Are these animals valid for lycanthropy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are these animals valid for lycanthropy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bak
08-04-06, 10:27 AM When I looked at the pages of lycanthropy, it says that every predator, scavenger or omnivore is an option. I would like to know whether I can create some new were-creature (as below) or I have to use those appeared in MM.

All these animals are 1 HD.

1 – Baboon
I don’t know this creature much. Is it an omnivore or it is just a vegetarian thus not an option for lycanthropy? Were-Baboon (if legal) is awesome because it has climb speed (good for non-caster) and the stat adjustment is just amazing (+4 str +4 dex +2 con).

2 – Eagle
I can’t believe my eye when I read the Alignment entry in the template, as followed:
from SRD
Alignment: Any. Noble creatures such as bears, eagles, and lions tend to produce good-aligned lycanthropes. Sinister creatures such as rats, snakes, and wolves tend to produce evil-aligned lycanthropes. This is a reflection of how these animals are perceived, not any innate quality of the animal itself, so the alignment of the animal form can be arbitrarily assigned.

If Were-Eagle is allowed, what does it look like in hybrid form? Do his arms become wings? Or does he grow wings from back, and hands become talons?
Lazzmaniandevil
08-04-06, 10:46 AM Most species of baboon are said to be "omnivores by nature, vegetarian by choice". They prefer to eat only fruits and roots, but if there is nothing else to eat, they'll eat insects and even small animals. Does that qualify them as potential lycanthropes ? I'd say yes, but that is just my opinion...

Since hybrid forms use the base creature's speed and not the base animal's speed, I don't think it would have the base animal's fly speed in hybrid form. Therefore, I would say it doesn't have wings, but more like "feathery arms".
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-04-06, 10:48 AM When I looked at the pages of lycanthropy, it says that every predator, scavenger or omnivore is an option. I would like to know whether I can create some new were-creature (as below) or I have to use those appeared in MM.You can use any animal that's a predator, scavenger or omnivore. (Some people waive that requisite and just say any animal, period.) This includes dire animals. I happen to like the lycanthropic carcass eater.1 – Baboon
I don’t know this creature much. Is it an omnivore or it is just a vegetarian thus not an option for lycanthropy? Were-Baboon (if legal) is awesome because it has climb speed (good for non-caster) and the stat adjustment is just amazing (+4 str +4 dex +2 con).Baboons, while they prefer vegetation, are omnivores, and can be base animals for lycanthropes.2 – Eagle*snip*
If Were-Eagle is allowed, what does it look like in hybrid form? Do his arms become wings? Or does he grow wings from back, and hands become talons?What it looks like will vary from imagination to imagination, but the "wings" thing is based on a mistaken assumption. Lycanthropes in hybrid form use the base creature's movement speed and modes, not the base animal's. Avian lycanthropes can only fly in animal form, unless their base humanoid (or giant) could fly.
Golem011
08-04-06, 11:46 AM I just say all animals. Afflicted, sure, any omnivore/carnivore, or they wouldn't catch it easily, but natural...

My personal favourite is the wereroc.
MrAdam
08-04-06, 02:49 PM Any animal can be a lycanthrope. (this is unless you have green ronin's sublime Advanced Bestiary, then ANYTHING can become a lycantrope (my players have run afoul of weretreants, were umber-hulks, were rust monsters, and worst of all werebeholders), wether or not it makes sense, is entirely up to the GM. Keep in mind that not all lycanthropes are necissarily evil.
Khalarak Ironclaw
08-04-06, 02:56 PM I like the idea of having any animal as well. I mean, werehorses were a figure in Japanese myth, I believe, while werebison would be cool for a native-american style culture. A were-elephant would fit well in an Indian-styled setting, and a dwarven were-rhino would just be cool.

