Special Conversion Thread: Lycanthropes and their ilk

[Cleon]

Yeah, right. I was just saying that they shouldn't have something to replicate Natural Spell for lycanthropes.

That underbar looks good to me. You said you had a sample? Hint hint.

I've got samples of the Cleon Special Jaguar Priest, not this boring version.

It shouldn't be too hard too convert though.

Before I do that, I came across a few interesting titbits today.

Firstly, there's the Nagual, which we could consider using as an alternative name for these werejaguars:

A Nagual or Nahual (both pronounced [na'wal]) is a human being who has the power to magically turn him- or herself into an animal form: most commonly a donkey, turkey, or dog, but also other and more powerful animals such as the jaguar and puma.

n Aztec mythology the God Tezcatlipoca was the protector of nagualism, because his tonal was the jaguar and he governed the distribution of wealth.

In modern rural Mexico, nagual is sometimes synonymous with brujo ("witch"): one who is able to shapeshift into an animal at night, (normally into an owl, bat, or turkey) drink blood from human victims, steal property, cause disease, and the like.
​

Secondly, the Mystaran Monstrous Compendium version of the Werejaguar has a relevant bit of flavour text:

Some rain forest tribes fear werejaguars, revering them as minions of evil Immortals. Rumors tell of savage werejaguars able to cast clerical spells; these cats, witch doctors in hidden villages, devour victims in service to their Immortals.
​

Finally, I thought the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One version of the Werejaguar was a reprint of the Mystaran version, but upon reading that Compendium it turns out to be different. It's pretty similar but has "Hit only by obsidian weapons, or by +1 or better weapons" unlike the Mystaran werejaguar, which uses the Lycanthropic standard of "Hit only by silver or +1 or better weapons".

Remember I suggested changing the DR to obsidian?

 

[Cleon]

Might as well whip up a sample creature...

 

[Cleon]

Jaguar Priest (Template)
Some priests of Tezcatlipoca are afflicted with lycanthropy as a gift from their god. They become afflicted werejaguars with the following changes to the werejaguar template: jaguar priests are always Chaotic Evil, and their shapechanging ability goes through a 28 day cycle. They spend one week in humanoid form, one week as a hybrid, one week in jaguar form, and one week again as a hybrid before repeating the cycle. Jaguar priests never learn the Control Shape skill, as it is forbidden in their religion, and, as afflicted lycanthropes, they cannot spread the curse of lycanthropy.

Sample Jaguar Priest

Jaguar Priest, Human Form
Medium Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d8+5 plus 4d8+12 (57 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+3 studded leather armor, +2 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+7
Attack: Spear +7 melee (1d8+1/×3) or spear +6 ranged (1d8+1/×3)
Full Attack: Spear +7/+2 melee (1d8+1/×3) or spear +6 ranged (1d8+1/×3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Rebuke undead, spells
Special Qualities: Alternate form, jaguar empathy, low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +11
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 8
Skills: Balance +0, Climb +1, Concentration +8, Diplomacy +9, Hide +4, Jump +2, Knowledge (religion) +10, Listen +9, Move Silently +4, Spellcraft +10, Spot +9, Swim +2
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will (B), Multiattack (B), Spell Focus (Enchantment), Spell Focus (Necromancy), Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Warm forests
Organization: Solitary or family (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +2

Jaguar Priest, Jaguar Form
Medium Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d8+5 plus 4d8+12 (57 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+11
Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+5) and 2 claws +9 melee (1d3+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, pounce, rake 1d3+2
Special Qualities: Alternate form, jaguar empathy, damage reduction 5/silver, low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +11
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 8
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +13, Concentration +10, Diplomacy +9, Hide +12*, Jump +16, Knowledge (religion) +10, Listen +9, Move Silently +12, Spellcraft +10, Spot +9, Swim +8
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will (B), Multiattack (B), Spell Focus (Enchantment), Spell Focus (Necromancy), Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Warm forests
Organization: Solitary or family (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +2

