Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WinterPsionic 08-06-06, 01:31 AM	Ok I'm trying to find a good base class/race for my Lycanthrope(wolf) but can't decide. For the most part a typical fighter looks like the best bet...(intial BAB, lotta bonus feats) and then I was planning on taking Human for yet another Bonus Feat. Any suggestions? I need it no higher then ECL 6 so alot of the MM races are out of the question....
kelvinaw273 08-06-06, 08:03 AM	Given the LA of a werewolf, fighter is a good option - you will need the extra feats and BAB to make up for your lack of levels.
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-06-06, 08:39 AM	I like barbarian to go with primarily combat-oriented lycanthropes. Rage helps to bring up your Fort and Will saves to cope with the missing hitdice from LA, and the extra hp from the Con boost sure doesn't hurt (additionally, the usually boosted Con from animal or hybrid form keeps your rage going longer). Having Survival as a class skill helps with tracking by scent. Uncanny Dodge makes it a bit more difficult for people to go around your DR with extra damage from sneak attacks. And I just think the savage warrior style fits most lycanthropes better than the tactical genius.
Delfedd 08-06-06, 10:22 AM	I think that a wilderness rogue from unearthed arcana would be an interesting twist. More of the stalker aspect of the wolf... working in packs and all to sneak attack.
kelvinaw273 08-06-06, 11:30 AM	I think that a wilderness rogue from unearthed arcana would be an interesting twist. More of the stalker aspect of the wolf... working in packs and all to sneak attack. Scout from Complete Adventurer works even better.
DarkNick 08-06-06, 05:32 PM	I like shaggy shaggs idea of the barbarian Werewolf. A gnome of a halfling just seems a little silly. They would end up like those little yappy lap dogs - they call him the Chihuahua!! Dwarves would make for a nice stocky wolf - they would be like a pittbull wolf. Half orcs are beastial enough without the added extra. In terms of race I would go with the classic human werecreature. Just a personal preference.
Kradlo 08-06-06, 06:35 PM	For a natural lycanthrope, you're going to have 2 racial hit dice for the wolf, a +3 LA, and your base class for a total ECL 6. So you can't pick a race with racial hit dice or a LA. I'm having a vision of the one choice that no one would ever expect. Warforged. I know it's weird, probably the weirdest combination you're likely to hear. I would envision your wolf form to be a strange warforged wolf in appearance, and ditto for the hybrid form. I may have to sculpt a mini for this. You could take Mithril Body for your 1st level feat. In theory, it should work in any of your forms. PLEASE check with your GM first, of course. Whether or not it would be legal by the RAW, you don't want him ticked off. Your class could be fighter, for the bonus feats, or barbarian for rage and fast movement. Yes, a warforged werewolf barbarian is plenty strange, but you certainly won't lack for abilities. The barbarian's fast movement will work in any form, as would that of a scout. In wolf form, you'd have a base move of 60 feet, and your mithril body wouldn't slow that a bit. As you rose in level, you could take additional warforged feats that would work. Good Con (+2), poor Wis (-2) and Cha (-2) make for a good combatant character. The warforged traits will help against a number of encounters. I know it's a mind boggler, but you may want to consider it.
Kradlo 08-06-06, 06:44 PM	Heck, the illustration of the Silver Tracery feat on page 120 of Races of Eberron has a warforged slugging it out with a werewolf. Warforged are not immune to curses, and lycanthropy is a curse (or natural condition for you), not a disease. So, the warforged in the illustration could certainly be subject to the curse of lycanthropy if bitten. Do note that unless your GM has house ruled otherwise, your werewolf will be chaotic evil. That's from page 178 of the Monster Manual.
kelvinaw273 08-06-06, 07:53 PM	For a natural lycanthrope, you're going to have 2 racial hit dice for the wolf, a +3 LA, and your base class for a total ECL 6. So you can't pick a race with racial hit dice or a LA. I'm having a vision of the one choice that no one would ever expect. Warforged. I know it's weird, probably the weirdest combination you're likely to hear. I would envision your wolf form to be a strange warforged wolf in appearance, and ditto for the hybrid form. I may have to sculpt a mini for this. You could take Mithril Body for your 1st level feat. In theory, it should work in any of your forms. PLEASE check with your GM first, of course. Whether or not it would be legal by the RAW, you don't want him ticked off. Your class could be fighter, for the bonus feats, or barbarian for rage and fast movement. Yes, a warforged werewolf barbarian is plenty strange, but you certainly won't lack for abilities. The barbarian's fast movement will work in any form, as would that of a scout. In wolf form, you'd have a base move of 60 feet, and your mithril body wouldn't slow that a bit. As you rose in level, you could take additional warforged feats that would work. Good Con (+2), poor Wis (-2) and Cha (-2) make for a good combatant character. The warforged traits will help against a number of encounters. I know it's a mind boggler, but you may want to consider it. How, exactly, would a warforged contract lycanthropy?