And as a reply to your actual question, yes, baboons (as well as pretty much any other primate besides gorillas and orangutans) are legal for the lycanthrope template. And I'd envision a were-eagle much the same way these guys have, only I'd personally like to bend the rules a bit and give them at least a rudimentary fly speed.
Lazzmaniandevil
08-04-06, 04:46 PM Any animal can be a lycanthrope. (this is unless you have green ronin's sublime Advanced Bestiary, then ANYTHING can become a lycantrope (my players have run afoul of weretreants, were umber-hulks, were rust monsters, and worst of all werebeholders), wether or not it makes sense, is entirely up to the GM. Keep in mind that not all lycanthropes are necissarily evil.

Anything ? You mean...anything ?

I'm not sure why but the first thing that came to mind reading this is a were-fire elemental dryad who keeps burning her trees... I can't decide if that would be to cool to be weird or just too weird to be cool...

I also have the strange image in my head of a were-azer ice mephit who keeps melting himself in hybrid form...

Excuse me.... I'm just 1h15 from the start of my vacations and I think they are very much needed!
RoCkEtInToXiCaTe
08-04-06, 04:51 PM My all time favorite were-anything is the Were-Raptor. A close second is the wereverine (Were-wolverine, but blah that's a mouthful). I love Were-Dinosaurs in general, though, as they are totally kick-A.
Dwarven_Jihad
08-04-06, 05:25 PM I like the idea of having any animal as well. I mean, werehorses were a figure in Japanese myth, I believe, while werebison would be cool for a native-american style culture. A were-elephant would fit well in an Indian-styled setting, and a dwarven were-rhino would just be cool.

And as a reply to your actual question, yes, baboons (as well as pretty much any other primate besides gorillas and orangutans) are legal for the lycanthrope template. And I'd envision a were-eagle much the same way these guys have, only I'd personally like to bend the rules a bit and give them at least a rudimentary fly speed.

Yes, don't rule out the herbivores. Fear the Were-Cow!

Or for the smaller races: the Were-Hummingbird...

(No, I'm not being facetious. I also support the use of unusual Dire animals. Dire Chicken, anyone? :) )
Atirakis
08-04-06, 05:40 PM Wereassque anyone?
Dragonteuthis
08-04-06, 05:47 PM I also support the use of unusual Dire animals. Dire Chicken, anyone? :)

YES! My first odd creation was a Dire SEAGULL. Before Finding Nemo came out, even. Sadly, my players were none too impressed.

I solved that with the Dire Lobster shortly thereafter (technically a Monstrous Vermin, but that hardly has the same ring.)
Dwarven_Jihad
08-04-06, 06:07 PM The seagull should have pooped on them a few times, that would have garnered their attention :)
Prak, the Mad
08-04-06, 06:10 PM I'm of the were-anything party, I once convinced a dm to let me play a were-spider, which was pretty cool,had webs and everything, and I actually did the webs right, so that Recklu had to reach back and throw the webs. About the only thing I wouldn't allow is were-shapeshifters, because that would be a bit too complex...
kyros_the_spawnslayer
08-04-06, 10:43 PM I like the idea of new lycans, one I thought up would be a weredragon thought I have yet to create such a template. Though I really don't agree that there should be lycans allowed to anything, I mean why would a werewolf bite a treant to turn it? Plus another lycan I came up with, and would provide a little war between it and the vamps, is a werebat and its hyrbid form would look like Man Bat for those that watched the old Batman cartoons.
The Ubbergeek
08-04-06, 11:16 PM Hey, dwarves speak of Werebadgers (and they exist, i think)... It could be done, i suppose.

Werespiders exist, if at least in the WoD Werewolf game (the old one at least). They where called Anansi, I think. That RPG could inspire you on the subject of shifting creatures and werebeings, btw.
The Vorpal Tribble
08-04-06, 11:21 PM Btw, just thought I might throw something in... bears are mainly vegetarian if they can help it, so they aren't much different than he apes. And a little known fact, deer have been recorded eating shrimp and small fish. So its likely just about every creature likes a bic mac now and again ;)

One of the meanest BBEG's in my current campaign is an orc dire werewolverine. He has become a warlord with the majority of orc and shifter peoples under his rule, having woven an alliance between the two of them.
Prak, the Mad
08-05-06, 02:16 AM Hey, dwarves speak of Werebadgers (and they exist, i think)... It could be done, i suppose.

