Getting our Lycan on - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Getting our Lycan on

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
angellusmortus
Sep 10, 2008 18:31:36 Alright, so are were-beasties as rough to play as I've heard? Many people have complained to me about making characters Lycanthropes (don't ask me why, I didn't get details from them) and I was just wondering if they were infefective characters. I know I saw a vampire thread floating around, and they're rough as hell to play right, so I think this ones plausible. Specifically, I'm concerned about Werewolves, I'd love to make a werewolf character, having always had a fascination with them.
#2
kurashu
Sep 10, 2008 18:45:11 The big thing about lycanthropes is that they get animal racial hit dice, which aren't very good at all, in addition to level adjustment. So, you're looking at at least a +3 to your ECL right off the bat. That said, if you get a decent 1HD animal that's the same size as you, you can buy back the level adjustment and only have a +1 to your ECL, and that racial hit die will count towards the level you need to buy back.
#3
natenate
Sep 10, 2008 19:22:07 No, racial hit dice never count for how many levels you need until you can buy off a LA, it specifically says so in the buyoff rules.

I'd say the "best" lycanthrope combination I've seen is a Whisper Gnome Were-Serval (Sandstorm). Go Swordsage and focus on Tiger Claw and Desert Wind maneuvers, fight in animal form for pounce and rake.
#4
kurashu
Sep 10, 2008 20:38:07 Weeeeeell, crap. I've always wanted to play a weremoose. But Dire Elk are huge creatures with 11 HD. So, nyah that idea's not a very good one.
#5
nanshork
Sep 10, 2008 22:42:05 I've got a really nice Barbarian Were-Badger Lord build with double rage.
#6
surreal
Sep 11, 2008 1:30:12 Check my handy links for the couple were-creature guides. The Nifern is a particularly strong animal to take.
#7
umopapisdn
Sep 11, 2008 1:35:41 The vampire thread was using gestalt rules and taking vampire LA as one side. If you were going a similar route with lycan, taking LA and animal hit die on one side, I'd add warshaper to the same, taking ToB classes on the other, possibly with barbarian.

I played an exalted feral weretiger warshaper with vow of poverty in a gritty, low-magic, low-item campain, not gestalt. It was a fun challenge for the first few levels, using the savage progression with LA buyback, but he started to pull through at about level 6, and once warshaper was added in, was actually a significant force in the party, serving as an additional scout, a tank, and the primary damage dealer capable of some surprising melee battlefield control with high mobility, improved grab, and reach.

The best part is being able to describe how the average-looking man in peasant's clothing gives a friendly smile, then turns into a massive tiger thing with disproportionately huge teeth and claws, horns, and a spiked tail.
#8
phaedrusxy
Sep 12, 2008 16:11:37 Lycanthropes are a LOT more playable than vampires, even without gestalt. Check out the guide(s) Surreal mentioned.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 angellusmortus Sep 10, 2008 18:31:36	Alright, so are were-beasties as rough to play as I've heard? Many people have complained to me about making characters Lycanthropes (don't ask me why, I didn't get details from them) and I was just wondering if they were infefective characters. I know I saw a vampire thread floating around, and they're rough as hell to play right, so I think this ones plausible. Specifically, I'm concerned about Werewolves, I'd love to make a werewolf character, having always had a fascination with them.
#2 kurashu Sep 10, 2008 18:45:11	The big thing about lycanthropes is that they get animal racial hit dice, which aren't very good at all, in addition to level adjustment. So, you're looking at at least a +3 to your ECL right off the bat. That said, if you get a decent 1HD animal that's the same size as you, you can buy back the level adjustment and only have a +1 to your ECL, and that racial hit die will count towards the level you need to buy back.
#3 natenate Sep 10, 2008 19:22:07	No, racial hit dice never count for how many levels you need until you can buy off a LA, it specifically says so in the buyoff rules. I'd say the "best" lycanthrope combination I've seen is a Whisper Gnome Were-Serval (Sandstorm). Go Swordsage and focus on Tiger Claw and Desert Wind maneuvers, fight in animal form for pounce and rake.
#4 kurashu Sep 10, 2008 20:38:07	Weeeeeell, crap. I've always wanted to play a weremoose. But Dire Elk are huge creatures with 11 HD. So, nyah that idea's not a very good one.
#5 nanshork Sep 10, 2008 22:42:05	I've got a really nice Barbarian Were-Badger Lord build with double rage.
#6 surreal Sep 11, 2008 1:30:12	Check my handy links for the couple were-creature guides. The Nifern is a particularly strong animal to take.
#7 umopapisdn Sep 11, 2008 1:35:41	The vampire thread was using gestalt rules and taking vampire LA as one side. If you were going a similar route with lycan, taking LA and animal hit die on one side, I'd add warshaper to the same, taking ToB classes on the other, possibly with barbarian. I played an exalted feral weretiger warshaper with vow of poverty in a gritty, low-magic, low-item campain, not gestalt. It was a fun challenge for the first few levels, using the savage progression with LA buyback, but he started to pull through at about level 6, and once warshaper was added in, was actually a significant force in the party, serving as an additional scout, a tank, and the primary damage dealer capable of some surprising melee battlefield control with high mobility, improved grab, and reach. The best part is being able to describe how the average-looking man in peasant's clothing gives a friendly smile, then turns into a massive tiger thing with disproportionately huge teeth and claws, horns, and a spiked tail.
#8 phaedrusxy Sep 12, 2008 16:11:37	Lycanthropes are a LOT more playable than vampires, even without gestalt. Check out the guide(s) Surreal mentioned.