Kradlo 08-06-06, 09:43 PM	Further reading of the lycanthrope entry lists that it is a template that can be added to any humanoid or giant. Since a warforged is a construct of the living construct subtype, I suppose it wouldn't be affected. Oh, well, it was an interesting idea. Still makes for a neat mental image, but by RAW I don't think it would qualify.
utilitarian 08-06-06, 10:44 PM	Further reading of the lycanthrope entry lists that it is a template that can be added to any humanoid or giant. Since a warforged is a construct of the living construct subtype, I suppose it wouldn't be affected. Oh, well, it was an interesting idea. Still makes for a neat mental image, but by RAW I don't think it would qualify. True, but why not run with it? Perhaps you turn into a wolf effigy (Effigy template, Complete Divine). It would be a cool plot thing even if it isn't strictly by the book.
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-07-06, 04:55 AM	A warforged can be a werewolf, but not as-is. Try the Incarnate Construct template from Savage Species. Turns Medium or smaller constructs into Humanoids, and Large or bigger constructs into Giants. (It also strips away their nifty abilities, but while you wouldn't be a construct anymore, technically you would still be a warforged, and could take warforged-only feats.) It also comes with LA -2, but minimum 0... I wouldn't hold my breath for it, but it may be possible to talk a DM into letting both templates be applied simultaneously, arriving at a LA of +0 (afflicted lycanthrope) or +1 (natural lycanthrope). This is all patently ridiculous, of course, but technically possible by the rules.
WinterPsionic 08-08-06, 12:43 AM	For a natural lycanthrope, you're going to have 2 racial hit dice for the wolf, a +3 LA, and your base class for a total ECL 6. So you can't pick a race with racial hit dice or a LA. I'm having a vision of the one choice that no one would ever expect. Warforged. I know it's weird, probably the weirdest combination you're likely to hear. I would envision your wolf form to be a strange warforged wolf in appearance, and ditto for the hybrid form. I may have to sculpt a mini for this. You could take Mithril Body for your 1st level feat. In theory, it should work in any of your forms. PLEASE check with your GM first, of course. Whether or not it would be legal by the RAW, you don't want him ticked off. Your class could be fighter, for the bonus feats, or barbarian for rage and fast movement. Yes, a warforged werewolf barbarian is plenty strange, but you certainly won't lack for abilities. The barbarian's fast movement will work in any form, as would that of a scout. In wolf form, you'd have a base move of 60 feet, and your mithril body wouldn't slow that a bit. As you rose in level, you could take additional warforged feats that would work. Good Con (+2), poor Wis (-2) and Cha (-2) make for a good combatant character. The warforged traits will help against a number of encounters. I know it's a mind boggler, but you may want to consider it. True, True. Actually I meant to say the class was for when I gained my first level (sorry for the confusion on that) otherwise my DM is allowing me to simply be a Human Werewolf....though I'm not sure how the skill points will work...
Kradlo 08-08-06, 06:49 PM	Okay, race is already decided as human. Reading page 178 of the Monster Manual on Lycanthropes as Characters, you'll note that a werewolf will gain +2 Wisdom in all forms. Physical abilities are increased by the animal form's ability modifiers when a lycanthrope changes to hybrid or animal forms. You'll have low-light vision in all forms, and scent in all forms. You'll gain skill points from its animal hit dice (2 HD) as if you'd multiclassed into the animal type (wolf), i.e., 2 + Int modifier per HD. Any skills that appear in the animal's description are treated as class skills for the lycanthrope's animal levels. You'll gain Track and Iron Will as bonus feats. In wolf or hybrid form, you'll gain +2 Strength, +4 Dexterity, and +4 Constitution. Since changing to animal form ruins your clothes and armor, including any items worn, you'll want to go light so you can quickly shed your clothing before changing. As mentioned previously, both the barbarian and the scout will work well for this character, with enhanced movement that will apply in any form. I like the barbarian, personally. The ability to rage while in wolf form makes your trip ability all the more powerful. Take the feats Combat Expertise and Improved Trip, and you'll gain a +4 bonus on your Trip attempts, plus a free bite when you put your opponent down. So, you get to bite, you get a free trip attempt, you get a +4 bonus on your Strength check do so, and you get another free bite when he's prone (+4 to hit). Then, when he stands up, he provokes an attack of opportunity, giving you another free bite (and while he's still prone for +4). I'll be interested in seeing how the character does. Has your GM made any house rule regarding alignment? By the RAW, your werewolf will be chaotic evil, but your GM may house rule otherwise.
