Difference between revisions of "Lich"
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{{monster | {{monster | ||
|name=lich | |name=lich | ||
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|resistances=Cold, Sleep, Poison | |resistances=Cold, Sleep, Poison | ||
|resistances conveyed=Cold | |resistances conveyed=Cold | ||
| − | |attributes={{attributes|A lich | + | |attributes={{attributes|A lich|nocorpse=1|breathless=1|humanoid=1|pois=1|regen=1|undead=1|hostile=1|magic=1|infravision=1}} |
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|reference=[[monst.c#line1514]] | |reference=[[monst.c#line1514]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{for|the monster class|Lich (monster class)}} | |
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| − | + | A '''lich''', {{monsym|lich}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The lich is an [[undead]] spellcaster that is the most basic member of the [[Lich (monster class)|lich]] [[monster class]], and ideally the first of them that [[you]] will encounter. Liches have enhanced [[regeneration]] and [[infravision]], and will seek out [[magical item]]s to pick up. | |
| − | {{monster | + | |
| − | + | A lich has a [[cold]] touch attack and will attempt to cast one mage [[monster spell]] during each of their turns. Liches possess [[cold resistance]], [[sleep resistance]] and [[poison resistance]] like most undead. | |
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| − | + | Liches are [[poisonous]] to [[eat]], which primarily comes up if they are [[digest]]ed by another monster. | |
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| − | + | {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Liches that are not [[cancelled]] can raise monsters killed by them as [[Zombie (monster class)|zombies]] of the corresponding type; if they have one, they will be raised 5-20 turns after they are initially killed. This also applies to [[you]] if you are polymorphed into a lich. They will also [[grudge]] living monsters that can be turned into zombies. | |
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| − | + | Monsters with [[digestion]] attacks can gain [[intrinsic]]s from swallowing monsters whole, making it possible for them to gain cold resistance from a lich that is digested.}} | |
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| − | == | + | ==Generation== |
| − | + | Randomly-generated liches are always hostile. A lich can [[grow up]] into a [[demilich]]. | |
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| − | + | A lich [[Corpseless|never leaves a corpse]] when killed - if killed by any method that ordinarily leaves a corpse, a message is printed about their body crumbling to dust.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2083|nethack=3.6.7|name="dusted"}} | |
| − | + | {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|A lich may appear in the central chamber of the mausoleum [[themed room]].}} | |
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==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| + | [[Magic resistance]] makes fighting against liches much more bearable, since it protects you against [[Destroy armor (monster spell)|destroy armor]] and [[drain strength]], and weakens the impact of the [[curse items]] spell some higher-level liches may have. It is possible for a lich to be generated with a high enough level to cast [[summon nasties]], but this typically requires a character to run up their own [[experience level]] above the usual. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Liches are thankfully quite slow, with [[haste self]] boosting them to a paltry 8 [[speed]]: this makes it much easier to outrun liches so you can then whittle them down from range and/ or let a strong pet take care of them; a [[pet]] with cold resistance is completely immune to damage from a lich, since they cannot normally cast spells against other monsters. [[Stoning]], [[disintegration]] and [[digestion]] will also take care of a lich in short order. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The lich monster class is often a target for [[genocide]], particularly from a blessed [[scroll of genocide]] - if you are using other source of genocide, target the stronger liches first and work your way down to the base lich. | ||
| − | + | ==History== | |
| − | + | The lich first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]. | |
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| − | + | ==Origin== | |
| − | + | {{wikipedia}} | |
