I'm working on a campaign where the villain becomes a lich, and I was wondering if someone who just became a lich should look as decayed as someone who has been a lich for a long time. I figure making them look normal would be more realistic, since they wouldn't have started rotting immediately after they die, while making them look decayed would be more intimidating. Which should I go with?
This is up to your personal preference as the DM. It would not be very hard to justify a recently-minted decayed lich with “the necrotic energy required of the powerful transformation magics caused the body to decay prematurely”. It also would make sense that they die and begin to decay and mummify beginning upon their ascension, so look normal immediately after. A DM could even go the Oscar Wilde route of lichdom and say they never decay, their phylactery exhibiting signs of ageing and decay on their behalf.
Whatever you want to do, it is your world and your rules - figure out what your players will find the most fun and go with that!
As Caerwyn said, it's a world building question and so depends on what you think happens.
My personal opinion (and it's just that):
The Lich starts off normal, but his skin starts off a little unhealthy looking. He's in a weakened state (at least, in physical terms, not necessarily in terms of stats) from his transformation. As he uses spells, his skin decays and he becomes more lichlike. If you're using theatre of mind, that could be a cool process to describe, although if you're using minis, it might be harder.
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I'm working on a campaign where the villain becomes a lich, and I was wondering if someone who just became a lich should look as decayed as someone who has been a lich for a long time. I figure making them look normal would be more realistic, since they wouldn't have started rotting immediately after they die, while making them look decayed would be more intimidating. Which should I go with?
This is up to your personal preference as the DM. It would not be very hard to justify a recently-minted decayed lich with “the necrotic energy required of the powerful transformation magics caused the body to decay prematurely”. It also would make sense that they die and begin to decay and mummify beginning upon their ascension, so look normal immediately after. A DM could even go the Oscar Wilde route of lichdom and say they never decay, their phylactery exhibiting signs of ageing and decay on their behalf.
Whatever you want to do, it is your world and your rules - figure out what your players will find the most fun and go with that!
As Caerwyn said, it's a world building question and so depends on what you think happens.
My personal opinion (and it's just that):
The Lich starts off normal, but his skin starts off a little unhealthy looking. He's in a weakened state (at least, in physical terms, not necessarily in terms of stats) from his transformation. As he uses spells, his skin decays and he becomes more lichlike. If you're using theatre of mind, that could be a cool process to describe, although if you're using minis, it might be harder.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.