Jaguar Priest, Hybrid Form
Medium Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 5d8+5 plus 4d8+12 (57 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+11
Attack: Spear +11 melee (1d8+7/×3); or claw +11 melee (1d4+5); or spear +10 ranged (1d8+5/×3)
Full Attack: Spear +11/+5 melee (1d8+7/×3) and bite +9 melee (1d8+2); or 2 claws +11 melee (1d4+5) and bite +9 melee (1d8+2); or spear +10 ranged (1d8+5/×3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spells, rebuke undead
Special Qualities: Alternate form, jaguar empathy, damage reduction 5/silver, low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +11
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 8
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +13, Concentration +10, Diplomacy +9, Hide +12*, Jump +12, Knowledge (religion) +10, Listen +9, Move Silently +12, Spellcraft +10, Spot +9, Swim +8
Feats: Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will (B), Multiattack (B), Spell Focus (Enchantment), Spell Focus (Necromancy), Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment: Warm forests
Organization: Solitary or family (2-4)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Always chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +2

An athletic, muscular humanoid with the head, claws and tail of a great cat. The creature's skin is hidden by lush fur, creamy white on its belly, golden with black spots elsewhere.

The jaguar priest presented here is a 5th-level human cleric, using the following base ability scores: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 8. The 8 HD ability advancement was placed in Wisdom.

COMBAT

A werejaguar will try to ambush opponents, ideally from behind. They mostly use their spears to make ranged attacks, favoring their claws and fangs for melee. Werejaguars are secretive and prefer to kill in jaguar form, since witnesses often mistake them for mundane animals. This allows the lycanthrope to hide in human guise when hunters search for the "man-eating jaguar". Werejaguars normally only fight in hybrid form when they are confident about leaving no survivors or if their true nature has already been exposed.

Alternate Form (Su): A jaguar priest can assume the form of a jaguar or a jaguar-humanoid hybrid. A jaguar priests' shapechanging ability goes through a 28 day cycle. They spend one week in humanoid form, one week as a hybrid, one week in jaguar form, and one week again as a hybrid before repeating the cycle.

Jaguar Empathy (Ex): Communicate with jaguars, and +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks against jaguars.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a werejaguar in jaguar form must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.

Pounce (Ex): If a werejaguar in jaguar form charges a foe, it can make a full attack, including two rake attacks.

Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +11 melee, damage 1d3+2.

Spells (Sp): The jaguar priest casts spells as a 5th level cleric with the Chaos and Charm domains.

Typical Spells Prepared (5/4+1/3+1/2+1; save DC 14 + spell level, 15 + spell level for Enchantment or Necromancy spells), The save DCs are Wisdom-based;

0 – detect magic, detect poison, guidance, read magic, resistance;
1st – cure light wounds, divine favor, doom (DC16†), charm person*(DC16†), protection from law;
2nd – shatter* (DC16), enthrall (DC17†), resist energy, spiritual weapon;
3rd – bestow curse (DC18†), dispel magic, suggestion* (DC18†);
* Domain spell.
† Enchantment or Necromancy spell.

Skills: In jaguar or hybrid form, werejaguars have a +6 racial bonus on Balance, Jump and Swim checks plus a +4 racial bonus on Hide and Move Silently checks. A werejaguar in jaguar or hybrid form has a +8 racial bonus to Climb checks and it can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.

*In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus of a werejaguar in jaguar or hybrid form improves to +8.

 

[freyar]

Did you want to change the DR to obsidian for all werejaguars or just the priests? Do you know how the credits go on this one?

 

[Cleon]

Did you want to change the DR to obsidian for all werejaguars or just the priests? Do you know how the credits go on this one?

It was only the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994) version of the Werejaguar that had DR X/obsidian. The Dragon 70 Tezcatlipoca worshipping Werejaguar and the Dragon 40 Werejaguar both have the AD&D lycanthrope standard of "silver or magical weapons".

At most, I would add an "alternative Werejaguars" subentry to the standard Werejaguar that mentions some have DR/obsidian.

