candidus_cogitens
Explorer
I'm considering introducing lycanthropy into my campaign. It would be helpful to hear your thoughts about how to make it work well.
One of the things that intrigues me is good lycanthropes. It would seem to have a lot of benefits for a PC. So, how exactly would it work in terms of the character's progression through levels. If you become a werebear, for instance, does your character level immediately jump three levels? That sounds like too much of a gift, but I guess the downside would be that the character is going to progress much more slowly in whatever class they were working on. Is this a correct understanding?
Another issue concerns player knowledge vs. character knowledge. If a PC gets bitten by a rat and doesnt know that he has contracted lycanthropy, the player is obviously going to find out as soon as the DM starts taking over control of the character when he transforms into a wererat for the first time. Wouldn't other members of the party be very likely to figure it out as well, since they would often be near the PC when the transformation occurred? I suppose if you could arrange for the characters to be separated at night--sleeping in different rooms in the inn, perhaps--then it might make a very interesting plot. The characters would be hearing about chaos going on at night and not know that it was one of their own! On the other hand, the players most likely would know, and that might detract from the fun.
A final question: if a PC with lycanthropy is underground when the moon comes out, does he still transform? What if the moon is out during the day?
One of the things that intrigues me is good lycanthropes. It would seem to have a lot of benefits for a PC. So, how exactly would it work in terms of the character's progression through levels. If you become a werebear, for instance, does your character level immediately jump three levels? That sounds like too much of a gift, but I guess the downside would be that the character is going to progress much more slowly in whatever class they were working on. Is this a correct understanding?
Another issue concerns player knowledge vs. character knowledge. If a PC gets bitten by a rat and doesnt know that he has contracted lycanthropy, the player is obviously going to find out as soon as the DM starts taking over control of the character when he transforms into a wererat for the first time. Wouldn't other members of the party be very likely to figure it out as well, since they would often be near the PC when the transformation occurred? I suppose if you could arrange for the characters to be separated at night--sleeping in different rooms in the inn, perhaps--then it might make a very interesting plot. The characters would be hearing about chaos going on at night and not know that it was one of their own! On the other hand, the players most likely would know, and that might detract from the fun.
A final question: if a PC with lycanthropy is underground when the moon comes out, does he still transform? What if the moon is out during the day?