Lycanthropes and Size restriction

[Verequus]

I am wondering, why this particular rule is there. To prevent from changing a halfling into a T-Rex? Can it be ignored without negative effects?

This animal can be any predator, scavenger, or omnivore whose size is within one size category of the base creature’s size (Small, Medium, or Large for a Medium base creature). Lycanthropes can also adopt a hybrid shape that combines features of the base creature and the base animal. A lycanthrope’s hybrid form is the same size as the base animal or the base creature, whichever is larger.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I think that's it. They don't want a 3' halfling change into a 20' dire animal. It would not look right.

 

[Corlon]

it wouldn't look right?!?!?!


This is dnd, and this is a character morphing into an animal, I believe something isn't looking right already.

I think you could just ignore it, that'd actually be pretty cool seeing a halfling turn into a T-Rex.

 

[taliesin15]

seems a *little* on the specious side to make such a restriction as many mythologies include examples of little people morphing into large animals

I was planning at some point to appropriate some Welsh legend involving Giant Badgers (or was it Hedgehogs...?) who were terrorizing farmers in the countryside, but make it a gnome character who was doing it as a kind of practical joke

 

[Jesus_marley]

Personnally, I have no problem with a halfling morphing into a T-rex. Bear in mind, the T-rex is also 3' tall but that is beside the point.

I would simply rule that if a character wanted to morph into a creature that was outside of the size paramaeters, they would grow to the maximum size allowed by the parameters yet still turn into the creature that was desired.

 

[Verequus]

Thanks for your insight! Ditching this rule doesn't break the game. And to Jesus_marley: A nice houserule, but I prefer it the other way. ;-)

 

[cmanos]

I am wondering, why this particular rule is there. To prevent from changing a halfling into a T-Rex? Can it be ignored without negative effects?

so, let me get this straight....you have were-t-rex's in your game???

 

[Verequus]

so, let me get this straight....you have were-t-rex's in your game???

Actually, I haven't decided about this particular breed. I am more concerned with the idea of having a weredragon. In AD&D, there existed this possibility, so I've wondered, why it isn't possible to do that in D&D. Next to the size restriction we have the restriction to an animal type (actually, herbivores aren't allowed, too). Why are intelligent forms to change into not allowed? Some dragons can assume a humanoid form, why not the other way around? Because it is confusing for the players (like having to know, if you have an werewolf or an wolfwere as opponent)? Mechanically speaking, it doesn't seem to be prohibited.