Lower-LA Werewolves? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lower-LA Werewolves? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aleolus
03-16-08, 03:26 AM Hey, all. I have a character who's wanting to play a natural lycanthrope (werewolf, in this case), but I'm wanting to start the campaign at level 3 or 4. What would you recommend dropping or reducing to reduce the LA of the werewolf, as listed in the MM?
M-bark
03-16-08, 07:35 AM You could have the character have the template of an afflicted Lycanthrope (making it LA+2) but that he doesn't want to/can't be cured of his affliction, and instead of all the added hit dice from the wolf, you could merely add one (as if he had been bitten by a 1 HD wolf, like when it would have been killed and raised several times).

LA buyoff works, too.
Soulless_Enigma
03-16-08, 07:44 AM Or, you could scour the website for the Lycanthrope Savage Progressions, allowing the player to gain "levels" of werewolf over time.
M-bark
03-16-08, 07:51 AM Or, you could scour the website for the Lycanthrope Savage Progressions, allowing the player to gain "levels" of werewolf over time.

Or you could do that.
blade265
03-16-08, 07:59 AM Werewolf savage progressions here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040117a).
Neutronium_Dragon
03-16-08, 09:39 AM Another option is SKR's "Curse of the Moon", which involves a no/low-LA template which you then build upon with feats or substitution levels (shifters in Eberron were done on a similar basis): http://www.seankreynolds.com/skrg/products/005COTM/
Aleolus
03-16-08, 11:29 AM Hmm, good suggestions.

What she and one other had been thinking were drop the DR, and mix the "Human" and "Hybrid" forms, so she's a lupine-like human who can turn into a wolf. Again, a natural lycanthrope, so she doesn't loose control when she changes.

What she's wanting is basically to play a human with wolf ears and tail. I figured a modification of the werewolf would be the easiest way to do that.
Neutronium_Dragon
03-16-08, 12:34 PM If all you want is a wolf-person without the shapechanging then there are better alternatives. The anthropomorphic wolf (Savage Species), the lupin (Dragon), and others.

For that matter, just taking the human stat block, maybe Low Light Vision, and changing the fluff/appearance to match is perfectly fine too. (I've done this.)
Moosh Nailo
03-17-08, 03:06 PM Play a shifter?
Lappy9000
03-17-08, 03:10 PM Play a shifter?

You could even have it that Shifters are lycanthropes in your campaign.

EDIT:
Savage Progression: Werewolf Template Class (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040117a)
Aleolus
03-17-08, 03:14 PM OK, so you take humans, add Low-Light vision, Scent, and a +2 or something to Listen checks. Would that be enough to warrent a LA, or would it be fine as a 0?
Soulless_Enigma
03-17-08, 04:15 PM I'm iffy about that. It seems to be a very strong LA +0, but not enough for LA +1. Add in some unbalanced ability scores (+2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Int, or something like that), slap on LA +1, and call it done.
Aleolus
03-17-08, 10:29 PM OK, here's a link to a pic she drew of the type of char she's wanting. This is just a concept, not final yet.
Ninja Wolf girl (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d24/Uchiha1/Yuri-Ninja2.jpg)

She's also apparently wanting to be able to transform into a wolf. I'm looking into Shifters atm.
Fireclave
03-17-08, 10:48 PM OK, here's a link to a pic she drew of the type of char she's wanting. This is just a concept, not final yet.
Ninja Wolf girl (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d24/Uchiha1/Yuri-Ninja2.jpg)

She's also apparently wanting to be able to transform into a wolf. I'm looking into Shifters atm.
For simplicity, I suggest her playing a shifter with the wild hunt trait and taking a level of Shapeshifter variant Druid (PHII). The wild hunt trait would grant her scent. The predator form is available from level one would allow her to basically transform into the mechanical equivalent of a wolf at will, as a swift action, for only a single level dip. The only big difference is the lack of a normal wolf's trip ability.

There's also the Weretouched Master prc (ECS), which can make a shifter more like a lycanthrope. Though if you check out this option, you'll probably also want to check out the errata (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/ECSerrata_02062006.zip) on it as well.
zook1shoe666
03-19-08, 10:33 AM there are other animals similar to the wolf with less hit dice that would work too ;)

jackel, dog (pit bull), stuff like that
Essex
03-19-08, 11:52 AM Given the 'ninja' look of the character, you could go with a dog, racoon dog, or fox hengeyokai from oriental adventures. They have human, furry, and animal forms.

Just note that:

1). The errata document gave the dog hengeyokai one point of natural armor.

2). Dragon Magazine 318 updated the race to 3.5 edition by changing their type from shapechanger to humanoid (shapechanger) and eliminating their +1 LA.

