To be or not to be

[default]

Ok, I am a gamer, have been for years, however I am also a min-maxer...this should be on the table before I ask my question. Wow a huge weight has been lifted off my chest...neway, I have a halfling (rogue) that was bitten by a werewolf...failed save, and guess what HOOOOOoooooowl.

After this encounter I leveled...and put all my skill points into contolling when and if I change into wolf form (can't remember what the skill is actually called off the top of my head). So since that point I have been using this neat little ability to the max (much to my dm's chagrin)...of course I played the alignments correctly (neutral normal, and CE wolfie), and was having a great time, that is until my dm sent lycanthrope hunters after me (insert laughter here...wait 3.2.1 and). So in the face of death, a compadre of mine convinced the hunters to cure, not kill me.

So now the question: would an innocent little halfling who has tasted the power of the darkside (so to speak), seek out the power that was lost...I think I know the answer that all are going to give, but I am curious as to what all you have to say.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Why would the halfling enjoy the taste of the darkside. He was a different alignment as a wolf. He saw the world from a perspective he finds random and selfish (chaos and evil).

You could easily make the argument that the tragedy would influence him toward Lawful Good.

 

[Sir Trent]

I agree, it would seem the halfling would be more inclined to helping others so cursed. You as a roleplayer may have enjoyed it, but the halfling certainly would feel differently. I can see your halfling at the Guild Hall, moderating a meeting of the FLA (Former Lycanthrope Association).

 

[default]

Yeahhh...kinda what I thought...but man the min-maxing possibilities.....

 

[grimwell]

would an innocent little halfling who has tasted the power of the darkside (so to speak), seek out the power that was lost...

By the fact that you ask this question, I presume that you want to say "yes", your little halfling has tasted some real power and is now hungry for more.

To be honest, this is well within the bounds of good roleplay and you should discuss it with your DM. There are many ways this can add something to the game for everyone involved.

Note the alignment though. This does not have to be an excuse for the halfling to slide into evil in the search for power. Perhaps he feels bad about that aspect, but still hungers for the power. This can make it a secret, almost shameful, obsession - "I loved the power, but I hated what it made me do. Still, I want it."

Much like our little friend Bilbo, who was able to give up the One
Ring, but still wanted it desperately.

So what does your little guy do to fill that hole in his soul that lycanthropy left behind? How does he fill it?

The short sighted answer is that he devleops an obsession with re-becoming a lycanthrope and convinces himself that he will "control" it this time (and not loose the alignment). This could create some very fun combat situations (hit me! hit me!) and is entirely within roleplay constraints.

A more long sighted answer is that he develops the same obsession with regaining "lost" power, but he tries to find a different source that won't have such dramatic changes on his alignment. He seeks to do good and holy things in the hopes that a God will reach down and touch him making him a half-celestial, or something dramatic like that.

Or perhaps he quests for the right ingredients to make a potion that will grant him power and might on the level of lycanthropy. Something of a ritual like a Lich, but not so evil.

Or he persues a life of drugs that boost him up and make him feel good, but eventually eat him away at a terrible price.

There are a lot of good things to do with this that would make for some great roleplay opportunities. What's important is that you try to find something that your DM will not only allow, but might even work with (giving future strengths as a reward).

All of this can be done without making you a card carrying "power gamer" who's only obsessed with kewl powers on your halfling.

 

[CrazyMage]

I say, suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Don't bother taking up arms against a sea of troubles.

 

[Teflon Billy]

...All of this can be done without making you a card carrying "power gamer" who's only obsessed with kewl powers on your halfling.

Didn't he come out of the gate admitting he carried that particular card?

If you want to play a guy who's all about the numbers on the sheet, go ahead.

It won't get you much love here, but if what you really want is to "kick ass" then by all means, shoehorn one of the retrofitted explanations given above on and "add up those pluses".

 

[Tiefling]

Perhaps he could seek out a form of lycanthropy more fitting to his alignment?

 

[LokiDR]

If your DM was really annoyed by your min-maxing, don't even think of trying it again. If the DM just felt like having an interesting adventure, maybe you still can. I would work out a deal like "if you let me be the lycanthrope, I will buy off the ECL with the next few levels" Maybe you seek a less evil lycanthrope, like weretiger.

In short, don't do it if it will piss off the other players or GM

 

[grimwell]

Didn't he come out of the gate admitting he carried that particular card?

Yes, but he seemed to indicate that he'd like to find a more RP based reason for persuit of the numbers. I took it to mean he was trying to bridge his style with the DM's.