| − | + | In fantasy works and media, a lich (which comes from the Old English ''līċ'', meaning "corpse" or "body") is a type of undead creature. Previously used as recently as early 20th-century fantasy fiction to refer to any corpse (animate or otherwise), media such as ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' has spurred the portrayal of liches as powerful undead spellcasters that are proficient in necromancy, and typically undergo the transformation in order to defy death, allowing them to retain their intelligence and magical abilities and command lesser undead. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' in particular also takes inspiration from sources such as [[H.P. Lovecraft]] story "The Thing on the Doorstep" and Gardner Fox's titular mage of "The Sword of the Sorcerer". | |
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| − | + | A lich is generally depicted as a revenant with an undecaying body that is cadaverous, desiccated or completely skeletal, and has glowing lights in place of their eyes. Liches are often capable of sustaining tremendous physical damage, and are immune to disease, poison, fatigue and other effects that affect only the living; they were also quite resistant to various forms of magic, and the mere sight of them often compelled the weak-willed to flee. The lich's most dangerous asset, beyond even its undead gifts, is their vast intellect, mastery of sorcery and limitless time to research, plot and scheme. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' introduces the lich in 1975 as part of its first supplement, ''Greyhawk''. | |
| − | + | In ''Dungeons & Dragons'' settings, a mage that becomes a lich usually gives up some portion or the entirety of their soul to form "soul-artifacts" (also referred to as "soul gems" or "phylacteries") that are the source of their magic and immortality. Many liches take precautions to hide and/or safeguard them, as they anchor a part of a lich's soul to the material world: if their corporeal body is killed, those portions of the lich's soul within it will continue to exist in a non-corporeal form capable of being resurrected from that "soul-artifact" in the near future. However, if all of the lich's soul-artifacts are destroyed, then destroying the lich's body will kill it permanently. Most forays into lichdom often require the creation and consumption of a deadly potion on a full moon; the exact details vary, but almost universally involves acts of utter evil and vile components. Despite this process and their commonplace detachment from mortal morality, it is possible for liches to ascribe to any alignment - in very rare instances, truly good liches can arise, either from possessing a more noble purpose for seeking lichdom or from having lichdom forced upon them. | |
| − | + | ==Variants== | |
| + | ===SLASH'EM=== | ||
| + | In [[SLASH'EM]], liches [[Need +x weapon to hit|need a +2 or better weapon]] to be hit, and [[Hits creatures as +x weapon|hit monsters as a +2 weapon themselves]]. | ||
| − | + | Standard liches may appear among the random {{white|L}} generated in the [[Chaotic Quest]]. A lich is generated within the easternmost room of [[The Lost Tomb]] at level creation. | |
| − | + | ===dNetHack=== | |
| + | In [[dNetHack]], a lich is generated within the easternmost room of The Lost Tomb at level creation. | ||
| − | + | The lich is the second [[quest]] monster for [[Binder]]s, making up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Binder quest]]. Two hostile liches are generated on the upper filler level(s) at level creation. | |
| − | == | + | ===EvilHack=== |
| + | In [[EvilHack]], players killed by any type of lich will arise as a [[revenant]] instead of a [[ghost]] in [[bones]] files. | ||
| − | + | Two liches are generated on the first floor of [[Vecna's Domain]] at level creation, and four guard Vecna's room within his lair on the third floor. Vecna's presence in the dungeon prevents the genocide of liches; once he is destroyed, they can be subjected to genocide as normal. | |
| − | + | Liches are much more dangerous compared to vanilla ''NetHack'', since they have access to several new monster spells - this also makes them much better pets and polyforms, with full access to their repertoire of monster spells when fighting other monsters. Sunsword now has a chance of instakilling any liches it hits; [[The Sword of Kas]] is an [[artifact]] [[gemstone]] [[two-handed]] sword that deals double damage versus {{white|L}}, including liches. | |
| + | ==Encyclopedia entry== | ||
{{encyclopedia| | {{encyclopedia| | ||