Speaking of alternative werejaguars, there is yet another kind of Werejaguar that lives inside Mystara, that appears in HWR1 Hollow World - Sons of Azcan(1991). It's main difference is that its involuntary changes are driven by hunger rather than the moon - since there isn't a moon inside Mystara!

Here's the most relevant changes:

Among the Azcans, the werejaguar is both feared and revered. Some of Atzanteotl’s priests, especially in more isolated settlements, where service of that Immortal is mingled with that of the Four Hundred Rabbits, believe the disease is a sign of their Immortal’s favor. They may even hope to catch it themselves. Tales of whole villages of werejaguars in the southern jungles, however, are probably fictitious. . .

Although Atzanteotl’s priesthood officially forbids it, there are perennial rumors of savage cleric-werejaguars in villages of the deep rainforest who, in unspeakable rituals, sacrifice to the darkest Immortals by devouring living victims.

Hmm, quite a few D&D Werejaguars mention savage cleric-werejaguars, don't they?

The main mechanical difference between the "Hollow World" Werejaguar and the standard version is this:

Like the were-sabretooth, another native Hollow World lycanthrope, the werejaguar is of course not affected by the phases of the moon, since there is no moon here. They do have their own set of special problems, however. Though a werejaguar may eat in human form, it cannot satisfy its hunger. This forces it to take jaguar shape on occasion and devour freshly-killed flesh. A werejaguar who goes more than 24 hours without feeding is likely to transform into jaguar shape involuntarily, and be driven to eat the nearest available prey. The werejaguar in such a case cannot return to human form until it has satisfied its hunger.

The Werejaguar in the Mystaran Monstrous Compendium Werejaguar (1994) appears to be based on the HWR1 version. It has the same HD, speed, and damage (bite, claw and rake) and rumours of cleric "witch doctors" who worship evil Immortals. It's a "Surface World" version, so has the usual lunar shapeshifting.

The Hollow World Werejaguar entry mentions the Hollow World Were-Sabretooth (i.e. a Weresmilodon with the same "hunger shapeshifting" as the HWR1 Werejaguar). As a result, I've statted the "Hollow World" Werejaguar up by adapting our Dire Lycanthrope template plus the Saber-Toothed Leopard, on the basis these "Hollow World" flesh-eating werebeasts are all saber-cats.

Would you like me to post it?

 

[freyar]

Ughhh, in the future, let's wait until we've settled all the details before we post something to the CC database, shall we?

In answer to this question, I'd just make underbars. The werejaguar is getting too complicated, so I'd leave out the sample priests. Then I'd introduce another underbar about "Alternate Werejaguars" that replace the DR with DR/obsidian. And finally, I'd put an underbar "In the Hollow World" with the hunger transformations. I don't think a reference to the were-sabretooth is enough to put in an entire statblock for dire werejaguars, so I'd rather leave that to the enterprising DM. We could mention the idea if you like, though.


----
And, for the other folks, Cleon raises an issue with the jagwere (also just posted to the CC, sigh). He notes that there's an XP value for "cursed" jagweres, so we ought to give the jagwere the following:

Curse of Therianthropy (Su): Any humanoid or giant hit by a jagwere's bite attack must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract a form of lycanthropy. The victim is subject to involuntary transformation as per the Lycanthropy As An Affliction section of the SRD Lycanthrope template, except that instead of temporarily assuming an animal form, the victim will permanently become a jagwere once they transform. This "cursed jagwere" has damage reduction 5/magic or darkwood and does not possess the Curse of Therianthropy special attack, but is otherwise identical to the "true jagwere" described above.

I counterproposed something more like the polarwere given that jagweres are not real lycanthropes, as they're not shapechangers, therianthropes don't have a curse, and there's nothing to indicate that natural vs afflicted jagweres should have different DR. I'm open to adding a line that afflicted jagweres can't pass the curse and a line specifying how remove curse/break enchantment can convert a victim back to normal:

Curse of the Jagwere (Su): Any humanoid hit by a jagwere's bite attack
must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or become a jagwere. The
humanoid loses all abilities it possessed prior to transformation
except for those due to levels in character classes but does retain
any equipment it carried. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Thoughts from anyone else?

