Werewolf total starting level [Archive] - Wizards Community

Werewolf total starting level [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xaer
06-12-07, 10:00 PM Argument that came up on our site, and we felt the best way to end it was to ask the wizards boards.

A werewolf has 2HD of wolf, and a +3 level adjustment. Does that mean that a werewolf character would start at level 6?(1class level +2HD+3adjustment)
rampant
06-12-07, 10:10 PM Well there is a were-wolf class progression on the DnD site, so you don't have to start at a high level.

But if you do You could start at level 5 with just your wolf HD since you're using a natural were-wolf not a person who recieved lycanthropy as an affliction.
Genetic
06-12-07, 10:10 PM Yep.

ECL always = your hit dice (racial, class, or otherwise) + your level adjustment.
Grod_The_Giant
06-12-07, 10:14 PM no. He would start at level 3, if you want to think of it like that, with an effective level of 6.
Xaer
06-12-07, 10:35 PM Making sure, as he claimed the book was being ambiguous on that.
rampant
06-12-07, 11:47 PM Seriously crod what the beep are you talking about?
Neutronium_Dragon
06-13-07, 12:18 AM > But if you do You could start at level 5 with just your wolf HD since you're
> using a natural were-wolf not a person who recieved lycanthropy as an
> affliction.

In the case of a lycanthrope, they do have to have a class level or racial hit die from some other source because it's a template rather than a base creature, and as such it has to be applied to a valid base creature. In order to be a valid base creature it has to have a hit die of some sort in the first place. The fact that it's a natural werewolf doesn't change that. (The standard ones in the MM are all natural lycanthropes and they're Warrior 1s.)

Moreover, the class/race hit die is the first hit die as far as the x4 skill modifier, maximum hit points, and so on for 1st level is concerned, because it was given to the creature first.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xaer 06-12-07, 10:00 PM	Argument that came up on our site, and we felt the best way to end it was to ask the wizards boards. A werewolf has 2HD of wolf, and a +3 level adjustment. Does that mean that a werewolf character would start at level 6?(1class level +2HD+3adjustment)
rampant 06-12-07, 10:10 PM	Well there is a were-wolf class progression on the DnD site, so you don't have to start at a high level. But if you do You could start at level 5 with just your wolf HD since you're using a natural were-wolf not a person who recieved lycanthropy as an affliction.
Genetic 06-12-07, 10:10 PM	Yep. ECL always = your hit dice (racial, class, or otherwise) + your level adjustment.
Grod_The_Giant 06-12-07, 10:14 PM	no. He would start at level 3, if you want to think of it like that, with an effective level of 6.
Xaer 06-12-07, 10:35 PM	Making sure, as he claimed the book was being ambiguous on that.
rampant 06-12-07, 11:47 PM	Seriously crod what the beep are you talking about?
Neutronium_Dragon 06-13-07, 12:18 AM	> But if you do You could start at level 5 with just your wolf HD since you're > using a natural were-wolf not a person who recieved lycanthropy as an > affliction. In the case of a lycanthrope, they do have to have a class level or racial hit die from some other source because it's a template rather than a base creature, and as such it has to be applied to a valid base creature. In order to be a valid base creature it has to have a hit die of some sort in the first place. The fact that it's a natural werewolf doesn't change that. (The standard ones in the MM are all natural lycanthropes and they're Warrior 1s.) Moreover, the class/race hit die is the first hit die as far as the x4 skill modifier, maximum hit points, and so on for 1st level is concerned, because it was given to the creature first.