A player in my game was bitten by a Werewolf and failed his Con Saving Throw and now has the lycanthropy curse. I don't mind that the player wants to keep the curse, but I think the Lycanthropy in 5e is overpowered (Immunity Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered) for starters. So, I'm taking a stab at combining some of the good parts and suggestions from online sources, all the while adding a detriment for being in lycanthropy form.
I know there are challenges as a DM having a character like this out in the world, so my two biggest questions are: 1) Am I making a mistake by allowing the player to keep the lycanthropy curse? 2) Do any of you have experience with the lycanthropy curse in your games? How did it go? Did you learn anything from it?
Below is my work-in-progress of what I will give to the player on how being a werewolf will work in my game. Any feedback is appreciated.
Armor Class +1 bonus while in wolf or hybrid form (from natural armor). Speed 40 ft. in wolf form Strength Gains a Strength of 15 while in wolf or hybrid form. Damage Resistance Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered. Shapechanger The werewolf can use its action to polymorph into a wolf-humanoid hybrid or into a wolf, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its AC, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Keen Hearing and Smell The werewolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell while in wolf or hybrid form. Bite (Wolf or Hybrid Form Only). (Unarmed Strike) Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with werewolf lycanthropy. Claws. (Hybrid Form Only). (Unarmed Strike) Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage. Full Moon The curse becomes too strong to resist when the full moon rises, transforming you into its beast form. Cursed with lycanthropy, you lose control of yourself once a month. Vocals You cannot speak while in Wolf form. Passing the Curse A non-lycanthrope humanoid hit by an attack that carries the curse of lycanthropy must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + the lycanthrope’s proficiency bonus [+3] + the lycanthrope’s Constitution modifier[+1]) DC 12 or be cursed. Berserk Curse Whenever a hostile creature damages you while in Wolf or Hybrid form, you must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or go berserk. While berserk, you must use your action each round to attack the creature nearest to you. If you can make extra attacks as part of the Attack action, you use those extra attacks, moving to attack the next nearest creature after you fell your current target. If you have multiple possible targets, you attack one at random. You are berserk until you start your turn with no creatures within 60 feet of you that you can see or hear.
I will agree that the rules aren’t very put together. One thing I personally do for lycanthropy is similar to the second skin dark gift in Ravenloft. I have certain things trigger the transformation or they choose it. I give them benefits like +1 claws/teeth, and a +1 bonus to AC, as well as a boost to their STR stat = Prof. Resists budge pierce slash from nonmagical weapon attacks, and vulnerable to silver weapons (because there are so few people or enemies with silver, it balances)
I do also include the beserk curse similar to yours. Your rules seem great, these are some things I do if they interest you.
I will agree that the rules aren’t very put together. One thing I personally do for lycanthropy is similar to the second skin dark gift in Ravenloft. I have certain things trigger the transformation or they choose it. I give them benefits like +1 claws/teeth, and a +1 bonus to AC, as well as a boost to their STR stat = Prof. Resists budge pierce slash from nonmagical weapon attacks, and vulnerable to silver weapons (because there are so few people or enemies with silver, it balances)
I do also include the beserk curse similar to yours. Your rules seem great, these are some things I do if they interest you.
Thanks for sharing. Definity is some commonality between how we are approaching the curse.
Also I know this is the boring advice, but please do note that the DMG and I think the Monster Manual both explicitly say that if a player is infected with Lycanthropy and chooses to embrace it, they become an NPC under the DM's control.
Are you playing up the whole "evil" part of the werewolf transformation? Or did they just unlock a new transformation that the other players don't have? If it's only positives, what's to stop everyone from intentionally getting bit?
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Also I know this is the boring advice, but please do note that the DMG and I think the Monster Manual both explicitly say that if a player is infected with Lycanthropy and chooses to embrace it, they become an NPC under the DM's control.
Are you playing up the whole "evil" part of the werewolf transformation? Or did they just unlock a new transformation that the other players don't have? If it's only positives, what's to stop everyone from intentionally getting bit?
I'm trying to balance the positives with a negative, which makes wolfing out a serious decision to make. Maybe the party needs an extra hitter to sway the tide of a combat encounter, but doing so 'unleashes the beast' could have some consequences. Yes, I'm taking into consideration what the others will think about these changes. As for infecting the others, and now there is a Pack of Werewolves-- I'm not going to allow that either by removing the cursing infection ability. Otherwise, the NPC Cleric in the Party is going to rebel and start casting Remove Curse.
the youtuber pointy hat has a video on this, also, i play a were-tiger and my dm ruled it that i have resistance to all those, but heal my next turn
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Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
I'm with VanZoeren - but that's only because how my campaign is going. Lycanthrope shouldn't be a boon (depending where you live - couple of my characters have met a 'nice' werebear in the Feywild). A PC may or may not have been cursed with this very early in their life. Currently it creates great stories, but the affliction is definitely an affliction. Character sheets get taken away and players don't get to play for a bit. Interested inwhat others think
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RPGs from '83 - 03. A fair bit of LRP. A big gap. And now DMing again. Froth.
