Lycanthrope

[Gotetsu]

My character was bitten by a wererat in my D&D game yesterday, and he failed his save. Can anyone enlighten me as to what, exactly, I might expect to happen?

 

[sullivan]

You can expect people here to say....stop metagaming? Seriously, keep your head down and your asbestos undies on cause the flames they are acoming.

 

[Crothian]

My character was bitten by a wererat in my D&D game yesterday, and he failed his save. Can anyone enlighten me as to what, exactly, I might expect to happen?

Well, really the people here can't tell you what your DM has planned. He might turn you into a were rat, you might get some of the symptoms and be expected to quest for a cure, or he might do something completely off the wall. DMs can be nasty that way.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

(Unrolls the red rug - the one with the ketchup stains)
Welcome to the boards!

Now then, I have to side with the rest: This kind of behaviour isn't too popular. If the DM doesn't tell you what happens now (Did you ask him?), we shouldn't tell you either.

All I can say is: get yourself a decent, heavy-duty shaving kit, just in case

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

All I can say is: get yourself a decent, heavy-duty shaving kit, just in case

Masterwork Razor, gives a +2 Circumstance bonus to Profession (Barber) checks.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Masterwork Razor, gives a +2 Circumstance bonus to Profession (Barber) checks.

Oh, and of course, it should be silver, or it would be useless

 

[MerakSpielman]

I presume your character doesn't know anything's wrong.

 

[rowport]

I predict...

...that your character will die a bloody death when Buffy comes to town.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

...that your character will die a bloody death when Buffy comes to town.

That spoiled brat? She's used to those weakling vampires that go up in ashes as soon as you as much as tap their chest with a wooden, vaguely stake-like object. A full-fledged D&D Vampire or Werewhatever would hand her her shapely behind any night

 

[Len]

I presume your character doesn't know anything's wrong.

I don't think you can presume that. The initial symptoms of lycanthropy often include shouts from the other party members of "Look out! He's been bitten by a wererat." and "KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW OR WE'RE ALL GONERS!" These do tend to alert the victim to his potential condition.

As for "metagaming", is it so terribly wrong for Gotetsu to know the rules of the game? Especially if he's wondering whether or not he'll be allowed to play his character next session.

Gotetsu, the rules for lycanthropy are published in the SRD (HTML version here). Look for "Lycanthropy as an affliction".

But as others have said, the DM may treat this as a plot hook so you never know what might happen. Also, the other party members will likely want to get rid of the curse ASAP, one way or another.