Shapechanger. The wererat can use its action to polymorph into a rat-humanoid hybrid or into a giant rat, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its size, 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 Smell. The wererat has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Multiattack (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). The wererat makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite.
Bite (Rat or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wererat lycanthropy.
Shortsword (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
Hand Crossbow (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.
I hadn't noticed the immunities! You saved my party from a TPK.
Thanks everyone for the posts: these ideas really helped a first-time DM prep for this DoIP quest!
Make silvered weapons available to purchase back in Phandalin, and have at least one or two silvered weapons available as loot drops in Dwarven Excavation and Gnomengarde. Easy solution to the WereRat Immunity problem. Or just make the were rats have "resistance" rather than "immunity".
is there anyway to cure were rat ness?
Well, that depends on the situation. If the subject became a Wererat after being bitten by another Wererat, a simple Remove Curse spell should do the trick!
On the other hand, if a Wererat was born as such (i.e. one or both parents were Wererats), then no. The poor soul will be stuck half cheese boi for the rest of their life.
half cheese boi
I ended up preparing my players with a random encounter on the way for another quest, but it could be done on the way for this quest. They encountered some bandits/assassins hired to kill the players due to some prior actions taken in Dragon of Icespire peak. Their they received some silver weapons, that could damage the were-rats.
In a strange twist of fate, the players ultimately ended up helping the were-rats kill the dwarves after the party split and each managed an encounter with each party prior to any combat. This resulted in an hour and a half back and forth between the party of six and deep discussion on which side was being truthful and what to do.
Since the party approached peacefully, I had it played off that the Rats wanted to get rid of the dwarves in exchange for the money and magic items, while the dwarves offered the money but not the magic item, but we’re more morally in the correct position. I also had my party receive two different stories from each group. Honestly being completely new to DnD it was a very fun and exciting experience, especially as a DM, to see some very healthy party conflict and deep role play.
what a lovely night.
he mad ugle
@ ProphetZarquon
In 2nd Edition there were beasts that were equivalent to the respective lycanthropic variety. Instead of Werewolf it was Wolfwere. You could have your clan be Ratweres instead of Wererats.
Dorime
Shouldn't Darkvision be 60 ft. (rat form only) as listed on the Wererat stat sheet in the Monster Manual (as well as DOIP)
Damn! That is a very awesome way to handle this often problematic dungeon!
I can’t tell whether or not to be fascinated or disgusted by this thing
Made a bandit camp where they robbed people and camped under a bridge to protect and support people afflicted with wererat lycanthropy
Was deadass one of my favorite encounters I've run
Do you gain the shapechange, keen smell, etc. even if you don't embrace the curse?
Ilithmar (sp?) Is the sister/enemy city of lankhmar in nehwon, the setting for the fafhrd and grey mouser books by fritz Leiber. A city ruled by wererats secretly. One entire novel, I think The Swords of Lankhmar, is about the rats and rivalry. Plus a little man/(were-)rat love!
The series is a major inspiration for D&D (credited by gygax in the AD&D gms guide) and the best swords and sorcery out there (looking at you, Conan!). Highly recommended reading.
I love it
I am gonna probably run these guys in my next campaign...I can already see my players expose their necks to get bite but one of these!
DMs running Icespire Peak can remind their players about torches and oil. 1 attack to throw a vial of oil at a wererat (from any character, sidekick, or Don-Jon Raskin), and 1 action to light a torch. After that, each hit with a torch causes 6 points of fire damge (1 for the torch + 5 for the oil). Don-Jon gets 3 melee attacks per round, potentially causing 18 points of fire damage to a wererat! Any spellcaster with firebolt or bonfire can add +5 fire damage against an oil-splashed wererat . A big boost!
Torches and vials are improvised weapons, so that'll be -2 to hit for most low-level characters, but this is a fun twist to a difficult combat. I always rule that Don-Jon is proficient with improvised weapons—he seems like the type.
Even acid causes 2d6 damage and is available at Barthen’s Provisions (25 gp).
Im glad while planning my own DoIP campaign and checking the wererat stats that I read the comments.
Lots of excellent advise here.
The stuff about silvered weapons. Well, my group plans on detouring and going to neverwinter, so I can have some merchant pushing sales on silver weapons there. The reminder about oils and torches. I will throw it in as one of Dons heroic tales while on the way to the mine.
Although, my group is damn good at persuading creatures to "go away" and might pass without a fight.
Its that, or a couple of smites and eldrich blasts........