Buffing the BBEG is the natural response but weakening the PCs is another route. Debuffs can go a long way and can be a problem for the players to focus on and strategize around.
When in doubt, its a [Lich] and there’s a [Phylactery] that involves a moral conundrum or sacrificing something or becoming cursed in some fashion: convert the hard rolls a mental one for the players. No natural 20 rolling you way out of willfully giving up your PC’s left hand. Or a permanent aura of stench.
Unless they do XYZ of course. Or maybe. They should have listened to that NPC on day one more.
Buffing the BBEG is the natural response but weakening the PCs is another route. Debuffs can go a long way and can be a problem for the players to focus on and strategize around.
When in doubt, its a [Lich] and there’s a [Phylactery] that involves a moral conundrum or sacrificing something or becoming cursed in some fashion: convert the hard rolls a mental one for the players. No natural 20 rolling you way out of willfully giving up your PC’s left hand. Or a permanent aura of stench.
Unless they do XYZ of course. Or maybe. They should have listened to that NPC on day one more.