Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Darctos Nov 05, 2014 13:56:49	Hi all, I want to play a lycanthrope but don't want to be over powered. In the MM is mentioned that you can play as one. I was thinking about letting the race be a lycanthrope elf, dropping some benefits from being an elf and gaining weretiger and tiger shape but only a bones to dex of 1? What do you think about balancing my character?
#2 Illithidbix Nov 05, 2014 16:19:38	Given that lycanthropes are kinda immune to non-magical weapon attacks... not really a way to balance it against the core races that I can think of.
#3 Elfcrusher Nov 05, 2014 16:19:16	Angry villagers always trying to put you to the torch is a downside.
#4 Illithidbix Nov 05, 2014 17:18:08	Elfcrusher wrote:
#5 slumgum Nov 05, 2014 19:35:31	While it is not extremely detailed the MM gives guidance on PC lycanthropes.  It says for a non-human lycanthrope they should retain one or more of their races base characteristics (The example in the MM is an elf keeping Fey Ancestry).  It would also make sense to keep all proficiencies, it wouldn't make sense for an elf to lose bow proficiency after being transformed.   Nothing seems too imbalanced about it except the damage immunities.  Not sure how to handle that - it'd make most sense to not allow a werePC until a higher level when things they're dealing with have access to magic weapons and magic attacks.  The manual also says weretigers do not like to pass their curse on.  How are you going to convince a were tiger to curse you?  You get no +dex or any stat for that matter, your STR becomes 17 only if it is lower than 17 at the time of the curse.  If you design the character around becoming a were tiger (and thus using STR as a dump stat to make most use of this) then I think you're going against the entire spirit of the game.   If the PC is starting as a lycanthrope it would make the most senses to force them to use their highest roll (or a 15 using the point buy system) as their stat that the curse normally buffs.
#6 nerraDetroK Nov 05, 2014 20:25:42	I'm wanting to play a Werebear in the next game I have, but not necessarily as a humanoid that turns into ab ear, more like a sentient bear that can stand on two legs and hold weapons too.  Kind ofl ike the Panserbjorne from the "His Dark Materials" (Golden Compass) series. My idea is to nerf the Lycanthrope stuff from the MM, since Damage resistance is OP for any character to have at all times.   I'd use Half-Orc for Race and make STR my 2nd highest stat, before the jump to 19.  That way it doesn't feel like a munchkin effect of dumping STR before the lycanthropic effect. For my character, I'd drop the damage dice of the bite and claw, because again, 2d8 damage is too much for a first level character.  More like 1d10 for claws, but they don't count as a 2-handed weapon or a finesse weapon.  I'd also start as Ranger and then multiclass to Fighter or Barbarian and when the 2nd class gets its 5th level extra attack, this bear gains a damage die step, since some of the weapons Feats don't work with him.   Ultimately, it's up to the DM, but I hope that as long as I'm not trying to make it look like I'm making an overpowered character, I think it'll work.   For your Weretiger, I think keeping the base stats of Elf are fine, but make STR your first or second highest before the lycanthropic jump to 17.   As for what the Monster Manual says, I take that as just one interpretation of the creatures.  Youre DM can and should recast the creatures as she sees fit for the campaign, with appropriate buy-in from the players.  As a DM right now, I've got a player based on X-Men's Nightcrawler, one based on Star-Lord, another based on Zatanna from Justice League and finally a Paladin named Finnius with his sentient dog-druid, Jayke who love to have their Time for Adventure.
#7 Elfcrusher Nov 05, 2014 22:49:49	nerraDetroK wrote:
#8 OrwellianHaggis Nov 06, 2014 0:25:20	Darctos, as your DM I'd say no to starting as a were-tiger, but I'd say in time you'll get it, if it's what you really want. How do you think that would happen?
