Homebrew Worgen Species Details

Worgen are humanoids that have been born into the curse of Lycanthropy. 

They are uncommon and can be found populating hidden societies or small villages in the wilderness.

Of the lesser-known races, Worgen hail from the strangest of coincidences. 

Curses and Bloodlines

Small societies that had been previously inhabited by werewolves are not anymore, and for one reason. They've become worgen. It is theorized that over centuries of bloodlines of werewolves continuing to bear children over and over, the curse of Lycanthropy in their blood weakened, and became controllable. Held by this weakened state of the curse, worgen gain a multitude of abilities directly related to Lycanthropy, but it has been found that the curse is no longer transmitted by blood or bites, but only through childbirth. If a spouse in a relationship conceives the child of a worgen, their child will become a worgen. 

Primal Heritage

As those afflicted have learned to live as worgen, they've realized it provides more benefits than downsides. When in worgen form, they grown retractable claws, large teeth, and snouts, and their bodies have become used to the dark energy flowing through them, making them resistant to other outside influences. Attacks against them in battle may cause them to lash out with extreme speed, and by trying to run you'll be hunted down. This mixture is a delicate balance. Some may find the humanoid part of them is more compelling, while others might struggle with remnants of the curse that flare up at times.

Secretive and Silent

As part of having control over their curse, worgen can choose to live out relatively normal lives amongst others in cities. They spend their days in the humanoid form, yet transform back in the comfort of their own homes. Underground societies of worgen hiding in plain site are rare, as the race itself is uncommon, but it can easily be done. Usually societies are skeptical and fearful of their nature, and they've learned to live with that. Worgen tend to have no preference in religious practices, although they have nothing against them either. 

This race is trying to combo WoW's Worgen Racial traits with DnD mechanics in a way that's balanced and by adding a little lore you can drop them into any campaign you'd like to, or you can use the lore described here. 

Worgen Traits

You worgen character has the following racial traits

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Worgen mature and age at about the same rate as humans, yet tend to have shorter lifespans by about a decade due to their curse. 

Alignment

Worgen tend toward good alignments. Worgen who come from a nomadic lifestyle are more neutral. 

Size

Worgen are typically over 5 feet tall, with some standing over 6 feet. Your size is Medium.

Here’s how to determine your height and weight randomly, starting with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d8

Height = 5 feet + 6 inches + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 160 + (2d6 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Bite

While in Worgen form, your maw is considered a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your bite, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Hunter’s Instincts

You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, or Survival.

Savage Rebuke

You can hone your primal instincts to occasionally cause injury. When you take damage, you can flare up and use your reaction to cast a cantrip or make a melee weapon attack against an enemy you can see. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Cursed Form

You come from a lineage wrought with curses, and as such the dark forces of the world have less of an effect on you. You have resistance to necrotic damage. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common. 

Shapechanger

As a Worgen, you can use your action to polymorph back into your true form, which is humanoid. Your statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. This "true form" cannot be changed as if you were a doppleganger. It is a permanent humanoid form. If you are knocked unconscious, sleeping, or dead your body will stay in it's current form, and will not change unless you use your action again to do so. Reverting back to a Worgen will also take an action.