Lichform -- ?

[MalReynolds]

Just a few general questions.

I have to die to become a lich, correct? And once I die, I am a lich forever? So at that point there is no turning off the Lichform skill (and it's value is set)? Does the -4 mana/turn continue?

If I am not yet a lich, do I get any benefits from running Lichform, except that when I die I will transform?

Once I become a lich, is the Celestial tree just waiting to have skill points put into it, or does it need to be unlocked?

Is there any point to becoming a lich sooner rather than later, or vice versa? Should I wait until I have 5/5, and then immediately try to die? Or try to get to High Peak and use Lichform as a resurrect device...? (But then I wouldn't be able to use skill points in Celestial, since I would already be lvl50, unless I've stored some points...?)

I find this somewhat confusing.

[HousePet]

It does nothing but turn you into a lich when you die.
After that you don't need to have the sustain on at all.
Can't remember if the category gets unlocked.
Yes its permanent.
I'd do it asap, the life rating modifier doesn't apply to levels you have already got.

[bpat]

Everything HousePet said is correct. The Celestial tree starts out unlocked. Its first talent (Moonlight Ray) is ridiculously good and I suggest saving some class points to immediately 5/5 it. Something interesting is that you don't really get considered undead in all regards; you can still use nature powers like Thalore racial skills but if you become treated as undead by equiping certain items (belt of unlife, Crown and Bindings of Eternal Night) you can't. Also I think the Sceptre of the Archlich gives you tons of bonuses for being a Lich.

[Robsoie]

When i had a Cornac Necromancer becoming finally a Lich, on one hand the bonus were nice.
But on the other hand losing all the healing and regen abilities was very crippling on that character, the only alternative (sadly i couldn't save the escort providing the healing/bathing light skill) i had to this huge loss was Vampiric Gift but the sustain for it is so high ( 250 mana ! ) that you're running out of mana quick in hard battles if you use that sustain.

[bpat]

When i had a Cornac Necromancer becoming finally a Lich, on one hand the bonus were nice.
But on the other hand losing all the healing and regen abilities was very crippling on that character, the only alternative (sadly i couldn't save the escort providing the healing/bathing light skill) i had to this huge loss was Vampiric Gift but the sustain for it is so high ( 250 mana ! ) that you're running out of mana quick in hard battles if you use that sustain.

The Light escort tree is pretty much required for Liches unfortunately. On my Lich winner I unlocked it with my first category point.

[sofocles]

Oh and cold SUCKS. Tried a no pet cold lich and it was pathetic... Better to focus only on dark

[HousePet]

I liked my cold necrocaster.

I am weird.

[Molog]

The prodigy "Through the Crowd" prevents aoe spells from harming your or your minions. So you can finally combine cold or celestial dark safely with your minions.