Werespiders exist, if at least in the WoD Werewolf game (the old one at least). They where called Anansi, I think. That RPG could inspire you on the subject of shifting creatures and werebeings, btw.
yep, you're right, I actually got the idea from a video game called "Nghtmare Creatures" though.
RavenDrake
08-05-06, 04:57 AM Actually I'm working on a Were-insect template (the Awahondo) right now... they have Medium or Large Monstersous Vermin "creature" forms, but instead of a hybrid form they have a Swarm template form...
Lazzmaniandevil
08-05-06, 08:29 AM Actually I'm working on a Were-insect template (the Awahondo) right now... they have Medium or Large Monstersous Vermin "creature" forms, but instead of a hybrid form they have a Swarm template form...

There is something similar in Creature Collection II, from Sword & Sorcery. They are called "vermin hosts". They can shapechange into a version of the vermin that's the same size as them, and they can split into a swarm of the same vermin. However, there is only 4 different vermin hosts and no template to make new ones. Plus, their natural form becomes kind of an hybrid form as they more and more ressemble the vermin that they host.
The Ubbergeek
08-05-06, 10:51 AM Remind me a bit of the Insect Totems of Shadowrun...
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-05-06, 10:57 AM D&D werebugs already exist... (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040614x)
Prak, the Mad
08-05-06, 05:28 PM I never saw those, shaggy, that's awesome, I may have to unleash them on my group...

