Simple; roll with it :P It's only as disruptive as you let it be, even on lower levels. Especially the immunities to non-silvered weapons can be a "problem" if not handled well. However, in a standard setting, magic could be pretty common. An enemy spellcaster is just as big of a threat to a lycanthrope PC as they are a non-lycanthrope pc. The stat boost is significant, but not a big deal in most cases. It's pretty easy to get scores at 15-19 at level one if you're lucky or make your character that way.
Remember that if they resist the curse they're still playable, but should they embrace it they basically become NPC's; they've fallen to their bestial nature and lose their minds to evil. During instances of the full moon this can be the source of very dramatic moments.
Also note that should they become more and more savage, leaving behind bloody trails or other ways that rumors might spread about lycanthropes in the neighbourhood they're likely to attract lycanthrope hunters as well. Guess what they'll be bringing? Yep, silvered weapons and a load of experience hunting down the player characters. Changing into a rat to get away? Well, the lycan hunters know that's a possibility so they'll bring flasks of alchemy fire or even some form of gas spell (maybe a scroll of cloudkill) to root you out of your hideyhole.
Damn! That’s a great idea!! Thank you so much! You have given me so many ideas. I was think about just taking it away, but now..... so many! Thank you again
Damn! That’s a great idea!! Thank you so much! You have given me so many ideas. I was think about just taking it away, but now..... so many! Thank you again
No problem :) Always remember that DnD is a game of opportunities for imagination and strange things going on. Also know that whatever works on other tables might not work for yours, even things such as rules. For instance, if you'd want lycanthropes to not only be hurt by silver weapons but also deathly allergic to silver, this can create stories. Perhaps one of the players has a signet ring that's very dear to them. However, because they've turned to lycanthropy they litterally can't stand to hold it against their flesh. Another fun one is the "Hangover dilemma" where a player goes to sleep, only to wake up in an entirely different location, completely naked and he has no idea what happened. Then, when he retraces his steps, finds the carnage he left in a full moon-lit feeding frenzy.
Try to not be that DM that gives something, realises that it might not fit very well and simply takes it away. Try to integrate it. Perhaps a player loves his character to be a lycanthrope, though the character might not. You could give opportunities to be cleansed (like that friendly traveling priest who just happens to be a 5th level cleric capable of casting remove curse) and give nudges on how that's actually a great idea (again, waking up in a puddle of someone elses blood could do that to a person) and let the player decide they want this. And don't rush things. If you immediatly go full Van Hellsing on their butts, the player's will probably feel trapped and become frustrated. Characters being frustrated is cool, players not so much.
I love the allergy idea! As a DM I tend to get to excited and give my player to many wonderus items. But it just makes them so happy, haha. So this give me lots of good ideas to deal with that.
Again thank you so much! You have been so helpful. I wasn’t even sure if anyone would respond.
Something that I'd do, I'd make higher CR beasts so that their natural weapons (claws and bite attacks) damage lycanthropes normally. Maybe CR 2 beasts? If not CR 2, definitely CR 3.
Check out The Werewolf's Guide to Life for some thoughts on living as a lycanthrope for your PC's. It's a fun book anyway, but it's perfect for your PC's gift.
Something that I'd do, I'd make higher CR beasts so that their natural weapons (claws and bite attacks) damage lycanthropes normally. Maybe CR 2 beasts? If not CR 2, definitely CR 3.
Check out The Werewolf's Guide to Life for some thoughts on living as a lycanthrope for your PC's. It's a fun book anyway, but it's perfect for your PC's gift.
The natural weapons would not work in any capacity. Lycanthropes are immune "bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered", a natural weapon is by definition nonmagical (unless the stat block says otherwise, like some higher CR monsters such as a balor). A lycanthrope could be munched on by a tyrannosaurus rex (at CR 8 the highest cr official monster) and it would do nothing.
Or, if I misunderstood you above, if you want to make higher CR creatures to deal "magical damage", you'd better be able to back that up with a reason. If you simply do it so that the monsters can deal damage, the players will probably feel cheated. Having some magically induced tracking hounds or something like a Druid that uses something akin to the magic weapon on their beast companions to hunt down those freak-of-nature-lycanthropes would work. I wouldn't just let them deal damage because of the heck of it.
The DM can always come up with reasons why something works. I’m proposing house ruling that high CR beasts bypass immunity to non-magical attacks the same way monks and druids do at 6th level. Maybe based on the HP roll? If the beast has 6dX of HP or more, that beast’s natural weapons bypass damage immunity and resistance the same way a 6th level monk’s open hand attacks do.