WinterPsionic 08-08-06, 11:04 PM	Okay, race is already decided as human. Reading page 178 of the Monster Manual on Lycanthropes as Characters, you'll note that a werewolf will gain +2 Wisdom in all forms. Physical abilities are increased by the animal form's ability modifiers when a lycanthrope changes to hybrid or animal forms. You'll have low-light vision in all forms, and scent in all forms. You'll gain skill points from its animal hit dice (2 HD) as if you'd multiclassed into the animal type (wolf), i.e., 2 + Int modifier per HD. Any skills that appear in the animal's description are treated as class skills for the lycanthrope's animal levels. You'll gain Track and Iron Will as bonus feats. In wolf or hybrid form, you'll gain +2 Strength, +4 Dexterity, and +4 Constitution. Since changing to animal form ruins your clothes and armor, including any items worn, you'll want to go light so you can quickly shed your clothing before changing. As mentioned previously, both the barbarian and the scout will work well for this character, with enhanced movement that will apply in any form. I like the barbarian, personally. The ability to rage while in wolf form makes your trip ability all the more powerful. Take the feats Combat Expertise and Improved Trip, and you'll gain a +4 bonus on your Trip attempts, plus a free bite when you put your opponent down. So, you get to bite, you get a free trip attempt, you get a +4 bonus on your Strength check do so, and you get another free bite when he's prone (+4 to hit). Then, when he stands up, he provokes an attack of opportunity, giving you another free bite (and while he's still prone for +4). I'll be interested in seeing how the character does. Has your GM made any house rule regarding alignment? By the RAW, your werewolf will be chaotic evil, but your GM may house rule otherwise. I was reading somewhere that no matter what happens to a character as long as he holds strong to a particular way of life ("true alignment" ex LG, LE, CG, CE) he can AT MOST hold off one "level" of a change, so someone whose LG and being forced into CE can be either NE or CN.... Anyway since I could find where I saw it I'm hoping he'll just make it a house rule, espicially since he doesn't want any CE characters. Anyway regarding the whole lost armor....what items negate that? I know the CoDi has the Shapechangers armor and Masters of the wild is supposed to have a lower level one. Are there any others? I was thinking of making one up and using base prices to determine how much it should cost, like maybe a Lycanthropic Garb/Robe, every time i change shape it clings to my body and causes my equipment to be "absorbed" into my body if it can't be worn in the "new" form, so like SavSpec's beast claws would remain equipped in Human or Hybrid forms while a Necklace of Natural Weapons would only apply to my Hybrid and Wolf Forms.
Kradlo 08-09-06, 08:33 AM	Complete Adventurer has Beastskin, an enchantment that can be placed on armor (page 127). It works with a druid's wild shape ability, but makes no reference to other shapeshifters, and requires one use of your wild shape ability to activate. +2 bonus. Masters of the Wild has Wild, an enchantment that is placed on armor (+3 bonus). It also changes when you assume wild shape, with no cost involved. Neither of these had lycanthropes or other shapeshifters in mind. You'd have to talk to your GM about getting one that worked with your shapechange ability. You might not get armor that will shift when you change. You might have to stick with armor with quick release buckles or internal breakaway lacing (I had a kobbit that was a were-Red Fangs spider - don't ask). Bracers of defense should work in any form, as would a ring of protection. Your DR should be enough to keep most damage down while in hybrid or wolf form, so don't worry too much about armor except in human form. Taking barbarian as your class will give you d12 hit dice, which will help with that +3 LA.
WinterPsionic 08-09-06, 02:45 PM	Complete Adventurer has Beastskin, an enchantment that can be placed on armor (page 127). It works with a druid's wild shape ability, but makes no reference to other shapeshifters, and requires one use of your wild shape ability to activate. +2 bonus. Masters of the Wild has Wild, an enchantment that is placed on armor (+3 bonus). It also changes when you assume wild shape, with no cost involved. Neither of these had lycanthropes or other shapeshifters in mind. You'd have to talk to your GM about getting one that worked with your shapechange ability. You might not get armor that will shift when you change. You might have to stick with armor with quick release buckles or internal breakaway lacing (I had a kobbit that was a were-Red Fangs spider - don't ask). Bracers of defense should work in any form, as would a ring of protection. Your DR should be enough to keep most damage down while in hybrid or wolf form, so don't worry too much about armor except in human form. Taking barbarian as your class will give you d12 hit dice, which will help with that +3 LA. Thanks for the Info! I'm still unsure what class I'm going to take on. I personally don't care for Barbarians (not my style) but I am thinking Fighter....however I'd also like to go with the fact that I get bonus to my stealth skills so maybe a Rogue of some sort.....I was thinking Soulknife cause it'd be funny but I already have a soulknife....
Kradlo 08-09-06, 05:41 PM	You may want to try Scout, then, from Complete Adventurer. You'll get a boat load of skill points, fast movement, and skirmish. It will dovetail very well into all of your forms. You could go for the Spring Attack feat tree to maximize your use of skirmish attacks and movement in wolf form. Remember that your Rogue is another good choice. A sneak attacking wolf or hybrid is nasty. Either way, you'll do well.