But on its heels ere the sunset faded, there came a second apparition, striding with incredible strides and halting when it loomed almost upon me in the red twilight-the monstrous mummy of some ancient king still crowned with untarnished gold but turning to my gaze a visage that more than time or the worm had wasted. Broken swathings flapped about the skeleton legs, and above the crown that was set with sapphires and orange rubies, a black something swayed and nodded horribly; but, for an instant, I did not dream what it was. Then, in its middle, two oblique and scarlet eyes opened and glowed like hellish coals, and two ophidian fangs glittered in an ape-like mouth. A squat, furless, shapeless head on a neck of disproportionate extent leaned unspeakably down and whispered in the mummy's ear. Then, with one stride, the titanic lich took half the distance between us, and from out the folds of the tattered sere-cloth a gaunt arm arose, and fleshless, taloned fingers laden with glowering gems, reached out and fumbled for my throat . . . | But on its heels ere the sunset faded, there came a second apparition, striding with incredible strides and halting when it loomed almost upon me in the red twilight-the monstrous mummy of some ancient king still crowned with untarnished gold but turning to my gaze a visage that more than time or the worm had wasted. Broken swathings flapped about the skeleton legs, and above the crown that was set with sapphires and orange rubies, a black something swayed and nodded horribly; but, for an instant, I did not dream what it was. Then, in its middle, two oblique and scarlet eyes opened and glowed like hellish coals, and two ophidian fangs glittered in an ape-like mouth. A squat, furless, shapeless head on a neck of disproportionate extent leaned unspeakably down and whispered in the mummy's ear. Then, with one stride, the titanic lich took half the distance between us, and from out the folds of the tattered sere-cloth a gaunt arm arose, and fleshless, taloned fingers laden with glowering gems, reached out and fumbled for my throat . . . | ||
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}} | }} | ||
| − | {{nethack- | + | ==References== |
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | {{nethack-367}} | ||
[[Category:Monsters]] | [[Category:Monsters]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 10:49, 30 March 2024
L lich 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 14 |
| Attacks |
Touch 1d10 cold, Spell-casting |
| Base level | 11 |
| Base experience | 269 |
| Speed | 6 |
| Base AC | 0 |
| Base MR | 30 |
| Alignment | -9 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 1200 |
| Nutritional value | 100 |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | Cold, Sleep, Poison |
| Resistances conveyed |
Cold |
|
A lich:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1514 |
- For the monster class, see Lich (monster class).
A lich, L, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. The lich is an undead spellcaster that is the most basic member of the lich monster class, and ideally the first of them that you will encounter. Liches have enhanced regeneration and infravision, and will seek out magical items to pick up.
A lich has a cold touch attack and will attempt to cast one mage monster spell during each of their turns. Liches possess cold resistance, sleep resistance and poison resistance like most undead.
Liches are poisonous to eat, which primarily comes up if they are digested by another monster.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.
Liches that are not cancelled can raise monsters killed by them as zombies of the corresponding type; if they have one, they will be raised 5-20 turns after they are initially killed. This also applies to you if you are polymorphed into a lich. They will also grudge living monsters that can be turned into zombies.
Monsters with digestion attacks can gain intrinsics from swallowing monsters whole, making it possible for them to gain cold resistance from a lich that is digested.Contents
Generation
Randomly-generated liches are always hostile. A lich can grow up into a demilich.
A lich never leaves a corpse when killed - if killed by any method that ordinarily leaves a corpse, a message is printed about their body crumbling to dust.[1]
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.
A lich may appear in the central chamber of the mausoleum themed room.Strategy
Magic resistance makes fighting against liches much more bearable, since it protects you against destroy armor and drain strength, and weakens the impact of the curse items spell some higher-level liches may have. It is possible for a lich to be generated with a high enough level to cast summon nasties, but this typically requires a character to run up their own experience level above the usual.
Liches are thankfully quite slow, with haste self boosting them to a paltry 8 speed: this makes it much easier to outrun liches so you can then whittle them down from range and/ or let a strong pet take care of them; a pet with cold resistance is completely immune to damage from a lich, since they cannot normally cast spells against other monsters. Stoning, disintegration and digestion will also take care of a lich in short order.
The lich monster class is often a target for genocide, particularly from a blessed scroll of genocide - if you are using other source of genocide, target the stronger liches first and work your way down to the base lich.
History
The lich first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.