It would definitely be a house rule, but it wouldn’t be unbalancing. It would give the lyncathrope PCs a challenge instead of letting them walk through every encounter with natural enemies without taking away the thrill of being immune to non-magical weapons.
It would definitely be a house rule, but it wouldn’t be unbalancing. It would give the lyncathrope PCs a challenge instead of letting them walk through every encounter with natural enemies without taking away the thrill of being immune to non-magical weapons.
I would not consider it unbalancing, I may have been unclear about that. However, I do believe that players could concider it "cheating" if the damage simply poof is magical now. You could work around this maybe by using the environment for damage. After all, you're not immune to breaking your bones from falling out of/off of a big creature's mouth or something :p
5th and my Monk and Druid currently have it. Though you have given me many wonderful ideas, I had no idea at the time how powerful this gift I gave them was.
5th level is a big increase from lvl 4, so that might also make them feel more powerful than before (for instance, if they've gained the lycanthropy at lvl 4).
You could let them meet more powerful monsters in order to balance things out. However, this might upset the balance for the other party members. If you set them up against a monster that could hurt the immune characters, they might instantly kill the non-lycan ones. That would be bad.
There's still a way to make an interesting story though; try to focus less on combat for a couple of sessions (if your troupe digs that kind of thing and if it's possible at the current point of your storyline). In roleplay encounters, you could play out conversations and suddenly have the npc be scared and walk away; unknowingly to the character (and player) the character has had some minor form of 'loss of control', maybe he snarled or their eyes changed without them knowing. This must be done carefully though, in order to not frustrate the player. Then you can increase the "with great power comes great responsibility"-angle if you so desire.
Also keep in mind that they are only immune to weapon damage, not magical damage. Add some spellcasters to the roster of the monsters you use, even low level cantrips can hurt and thus make things more exciting for the lycan players. Also creatures with Spell Attacks instead of Weapon attacks, or creatures like a flesh golem that effectively deals magical damage can be used to at least dampen the influence of the lycan powers.
That said, anything goes in your game; if you want the characters to only be immune in their hybrid form for instance, go for it. This would mean that in order to use their "power", they have to be sure that they're not seen. But it would be fair to make that count for NPC lycans as well, should the party ever face them.
Personally, I would only allow the immunities to apply in beast or hybrid form, as letting it apply in human form gives lycanthropy no disadvantage other than needing to chug drow venom once a month.
How do I allow my players to have it and not break the game?
Because I may have already let them...... haha
Simple; roll with it :P It's only as disruptive as you let it be, even on lower levels. Especially the immunities to non-silvered weapons can be a "problem" if not handled well. However, in a standard setting, magic could be pretty common. An enemy spellcaster is just as big of a threat to a lycanthrope PC as they are a non-lycanthrope pc. The stat boost is significant, but not a big deal in most cases. It's pretty easy to get scores at 15-19 at level one if you're lucky or make your character that way.
Remember that if they resist the curse they're still playable, but should they embrace it they basically become NPC's; they've fallen to their bestial nature and lose their minds to evil. During instances of the full moon this can be the source of very dramatic moments.
Also note that should they become more and more savage, leaving behind bloody trails or other ways that rumors might spread about lycanthropes in the neighbourhood they're likely to attract lycanthrope hunters as well. Guess what they'll be bringing? Yep, silvered weapons and a load of experience hunting down the player characters. Changing into a rat to get away? Well, the lycan hunters know that's a possibility so they'll bring flasks of alchemy fire or even some form of gas spell (maybe a scroll of cloudkill) to root you out of your hideyhole.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
Damn! That’s a great idea!! Thank you so much! You have given me so many ideas. I was think about just taking it away, but now..... so many! Thank you again
No problem :) Always remember that DnD is a game of opportunities for imagination and strange things going on. Also know that whatever works on other tables might not work for yours, even things such as rules. For instance, if you'd want lycanthropes to not only be hurt by silver weapons but also deathly allergic to silver, this can create stories. Perhaps one of the players has a signet ring that's very dear to them. However, because they've turned to lycanthropy they litterally can't stand to hold it against their flesh. Another fun one is the "Hangover dilemma" where a player goes to sleep, only to wake up in an entirely different location, completely naked and he has no idea what happened. Then, when he retraces his steps, finds the carnage he left in a full moon-lit feeding frenzy.
