield Guardian, explaining what the Alu-Fiend has been doing, tricky devil*.&nbsp; (*Well, demon, but who's counting.)A third option would be to start next session with &quot;The lich is winning.&nbsp; Is anyone willing to be a martyr that the rest of the party can escape?&quot;&nbsp; If not then play it out, letting them know the offer is still on the table.&nbsp; Makes a great recurring villain who has already killed a party member - they will want their revenge.&nbsp; And if you have a player who wouldn't mind retiring their character for a new one, they get that opportunity.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Blue, post: 8565206, member: 20564"] I don't believe that every encounter should be tailored to the PCs. I also believe that TPKs suck - but that doesn't mean it's the DMs responsibility to override player agency when they could occur. I do think it's thew DM's responsibility to telegraph when opponents are powerful, and to train players from early on that not all fights will be winnable so that they have that in mind when they approach (or avoid) fights. All of that said, it sounds like you were aiming for a lesser fight and missed. Happens. So, what options do you have at this point while still preserving player agency? The first many have mentioned is that the lich has other plans for them and would be happy if they (or most of them) don't die. So a TPK means ending in something worse than death. You mentioned a complicated backstory, can any of that fit in? Another would be that you mentioned this is an atrophied lich with no phylactery. Is that "hit the table/the players know it" true? Because if not you have the ability to introduce a new element that your players would be expecting. Perhaps it gets unearthed in the action soon. You can go several ways. Maybe they require the phylactery to live since they are atrophied and it can be attacked and destroyed. Maybe whomever is holding it is automatically missed by / makes saves against the Lich and it can turn the tide of battle. But my favorite would have the Alu-Fiend know about it and grab it, cackling in Infernal that it can use it to control the lich, and the lich turns a couple of actions to dealing with the Alu-Fiend, giving the party a chance to regroup. Heck, maybe it was embedded in the Shield Guardian, explaining what the Alu-Fiend has been doing, tricky devil*. (*Well, demon, but who's counting.) A third option would be to start next session with "The lich is winning. Is anyone willing to be a martyr that the rest of the party can escape?" If not then play it out, letting them know the offer is still on the table. Makes a great recurring villain who has already killed a party member - they will want their revenge. And if you have a player who wouldn't mind retiring their character for a new one, they get that opportunity. [/QUOTE]

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