Contracting Lycanthropy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Contracting Lycanthropy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fuzzypants
02-19-06, 01:01 PM My character and her party were up against a couple werewolves who used claws as their primary attack. Every time they succeeded on their attack, the DM called for a DC 15 Fortitude save. Now, I know that's the save against contracting lycanthrope, but the MM is clear that you can only contract it if you're bitten.

My character failed her save, and the DM said she doesn't feel funny or sick or anything. Is there any other reason he'd call for a Fort save after being clawed by a werewolf?
Malruhn
02-19-06, 01:24 PM A couple spring to mind...

First off - Metagaming/Paranoia: Does your CHARACTER know how you contract lycanthropy? Odds are, the answer is no. So, the rolls COULD be to give you a sense of pending doom - that you are about to attempt to howl at the moon and try to lick your own butt.

Secondly - Poison/Paranoia: The claws COULD have been poisoned, or the darned things could have walked through a horrible field of toxic sludge to get to you, and you had to roll a FORT save to resist the poisons/toxins.

And last - Confused DM: Your DM COULD have not understood how lycanthropy is passed... and had you roll for stuff you didn't need to.
fuzzypants
02-19-06, 01:35 PM My character knows that you can contract lycanthropy by being bitten, so in-game, since she doesn't feel funny, she won't be running to a Cleric for help. At most, she'll mention a run in with werewolves. There is a Paladin in the party, so he may know more.

I was more concerned that my DM wasn't playing the lycanthropes correctly, and I wanted to find out if there was any other reason why I'd be asked to make the save. I don't metagame, but I also want to make sure I'm not getting screwed over because the DM didn't read through the MM completely. If he does say, "Next full moon, you start trying to eat your companions," I can point out how it's only contractable through being bitten.

Knowing my DM, it's either just to make the party paranoid or something else is going on. I guess I'll find out next session, but I do want to have all my ducks in a row just in case there's deviation from RAW (which my DM says he sticks to).
Balor von Balorvitch
02-19-06, 02:30 PM Do tell your DM before the next full moon so he/she can weasel out of a mistake and say it was a scare tactic.
fuzzypants
02-19-06, 03:01 PM Do tell your DM before the next full moon so he/she can weasel out of a mistake and say it was a scare tactic.

Good plan!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fuzzypants 02-19-06, 01:01 PM	My character and her party were up against a couple werewolves who used claws as their primary attack. Every time they succeeded on their attack, the DM called for a DC 15 Fortitude save. Now, I know that's the save against contracting lycanthrope, but the MM is clear that you can only contract it if you're bitten. My character failed her save, and the DM said she doesn't feel funny or sick or anything. Is there any other reason he'd call for a Fort save after being clawed by a werewolf?
Malruhn 02-19-06, 01:24 PM	A couple spring to mind... First off - Metagaming/Paranoia: Does your CHARACTER know how you contract lycanthropy? Odds are, the answer is no. So, the rolls COULD be to give you a sense of pending doom - that you are about to attempt to howl at the moon and try to lick your own butt. Secondly - Poison/Paranoia: The claws COULD have been poisoned, or the darned things could have walked through a horrible field of toxic sludge to get to you, and you had to roll a FORT save to resist the poisons/toxins. And last - Confused DM: Your DM COULD have not understood how lycanthropy is passed... and had you roll for stuff you didn't need to.
fuzzypants 02-19-06, 01:35 PM	My character knows that you can contract lycanthropy by being bitten, so in-game, since she doesn't feel funny, she won't be running to a Cleric for help. At most, she'll mention a run in with werewolves. There is a Paladin in the party, so he may know more. I was more concerned that my DM wasn't playing the lycanthropes correctly, and I wanted to find out if there was any other reason why I'd be asked to make the save. I don't metagame, but I also want to make sure I'm not getting screwed over because the DM didn't read through the MM completely. If he does say, "Next full moon, you start trying to eat your companions," I can point out how it's only contractable through being bitten. Knowing my DM, it's either just to make the party paranoid or something else is going on. I guess I'll find out next session, but I do want to have all my ducks in a row just in case there's deviation from RAW (which my DM says he sticks to).
Balor von Balorvitch 02-19-06, 02:30 PM	Do tell your DM before the next full moon so he/she can weasel out of a mistake and say it was a scare tactic.
fuzzypants 02-19-06, 03:01 PM	Do tell your DM before the next full moon so he/she can weasel out of a mistake and say it was a scare tactic. Good plan!