I had 2 players get bitten by Wereboars and they switched a few times with the moon but honestly they didn’t like losing control of their characters and in the end I decided that tracking the lunar cycles and such was more trouble than it was worth. I ended up allowing them to be cured cause it was more fun for everyone that way. But they still chuckle about it so I figure it was successful. But I was admittedly not a hard ass about it and didn’t strictly abide by the rule. So my feeling is go with whatever works for your table.
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A player in my game was bitten by a Werewolf and failed his Con Saving Throw and now has the lycanthropy curse. I don't mind that the player wants to keep the curse, but I think the Lycanthropy in 5e is overpowered (Immunity Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered) for starters. So, I'm taking a stab at combining some of the good parts and suggestions from online sources, all the while adding a detriment for being in lycanthropy form.
I know there are challenges as a DM having a character like this out in the world, so my two biggest questions are:
1) Am I making a mistake by allowing the player to keep the lycanthropy curse?
2) Do any of you have experience with the lycanthropy curse in your games? How did it go? Did you learn anything from it?
Below is my work-in-progress of what I will give to the player on how being a werewolf will work in my game. Any feedback is appreciated.
Armor Class
+1 bonus while in wolf or hybrid form (from natural armor).
Speed
40 ft. in wolf form
Strength
Gains a Strength of 15 while in wolf or hybrid form.
Damage Resistance
Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks that aren't Silvered.
Shapechanger
The werewolf can use its action to polymorph into a wolf-humanoid hybrid or into a wolf, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its AC, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.
Keen Hearing and Smell
The werewolf has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell while in wolf or hybrid form.
Bite (Wolf or Hybrid Form Only).
(Unarmed Strike) Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with werewolf lycanthropy.
Claws. (Hybrid Form Only).
(Unarmed Strike) Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
Full Moon
The curse becomes too strong to resist when the full moon rises, transforming you into its beast form. Cursed with lycanthropy, you lose control of yourself once a month.
Vocals
You cannot speak while in Wolf form.
Passing the Curse
A non-lycanthrope humanoid hit by an attack that carries the curse of lycanthropy must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + the lycanthrope’s proficiency bonus [+3] + the lycanthrope’s Constitution modifier[+1]) DC 12 or be cursed.
Berserk Curse
Whenever a hostile creature damages you while in Wolf or Hybrid form, you must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or go berserk. While berserk, you must use your action each round to attack the creature nearest to you. If you can make extra attacks as part of the Attack action, you use those extra attacks, moving to attack the next nearest creature after you fell your current target. If you have multiple possible targets, you attack one at random. You are berserk until you start your turn with no creatures within 60 feet of you that you can see or hear.
What about just switching to a shifter from eberron?
I’m not familiar with that but I’ll take a look. Thanks for the suggestion.
I will agree that the rules aren’t very put together. One thing I personally do for lycanthropy is similar to the second skin dark gift in Ravenloft. I have certain things trigger the transformation or they choose it. I give them benefits like +1 claws/teeth, and a +1 bonus to AC, as well as a boost to their STR stat = Prof. Resists budge pierce slash from nonmagical weapon attacks, and vulnerable to silver weapons (because there are so few people or enemies with silver, it balances)
I do also include the beserk curse similar to yours.
Your rules seem great, these are some things I do if they interest you.
Thanks for sharing. Definity is some commonality between how we are approaching the curse.
Also I know this is the boring advice, but please do note that the DMG and I think the Monster Manual both explicitly say that if a player is infected with Lycanthropy and chooses to embrace it, they become an NPC under the DM's control.
Are you playing up the whole "evil" part of the werewolf transformation? Or did they just unlock a new transformation that the other players don't have? If it's only positives, what's to stop everyone from intentionally getting bit?
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I'm trying to balance the positives with a negative, which makes wolfing out a serious decision to make. Maybe the party needs an extra hitter to sway the tide of a combat encounter, but doing so 'unleashes the beast' could have some consequences. Yes, I'm taking into consideration what the others will think about these changes. As for infecting the others, and now there is a Pack of Werewolves-- I'm not going to allow that either by removing the cursing infection ability. Otherwise, the NPC Cleric in the Party is going to rebel and start casting Remove Curse.
the youtuber pointy hat has a video on this, also, i play a were-tiger and my dm ruled it that i have resistance to all those, but heal my next turn
Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
I'm with VanZoeren - but that's only because how my campaign is going. Lycanthrope shouldn't be a boon (depending where you live - couple of my characters have met a 'nice' werebear in the Feywild). A PC may or may not have been cursed with this very early in their life. Currently it creates great stories, but the affliction is definitely an affliction. Character sheets get taken away and players don't get to play for a bit. Interested inwhat others think
RPGs from '83 - 03. A fair bit of LRP. A big gap. And now DMing again. Froth.
I had 2 players get bitten by Wereboars and they switched a few times with the moon but honestly they didn’t like losing control of their characters and in the end I decided that tracking the lunar cycles and such was more trouble than it was worth. I ended up allowing them to be cured cause it was more fun for everyone that way. But they still chuckle about it so I figure it was successful. But I was admittedly not a hard ass about it and didn’t strictly abide by the rule. So my feeling is go with whatever works for your table.