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Alokkair

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Stat Toelichting Waarde
Conflict Waarom is er überhaupt een probleem? Party dringt binnen in zijn lair
Houding Wat vindt de NPC van de party? Irritant, maar irrelevant
Geduld Hoe lang hebben de spelers Medium tijd, hij heeft geen zin maar geen haast
Motivatie Wat vindt NPC belangrijk, buiten conflict Kennis, macht, informatie
Humeur Hoe voelt-ie zich vandaag? Boos, met name omdat zijn rust opnieuw verstoord wordt. En al helemaal als de beelden kapot worden gemaakt

Core Philosophy for a Bored Lich

  • Never trade actions: The lich doesn’t “fight,” he orchestrates.
  • Control > Damage: Losing actions, movement, and agency is worse than losing HP.
  • Isolation: Separate the party so they can’t help each other.
  • Reversibility: Almost everything should be removable if the lich gets bored or wants to talk.

Defensive Baseline (Always On)

Before combat ever starts, assume:
* Mage Armor
* Mind Blank (immune to charm/fear, no mind reading)
* False Life (upcast) or similar temp HP
* Contingency → Dimension Door or Globe of Invulnerability if attacked
* Legendary Actions (if using lich stat block)
* Lair Actions (this is critical)
He is never in reach, never alone, and never surprised.

Spell Packages by Goal

1. Action Denial (The Most Frustrating)

These spells don’t kill—just remove turns.
* Hold Person (upcast)
* Classic, humiliating, terrifying
* Great opener on martials
* Slow
* Devastating without being lethal
* Casters hate it, martials feel useless
* Tasha’s Mind Whip
* Psychic damage + one action type next turn
* Excellent legendary action spell
* Hypnotic Pattern
* Hard shut-down
* Great for “I win unless interrupted”
* Hideous Laughter
* Low-level, insulting, effective on low Wis saves

Flavor: “Please stop struggling. This is tiresome.”

2. Separation & Battlefield Control

This is how he wins safely.
* Wall of Force
* Split party in half
* No save, no counterplay for most level 9 parties
* Forcecage
* Non-lethal prison
* “Stay. I’ll be back.”
* Maze
* Remove one PC completely
* No damage, pure inconvenience
* Reverse Gravity
* Panic without death
* Combine with a high ceiling
* Web / Evard’s Black Tentacles
* Restraint without damage focus

Best tactic: isolate the healer and lock them behind force effects.

3. Movement Humiliation

Nothing says “you don’t matter” like repositioning PCs.
* Telekinesis
* Pick someone up and hold them there
* Drop them prone every round
* Levitate
* Remove melee characters from the fight
* Scatter
* Party teleport shuffle = chaos
* Bigby’s Hand (Grasping)
* Non-lethal domination of space

4. Psychological & Illusion Control

These are perfect for a bored lich.
* Phantasmal Force
* Custom-tailored misery
* Major Image
* Fake reinforcements, fake liches, fake exits
* Mislead
* Let the lich mock them while invisible
* Dream (before or after)
* Establish dominance long-term

5. “You Are Not Worth Killing” Spells

These end fights decisively without bloodshed.
* Feeblemind
* Use sparingly; devastating but thematic
* Great as a threat
* Bestow Curse (upcast, no concentration)
* Disadvantage on saves/attacks
* Banishment
* Temporary removal
* Modify Memory
* If he really wants to mess with them later

Every round, something unfair happens:
* Floors become difficult terrain
* Grasping skeletal hands restrain creatures
* Anti-magic pulses (brief, localized)
* Whispers of the dead → Wis saves or frightened
* Doors seal, hallways rotate, rooms reconfigure
The lair should feel like another enemy.

Safety: How the Lich Never Loses

  • Never enter melee
  • Uses legendary actions for:
    • Cantrips
    • Mind Whip
    • Movement
  • Keeps minions (wights, specters, constructs) as speed bumps
  • Has multiple exits (teleport circles, secret doors, etherealness)
  • If reduced below half HP → disengages immediately

Example “Bored Lich” Combat Flow

Round 1
* Lair Action: Doors slam shut
* Action: Hypnotic Pattern
* Legendary: Tasha’s Mind Whip
Round 2
* Action: Wall of Force (split party)
* Legendary: Telekinesis (lift fighter)
Round 3
* Action: Maze on the most dangerous PC
* Legendary: Mockery + reposition
Round 4
* “This has grown dull.”
* Leaves them restrained, imprisoned, or unconscious
* Teleports away

Tone Matters

Have him:
* Correct their spellcasting
* Finish their tactical thoughts aloud
* Compliment clever moves condescendingly
* Express disappointment when they fail

“You see? This is why mortals shouldn’t trespass.”

PC Likely Weak Saves How to Exploit
Barbarian Wis, Int, Cha Hold, fear, maze, levitate
Ranger Wis, Cha Slow, hypnotic pattern
Cleric (MC) Concentration reliance Slow, mind whip, banishment
Warlock Wis, Con Silence, mind whip, counterspell bait

Primary Strategy: Divide, Disable, Demonstrate Superiority

The lich’s goal is to separate healer, nullify martials, and humiliate the caster.

Custom “Bored Lich” Spell Loadout

Control & Neutralization (Core Kit)

These should make up ~80% of his casting.

Slow (S-tier vs this party)

  • Hits everyone

  • Barbarian loses Extra Attack

  • Cleric struggles to cast

  • Warlock loses action economy

  • No immunity from Rage

This is your go-to opener if you want immediate despair.

Hold Person (Upcast)

  • Barbarian auto-fails when reckless + low Wis

  • Ranger often fails too

  • Paralyzed → auto-crits from minions (if desired)

  • Can be released at any time

Use this as:

“You. Stop.”

Wall of Force

  • Split cleric from martials

  • Seal off the barbarian alone with no targets

  • Protect lich from Eldritch Blast spam

This spell wins encounters without rolling dice.

Maze

  • Perfect against barbarian or ranger

  • No damage

  • No save

  • Removes pressure instantly

“I don’t have time for you.”

Tasha’s Mind Whip

  • Legendary action MVP

  • Ruins turns

  • Psychic damage (low risk, low lethality)

  • Especially brutal on cleric concentration

Movement & Martial Neutralization

These make melee PCs feel irrelevant.

Levitate

  • Barbarian can’t do anything
  • No save once airborne
  • Ranger’s melee build is bricked

“I prefer you where I can see you.”

Telekinesis

  • Pick up barbarian → hold 30 ft up
  • Slam into walls for prone, not damage
  • Contest checks favor lich hard

Bigby’s Hand (Grasping)

  • Restrains barbarian or ranger
  • Forces Strength checks every round
  • Acts independently (bonus action control)

The lich respects the casters enough to shut them down politely.

Silence

  • Centered on cleric
  • Blocks verbal casting
  • Warlock eldritch blast still works—but positioning hurts

Banishment

  • Removes healer temporarily
  • Forces party panic
  • Easy to drop concentration later

Bestow Curse (5th+)

  • No concentration
  • Disadvantage on Wis saves (follow-up Hold / Slow)
  • Or disadvantage on attacks for barbarian