 

[Cleon]

Ughhh, in the future, let's wait until we've settled all the details before we post something to the CC database, shall we?

In answer to this question, I'd just make underbars. The werejaguar is getting too complicated, so I'd leave out the sample priests. Then I'd introduce another underbar about "Alternate Werejaguars" that replace the DR with DR/obsidian. And finally, I'd put an underbar "In the Hollow World" with the hunger transformations. I don't think a reference to the were-sabretooth is enough to put in an entire statblock for dire werejaguars, so I'd rather leave that to the enterprising DM. We could mention the idea if you like, though.

I was posting something about this yesterday just as the Enworld forums went wonky and lost it, but fortunately I had the prescience to save it.

Anyhow, what I proposed was adding an "Alternate Werejaguars" to the CC, like so:

* * *
​

Alternative Werejaguars
As well as the standard werejaguar described above, there are a number of rare variations.

Jaguar Priest
Some priests of Tezcatlipoca are afflicted with lycanthropy as a gift from their god. They become afflicted werejaguars with the following changes to the werejaguar template: jaguar priests are always Chaotic Evil, and their shapechanging ability goes through a 28 day cycle. They spend one week in humanoid form, one week as a hybrid, one week in jaguar form, and one week again as a hybrid before repeating the cycle. Jaguar priests never learn the Control Shape skill, as it is forbidden in their religion, and, as afflicted lycanthropes, they cannot spread the curse of lycanthropy.

This variant is based on the werejaguar in the adventure "Mechica" by Gali Sanchez from Dragon Magazine #70 (1983).

Obsidian Werejaguar
Some werejaguars have damage reduction that is penetrated by obsidian instead of silver. Mercury is a deadly poison to an obsidian werejaguar (Ingested DC 18, Initial Damage 2d6, Secondary Damage 2d6). Despite their name, "black panthers" are just as rare among obsidian werejaguars as they are among standard werejaguars.

This variant is based on the werejaguar from Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1994).

Mystaran Hollow World Werejaguar
Standard werejaguars live in the tropical jungles on the surface of Mystara, but in the hollow interior of that world live another kind of werejaguar. A Hollow World werejaguar is not affected by the phase of the moon — indeed, there are no moons inside Mystara's Hollow World — but has shapeshifting problems based on hunger. A Mystaran Hollow World werejaguar gains the Hollow Hunger ability:

Hollow Hunger (Ex): The lycanthropes of Mystara's Hollow World are not tied to the cycle of the moon, their shapeshifting is driven by hunger instead.

A Hollow World lycanthrope (both true and afflicted lycanthropes) can only derive nourishment by eating fresh meat while in animal or hybrid form. It may not satisfy its hunger with any other food. If a Hollow World lycanthrope goes for 24 hours without satisfying its hunger for flesh, it must succeed at a DC20 Control Shape check or involuntarily assume animal form and hunt for prey. If it succeeds, the lycanthrope must make additional Control Shape checks every 24 hours (DC 20 plus 5 per additional day), or whenever it is presented with fresh meat or prey. Once a hunger Hollow World lycanthrope makes an involuntarily change, it cannot change back to humanoid form until it has fed.
​

This variant is based on the werejaguar from HWR1 - Hollow World: Sons of Azcan (1991).

Ravenloft Werejaguar ("Jagwere")
In Ravenloft there exists a variety of werejaguar that cannot shapeshift, but always takes the form of a jaguar-humanoid hybrid. Jagweres are vulnerable to darkwood instead of silver, and have an irrational terror of fire.

This monster was renamed the Jagwere to avoid confusion with the standard werejaguar. It originally appeared as a "werejaguar" in the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994).

Sample Werejaguars

Werejaguar
As appears in the current CC.

Werejaguar Witchdoctor
It seems a shame to waste my "Jaguar Priest" writeup, so I'd just rename as a standard Afflicted Werejaguar cleric and note that its stats can be used for a "Jaguar Priest".

