Paladin Werewolves

[Thanael]

There's an excellent short story in the Ravenloft anthology Tales of Ravenloft about a Paladin werewolf. Though how long he kept his paladinhood is not said there.

There's also a 5 lvl Prestige Class in one of the 3e Ravenloft gazeteers (4 or 5 the one with Verbrek) called Moonchild that allows an inflicted lycanthrope to slowly gain control.

It's a classic theme...

 

[Lupercus Whitewolf]

No, because Werewolves are always Chaotic Evil. So that means a Paladin would lose his class because a Paladin must have an alignment of Lawful Good.

Depends on the setting, from all I've delved into regarding werewolves the "Always" doesn't mean "always." It refers more to the perception of the creature, this is in reference to the appendix of the 3.5 monster manual, and the forgotten realms books 3.5. Another bit I found out is that a werewolf's alignment is what they wish if they are natural, just the majority are evil...good werewolves are not impossible, just rare...DMs decision mainly. However afflicted lycanthropes take the alignment of the one who bite them, and while good lycanthropes prefer to remain hidden, the majority of afflicted infections come from evil ones, therefore allowing the perception of it as "always" evil to continue. Most of up to the DM though, the 3.5 third party book "Complete Guide to Werewolves" contains alot of information to playing werewolves as PC's, what I normally rule is that a werewolf can be a paladin "IF" they are natural, and have found an order that accepts them, as natural lycanthropy can't be cured since they were born with it. I have generally regarded the madness of the affliction to the conflict that develops with the wolf side of the mind entering and it and the human side fight for control, thus causing them to go berserk, but Naturals are born with a sort of balance inherent thus allowing them to control thier abilities at will, and in the event of a wish or miracle trying to "cure" them, ultimately ends in the destruction of the werewolfs mind as half of what they were born with is now gone. Use it or not but I've found this to be a better system when dealing with lycanthropes, the implementation of this is ultimately up to the DM though, as each DM has different views and settings.

 

[Lupercus Whitewolf]

My issue with that is twofold:

1) Werewolves should be evil. Unless it's a Twilight campaign, or WoD, deciding they're okay like everyone else (but that there are werewolves who use their powers for evil) basically makes them another race. This loses the flavour and the curse aspect of lycanthropy.

2) Paladins shouldn't be able to use bestial powers. They're chaotic powers. Basically you'd have a Paladin who could use Barbarian Rage powers, and that can't be okay for Paladins. Not that they can't have emotions, but we're talking about wielding the powers of "the beast within". This should be similar to "wielding the powers of crack-cocaine for good". It's not a Paladin sort of thing.

I will reference Biderdoo Harpel of the Drizzt series, good werewolf wizard that has control, also the Forgotten Realms book "Black Wolf." Although I disagree with your statement that werewolves should be evil, I will agree that the majority, 95%, are. One of the problems a PC werewolf thats good would face would be the anger and rage of the people that belive him to be evil...thus allowing for excelent RP opportunities, in my first campaign I had to deal with an incredibly evil werewolf, slaughtered whole villages for fun, and he was a natural werewolf so he had total control. However in a bit of a cliche for the setting the werewolf happened to be my characters older brother, mine was also a werewolf but CG. It wasn't until lvl 13 i was able to so much as speak about my powers in a city without fear of scorn or attack, I was by no means a goodie two-shoes, I fought for what was right with no regard to the rules, but refused to put innocents at risk...at lvl 13 our party was known in the world, we had defeated armies and demons...and i had sacrificed my self to save a member of the party and killed a demon in the process, I was rezed by our cleric afterwards. Honestly, I hate Twilight...it can burn for all I care...but the concept of a good werewolf does make for interesting characters, as they have to be tougher in mind than the others, to deal with the rage and hate from the people without crossing the line into retaliation...only to turn them into the thing they have strived to avoid, or defeat in my case, so even for good/natural characters where they don't consider the powers a curse when they can control them, it is still a curse being what they are...that the battle for control of ones self is over, but the battle for acceptence of the people...is one that they may never win, and so it falls into an even worse style of curse, one that magic cannot undo...will they prevail or fall into evil as so many others? That is the curse they bear, and must overcome.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I would allow a dual personality sort of situation, where the Paladin is unaware of his lycanthropy (although the lycanthropic personality is aware of the paladin personality and can 'see' out of the paladins eyes).

i.e. the lycanthrope side is an NPC who happens to share the paladins body.

 

[Lupercus Whitewolf]

I would allow a dual personality sort of situation, where the Paladin is unaware of his lycanthropy (although the lycanthropic personality is aware of the paladin personality and can 'see' out of the paladins eyes).

i.e. the lycanthrope side is an NPC who happens to share the paladins body.

Not at all a bad idea when it comes to afflicted lycanthropes in my mind.

 

[Particle_Man]

More importantly, what happens if a werewolf paladin meets a werebear anti-paladin?

They explode and reform as the true neutral warrior of old: Beorwolf!