D&D 5E Why do 5e lycanthropes get their powers in human form?

[Micah Sweet]

You have quite a few issues with homebrewing don't you? I just feel that type of creativity is the heart of what makes D&D great. If your're just using the books as written your're not playing D&D IMO!

I love homebrewing. I have a 350 page homebrew document (mostly 3pp compilations with a lot of rewritten and converted material). I just vastly prefer new rules for new effects as opposed to the same rules with a new coat of paint (which is how I see reskinning).

 

[Faolyn]

There’s nothing in the description of the monster that even hints at that.

And there’s pretty much zero chance of me ever npc’ ing a PC. That’s just not going to happen, like, ever. I don’t even do that for mind control.

In that particular description of the monster, no.

In the way lycanthropes have been presented throughout D&D's history, and specifically in Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts, yes.

Edit: Also, it's a horror game. If you give a PC a lot of power and nigh-invulnerability without something horrible as a potential side-effect, then you're going to be erasing a lot of the horror there.

 

[Voadam]

Edit: Also, it's a horror game. If you give a PC a lot of power and nigh-invulnerability without something horrible as a potential side-effect, then you're going to be erasing a lot of the horror there.

Curse of Strahd is advertised as Horror D&D. I don't remember Candlekeep Mysteries being branded that way.

 

[Faolyn]

Curse of Strahd is advertised as Horror D&D. I don't remember Candlekeep Mysteries being branded that way.

Then you do something different there, if you need to balance giving a PC immunity to nonmagic weapons.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Curse of Strahd is advertised as Horror D&D. I don't remember Candlekeep Mysteries being branded that way.

when researching my CoS campaign I came across a reddit post where someone ran a Werewolf encounter as written and 2 of 5 PCs got infected... and spend the rest of the campagin playing superman since with so few magic weapons and attacks in the book they were immune to SO many challenges.

 

[Voadam]

Lycanthropy, one of the few explicit methods in 5e where your alignment can be changed.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Lycanthropy, one of the few explicit methods in 5e where your alignment can be changed.

so find a werebear... then when you bit long running bad guys to force them to lg

 

[Fanaelialae]

Lycanthropy, one of the few explicit methods in 5e where your alignment can be changed.

I believe that's only if the player chooses to accept the curse. As long as they resist the curse, their alignment remains unchanged.

 

[Voadam]

I believe that's only if the player chooses to accept the curse. As long as they resist the curse, their alignment remains unchanged.

For reference MM page 207:

PLAYER CHARACTERS AS LYCANTHROPES
A character who becomes a lycanthrope retains his or her statistics except as specified by lycanthrope type. The character gains the lycanthrope's speeds in nonhumanoid form, damage immunities, traits, and actions that don't involve equipment. The character is proficient with the lycanthrope's natural attacks, such as its bite or claws, which deal damage as shown in the lycanthrope's statistics. The character can't speak while in animal form.
A non-lycanthrope humanoid hit by an attack that carries the curse of lycanthropy must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + the lycanthrope's proficiency bonus + the lycanthrope's Constitution modifier) or be cursed. lf the character embraces the curse, his or her alignment becomes the one defined for the lycanthrope. The DM is free to decide that a change in alignment places the character under DM control until the curse of lycanthropy is removed.
The following information applies to specific lycanthropes.
Werebear. The character gains a Strength of 19 if his or her score isn't already higher, and a +1 bonus to AC while in bear or hybrid form (from natural armor). Attack and damage rolls for the natural weapons are based on Strength.
Wereboar. The character gains a Strength of 17 if his or her score isn't already higher, and a +1 bonus to AC while in boar or hybrid form (from natural armor). Attack and damage rolls for the tusks are based on Strength. For the Charge trait, the DC is 8 + the character's proficieny bonus + Strength modifier.
Wererat. The character gains a Dexterity of 15 if his or her score isn't already higher. Attack and damage rolls for the bite are based on whichevers higher of the character's Strength and Dexterity.
Weretiger. The character gains a Strength of 17 if his or her score isn't already higher. Attack and damage rolls for the natural weapons are based on Strength. For the Pounce trait, the DC is 8 + the character's proficiency bonus + Strength modifier.
Werewolf. The character gains a Strength of 15 if his or her score isn't already higher, and a +1 bonus to AC while in wolf or hybrid form (from natural armor). Attack and damage rolls for the natural weapons are based on Strength.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Call me old fashioned, but I like lycanthropy where PCs wake up in an alley mysteriously covered in blood (obviously were ravens are a different type of lycanthrope, and good aligned so maybe a chaotic evil PC wakes up in an alley mysteriously covered in charity receipts )

Ah, alignment-based rampages. A werebear going on a lawful good rampage, picking up ALL the litter and helping all the old ladies across the street whether they like it or not.

Although the idea of a weretiger going on a rampage of neutrality is somehow even funnier.