Adding lycanthrope template to my PC

[afeldspar]

I am trying to figure out how to change my stats to reflect being infected by a were-rat. I am looking at pages 178-179 of the MM and have some questions.

Specifically, if I am an 8th level rogue and I become infected, do I become 9th level (rogue 8/were-rat 1) with an ECL of 11 (+2 level adjustment for afflicted lycanthrope)? Is this correct?

Is it also correct that my XP would remain the same and I would not become 10th level until I earn enough XP (66,000 total) to reach 12th level? At which point I would be rogue 9/were-rat 1, with an ECL of 12?

Finally, how do I figure out the dire rat's base saving throws, which I get to add to mine.

I am new to this, so I was just want to double check my understanding. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Specifically, if I am an 8th level rogue and I become infected, do I become 9th level (rogue 8/were-rat 1) with an ECL of 11 (+2 level adjustment for afflicted lycanthrope)? Is this correct?

Essentially, yes.

Is it also correct that my XP would remain the same and I would not become 10th level until I earn enough XP (66,000 total) to reach 12th level? At which point I would be rogue 9/were-rat 1, with an ECL of 12?

Essentially, yes.

Finally, how do I figure out the dire rat's base saving throws, which I get to add to mine.

Dire animals have all-good saves. You have one level of dire animal (dire rat), giving you base saves of +2 Fort, +2 Ref and +2 Will; add to these the base saves from 8 levels of rogue (+2, +6, +2) and you'll have base saving throws of +4 Fort, +8 Ref and +4 Will. Adjust for ability scores and feats to get your new total saves.

Note that due to ability score changes upon taking either hybrid or animal forms, your saves will change again.

 

[Palladion]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030912a

From a while back, the Savage Progressions articles on the Wizards of the Coast site, this specific one pertaining to half-dragons and wererats. That should help answer any questions and it even sets up a level progression so you do not need to take the whole template at once.