 

[Cleon]

And, for the other folks, Cleon raises an issue with the jagwere (also just posted to the CC, sigh). He notes that there's an XP value for "cursed" jagweres, so we ought to give the jagwere the following:

Curse of Therianthropy (Su): Any humanoid or giant hit by a jagwere's bite attack must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract a form of lycanthropy. The victim is subject to involuntary transformation as per the Lycanthropy As An Affliction section of the SRD Lycanthrope template, except that instead of temporarily assuming an animal form, the victim will permanently become a jagwere once they transform. This "cursed jagwere" has damage reduction 5/magic or darkwood and does not possess the Curse of Therianthropy special attack, but is otherwise identical to the "true jagwere" described above.

I've revised my original proposal since then. My current draft is:

Curse of Therianthropy No 2 (Su): Any humanoid or giant hit by a jagwere's bite attack must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract a form of lycanthropy. The victim is subject to involuntary transformation as per the Lycanthropy As An Affliction section of the Lycanthrope template, except that instead of temporarily assuming an animal form, the victim becomes a jagwere permanently once it transforms. This "cursed jagwere" does not possess the Curse of Therianthropy special attack and has damage reduction 5/magic or darkwood, but is otherwise identical to the "true jagwere" described above. Cursed jagweres retain none of the memories or racial abilities they possessed as a humanoid or giant and have no interest in their former existence. A cursed jagwere can be cured of its condition as if it were an afflicted lycanthrope (See Lycanthropy As An Affliction in the Lycanthrope template).

I counterproposed something more like the polarwere given that jagweres are not real lycanthropes, as they're not shapechangers, therianthropes don't have a curse, and there's nothing to indicate that natural vs afflicted jagweres should have different DR. I'm open to adding a line that afflicted jagweres can't pass the curse and a line specifying how remove curse/break enchantment can convert a victim back to normal:

Curse of the Jagwere (Su): Any humanoid hit by a jagwere's bite attack
must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or become a jagwere. The
humanoid loses all abilities it possessed prior to transformation
except for those due to levels in character classes but does retain
any equipment it carried. The save DC is Constitution-based.

I would like to keep some "Lycanthropic" traits, how about the following compromise:

Curse of the Jagwere No 2 (Su): Any humanoid hit by a jagwere's bite attack must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or become a jagwere the next time there is a full moon. The victim loses all abilities it possessed prior to transformation, becoming an ordinary jagwere in all respects except for the following: The "cursed jagwere" does not have a Curse of the Jaguar special attack. A "cursed jagwere" retains no memory or interest in its former existence, but does retain any equipment it carried. Cursed jagweres can be cured of their condition as if they were afflicted lycanthropes (See Lycanthropy As An Affliction in the Lycanthrope template).

Acceptable?

 

[Cleon]

Ravenloft Werejaguar ("Jagwere")
In Ravenloft there is a variety of werejaguar that cannot shapeshift, but always takes the form of a jaguar-humanoid hybrid. Ravenloft werejaguars are vulnerable to darkwood instead of silver, and have an irrational terror of fire.

This monster was renamed the Jagwere to avoid confusion with the standard werejaguar. It originally appeared in the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994).

Come to think of it, that might be back-to-front, since we've renamed it a Jagwere. It should probably be:

Jagwere ("Ravenloft Werejaguar")
In Ravenloft there exists a variety of werejaguar that cannot shapeshift, but always takes the form of a jaguar-humanoid hybrid. Jagweres are vulnerable to darkwood instead of silver, and have an irrational terror of fire.

This monster was renamed the Jagwere to avoid confusion with the standard werejaguar. It originally appeared as a "werejaguar" in the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994).
​

Hmm, I like the revised text better but prefer Ravenloft Werejaguar ("Jagwere") to having it the other way round.

I'm going to change the earlier post.

 

[Cleon]

I've fiddled about with the three-column formatting of the Creature Catalog Werejaguar so it flows better, just added a few line breaks and turned the "damage reduction" into "DR".

I think it makes it a good deal clearer.