Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Tsuul Aug 31, 2008 19:47:16	This is an attempt to make available a +LA race into 4e. It starts as a base race, and gains powers/abilities that take up class features. I also themed the werebear as a defender type monster (brute??). Other races like a wererat would be striker based (themed off a rogue). Werebear Racial Traits: You are a member of the Werebear race. Choose a tribe, Dwarf or Human, your starting racial traits mimic those except as noted below. Shapeshifter: Shapeshifter type. You are not considered a member of the race based on the tribe you choose even though you share many of the similarities. Change Shape: You can use change shape as an encounter power. The forms you can change into are your base race (dwarf or human), bear, and a bipedal mix between that is your natural form. Claw: When in bear or hybrid form, you may make a claw attack as a basic melee attack that has +3 proficiency and deals 1d6 damage. Remove: Dwarven Weapon Proficiency (Dwarf only) Remove: Encumbered Speed (Dwarf only) Remove: Bonus At-Will Power (Human only) Change Shape _____________Shapshifter Racial Power Your form quickly alters. Encounter Minor Action __________ Personal Effect: A werebear can alter its physical form to appear as black bear or a unique individual of the base race it chose (see Change Shape, PHB page 280). It cannot use its bite attack in dwarf or human form and cannot make manufactured weapon attacks in bear form. Heroic Tier Feats: Forced Shifting Prerequisite: Werebear Effect: You can spend healing surges to use your Change Shape more often per encounter. As standard action spend a healing surge to activate your Change Shape racial power. Bonus Encounter Power Prerequisite: Werebear, Human tribe Benefit: Choose an at-will power from your class. You can use that power as an encounter power. Bonus At-Will Power Prerequisite: Werebear, Human tribe, Bonus Encounter Power Benefit: The power granted by your Bonus Encounter Power feat is now an At-Will power. Dwarven Weapon Proficiency Prerequisite: Werebear, Dwarf tribe Benefit: You gain proficiency with the throwing hammer and the warhammer. Encumbered Speed Prerequisite: Werebear, Dwarf tribe Benefit: You move at your normal speed even when it would normally be reduced by armor or a heavy load. Other effects that limit speed (such as difficult terrain or magical effects) affect you normally. Luna's Mark Prerequisite: Werebear Benefit: Everytime you are attacked by an enemy, whether the attack hits or misses, you can choose to mark that enemy after the attack is made. The mark lasts until the end of your next turn. While a target is marked, it takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn't include you as a target. A creature can be subject to only one mark at a time. A new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place. You can refresh Luna's Mark. To do so, whenever you attack an enemy currently marked by Luna's Mark, whether the attack hits or misses, you can choose to mark that target. RAI note I am not pleased with the fighter multiclass and how it does not help you to pick up the defender role. The werebear marking mechanism is weaker then the fighters, but much stronger then the multiclass version.
#2 Tsuul Aug 31, 2008 19:47:48	reserved
#3 Tsuul Aug 31, 2008 19:49:00	Reserve
#4 wyld_mutation Aug 31, 2008 19:59:56	Unlesss you intend on changing the new fluff... Lycanthropes are noew true breeding races of their own. Their natural form is the "hybrid" form now... So there is no base race.
#5 Tsuul Aug 31, 2008 21:19:44	The base race was more of a restriction on the control shape ability and a starting point for racial abilities. I should remove the name 'hybrid' and make it their natural form though. [edit: makes editing motions above ]
#6 Neutronium_Dragon Sep 01, 2008 6:01:11	Right, but the problem here is that in 4E a werebear (or wereanything) is its own race - it's not a mishmash of "werebear" and "human/dwarf". Even if its humanoid form *looks* like a human or dwarf, it's not a human or dwarf, and doesn't have or qualify for anything which humans or dwarves have or can access.
#7 Tsuul Sep 01, 2008 15:39:33	Giving the dwarf/human racial feats etc prob is too strong. I wanted to shy away from making another shifter(longtooth/razorclaw/etc) because while were-whatever is it's own race, at level one its going to look/feel very similar to the shifters in the back of the MM. Also, being backward compatible with 3.x was a nice bonus. I like the idea of most were-bears taking on human form, and a few "tribes" taking on dwarf form instead. Makes you question the true origins of the race.
#8 Neutronium_Dragon Sep 01, 2008 15:55:49	You might want to take a look at this interpretation of the MM werewolf: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=16564636#post16564636 By and large, turning this into a werebear would be a matter of subbing a couple of things and maybe giving it different skill bonuses.