#9 RPGBG Nov 06, 2014 0:26:14	If I was the DM - I would offer you something like this. It is basically a mix between druid and barbarian class. It is available only as a multiclass, so the first use of the tiger shape will come online at least at level 2. Weretiger multiclass: Hit die: d12 1. Shapechange (Hybrid) 1/long rest, Shapechange (Tiger) 1/short rest, Lycantropy. 2. Shapechange (Hybrid) 2/long rest, Pounce 3. Shapechange (Tiger) 2/short rest, Form mastery 4. Shapechange (Hybrid) 3/long rest, Multiattack   Shapechange (Hybrid): You can enter your hybrid form on your turn as a bonus action or as a reaction to taking damage. While in hybrid form you have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws. You gain a claw attack for 1d8 and a bite attack for 1d10. You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage. You can stay in hybrid form for 1 minute. You regain the use of that feature after taking a long rest. At levels 2 and 4 of the class you gain more uses between long rests. If you are able to cast spells - you can't cast them or concentrate on them while raging.   Shapechange (Tiger): You can use your action to assume the shape of a tiger. You regain the use of that feature after taking a short rest. At level 3 you gain a second use between short rest. You can stay in tiger form a number of hours equal to your levels in the class. You can rever to your normal for by using a bonus action on your turn. While transformed the rules for the druid wildshape apply. You cannot be in Tiger and Hybrid forms at the same time. The one used second overrides the first - suppresing it for its duration. You don't get the pounce ability of your tiger form (see lvl 2).   Lycantropy: Damage rolls from silvered weapons against you are done at an advantage. If you damage a humanoid with a bite attack, he must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution save or be infected with lycantropy.   Pounce: If you move at least 15 feet straight towards a creature while in hybrid or tiger form and then hit it with a claw attack on the same turn, the target must succeed on Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, you can make a bit attack against it as a bonus action. The DC of the saving throw is 8+Str+Proficiency bonus.   Form Mastery: You gain advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell while in hybrid form. You gain proficiency with claw and bite attacks while in hybrid or tiger form, as well as with perception and stealth skills. (These statistics in tiger form already have +2 proficiency bonus included in their calculations). You can assume your tiger form as a bonus action on your turn. You can concentrate on spells while in tiger or hybrid form (although you still can't cast them).   Multiattack: In hybrid or tiger form you can make two claw attacks, in hybrid form you can make one claw attack and one weapon attack when you take the attack action. It does not stack with the extra attack gained from other classes, but if you posses the extra attack feature and succeed on your first attack - your second attack against the same opponent is done at an advantage.
#10 Timborama Nov 06, 2014 7:22:15	Two easy, (fluffed) RAW choices: Barbarian and/or Druid classes. No homebrewing mechanics necessary!   Fluff your wildshapes as tiger forms (big tiger=bear, angry tiger=boar, tiger with gripping claws=spider, small grappling tiger=snake). The only weirdness will be tiny wildshapes... Barbarian rages "transform" you into hybrid form, making you resistant to all non-psychic damage. Fluff your weapons, too, if you want! Longclaws=2 shortswords. Big Bite=Greataxe. As for other Lycan things? You sought a cure for spreading the disease (a common Weretiger trait!), and doing so made it so you're also immune to silver! But maybe it also made you sterile so you can't make more true lycans. If you're a true lycan, you don't change with the moon and can control it. If you're cursed, though, maybe your search for the cure made the curse sporadic (explaining Wildshape and Barbarian Rage as a Lycanthropy mechanic!), and talk with your DM to see if you still change or not during a full moon   So I'd suggest trying this before going to your DM with something that will either make your character overpowered or unplayable...That's kinda a common mistake I see a lot!
#11 Darctos Nov 06, 2014 14:46:20	Wow thanks for the responses! My gm lets me play one, my backstory will be that one of my parents was a weretiger, so I'm only a halfweretiger. I did not inherit the immunities for non magical weapons. I did get a weakness against silver. I can change at will into my 2 shapes, more stealth and speed as a tiger, more strength when I'm dual shape. I'm still working on balancing the character further :-) the barbarian idea that the rage is the dual shape sounds pretty neat! I'm still open for more suggestions :-)