hmm... here's another couple of questions.... can a creature have more than one type of lycanthropy? what happens to non-organic parts of a living creature with lycanthropy(ie: a half machine or half golem)?
Atirakis
08-05-06, 05:35 PM Half Iron Golem Goliath Werebear... from hell :evillaugh
Prak, the Mad
08-05-06, 05:58 PM or half-machine dwarven werescorpion...
Dumat
08-05-06, 06:02 PM Wow shaggy, nice find....the insects will definately be prominent in my campaign from now on. By the way, does anyone know if things featured on the WoTC website are open game content? (Wishful thinking, probably...)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bak 08-04-06, 10:27 AM	When I looked at the pages of lycanthropy, it says that every predator, scavenger or omnivore is an option. I would like to know whether I can create some new were-creature (as below) or I have to use those appeared in MM. All these animals are 1 HD. 1 – Baboon I don’t know this creature much. Is it an omnivore or it is just a vegetarian thus not an option for lycanthropy? Were-Baboon (if legal) is awesome because it has climb speed (good for non-caster) and the stat adjustment is just amazing (+4 str +4 dex +2 con). 2 – Eagle I can’t believe my eye when I read the Alignment entry in the template, as followed: from SRD Alignment: Any. Noble creatures such as bears, eagles, and lions tend to produce good-aligned lycanthropes. Sinister creatures such as rats, snakes, and wolves tend to produce evil-aligned lycanthropes. This is a reflection of how these animals are perceived, not any innate quality of the animal itself, so the alignment of the animal form can be arbitrarily assigned. If Were-Eagle is allowed, what does it look like in hybrid form? Do his arms become wings? Or does he grow wings from back, and hands become talons?
Lazzmaniandevil 08-04-06, 10:46 AM	Most species of baboon are said to be "omnivores by nature, vegetarian by choice". They prefer to eat only fruits and roots, but if there is nothing else to eat, they'll eat insects and even small animals. Does that qualify them as potential lycanthropes ? I'd say yes, but that is just my opinion... Since hybrid forms use the base creature's speed and not the base animal's speed, I don't think it would have the base animal's fly speed in hybrid form. Therefore, I would say it doesn't have wings, but more like "feathery arms".
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-04-06, 10:48 AM	When I looked at the pages of lycanthropy, it says that every predator, scavenger or omnivore is an option. I would like to know whether I can create some new were-creature (as below) or I have to use those appeared in MM.You can use any animal that's a predator, scavenger or omnivore. (Some people waive that requisite and just say any animal, period.) This includes dire animals. I happen to like the lycanthropic carcass eater.1 – Baboon I don’t know this creature much. Is it an omnivore or it is just a vegetarian thus not an option for lycanthropy? Were-Baboon (if legal) is awesome because it has climb speed (good for non-caster) and the stat adjustment is just amazing (+4 str +4 dex +2 con).Baboons, while they prefer vegetation, are omnivores, and can be base animals for lycanthropes.2 – Eaglesnip If Were-Eagle is allowed, what does it look like in hybrid form? Do his arms become wings? Or does he grow wings from back, and hands become talons?What it looks like will vary from imagination to imagination, but the "wings" thing is based on a mistaken assumption. Lycanthropes in hybrid form use the base creature's movement speed and modes, not the base animal's. Avian lycanthropes can only fly in animal form, unless their base humanoid (or giant) could fly.
Golem011 08-04-06, 11:46 AM	I just say all animals. Afflicted, sure, any omnivore/carnivore, or they wouldn't catch it easily, but natural... My personal favourite is the wereroc.
MrAdam 08-04-06, 02:49 PM	Any animal can be a lycanthrope. (this is unless you have green ronin's sublime Advanced Bestiary, then ANYTHING can become a lycantrope (my players have run afoul of weretreants, were umber-hulks, were rust monsters, and worst of all werebeholders), wether or not it makes sense, is entirely up to the GM. Keep in mind that not all lycanthropes are necissarily evil.
Khalarak Ironclaw 08-04-06, 02:56 PM	I like the idea of having any animal as well. I mean, werehorses were a figure in Japanese myth, I believe, while werebison would be cool for a native-american style culture. A were-elephant would fit well in an Indian-styled setting, and a dwarven were-rhino would just be cool. And as a reply to your actual question, yes, baboons (as well as pretty much any other primate besides gorillas and orangutans) are legal for the lycanthrope template. And I'd envision a were-eagle much the same way these guys have, only I'd personally like to bend the rules a bit and give them at least a rudimentary fly speed.
Lazzmaniandevil 08-04-06, 04:46 PM	Any animal can be a lycanthrope. (this is unless you have green ronin's sublime Advanced Bestiary, then ANYTHING can become a lycantrope (my players have run afoul of weretreants, were umber-hulks, were rust monsters, and worst of all werebeholders), wether or not it makes sense, is entirely up to the GM. Keep in mind that not all lycanthropes are necissarily evil. Anything ? You mean...anything ? I'm not sure why but the first thing that came to mind reading this is a were-fire elemental dryad who keeps burning her trees... I can't decide if that would be to cool to be weird or just too weird to be cool... I also have the strange image in my head of a were-azer ice mephit who keeps melting himself in hybrid form... Excuse me.... I'm just 1h15 from the start of my vacations and I think they are very much needed!
