Characters with animal characteristics - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Characters with animal characteristics

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dessie542
Jun 09, 2008 21:21:36 I am looking for someone to help me with a character that has animal-like, characteristics. Can someone tell me if this is possible, and if so, can it be made half-way decent? The character can be lycanthrope like a werewolf or a werebear if thats what the rules demand, but i'd prefer something that could go back and forth between Humanoid form, and a more animalistic form at will. The character can be a maximum starting level of 3.

For anyone that can help, I'd greatly appreciate it.
#2
dessie542
Jun 09, 2008 21:53:56 Noone knows/cares? :'(
#3
hogarth
Jun 09, 2008 21:55:31 There's the Shapeshift druid variant from Player's Handbook 2. They can shapeshift at will.
#4
dessie542
Jun 09, 2008 22:20:28 I don't mean like that. I am talking about a character that is humanoid, but has bear like characteristics, like claws and fangs. Something like a hybrid-form lycanthrope, but I don't know how to set the character up to be decent.
#5
the_shaman
Jun 09, 2008 22:43:36 How about the OA hengeyoukai? The 3.5 update in Dragon 318 removed the LA, and they are versatile enough to work for nearly any job. Eberroni shifters, and other semi-animal races such as the Dragon magazine Tibbits, Lupines (or whatever those wolfmen were called) etc also come to mind.
#6
dessie542
Jun 09, 2008 23:11:18 Shifter is close to what I am asking for, but I think Lycanthrope fits it more closely, Now I just need to figure out how to make a Lycanthrope that is of Fifth Level and is pretty good in combat situations. Can you help me with things like Class choice, feat choice, and skill allocation?
#7
surreal
Jun 10, 2008 0:17:01 Animal Lord (CV)
Bear Warrior (CW)
Primeval (Frostburn)
Black Blood Cultist (Champions of Ruin)

I think the last two would suit what you're looking for. They both make you more beastial with the whole teeth and claws aspect. However, I don't think you're going to find what you're looking for at low levels outside of a Shifter. A lycan is going to start you at a minimum of ECL 4 (1 class hd, 1 animal hd, 2 LA (3 LA if you want the ability to shift at will)) unless you use savage progressions.

Look up the lycan handbook in my handy links (the savage progressions are in there too).
#8
solara
Jun 10, 2008 0:27:25 If you're going to be a lycanthrope, the first thing you need to decide is whether or not you want to be a natural lycanthrope (+3 LA, but no need to control shape, better damage reduction).
If you're going for natural, you'll need to choose an animal like a wolf, with only two HD. On the other hand, if you'll have the skill points for the Control Shape skill, you can be an afflicted lycanthrope, which allows you to go for an animal like a leopard or cheetah.
I'd suggest checking the "Handy Links for CO" thread, which includes at least two entries (farther down the first post) about optimizing lycanthropes.

Alternatively, you can begin as a barbarian and go for the Bear Warrior prestige class, and turn into a bear when you rage. For Bear Warrior builds, you can check almost any of the barbarian builds pages; I think there's at least one under the "Handy Links for CO" sticky.

You might want to check with you DM to see what he'll allow, bookwise and buildwise (mine allowed templates to the animal form, so long as it stayed an animal or dire animal, without increased level adjustment due to the rather restricted usefulness of those templates). With lycanthrope, though I love it too, unless you go with the suggestion from the Oriental Adventures book, you're going to have a level adjustment and probably be weaker than the other characters in the party for a bit.

Just go for what seems fun, in the end, optimized or not; if you hate your character, you'll feel weak anyway.
#9
sinfire_titan
Jun 10, 2008 13:51:12
I don't mean like that. I am talking about a character that is humanoid, but has bear like characteristics, like claws and fangs. Something like a hybrid-form lycanthrope, but I don't know how to set the character up to be decent.

Totemist. 'Nuff said. It can get you virtually every form of natural attack and make you look like certain magical beasts (at your leisure). Magic of Incarnum.

