so I have a party of 7-8 level 12 players and I'm looking to make a ancient red dracolich and a lich encounter will this be too hard for the players at the same time? I just need some general advice. This will be the final fight of the campaign
This sounds like it would be a deadly challenge appropriate for 6-8 level 18+ PCs.
You can have the same encounter with weaker versions of these monsters. An adult dracolich instead of ancient and if you have GGtR, a devkarin lich might be a more appropriate challenge.
In my personal experience that sounds like a deadly encounter that will definitely push the limits of what your party can do, if that is your goal then I think that should work.
In my time DMing for a large group of players, I find that a large group can punch pretty high (especially with a large amount of magic items).
so I have a party of 7-8 level 12 players and I'm looking to make a ancient red dracolich and a lich encounter will this be too hard for the players at the same time? I just need some general advice. This will be the final fight of the campaign
I dont do a lot of CR calculating but a Litch is CR 21, and an ancient red dragon (before becoming a dracolitch) is a 23.
A deadly encounter for 8 level 12 characters would be 2 creatures of CR 17 to 19.
This, however, is a generalization and assumes no magic items. If they do have them, depending on their strength and number, the fight will be easier.
Also, will either side have additional resources, underlings, hirelings, NPCs, etc to help out?
Will either side have an advantage like being in a lair, favorable terrain, and or ability to plan and execute a surprise attack?
And lastly, how good are your players at building and playing their characters effectively for combat?
It's too tough a fight on paper, not knowing the answers to those questions, but could be perfectly reasonable depending.
This sounds like it would be a deadly challenge appropriate for 6-8 level 18+ PCs.
You can have the same encounter with weaker versions of these monsters. An adult dracolich instead of ancient and if you have GGtR, a devkarin lich might be a more appropriate challenge.
In my personal experience that sounds like a deadly encounter that will definitely push the limits of what your party can do, if that is your goal then I think that should work.
In my time DMing for a large group of players, I find that a large group can punch pretty high (especially with a large amount of magic items).
Thanks for the advice!
I will be giving the players some radiant magical weapons and we have a paladin and likely a cleric