D&D 4E Rules for PC werebears in 4e?

[Rekka360]

Or lycanthropes in general I suppose, anyone know if rules have been published and if so, in which book? Or perhaps there is an online resource you could point me to?

 

[MrMyth]

There are not yet rules for playing a 'full' lycanthrope, though it sounds like those may be available when the Ravenloft game comes out (though that is over a year away.)

However, there are rules for shifters, who are basically lesser Lycanthropes, with rules for the race, feats, and a paragon path found in PHB2. You could easily reflavor those elements to make a character that seems relatively lycanthropic - though the paragon path is flavored more towards werewolf than werebear.

Outside of that... you might check with the house rules forum and see if anyone has come up with something. I can think of several ways to present it, possibly going with the Shifter rules as a starting point and having a chain of feats to represent fully awakening as a Lycanthrope, with a Paragon Path showing you fully embracing that path.

 

[Klaus]

Or lycanthropes in general I suppose, anyone know if rules have been published and if so, in which book? Or perhaps there is an online resource you could point me to?

Until the new Ravenloft game comes out next year, the close you'll get to a werebear is to play a longtooth shifter barbarian with the Bear Warrior paragon path (all PH2).

 

[Neonchameleon]

I can't help thinking that Wardens would make excellent werebears. Large, bulky, tough (without wearing metal armour) and can take on large and bulky natural forms with their dailies. All it would take would be a minor reskin.

 

[Rekka360]

I have a player who's expressed interest in seeing his dwarf fighter become a werebear. I'm not sure how to tack that onto his character, suppose I'll have to homebrew something that fits, not sure where to start.

 

[Wicht]

Not owning any of the 4e books, I admit to not knowing huge amounts about what is what in the game. But it genuinely surprises me that there are no werewolves yet in the game and there won't be any until Ravenloft is released. They seem like an obvious staple. Does anyone know what the rational is for leaving out such a classic monster? Is it because of the hassle of PCs getting lycanthropy? Or is it something else?

 

[Rekka360]

The monster manuals do certainly have werewolves, wererats ect for the party to encounter, what I am looking for is rules for turning a PC into a lycanthrope which isn't quite the same.

 

[Klaus]

I have a player who's expressed interest in seeing his dwarf fighter become a werebear. I'm not sure how to tack that onto his character, suppose I'll have to homebrew something that fits, not sure where to start.

Multiclass in Barbarian, and then swap out some Fighter powers for Barbarian powers.

You have to ask the PC what he wants out of being a werebear. Resitance to damage? He can get that from Fighter powers that grant Regeneration (Boundless Endurance). Bear form? He could mimic that with stances like Rain of Steel (adjacent enemies take [W] damage).

 

[Wicht]

The monster manuals do certainly have werewolves, wererats ect for the party to encounter, what I am looking for is rules for turning a PC into a lycanthrope which isn't quite the same.

Good. I feel better now.

Carry on and good luck.

 

[Rekka360]

I don't think the player is looking for particular skills regen/resistance ect from being a werebear, its more an RP thing, so really..I guess I shouldn't worry about stats too much, just throw in a claw attack at-will and maybe something else