I'm going to be using D&D for an existing setting. So far I've found analogs for the various races and professions, except for one. The setting has a race of Lycanthropes. They're the result of a magical war ages past and have become their own race. They don't cause lycanthropy in those they attack. They have heightened senses, an ability to understand animals, and 20% retain the ability to shift (either into a were-shape or fully into their animal shape.) They tend to be...'rougher' around the edges than most humans. They can lose control and shift if provoked an unable to successfully resist.
Has anyone done a race I could use for a template? Or how would you recommend building this race?
In a different context, shamans projecting into an animal form, I am dealing with the same challenge.
I havent worked out the mechanics, but concept is simple enough. Create a race trait, worth about a half-feat, or a feat if a flying creature.
Beast Form
You gain an alternate Beast Form. Pick one natural Beast, such as a wolf, bear, or eagle. After each rest, you can spend one action, to take the form of this Beast, or to revert back to your original Humanoid Form, or to be a Transitional Form, in between Beast and Humanoid.
Gaming balance has the following concerns.
• Gaining flight, if the Beast has wings.
• Gaining physical abilities.
• Probably always retain current hit points (no new hit points, nor healing).
• Shifter is probably a good model for mechanics for the Transitional Form.
• The benefit of Beast Form and Transitional Form needs to be worth about a slot level 2 spell, thus like Misty Step, be cast per rest, and worth a half-feat.
• The Beast Form spell can be taken multiple times, each one for a different kind of animal.