Try to not be that DM that gives something, realises that it might not fit very well and simply takes it away. Try to integrate it. Perhaps a player loves his character to be a lycanthrope, though the character might not. You could give opportunities to be cleansed (like that friendly traveling priest who just happens to be a 5th level cleric capable of casting remove curse) and give nudges on how that's actually a great idea (again, waking up in a puddle of someone elses blood could do that to a person) and let the player decide they want this. And don't rush things. If you immediatly go full Van Hellsing on their butts, the player's will probably feel trapped and become frustrated. Characters being frustrated is cool, players not so much.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
I love the allergy idea! As a DM I tend to get to excited and give my player to many wonderus items. But it just makes them so happy, haha. So this give me lots of good ideas to deal with that.
Again thank you so much! You have been so helpful. I wasn’t even sure if anyone would respond.
If you would like I can let you know how it goes
Yeah, keep us posted :)
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
Something that I'd do, I'd make higher CR beasts so that their natural weapons (claws and bite attacks) damage lycanthropes normally. Maybe CR 2 beasts? If not CR 2, definitely CR 3.
Check out The Werewolf's Guide to Life for some thoughts on living as a lycanthrope for your PC's. It's a fun book anyway, but it's perfect for your PC's gift.
Professional computer geek
The natural weapons would not work in any capacity. Lycanthropes are immune "bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks that aren’t silvered", a natural weapon is by definition nonmagical (unless the stat block says otherwise, like some higher CR monsters such as a balor). A lycanthrope could be munched on by a tyrannosaurus rex (at CR 8 the highest cr official monster) and it would do nothing.
Or, if I misunderstood you above, if you want to make higher CR creatures to deal "magical damage", you'd better be able to back that up with a reason. If you simply do it so that the monsters can deal damage, the players will probably feel cheated. Having some magically induced tracking hounds or something like a Druid that uses something akin to the magic weapon on their beast companions to hunt down those freak-of-nature-lycanthropes would work. I wouldn't just let them deal damage because of the heck of it.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
The DM can always come up with reasons why something works. I’m proposing house ruling that high CR beasts bypass immunity to non-magical attacks the same way monks and druids do at 6th level. Maybe based on the HP roll? If the beast has 6dX of HP or more, that beast’s natural weapons bypass damage immunity and resistance the same way a 6th level monk’s open hand attacks do.
It would definitely be a house rule, but it wouldn’t be unbalancing. It would give the lyncathrope PCs a challenge instead of letting them walk through every encounter with natural enemies without taking away the thrill of being immune to non-magical weapons.
Professional computer geek
I would not consider it unbalancing, I may have been unclear about that. However, I do believe that players could concider it "cheating" if the damage simply poof is magical now. You could work around this maybe by using the environment for damage. After all, you're not immune to breaking your bones from falling out of/off of a big creature's mouth or something :p
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
Thanks for the link! I’m excited to use it, everyone has been so helpful!
Does the PC have those immunities in all forms! They are stronge then I had anticipated!
Yes, they have their immunities in all forms. What level are you playing at?
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
5th and my Monk and Druid currently have it. Though you have given me many wonderful ideas, I had no idea at the time how powerful this gift I gave them was.
5th level is a big increase from lvl 4, so that might also make them feel more powerful than before (for instance, if they've gained the lycanthropy at lvl 4).
You could let them meet more powerful monsters in order to balance things out. However, this might upset the balance for the other party members. If you set them up against a monster that could hurt the immune characters, they might instantly kill the non-lycan ones. That would be bad.
There's still a way to make an interesting story though; try to focus less on combat for a couple of sessions (if your troupe digs that kind of thing and if it's possible at the current point of your storyline). In roleplay encounters, you could play out conversations and suddenly have the npc be scared and walk away; unknowingly to the character (and player) the character has had some minor form of 'loss of control', maybe he snarled or their eyes changed without them knowing. This must be done carefully though, in order to not frustrate the player. Then you can increase the "with great power comes great responsibility"-angle if you so desire.
Also keep in mind that they are only immune to weapon damage, not magical damage. Add some spellcasters to the roster of the monsters you use, even low level cantrips can hurt and thus make things more exciting for the lycan players. Also creatures with Spell Attacks instead of Weapon attacks, or creatures like a flesh golem that effectively deals magical damage can be used to at least dampen the influence of the lycan powers.
That said, anything goes in your game; if you want the characters to only be immune in their hybrid form for instance, go for it. This would mean that in order to use their "power", they have to be sure that they're not seen. But it would be fair to make that count for NPC lycans as well, should the party ever face them.
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
Thank you again! This has been so helpful, we play this Sunday so I will like you know how it goes
Personally, I would only allow the immunities to apply in beast or hybrid form, as letting it apply in human form gives lycanthropy no disadvantage other than needing to chug drow venom once a month.
Wait, why Drow venom?
Drow use it to capture people by putting them to sleep.