Heya all

I'm planning on roleplaying a mage who will, as the Oblivion crisis rears it head, decide that the only way to defeat it (since it all seems to be on his shoulders) is to become a Lich. The immortality (of a sort) and extra power will be useful considering I will be also using a M.O.E moduel that undermines the levelled gamepaly. So my lowbie-mid-level Mage will be running into things dozens of levels tougher than himself.

Problem is... i'm having problems deciding when that point will occur. I'll me using the Mages Guild quests to reach the prerequisite level 23; with the spell-making alters of the AU that shouldn't be a problem. What is an issue is that I can't think of a single point in the main quest that seemed intimidating enough (or borderline impossible) that would drive a Mage to give up their humanity because "it's the only way". I want to make a noble Lich; there have been a few examples in ES lore of people who have done so for a good cause. i can't think of a better cause than closing shut the jaws of Oblivion. Except... if my character can survive the quests at all with undermined leveled lists then I can't think of a single part of the quest that would make a Mage think "No, i can't do this... but... wait."

Advice?

The point where

The point where

The point where

There's a mod that lets you become a Lich? That's awesome.

I find myself agreeing with the first suggestion above.

Hmm, my memory of the main quest is a bit sketchy, but the Bruma point could be it, or just before it.

The final part of the Mages guild would probobly be good; but sadly I have no plans to make my character that high in the Mages guild. Aside from that, the character wouldn't have enough info on 'him' to fear him enough.

Sadly that part of the MQ would be too late.

The thing about the process of becoming a Lich is that it requires time. You have to find certain items, rare, and after all the prep is done it takes a further week or so for the process to complete. By the time it completed if you did it during a crisis you would be way too late to help. It needs to be prior to something major, that you would roleplay holding off for a few weeks, or just after something that you barely survived with something worse in sight.

Perhaps after delivering the Daedric artifact...? I forget, is the player aware of what will happen or is it sprung on you...?

No. Maybe after delivering the

Maybe before entering Sancre Tor? During the quest it's revealed that the Underking is gone from there, leaving only his curse behind, but you would not know that until you were there.

The way I see it the great gate is perfect. Sure, out of character knowledge you know your character might be able to survive it, but before it even occurs your character might not. This is going to be the Lord of Destruction's main assault. What certainty, when Cyrodil's fate rests on his shoulders, that he/she would be able to survive Lord Dagon's full assault with all his/her mortal limitations? You have a man who isn't ready to be Emperor, a bunch of town guards, and while you might be a powerful mage you're still a mortal against.. what? A Daedric Prince? I think this is perfect motivation to become undead.

Not during the main quest but.....

Thank you all very much for your input.

Before the great gate sounds like it's going to be it. Now I have a solid idea of where to do it, I can start. This is going to be a lot of fun.

Sadly i'm going to have to include a Romantic tragady in there too. Think i've turn off Vilja's essential status and leave her guarding the outside the gate with the other soldiers. If she passes away then thats that and my newly-created-Lich can mourn. If she survives he will have to gently break off their partnership... for a relationship with a walking corpse could only bring her suffering and leave him with regrets. D:

Cool, already getting my teeth into the role.