Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 vayu Mar 28, 2008 21:41:53	I'm a little new to building characters so please bear with me. I'm a little confused about how the Lycanthrope template affects hit dice and saving throws. I'm using the template from crystal keep. (It shouldn't be that far down on the list) http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/index.php I want to be a werebear and I'm using the brown bear listed in the SRD as the base animal. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/bearBrown.htm Thanks
#2 shaggy_shaggs Mar 28, 2008 22:03:32	Essentially, picking up the Lycanthrope template is multiclassing with Animal (Animal hitdice are not factored in for imbalanced multiclass purposes). You take as many Animal hitdice as the base animal (the brown bear in this case), with appropriate base attack, base saves, skill points etc for that many Animal hitdice. Look up Advancing A Level and How Multiclassing Works in the PHB for more information. The Animal hitdice are both hitdice and character levels, and factor in for such things as your maximum skill rank cap, what your effective character level is, your appropriate wealth, how much xp you get for certain encounter levels, and whether or not certain level-based or total hitdice-based effects (such as Deep Slumber) can affect you. Before you ask (just because everyone seems to): No, it is not okay to take the adjustments and just not take the Animal hitdice. Yes, Animal hitdice suck, that's the point. Without inflating your character level with those garbage hitdice, the benefits of lycanthropy are just way too good and would require a much higher Level Adjustment -- which would leave you too brittle to function.
#3 nordicbirch Mar 29, 2008 5:40:36	I'm a little confused about how the Lycanthrope template affects hit dice and saving throws. You gain animalHD and LA. The HD give BAB, saves etc according to it's type and the LA is air to compensate for lycanthrope abilities. Here http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031114a the template has been broken into a classprogression for use with characters under the required ECL. (ie. if you want to start a game at level 1 but still be a werebear) Maybe it'll help explain how the abilities are divided between animalHD and LA?
#4 zillah Mar 29, 2008 10:48:08	lycanthropic bat swarm. its core, it has a +1 LA i think, and you can throw it on any race. congrats, you are now immune to any targeting spell, you have swarm traits, and you can still do the whole "imma hybrid look at me" deal
#5 vayu Mar 29, 2008 17:43:29	Thank you all