Tomb of Horrors, finale a creature or a trap?

[Touc]

For those who have converted it (I plan on remaining fairly true to the 1st edition roots, the 3.5 conversion is weak, the treasure is lame), have you treated the final "boss" as a creature or more like a trap? The 1st edition creature resembles a trap that requires a specific way to defeat it with a built in timer.

Spoiler:

Once the lich's skull is disturbed by an attack, it rises and looks around for 1 round, then on round 2 sucks soul (no save) of "strongest PC," round 3 looks around, round 4 sits down. If attacked, it repeats the 4 round event. Can only be harmed by listed spells and items, some of which are in the room. A clever party will not attack it, though it's instinct in RPGs to defeat the boss. Plus, if it steals a soul, the party will need to destroy it lest the soul remain trapped.

If a trap, given the lethality, was considering a save (although this could lessen the encounter to negligible if the party figures out the above way to bypass the trap), and/or a "clue" by someone (e.g. through much sacrifice we have taken to the chamber the tools to destroy the horror once and for all, but for me, there will be no escape from his hell...)

If a creature, have considered a construct (3.5 conversion used this) and the converted demi-lich (CR 14 encounter), which seems pretty succeptible to a paladin but is nasty otherwise. As a creature, there is pretty much a guaranteed fight. As a trap, the encounter is much more subtle.

[clff rice]

You really could go either way but there is a snice shiny demilich in bestiary 3 i think so you can go either way. there is even an version as a template so the players will have a less of a chance to avoid it.

Edit: Acererak is probably a 20th level necromancer/ Mythic 10 (archmage)Demilich.

[Touc]

I'm allowing players to create a "backup" character to bring into the Tomb, and I'm keeping most of it "old school" with updates based off the 3.5 conversion (without the Libris Mortis advertisements randomly inserted into rooms, there's enough challenge within). Without getting into detail of how, the players will be on a 24-hour timer (or be trapped in the tomb forever), and as a campaign plot the tomb holds something useful to defeating a BBEG that adventurers hundreds of years ago tried to obtain. They have left clues about "by great sacrifice" sending the items necessary to defeating the Enemy to its chamber so the party has some chance in the final battle of ascertaining a way to defeat the BBEG if we go with the 1st edition manner of defeating it.

The 1st Edition is absolutely harsh as above. And so was the Soul Gem in the Ghost Tower of Inverness. As written, someone's going to die unless some really clever misdirection goes on. When I played 2nd edition, players accepted the sucky reality of "no save and die" situations, albeit super rare. Still, I want to avoid being strung up by my players (though death can be cured at their levels).

Would folks recommend altering the trap's attack to mimic the attack of a demilich (once per round target Fort Save DC 24, save and get 2 negative levels, fail and die) so at least there's a save? Or use the demi-lich from Pathfinder (there is a paladin in the party, which can make the battle cheese), use the Construct from the 3rd edition conversion (rendering smite useless), use the demi-lich stats but make it a neutral construct subtype rather than NE undead?

[Richard lupino]

It is almost impossible to know how to defeat the skull without someone dying in the adventure...If you want to give them a chance at it, add in a powerful NPC to the group...He/She could be the first kill from the skull...from that point forward there are actually quite a few creative ways to destroy the skull...not the least of which was approved by Gary Gygax himself,

module spoilers:

which is to put the crown on the skulls head and touch the silver scepter to it ...instantly destroying the skull...if they can find a way to teleport the skull to one of the green demon mouths it would be destroyed

...there are quite a few creative solutions but I dont think you should remove the instant death piece...they will hate it and argue..but I think that's the only real way to play this adventure.