D&D (2024) Lycanthropes in the MM

[Corinnguard]

How would you allow a PC to become a lycanthrope without also becoming OP?

Level Up uses Lycanthrope Synergy feat chains to spread what a given lycanthrope can do over several levels. Every time when the afflicted character reaches a level where they can pick up either an ASI or a feat, they can then pick up the next lycanthrope feat in the chain.

Lycanthrope Synergy Feats | Level Up

a5e.tools

 

[Belen]

5.5….more loss of flavor sacrificed for what exactly?

This feels exactly like the move to 3.5.

 

[dave2008]

The PH certainly hasn't reduced anyone's reliance on magic, and its the PCs tools I'm talking about here.

Has it increased it though? I haven't seen it, but I also haven't gone through the books in detail.

Also, I would suggest since a lot, if not all, monsters have removed resistance or immunity to non-magical weapons the reliance on magic has actually lessoned in 5e24 vs 5e14. People used to say (I did not agree btw) you had to house-rule away monster resistances to play 5e without magic. Now you don't have to do that. That is less reliance on magic to me!

 

[dave2008]

I really don't like the troll like regeneration for Lycanthropes. I am glad they did not do that. And actually Inam glad they don't have too much regeneration. It is annoying to keep track of.

I agree it can be annoying to keep track off, but it fits my idea of what a lycanthrope is better than any other model IMO.

 

[Reynard]

The shift in the silver thing is weird and I am definitely going to houserule that back to "resistance to nonsilvered weapons."

 

[Micah Sweet]

Level Up uses Lycanthrope Synergy feat chains to spread what a given lycanthrope can do over several levels. Every time when the afflicted character reaches a level where they can pick up either an ASI or a feat, they can then pick up the next lycanthrope feat in the chain.

Lycanthrope Synergy Feats | Level Up

a5e.tools

Also a great method. The 3pp I referenced just gives more options for modeling different phenotypes and origins. And I love more options for modeling.

 

[Corinnguard]

The shift in the silver thing is weird and I am definitely going to houserule that back to "resistance to nonsilvered weapons."

And a weakness to Wolfsbane?

From Level Up: While in hybrid or beast form you are poisoned while within 10 feet of a living or dried wolfsbane flower that you can smell.

 

[TwoSix]

Technically silvered weapons are still more effective. But I am not a fan of this stat block. My werewolves will continue to be based on the Loup Garou from VRGtR. That is the best "official" 5e werewolf IMO.

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It's not bad, but it doesn't feel nearly threatening enough to me for a CR 13. It should have greater than human strength and agility (at least 22), and should have enough offense to one-round down a caster-type if it gets all its attacks off.

I would drop its hit points down to 100 or so, but give it regen 50 if not hit with silver (or some other discovered weakness).

But I'm also generally of the opinion that lycanthropes (other than wererats) should be more "puzzle monsters" than just stock brutes.

 

[Corinnguard]

Also a great method. The 3pp I referenced just gives more options for modeling different phenotypes and origins. And I love more options for modeling.

This thread has me wondering about a 5e take on the lycanthropes from a non-D&D setting such as the World of Darkness setting.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It's not bad, but it doesn't feel nearly threatening enough to me for a CR 13. It should have greater than human strength and agility (at least 22), and should have enough offense to one-round down a caster-type if it gets all its attacks off.

I would drop its hit points down to 100 or so, but give it regen 50 if not hit with silver (or some other discovered weakness).

But I'm also generally of the opinion that lycanthropes (other than wererats) should be more "puzzle monsters" than just stock brutes.

The problem is that puzzles don't work if everyone knows how to solve it anyway.

Back then, monster stats were kept a secret. Was part of the fun. Today every player can google.