Lycanthrope question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lycanthrope question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
silentassasin61
04-03-08, 04:00 PM Thinking of asking my DM to afflict my char with lycanthropy but I want to make sure I understand how it would change stats and abilities. Would the template just add everything in the MM on to my existing stats or would it replace them? I understand that ill have a new ECL but i dont understand the HitDie change? would i add the new hit die or would i just us the new numbers? Would my racial abilities stack with the lycan or not? Does it count as taking a class or just as a change of race?
Essex
04-03-08, 07:10 PM Since you want to become a lycanthrope, I assume that you're already a humanoid or a giant (as they are the only creature types that can become lycanthropes). I'll walk you through the process (since the info is in the SRD). Do note that your DM is fully justified if he makes you become a lycanthrope by taking one of the Savage Progressions from the Wizards website instead of just granting you 3 or more 'free' levels at once (+2 LA and the animal's racial HD).

Give yourself the shapechanger subtype.

Look at the Monster Manual entry for the type of animal which is appropriate for your type of lycanthropy.

Add the animal's HD to your existing HD (the bonus hp from your Constitution score for THESE HD ONLY are based upon your Constitution while in animal form). These additional HD increase your BAB, saving throws, and skills as normal for an animal of the appropriate type (class skills are whatever skills are listed in the animal's skills entry; DO NOT multiply the skills by 4 for the first level). Ability score increases are based upon your total HD.

Increase natural armor by +2 in all forms (hybrid natural armor is based off of the higher natural armor between the humanoid/giant and animal forms).

You gain the following SQ in all forms:

Alternate Form (animal and hybrid)
DR 5/silver
Lycanthropic Empathy
Low-Light Vision
Scent

Increase you Wisdom by +2.

All other ability scores remain the same unless you are in animal or hybrid form. In that case, take the animal's physical ability scores and subract 10 or 11 (depending on whether the scores are even or odd). Add these numbers to the appropriate physical ability scores.

You receive the animal form's racial skill bonuses in all forms (but conditional bonuses only apply in the appropriate form).

Add the animal's feats to your known feats. If this gives you too many feats, the extra feats become bonus feats.

Gain the Iron Will feat as a bonus feat.

Change your alignment to match the alignment of your lycanthrope type.

Give yourself a +2 Level Adjustment.
BugHunter
04-03-08, 07:42 PM Don't forget to take ranks in the control shape skill. Otherwise those DCs will be tough to make for resisting the change or to change back to human.
Spikes01k
04-04-08, 12:05 AM After the LA +2, you also are required to gain a number of Hit Dice. Each animal gains a hit dice. This is added to your own, and are treated as class levels. So if your base animal has 9 hit die, then this will make your character effectively 11 levels higher. So you will be getting crap exp for a while.

Also note that ALL inflicted lycanthropy have the control shape skill found in the DMG as a class skill at all times.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
silentassasin61 04-03-08, 04:00 PM	Thinking of asking my DM to afflict my char with lycanthropy but I want to make sure I understand how it would change stats and abilities. Would the template just add everything in the MM on to my existing stats or would it replace them? I understand that ill have a new ECL but i dont understand the HitDie change? would i add the new hit die or would i just us the new numbers? Would my racial abilities stack with the lycan or not? Does it count as taking a class or just as a change of race?
Essex 04-03-08, 07:10 PM	Since you want to become a lycanthrope, I assume that you're already a humanoid or a giant (as they are the only creature types that can become lycanthropes). I'll walk you through the process (since the info is in the SRD). Do note that your DM is fully justified if he makes you become a lycanthrope by taking one of the Savage Progressions from the Wizards website instead of just granting you 3 or more 'free' levels at once (+2 LA and the animal's racial HD). Give yourself the shapechanger subtype. Look at the Monster Manual entry for the type of animal which is appropriate for your type of lycanthropy. Add the animal's HD to your existing HD (the bonus hp from your Constitution score for THESE HD ONLY are based upon your Constitution while in animal form). These additional HD increase your BAB, saving throws, and skills as normal for an animal of the appropriate type (class skills are whatever skills are listed in the animal's skills entry; DO NOT multiply the skills by 4 for the first level). Ability score increases are based upon your total HD. Increase natural armor by +2 in all forms (hybrid natural armor is based off of the higher natural armor between the humanoid/giant and animal forms). You gain the following SQ in all forms: Alternate Form (animal and hybrid) DR 5/silver Lycanthropic Empathy Low-Light Vision Scent Increase you Wisdom by +2. All other ability scores remain the same unless you are in animal or hybrid form. In that case, take the animal's physical ability scores and subract 10 or 11 (depending on whether the scores are even or odd). Add these numbers to the appropriate physical ability scores. You receive the animal form's racial skill bonuses in all forms (but conditional bonuses only apply in the appropriate form). Add the animal's feats to your known feats. If this gives you too many feats, the extra feats become bonus feats. Gain the Iron Will feat as a bonus feat. Change your alignment to match the alignment of your lycanthrope type. Give yourself a +2 Level Adjustment.
BugHunter 04-03-08, 07:42 PM	Don't forget to take ranks in the control shape skill. Otherwise those DCs will be tough to make for resisting the change or to change back to human.
Spikes01k 04-04-08, 12:05 AM	After the LA +2, you also are required to gain a number of Hit Dice. Each animal gains a hit dice. This is added to your own, and are treated as class levels. So if your base animal has 9 hit die, then this will make your character effectively 11 levels higher. So you will be getting crap exp for a while. Also note that ALL inflicted lycanthropy have the control shape skill found in the DMG as a class skill at all times.