So I am introducing a BBEG into my campaign. I am thinking about a beheaded improved familiar with some levels of Tattooed Mystic.
Would this be too powerful?
I would focus on the level 10 ability of Beast Bonded that essentially lets you body snatch, though how that would work for a lich is rules iffy, but as the DM you can make it work. With that in mind, I'd consider something a bit more subtle than a floating head for an improved familiar. A raktavarna would actually be really cool as a familiar as it can disguise itself as an item, which the lich could hide his soul in and possess people with; maybe even let him enchant his familiar as if it were actually an item or perhaps just Magic Aura on it. Think of it like a horcrux from Harry Potter.
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Depend when do you plan to end the campaign?
At APL 15-16, a CR 20 encounter for the final fight is reasonable.
At APL 17+, CR 23+ could be possible depending on how optimize the party is.
For now, building the BBEG doesn't matter tho, since if the campaign is just starting, you can just use whatever spells or items that you need for the plot.
The beast bond witch is actually not in need of lichdom he/she is already quite immortal from level 10. I would focus on the body snatching and let the witch be encountered Many times in different bodyes. The CR will depend on when the heroes are ment to Woop the backside of the BBEG.
I am thinking that the campaign ends when the party decides to make that final confrontation. That is why I was planning ahead for 3 potential CR's that I can tweak if I have too.
How powerful can you get a familiar at 14 levels?
What would be more horrific a giant of some type or magical beast to magic jar into.
If the lich took over an ettin, would you have the lich take one head and leave the other its senses?
The beast bond witch is actually not in need of lichdom he/she is already quite immortal from level 10. I would focus on the body snatching and let the witch be encountered Many times in different bodyes. The CR will depend on when the heroes are ment to Woop the backside of the BBEG.
This is a good suggestion except you do not have all of the details. This is an undead campaign and provide a twist when they think they have destroyed the lich and his phylactery and come to find out that he isn't dead after all. A year after the heroes retired and settled in their new lives. They get sent a message or dream. The lich is back and madder than ever.
The beast bond witch is actually not in need of lichdom he/she is already quite immortal from level 10. I would focus on the body snatching and let the witch be encountered Many times in different bodyes. The CR will depend on when the heroes are ment to Woop the backside of the BBEG.This is a good suggestion except you do not have all of the details. This is an undead campaign and provide a twist when they think they have destroyed the lich and his phylactery and come to find out that he isn't dead after all. A year after the heroes retired and settled in their new lives. They get sent a message or dream. The lich is back and madder than ever.
Sounds great:)
There have been some debate about familiar templates and improved familiar. But since you are the GM i suggest you make the returner bad guy with out using the rules as more than general guidelines. But then again i am a Pirates Code kind of GM when it comes to making BBEGs.If you can find the time please tell us how it goes, and possibly how it have already gone:)
How important is the beast bonded archetype?
Would you find the Gravewalker more appropriate?
I once ran a game where my players walked through a city of ruins full of mindless undead. The gravewalker remained hidden in a ruined building and started possessing the undead one at a time to cast spells and then suicide bomb the players, so they had to deal with finding her, and also with stopping her almost literal never ending supply of cannon fodder.
How important is the beast bonded archetype?
Would you find the Gravewalker more appropriate?
I once ran a game where my players walked through a city of ruins full of mindless undead. The gravewalker remained hidden in a ruined building and started possessing the undead one at a time to cast spells and then suicide bomb the players, so they had to deal with finding her, and also with stopping her almost literal never ending supply of cannon fodder.
I'm not sure how I can achieve my plot twist any other way.
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For Cap. Darling:
The beginning of the campaign found the pcs in a new city being excavated in the middle of the Mana Wastes. Magic is sporadic but starting to work again. Although their is a peace treaty between Geb and Nex, there are factions within each govt. Initiating hostilities covertly.
The PCs are currently on a quest to free a diseased dryad found in a recently excavated portion of the city. They are in search of a water source blessed by deity that will cleanse her. Meanwhile back in the city, it is being besieged by an unending train of uncontrolled zombies and skeletons.
In Forgotten Realms some liches had figured out how to create multiple phylacetries. Larloch had over 30 I think.