RoCkEtInToXiCaTe 08-04-06, 04:51 PM	My all time favorite were-anything is the Were-Raptor. A close second is the wereverine (Were-wolverine, but blah that's a mouthful). I love Were-Dinosaurs in general, though, as they are totally kick-A.
Dwarven_Jihad 08-04-06, 05:25 PM	I like the idea of having any animal as well. I mean, werehorses were a figure in Japanese myth, I believe, while werebison would be cool for a native-american style culture. A were-elephant would fit well in an Indian-styled setting, and a dwarven were-rhino would just be cool. And as a reply to your actual question, yes, baboons (as well as pretty much any other primate besides gorillas and orangutans) are legal for the lycanthrope template. And I'd envision a were-eagle much the same way these guys have, only I'd personally like to bend the rules a bit and give them at least a rudimentary fly speed. Yes, don't rule out the herbivores. Fear the Were-Cow! Or for the smaller races: the Were-Hummingbird... (No, I'm not being facetious. I also support the use of unusual Dire animals. Dire Chicken, anyone? :) )
Atirakis 08-04-06, 05:40 PM	Wereassque anyone?
Dragonteuthis 08-04-06, 05:47 PM	I also support the use of unusual Dire animals. Dire Chicken, anyone? :) YES! My first odd creation was a Dire SEAGULL. Before Finding Nemo came out, even. Sadly, my players were none too impressed. I solved that with the Dire Lobster shortly thereafter (technically a Monstrous Vermin, but that hardly has the same ring.)
Dwarven_Jihad 08-04-06, 06:07 PM	The seagull should have pooped on them a few times, that would have garnered their attention :)
Prak, the Mad 08-04-06, 06:10 PM	I'm of the were-anything party, I once convinced a dm to let me play a were-spider, which was pretty cool,had webs and everything, and I actually did the webs right, so that Recklu had to reach back and throw the webs. About the only thing I wouldn't allow is were-shapeshifters, because that would be a bit too complex...
kyros_the_spawnslayer 08-04-06, 10:43 PM	I like the idea of new lycans, one I thought up would be a weredragon thought I have yet to create such a template. Though I really don't agree that there should be lycans allowed to anything, I mean why would a werewolf bite a treant to turn it? Plus another lycan I came up with, and would provide a little war between it and the vamps, is a werebat and its hyrbid form would look like Man Bat for those that watched the old Batman cartoons.
The Ubbergeek 08-04-06, 11:16 PM	Hey, dwarves speak of Werebadgers (and they exist, i think)... It could be done, i suppose. Werespiders exist, if at least in the WoD Werewolf game (the old one at least). They where called Anansi, I think. That RPG could inspire you on the subject of shifting creatures and werebeings, btw.
The Vorpal Tribble 08-04-06, 11:21 PM	Btw, just thought I might throw something in... bears are mainly vegetarian if they can help it, so they aren't much different than he apes. And a little known fact, deer have been recorded eating shrimp and small fish. So its likely just about every creature likes a bic mac now and again ;) One of the meanest BBEG's in my current campaign is an orc dire werewolverine. He has become a warlord with the majority of orc and shifter peoples under his rule, having woven an alliance between the two of them.
Prak, the Mad 08-05-06, 02:16 AM	Hey, dwarves speak of Werebadgers (and they exist, i think)... It could be done, i suppose. Werespiders exist, if at least in the WoD Werewolf game (the old one at least). They where called Anansi, I think. That RPG could inspire you on the subject of shifting creatures and werebeings, btw. yep, you're right, I actually got the idea from a video game called "Nghtmare Creatures" though.
RavenDrake 08-05-06, 04:57 AM	Actually I'm working on a Were-insect template (the Awahondo) right now... they have Medium or Large Monstersous Vermin "creature" forms, but instead of a hybrid form they have a Swarm template form...
Lazzmaniandevil 08-05-06, 08:29 AM	Actually I'm working on a Were-insect template (the Awahondo) right now... they have Medium or Large Monstersous Vermin "creature" forms, but instead of a hybrid form they have a Swarm template form... There is something similar in Creature Collection II, from Sword & Sorcery. They are called "vermin hosts". They can shapechange into a version of the vermin that's the same size as them, and they can split into a swarm of the same vermin. However, there is only 4 different vermin hosts and no template to make new ones. Plus, their natural form becomes kind of an hybrid form as they more and more ressemble the vermin that they host.
The Ubbergeek 08-05-06, 10:51 AM	Remind me a bit of the Insect Totems of Shadowrun...
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-05-06, 10:57 AM	D&D werebugs already exist... (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040614x)
Prak, the Mad 08-05-06, 05:28 PM	I never saw those, shaggy, that's awesome, I may have to unleash them on my group... hmm... here's another couple of questions.... can a creature have more than one type of lycanthropy? what happens to non-organic parts of a living creature with lycanthropy(ie: a half machine or half golem)?
Atirakis 08-05-06, 05:35 PM	Half Iron Golem Goliath Werebear... from hell :evillaugh
Prak, the Mad 08-05-06, 05:58 PM	or half-machine dwarven werescorpion...
Dumat 08-05-06, 06:02 PM	Wow shaggy, nice find....the insects will definately be prominent in my campaign from now on. By the way, does anyone know if things featured on the WoTC website are open game content? (Wishful thinking, probably...)