Some questions on Lycanthropes

[Fester]

Okay, I'm going to be chucking a whole bunch of lycanthropes (wererats) at the party, so I was going through the MM to see how to construct a lycanthrope. So, I have come up with a couple of questions that I need help with. Please excuse my ignorance...

Let's say I have a Human Fighter6 wererat. When using a Full Attack in human form it has a BAB of +6/+1. In wererat form it is a bite. So, in hybrid form is it two attacks (+6/+1), the secondary attack can be either a bite or a melee weapon. Or is it, two attacks with a melee weapon and one bite? Or two attacks with a melee weapon and two bites? I'm confused because the example gives a 1 HD human wererat a full attack of primary attack (weapon) and secondary attack (bite) and, clearly, a normal 1 HD human is not entitled to two attacks. So much confused.

Also, the description for calculating the ability scores is not clear. When it talks of the "normal ability scores" I am assuming that this is the ability scores of the base creature, rather than the base animal (the examples given certainly seem to support this).

Lastly, why are the human examples given as 1d8 as their HD? Is it an assumption that most lycanthropes are either warriors or aristocrats?

All help appreciated...

 

[WCrawford]

Okay, I'm going to be chucking a whole bunch of lycanthropes (wererats) at the party, so I was going through the MM to see how to construct a lycanthrope. So, I have come up with a couple of questions that I need help with. Please excuse my ignorance...

Let's say I have a Human Fighter6 wererat. When using a Full Attack in human form it has a BAB of +6/+1. In wererat form it is a bite. So, in hybrid form is it two attacks (+6/+1), the secondary attack can be either a bite or a melee weapon. Or is it, two attacks with a melee weapon and one bite? Or two attacks with a melee weapon and two bites? I'm confused because the example gives a 1 HD human wererat a full attack of primary attack (weapon) and secondary attack (bite) and, clearly, a normal 1 HD human is not entitled to two attacks. So much confused.

It appears from the text in the MM, that your wererat would have 3 attacks. A primary melee (BAB +6), a secondary melee (BAB +1), and a bite (BAB +1)

Also, the description for calculating the ability scores is not clear. When it talks of the "normal ability scores" I am assuming that this is the ability scores of the base creature, rather than the base animal (the examples given certainly seem to support this).

When it talks about normal ability scores it is refering to the base creature, but using the adjustments of the base animal when in animal form.

For example: Your base creature has a DEX 13 and CON 15. The dire rat (base animal used) has a DEX +6 and a CON +2 adjustment. That adjustment is added to the base creature's abilities while in animal or hybrid forms.

Lastly, why are the human examples given as 1d8 as their HD? Is it an assumption that most lycanthropes are either warriors or aristocrats?

All help appreciated...

When a monster entry lists the creature (or in this case base creature) as having only 1 HD, it is always listed as if the creature had a single level of warrior. This is just for consistancy. If you think you are confused now, imagine if every lycanthrope was based off a different class.

I hope this helps.

 

[The Souljourner]

When calculating attacks, you get full iterative (+6/+1) with the weapon, then all limbs that weren't used to make the attack with the weapon may be used for natural attacks, acting as secondary attacks (i.e. -5 to hit). So your wererat gets +6/+1 with a weapon and +1 with its bite.

About ability scores - I wish they had just given the stat bonuses flat out instead of requiring you to do subtraction with the human base stats... anyway... note it says "The wererat presented here is based on a 1st-level human warrior who is a natural lycanthrope, using the following base ability scores: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8." So subtract those values from the rat values to find the modifiers.

It comes out to +2 wisdom all the time (which is what the lycanthrope template gives), and +6 dex and +2 con in hybrid form.

1d8 is given as the hitdie, because they are all expressly stated to be 1st level human warriors. Obviously, for other classes, you would use that as the hitdie. Note that the animal hitdice are never the first hitdie, the class hitdie or base racial hitdie is. So if you make a human wererat rogue, his "first" level will be treated as human rogue.

Not that this will probably come up, but one thing we noticed that is different from 3.0 is that monsters with a material damage reduction (like silver) don't overcome their own damage reduction, i.e. their natural weapons don't count as silver.

Hope this helps.

-The Souljourner (who started playing a werebear last night )

 

[Fester]

Thanks a lot, guys. That has clarified things for me, so now I can plan the adventure...

Cheers.