D&D General Player lycanthropy

[Remathilis]

This is where I'd start as well, or by creating a custom barbarian subclass where raging is their transformation.

The Path of the Beast is already there. I just would love a 5.5 update eventually.

 

[AlViking]

The Path of the Beast is already there. I just would love a 5.5 update eventually.

It's been replaced by path of the wild heart. If you don't like it you can use the old one of course.

 

[spacedarwin]

I am pretty okay with the split so far, clearly the design team wanted to keep the Curse part of Lycanthropy at the forefront, which is why you become an NPC if you get bitten, but there are enough official options (Shifter/Lupin for races, flavor options for subclasses, etc) for players who want to do the "good" werewolf fantasy.

This said I would love a feat chain like they are testing out for Death Knights and Liches as another option for players.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The Path of the Beast is already there. I just would love a 5.5 update eventually.

Given that werewolves are no longer immune to normal weapons (which feels weird), this is probably a good place to start, if going with a subclass rather than a Dark Gift approach.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's been replaced by path of the wild heart. If you don't like it you can use the old one of course.

That would need a bit more work to make it look like lycanthropy. It's a good beast totem approach, but it doesn't really scream "and now I am a wolf."

 

[AlViking]

That would need a bit more work to make it look like lycanthropy. It's a good beast totem approach, but it doesn't really scream "and now I am a wolf."

Yeah, you may want to tweak it a bit. But that's easy enough to do.

 

[MarkB]

I do have a possible suggestion for a progression-based form of lycanthropy, it's something I came up with when a couple of 5th level characters were gifted the curse of lycanthropy by a friendly werepolarbear in a Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign. It worked in that particular case because the characters were only gaining the abilities at somewhat high levels, and they had only progressed through a few of the lunar cycles by the time the campaign ended - it isn't necessarily a good solution for every campaign.

I've posted it in a previous thread on the topic but that was awhile ago, so here it is again:

Spoiler: Lycanthropy (WerePolarBear-specific)

The curse of lycanthropy causes a progressive change to the bearer, growing stronger through each full moon.

Initial Exposure
The curse builds gradually in the bearer, manifesting mostly as strange urges and expanded senses. They may develop an appetite for raw meat, while finding cooked food less appealing. You gain the Keen Smell ability, granting you advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely upon smell.

First Full Moon
The first full moon brings with it an inevitable transformation. Those who resist the curse are transformed involuntarily as soon as they are touched by the light of the full moon, while those who embrace it can hold off on transforming for a couple of hours. This transformation is into the full animal form, and while those who resist the curse become mindless, ravenous beasts, even those who embrace it are not entirely themselves. They retain their intelligence and awareness, but are still driven by a need to hunt. If they do not successfully hunt and feed upon a kill this night, their transformation will remain stunted at the Initial Exposure stage until the next full moon.

At this early stage of the curse, the bearer gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from non-magical weapons that aren’t silvered. They also gain resistance to Cold damage, but vulnerability to Fire damage.

After a successful hunt, the transformation grows more complete, and for those who embrace it, more controllable, though it is physically taxing. As an action, the bearer may transform into a bestial form (either animal or hybrid). Once in that form, they can freely use an action to switch between hybrid and animal forms, but they may only transform from humanoid to bestial form a number of times equal to their Proficiency modifier. This limit refreshes after a long rest.

The bearer gains the above-listed resistances and vulnerabilities only while in animal or hybrid form, but even while in humanoid form they no longer suffer ill effects due to cold weather.

Second Full Moon - Control
As the next full moon approaches, the bearers’ power waxes. Starting the day before the full moon, they are able to transform to bestial form at will, with no daily limits. They also gain resistance to damage from non-magical, non-silvered weapons even when in humanoid form, along with resistance to Cold damage and vulnerability to Fire damage. So long as they transform on the night of the full moon, and eat a meal of raw meat while in animal or hybrid form, their curse will progress to the next stage, and they will thereafter retain their ability to transform at will.

Third Full Moon - Mastery
As the curse’s power magnifies, the bearer becomes more resistant to harm. Retaining their damage resistance in humanoid form, they now become immune to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from non-magical, non-silvered weapons while in animal or hybrid form.

Fourth Full Moon - Apex
After the fourth full moon, the bearer retains their damage immunity even while in humanoid form.


Summary:

Progression	Form-shifting	Abilities (Humanoid form)	Abilities (Bear or Hybrid form)
Initial	None	Keen Smell (advantage on Wisdom (perception) checks based on smell)	N/A
After 1st Full Moon	No. of times equal to Proficiency modifier, resets after long rest	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing)	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage
After 2nd Full Moon	At Will	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage
After 3rd Full Moon	At Will	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Immune to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage
After 4th Full Moon	At Will	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Immune to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage	Keen Smell Not affected by cold weather (as though wearing cold weather clothing) Immune to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage from weapons that aren’t magical or silvered Resistance to Cold damage Vulnerability to Fire damage

 

[Piperken]

Player lycanthropy can be problematic at the table if it comes up unexpectedly, but ultimately once you learn to schedule your sessions around the lunar cycle and be careful of silverware you should be able to work around it.

Life in Krynn would be pretty difficult, I'd imagine.

 

[MarkB]

Life in Krynn would be pretty difficult, I'd imagine.

Or in Eberron.

 

[Remathilis]

Life in Krynn would be pretty difficult, I'd imagine.

That's why lycanthropes were non-existent on Krynn.

Or in Eberron.

Yup. They were wild during every full moon, which is what lead to the lycanthropy purges. The few real lycanthropes of Eberron are careful NOT to spread the curse for that reason.