3). Recent errata has altered the way that the alternate form ability functions.
Mr_Teapot
03-19-08, 01:55 PM I'm going to also suggest either playing a shifter or a hengeyokai. The shapshift Druid option is good, too. All these do what is needed mechanically without messy houseruling.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aleolus 03-16-08, 03:26 AM	Hey, all. I have a character who's wanting to play a natural lycanthrope (werewolf, in this case), but I'm wanting to start the campaign at level 3 or 4. What would you recommend dropping or reducing to reduce the LA of the werewolf, as listed in the MM?
M-bark 03-16-08, 07:35 AM	You could have the character have the template of an afflicted Lycanthrope (making it LA+2) but that he doesn't want to/can't be cured of his affliction, and instead of all the added hit dice from the wolf, you could merely add one (as if he had been bitten by a 1 HD wolf, like when it would have been killed and raised several times). LA buyoff works, too.
Soulless_Enigma 03-16-08, 07:44 AM	Or, you could scour the website for the Lycanthrope Savage Progressions, allowing the player to gain "levels" of werewolf over time.
M-bark 03-16-08, 07:51 AM	Or, you could scour the website for the Lycanthrope Savage Progressions, allowing the player to gain "levels" of werewolf over time. Or you could do that.
blade265 03-16-08, 07:59 AM	Werewolf savage progressions here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040117a).
Neutronium_Dragon 03-16-08, 09:39 AM	Another option is SKR's "Curse of the Moon", which involves a no/low-LA template which you then build upon with feats or substitution levels (shifters in Eberron were done on a similar basis): http://www.seankreynolds.com/skrg/products/005COTM/
Aleolus 03-16-08, 11:29 AM	Hmm, good suggestions. What she and one other had been thinking were drop the DR, and mix the "Human" and "Hybrid" forms, so she's a lupine-like human who can turn into a wolf. Again, a natural lycanthrope, so she doesn't loose control when she changes. What she's wanting is basically to play a human with wolf ears and tail. I figured a modification of the werewolf would be the easiest way to do that.
Neutronium_Dragon 03-16-08, 12:34 PM	If all you want is a wolf-person without the shapechanging then there are better alternatives. The anthropomorphic wolf (Savage Species), the lupin (Dragon), and others. For that matter, just taking the human stat block, maybe Low Light Vision, and changing the fluff/appearance to match is perfectly fine too. (I've done this.)
Moosh Nailo 03-17-08, 03:06 PM	Play a shifter?
Lappy9000 03-17-08, 03:10 PM	Play a shifter? You could even have it that Shifters are lycanthropes in your campaign. EDIT: Savage Progression: Werewolf Template Class (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040117a)
Aleolus 03-17-08, 03:14 PM	OK, so you take humans, add Low-Light vision, Scent, and a +2 or something to Listen checks. Would that be enough to warrent a LA, or would it be fine as a 0?
Soulless_Enigma 03-17-08, 04:15 PM	I'm iffy about that. It seems to be a very strong LA +0, but not enough for LA +1. Add in some unbalanced ability scores (+2 Dex, +2 Con, -2 Int, or something like that), slap on LA +1, and call it done.
Aleolus 03-17-08, 10:29 PM	OK, here's a link to a pic she drew of the type of char she's wanting. This is just a concept, not final yet. Ninja Wolf girl (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d24/Uchiha1/Yuri-Ninja2.jpg) She's also apparently wanting to be able to transform into a wolf. I'm looking into Shifters atm.
Fireclave 03-17-08, 10:48 PM	OK, here's a link to a pic she drew of the type of char she's wanting. This is just a concept, not final yet. Ninja Wolf girl (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d24/Uchiha1/Yuri-Ninja2.jpg) She's also apparently wanting to be able to transform into a wolf. I'm looking into Shifters atm. For simplicity, I suggest her playing a shifter with the wild hunt trait and taking a level of Shapeshifter variant Druid (PHII). The wild hunt trait would grant her scent. The predator form is available from level one would allow her to basically transform into the mechanical equivalent of a wolf at will, as a swift action, for only a single level dip. The only big difference is the lack of a normal wolf's trip ability. There's also the Weretouched Master prc (ECS), which can make a shifter more like a lycanthrope. Though if you check out this option, you'll probably also want to check out the errata (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/ECSerrata_02062006.zip) on it as well.
zook1shoe666 03-19-08, 10:33 AM	there are other animals similar to the wolf with less hit dice that would work too ;) jackel, dog (pit bull), stuff like that
Essex 03-19-08, 11:52 AM	Given the 'ninja' look of the character, you could go with a dog, racoon dog, or fox hengeyokai from oriental adventures. They have human, furry, and animal forms. Just note that: 1). The errata document gave the dog hengeyokai one point of natural armor. 2). Dragon Magazine 318 updated the race to 3.5 edition by changing their type from shapechanger to humanoid (shapechanger) and eliminating their +1 LA. 3). Recent errata has altered the way that the alternate form ability functions.
Mr_Teapot 03-19-08, 01:55 PM	I'm going to also suggest either playing a shifter or a hengeyokai. The shapshift Druid option is good, too. All these do what is needed mechanically without messy houseruling.