Aside from them, Shapeshift Druid, Wildshape Ranger, Bear Warrior, Shifters (in general), Bloodclaw Masters, there are a number of them that actually change you.
#10
dessie542
Jun 10, 2008 16:43:53 The Totemist seems cool, I will have to look into it more. Thanks. But for this current campaign I want to play an actual lycanthrope character. If I start at level 6, and I am a were-leopard with 3 HDs in Leopard, 2 LA for Lycan template and 1 in Fighter. What feats should I choose for my feats, and bonus feats? I will have four total not including the ones given by the lycan template. I just don't know which ones to get to be a decent meele fighter.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dessie542 Jun 09, 2008 21:21:36	I am looking for someone to help me with a character that has animal-like, characteristics. Can someone tell me if this is possible, and if so, can it be made half-way decent? The character can be lycanthrope like a werewolf or a werebear if thats what the rules demand, but i'd prefer something that could go back and forth between Humanoid form, and a more animalistic form at will. The character can be a maximum starting level of 3. For anyone that can help, I'd greatly appreciate it.
#2 dessie542 Jun 09, 2008 21:53:56	Noone knows/cares? :'(
#3 hogarth Jun 09, 2008 21:55:31	There's the Shapeshift druid variant from Player's Handbook 2. They can shapeshift at will.
#4 dessie542 Jun 09, 2008 22:20:28	I don't mean like that. I am talking about a character that is humanoid, but has bear like characteristics, like claws and fangs. Something like a hybrid-form lycanthrope, but I don't know how to set the character up to be decent.
#5 the_shaman Jun 09, 2008 22:43:36	How about the OA hengeyoukai? The 3.5 update in Dragon 318 removed the LA, and they are versatile enough to work for nearly any job. Eberroni shifters, and other semi-animal races such as the Dragon magazine Tibbits, Lupines (or whatever those wolfmen were called) etc also come to mind.
#6 dessie542 Jun 09, 2008 23:11:18	Shifter is close to what I am asking for, but I think Lycanthrope fits it more closely, Now I just need to figure out how to make a Lycanthrope that is of Fifth Level and is pretty good in combat situations. Can you help me with things like Class choice, feat choice, and skill allocation?
#7 surreal Jun 10, 2008 0:17:01	Animal Lord (CV) Bear Warrior (CW) Primeval (Frostburn) Black Blood Cultist (Champions of Ruin) I think the last two would suit what you're looking for. They both make you more beastial with the whole teeth and claws aspect. However, I don't think you're going to find what you're looking for at low levels outside of a Shifter. A lycan is going to start you at a minimum of ECL 4 (1 class hd, 1 animal hd, 2 LA (3 LA if you want the ability to shift at will)) unless you use savage progressions. Look up the lycan handbook in my handy links (the savage progressions are in there too).
#8 solara Jun 10, 2008 0:27:25	If you're going to be a lycanthrope, the first thing you need to decide is whether or not you want to be a natural lycanthrope (+3 LA, but no need to control shape, better damage reduction). If you're going for natural, you'll need to choose an animal like a wolf, with only two HD. On the other hand, if you'll have the skill points for the Control Shape skill, you can be an afflicted lycanthrope, which allows you to go for an animal like a leopard or cheetah. I'd suggest checking the "Handy Links for CO" thread, which includes at least two entries (farther down the first post) about optimizing lycanthropes. Alternatively, you can begin as a barbarian and go for the Bear Warrior prestige class, and turn into a bear when you rage. For Bear Warrior builds, you can check almost any of the barbarian builds pages; I think there's at least one under the "Handy Links for CO" sticky. You might want to check with you DM to see what he'll allow, bookwise and buildwise (mine allowed templates to the animal form, so long as it stayed an animal or dire animal, without increased level adjustment due to the rather restricted usefulness of those templates). With lycanthrope, though I love it too, unless you go with the suggestion from the Oriental Adventures book, you're going to have a level adjustment and probably be weaker than the other characters in the party for a bit. Just go for what seems fun, in the end, optimized or not; if you hate your character, you'll feel weak anyway.
#9 sinfire_titan Jun 10, 2008 13:51:12	I don't mean like that. I am talking about a character that is humanoid, but has bear like characteristics, like claws and fangs. Something like a hybrid-form lycanthrope, but I don't know how to set the character up to be decent. Totemist. 'Nuff said. It can get you virtually every form of natural attack and make you look like certain magical beasts (at your leisure). Magic of Incarnum. Aside from them, Shapeshift Druid, Wildshape Ranger, Bear Warrior, Shifters (in general), Bloodclaw Masters, there are a number of them that actually change you.
#10 dessie542 Jun 10, 2008 16:43:53	The Totemist seems cool, I will have to look into it more. Thanks. But for this current campaign I want to play an actual lycanthrope character. If I start at level 6, and I am a were-leopard with 3 HDs in Leopard, 2 LA for Lycan template and 1 in Fighter. What feats should I choose for my feats, and bonus feats? I will have four total not including the ones given by the lycan template. I just don't know which ones to get to be a decent meele fighter.