Dire Lycan balance problem [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dire Lycan balance problem [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Atacit
10-08-03, 01:12 PM Has anyone introduced the Dire Lycanthrope to their campaigns yet? I put that Giant Wereboar example into an encounter and boy do I regret it. With that +16 str. and all the other benefits it is a little over the top. Yes, a player contracted it and now the whole party wants to do it. Wouldn't these things overrun most campaigns pretty quickly with so few weaknesses? Who game tested this thing,Monty Python? I am doing damage control now. I am going to reduce the Dire's intelligence and make them more barbaric. Maybe even restict them to Giants for infection. Anyway if anyone has some advice or feels this new super template is tough to balance out drop me a line.
Gingerbread Guy
10-08-03, 02:45 PM Hiho,

Well, yes, its a pretty powerful template, but at least they're only Afflicted.

I wouldn't change a thing with the template, except that I'd raise the ECL a lot. I mean, an afflicted Direwereboar is only +2 ECL. Thats insane. The natural version is even worse at +3 ECL. Jeez..

I'd raise the ECLs to about +4 and +6 respectively. That should tone things down a little.

Don't forget to add the ECL to the character's level. Sure, he may occasionally turn into a giant snarling hellbeastie, but a) he's going to destroy anything he's carrying other than a bath robe and b) he's not going to gain a level for a long time.

~Ginger
Rex-Havoc
10-08-03, 04:36 PM Correct me if I am wrong here....but the base ECL is the Character level + HD of the base creature.....correct? A quote from the MM page 178 under Level Adjustment..."In addition, a lycanthropes character level is increased by the number of racial Hit Dice the base animal has." So if a 10th level Paladin contracted lycanthropy from a Dire Wereboar he is now a level 22 character (10 Paladin/12 Dire Bear).

As I read it anyway.
d_nychus
10-08-03, 05:08 PM ECL = Character level + Racial HD + Level Adjustment.

When they are saying ECL above, they are really refering to LA.

I think there would be a lot less confusion if people would get this straight.
Tanuki, the Bewildered
10-08-03, 11:17 PM An Afflicted Dire Werebore is ECL Class Levels+7.

5 Animal HD, +2 LA. That is a HEFTY penalty.
Rex-Havoc
10-09-03, 12:28 PM A Dire Boar has 7d8. Wouldn't it be ECL=Char level +9?
Tanuki, the Bewildered
10-09-03, 11:28 PM Oops. You're right. Sometime between looking it up in my MM and typing my post, my brain dropped two of the hit dice.

So, yah. Dire Wereboar ECL == Class Level+7 Animal HD+2 LA, or Class Level+9.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Atacit 10-08-03, 01:12 PM	Has anyone introduced the Dire Lycanthrope to their campaigns yet? I put that Giant Wereboar example into an encounter and boy do I regret it. With that +16 str. and all the other benefits it is a little over the top. Yes, a player contracted it and now the whole party wants to do it. Wouldn't these things overrun most campaigns pretty quickly with so few weaknesses? Who game tested this thing,Monty Python? I am doing damage control now. I am going to reduce the Dire's intelligence and make them more barbaric. Maybe even restict them to Giants for infection. Anyway if anyone has some advice or feels this new super template is tough to balance out drop me a line.
Gingerbread Guy 10-08-03, 02:45 PM	Hiho, Well, yes, its a pretty powerful template, but at least they're only Afflicted. I wouldn't change a thing with the template, except that I'd raise the ECL a lot. I mean, an afflicted Direwereboar is only +2 ECL. Thats insane. The natural version is even worse at +3 ECL. Jeez.. I'd raise the ECLs to about +4 and +6 respectively. That should tone things down a little. Don't forget to add the ECL to the character's level. Sure, he may occasionally turn into a giant snarling hellbeastie, but a) he's going to destroy anything he's carrying other than a bath robe and b) he's not going to gain a level for a long time. ~Ginger
Rex-Havoc 10-08-03, 04:36 PM	Correct me if I am wrong here....but the base ECL is the Character level + HD of the base creature.....correct? A quote from the MM page 178 under Level Adjustment..."In addition, a lycanthropes character level is increased by the number of racial Hit Dice the base animal has." So if a 10th level Paladin contracted lycanthropy from a Dire Wereboar he is now a level 22 character (10 Paladin/12 Dire Bear). As I read it anyway.
d_nychus 10-08-03, 05:08 PM	ECL = Character level + Racial HD + Level Adjustment. When they are saying ECL above, they are really refering to LA. I think there would be a lot less confusion if people would get this straight.
Tanuki, the Bewildered 10-08-03, 11:17 PM	An Afflicted Dire Werebore is ECL Class Levels+7. 5 Animal HD, +2 LA. That is a HEFTY penalty.
Rex-Havoc 10-09-03, 12:28 PM	A Dire Boar has 7d8. Wouldn't it be ECL=Char level +9?
Tanuki, the Bewildered 10-09-03, 11:28 PM	Oops. You're right. Sometime between looking it up in my MM and typing my post, my brain dropped two of the hit dice. So, yah. Dire Wereboar ECL == Class Level+7 Animal HD+2 LA, or Class Level+9.