D&D 5E Werebear wardrobe malfunction!

[Shrapp Hamnier]

I'm developing some NPC enemies, one of which is a werebear. While working on it, it occurred to me, what does it do with its ax (or whatever weapon) when it is in bear form? No clothing survives a transformation from a medium to a large creature, so unless it has a magic sash or hulks purple underwear, it will have to drop the ax if it changes to bear form (or else carry it in its mouth or something, which is a major hinderance).

And yes, I realize most werebear a good. That still doesn't change the fact that there doesn't seem to be a way to easily carry a weapon in bear form for when it changes back into another form.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

I'd guess that they don't carry their weapon or anything else whilst in bear form. Do they still have claws and teeth in hybrid form?

 

[MarkB]

The traditional medieval solution to lugging around spare hardware was a squire. Maybe look into giving him a sidekick of some kind?

 

[Oofta]

Maybe he just borrowed a pair of magical purple pants from the Incredible Hulk?

 

[CapnZapp]

My suggestion:

Don't bother explaining it.

The NPC simply has his axe when in human/hybrid form and not in bear form. Problem solved.

 

[Shrapp Hamnier]

Lol. All good suggestions.

At the moment, I'm looking most at 3 particular options. What do you all think?
- not explaining
- have a goblin warg rider carry it (he is one of the few evil werebear in charge of hunting people)
- make it a magic item which melds into his claw when he transforms into pure bear.

And yes, he does have claws and teath as a hybrid, but I really like the idea of a giant bear trying to level the party with an axe. What's the point in him even having an axe if he never uses it?

 

[EdL]

Lol. All good suggestions.

At the moment, I'm looking most at 3 particular options. What do you all think?
- not explaining
- have a goblin warg rider carry it (he is one of the few evil werebear in charge of hunting people)
- make it a magic item which melds into his claw when he transforms into pure bear.

And yes, he does have claws and teath as a hybrid, but I really like the idea of a giant bear trying to level the party with an axe. What's the point in him even having an axe if he never uses it?

I'd go with #2. That's one way to make a Goblin useful!

 

[5Shilling]

He probably has spare clothes and axes stashed around the forest.

or

amulet of illusion (he's not wearing clothes you just think he is!)

 

[Oofta]

Or just have something non-magical that adjust size when he shifts. I'm thinking something loosely fastened with a snap (or loosely tied) in such a way that when grows it expands. When he goes back to humanoid he'd have to readjust, but that shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Umbran]

Unless the weapon is magical, why is he worried about it? It isn't like they are expensive, or hard to come by. He's not going to have armor or clothing either - I got no pants, but I have my axe!!1! How often is he caught having to chop people up while naked, in that short time between doing his slavering goodness as a bear, and when he gets to suit up again?

You say he's "in charge" of hurting people. Does he usually have to do so without warning? Otherwise he could walk to hear his target, put the axe down, take off clothes, shift, go rend things limb from limb, and then walk back to his clothes and axe to shift back. The woods are *big*, and it is unlikely that anyone's going to wander by just that moment, and steal his axe rather than come running to (or away from) the sounds of bellowing bear and screaming people...