Origin
In fantasy works and media, a lich (which comes from the Old English līċ, meaning "corpse" or "body") is a type of undead creature. Previously used as recently as early 20th-century fantasy fiction to refer to any corpse (animate or otherwise), media such as Dungeons & Dragons has spurred the portrayal of liches as powerful undead spellcasters that are proficient in necromancy, and typically undergo the transformation in order to defy death, allowing them to retain their intelligence and magical abilities and command lesser undead. Dungeons & Dragons in particular also takes inspiration from sources such as H.P. Lovecraft story "The Thing on the Doorstep" and Gardner Fox's titular mage of "The Sword of the Sorcerer".
A lich is generally depicted as a revenant with an undecaying body that is cadaverous, desiccated or completely skeletal, and has glowing lights in place of their eyes. Liches are often capable of sustaining tremendous physical damage, and are immune to disease, poison, fatigue and other effects that affect only the living; they were also quite resistant to various forms of magic, and the mere sight of them often compelled the weak-willed to flee. The lich's most dangerous asset, beyond even its undead gifts, is their vast intellect, mastery of sorcery and limitless time to research, plot and scheme. Dungeons & Dragons introduces the lich in 1975 as part of its first supplement, Greyhawk.
In Dungeons & Dragons settings, a mage that becomes a lich usually gives up some portion or the entirety of their soul to form "soul-artifacts" (also referred to as "soul gems" or "phylacteries") that are the source of their magic and immortality. Many liches take precautions to hide and/or safeguard them, as they anchor a part of a lich's soul to the material world: if their corporeal body is killed, those portions of the lich's soul within it will continue to exist in a non-corporeal form capable of being resurrected from that "soul-artifact" in the near future. However, if all of the lich's soul-artifacts are destroyed, then destroying the lich's body will kill it permanently. Most forays into lichdom often require the creation and consumption of a deadly potion on a full moon; the exact details vary, but almost universally involves acts of utter evil and vile components. Despite this process and their commonplace detachment from mortal morality, it is possible for liches to ascribe to any alignment - in very rare instances, truly good liches can arise, either from possessing a more noble purpose for seeking lichdom or from having lichdom forced upon them.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, liches need a +2 or better weapon to be hit, and hit monsters as a +2 weapon themselves.
Standard liches may appear among the random L generated in the Chaotic Quest. A lich is generated within the easternmost room of The Lost Tomb at level creation.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, a lich is generated within the easternmost room of The Lost Tomb at level creation.
The lich is the second quest monster for Binders, making up 24⁄175 of the monsters randomly generated on the Binder quest. Two hostile liches are generated on the upper filler level(s) at level creation.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, players killed by any type of lich will arise as a revenant instead of a ghost in bones files.
Two liches are generated on the first floor of Vecna's Domain at level creation, and four guard Vecna's room within his lair on the third floor. Vecna's presence in the dungeon prevents the genocide of liches; once he is destroyed, they can be subjected to genocide as normal.
Liches are much more dangerous compared to vanilla NetHack, since they have access to several new monster spells - this also makes them much better pets and polyforms, with full access to their repertoire of monster spells when fighting other monsters. Sunsword now has a chance of instakilling any liches it hits; The Sword of Kas is an artifact gemstone two-handed sword that deals double damage versus L, including liches.
Encyclopedia entry
But on its heels ere the sunset faded, there came a second apparition, striding with incredible strides and halting when it loomed almost upon me in the red twilight-the monstrous mummy of some ancient king still crowned with untarnished gold but turning to my gaze a visage that more than time or the worm had wasted. Broken swathings flapped about the skeleton legs, and above the crown that was set with sapphires and orange rubies, a black something swayed and nodded horribly; but, for an instant, I did not dream what it was. Then, in its middle, two oblique and scarlet eyes opened and glowed like hellish coals, and two ophidian fangs glittered in an ape-like mouth. A squat, furless, shapeless head on a neck of disproportionate extent leaned unspeakably down and whispered in the mummy's ear. Then, with one stride, the titanic lich took half the distance between us, and from out the folds of the tattered sere-cloth a gaunt arm arose, and fleshless, taloned fingers laden with glowering gems, reached out and fumbled for my throat . . .
