A 22nd-level Mage Lich approaches a band of adventurers.
Suddenly, a <Patriarch> presents himself forcefully.  The DM
rolls 19 on a 20-sided die, and the Lich runs in terror.

Such a scene is ridiculous, but it has happened many times.
Under the current AD&D rules, a <Patriarch> has a 10%
chance of turning a Lich of any level.  This is patently absurd.  A
Patriarch should have no more chance of turning a 22nd-level Lich
than an <Acolyte> would have of turning a Vampire.  The refinement
of Good in an 8th-level character simply is <NOT> powerful
enough to overcome 22 levels of hideous Evil.

What is meant by "refinement of Good"  A Cleric does NOT
begin at low level of "Goodness" and increase his sanctity from
there.  Instead, a Cleric allies himself with the Good forces which
control the universe and worships these forces as gods.  A low-level
Cleric does not have a very complete understanding of these forces,
or of how to call upon them.  As he progresses in levels, his understanding
of the universal forces is deepened, and his ability to call
upon them increases in both efficiency and power.  Through this
increased understanding,  the Cleric's alliance with Good is enhanced.
At any point, the alliance can be said to be refined to a
definite degree.  The refinement of the UNION can also be called the
"refinement of Good" in a cleric.

Evil Clerics progress in much the same way as the Good ones do.
But if Evil Clerics can grow in Evil power, why can't undead?  As a
matter of fact, they can and do.  Certtainly, a Wight is more powerful
than a Ghoul, and a Spectre is still more powerful.  A Lich of any
given level wouuld be more powerful thatn one of a lower level.  This
difference in power is NOT only the result of a difference that existed
when both were living, but is also the result of a greater manifestation
of Evil in the creature with more HD.

The manifestation of Evil increases in much the same way as the
refinement of Evil or Good increases in a Cleric.  Therefore, a
<Patriarch> should have no effect on a high-level Lich.  He would
be hopelessly outclassed by the monster's Evil, just as a Skeleton or
Zombie would be pitifully overcome by his Good.

But the current AD&D system does NOT TAKE vast differences in
levels into account when employing its Clerics vs. undead charts.
What if the DM chooses to vary the HD on a given monster?
Certainly, a Vampire with 15 HD would be much harder to TURN
than a conventional one with 8+3 HD.  Again, no provision is made for
this.

To solve problems like these, below is a new Clerics vs. undead
table.  To use it, simply roll percentile dice, making the noted adjustments
for WIS.  Then, find the # that corresponds to the
level of the Cleric and the HD of the undead, and subtract this
number from the adjusted percentile roll.  Index the result on this
table:
 

200 or more	6d6 dispelled, 3d6 turned
150-199	5d6 dispelled, 3d6 turned
125-149	4d6 dispelled, 3d6 turned
100-124	3d6 dispelled, 3d6 turned
75-99	2d6 dispelled, 3d6 turned
50-74	1d6 dispelled, 3d6 turned
25-49	3d6 turned
1-24	2d6 turned
0	1d6 turned
Less than 0	No Effect

The advantages to this system are as follows: First, HD of
monsters can be altered with no difficulty.  Second, the chart is
unlimited, and be extended to any # of Clerical levels
needed.  Third, few things are automatic; a <Priest> still has a
slight chance of NOT turning a band of Skeletons.  Fourth, the chart is
not absolute; an exceptional roll of a very wise Cleric can influence
the attacks of an undead he would NOT hamper under other CIRCUMSTANCES.

One thing to remember is that the power of an undead will
increase with HD, but should increase fairly.  Exactly what is fair is
the DM's choice.  I generally USE 1 additional level
drained, or 10 more years aged in the case of Ghosts, for every
5-dice increase.

CLERICS VS. UNDEAD TABLE
--> LEVEL OF  CLERIC

-	-	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
H	1	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99	-110	-125	-	-	-	-
I	2	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99	-110	-125	1	-	-
T	3	90	72	45	45	21	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99	-110	-125	-	-
-	4	99	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99	-110	-35	-
D	5	N	99	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99	-110	-125
I	6	-	N	99	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99	-110
C	7	N	99	N	99	90	72	72	45	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90	-99
E	8	-	-	-	N	-	90	90	72	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72	-90
-	9	-	-	-	-	N	-	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45	-72
O	10	-	-	-	-	-	N	99	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21	-45
F	11	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	99	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6	-21
-	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	99	90	72	45	21	6	0	-6
U	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	N	N	72	45	21	6	0
N	14	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	99	90	90	45	21	21	6
D	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	99	90	72	45	72	21
E	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	90	90	72	45
A	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	99	90	72
D	18	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	99	90
-	19	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N	99
-	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	N

For every point of Wisdom above 15, add 2 to the percentile roll.
For every point of Wisdom below 11, subtract 3 from the roll.
 

OUT ON A LIMB

‘On DM’s shoulders’

Dear Editor:
I read “Giving the undead an even break”
(#40) with interest. Let us assume that a band of
adventurers, including an 8th level cleric, does encounter
a lich of umpteenth level. I ask all thinking
DMs out there, has the group actually sought this
encounter? Is a 1 in 10 chance good odds? What
will happen if the patriarch does not turn the lich?
Need more be said? Come on, Steve Melancon,
how about giving your players an even break —
and over-burdened DMs, too! Those tables and
their rationale are fierce! Do you want to take even
a 10% chance of having your best character lose a
couple of levels or take a meteor swarm from a
22nd level lich-nee M-U? If there are problems in
campaigns, they typically stem from DMs who
play intelligent monsters stupidly and then try to
balance things out by creating killer monsters and
death-dealing systems which require only idiot
mentality to crock players. Let’s start recognizing
the problem and place the burden where it
belongs — on the DM’s shoulders.

If the lich is being treated unfairly, it is the DM,
not AD&D. I’ll play it versus anyone’s 8th level
cleric anytime.

E. Gary Gygax
Lake Geneva, WI
(Dragon #43)