D&D 5E Why do 5e lycanthropes get their powers in human form?

[Minigiant]

Pop culture, probably. Many depictions of lycanthropes in media and other RPGs give them things like heightened senses and (limited) regeneration while in human form.

D&D does the curse lycantropes too and the "curse" type typically have some powers in their human form unlike the "wolf-mage" type and "wolf totem" type. "Wolf spirit" types tended to have powers in their "humanoid" for as well.

5e currently doesn't have multiple levels of senses. It's just Disadvantage, Normal, Advantage. So they're really not much between for the Humanoid's lesser heightened senses.

 

[dave2008]

Was this discussed in a video or something? Where can I find information on lycanthrope changes in 2024/5.5?

I still don't have a copy but I assume its from the multiverse book... but any info would be nice

The bit about keen smell/hearing was in found in the Dungeoncraft Wild Beyond the Witchlight Designers Pack.

The Regeneration bit is inferred from the new design of more recent lycanthopes, including the Wereraven and the Loup Garou.

While I agree with @Leatherhead that the design change can be inferred from more recent lycanthropes, I believe it was actually discussed by the designers at one point. I will see if I can find a link.

 

[Voadam]

Just kinda realized this. It’s completely out of keeping with mythological lycanthropes and wasn’t even true in earlier editions. At least not all editions.

So why?

It has varied across editions.

In 3.5 for example lycanthropes in their human form got everything but silver damage reduction and the natural attacks. They got the +2 wisdom, the +2 natural armor, the animal Hit Dice and skills, the low light vision, the scent ability, and the bonus Iron Will feat.

 

[Hussar]

Yeah, it was mostly the weapon immunities I was thinking of. It just makes giving lycanthropy to a PC such a MASSIVE power boost when it's regeneration. For all intents and purposes, that makes a PC unkillable. The baddy would have to have some sort of cantrip attack or at will magic blast and not that many critters have that. The only other way would be to outright kill the PC and very, very few monsters can deal that much damage in a single attack.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

Just kinda realized this. It’s completely out of keeping with mythological lycanthropes and wasn’t even true in earlier editions. At least not all editions.

So why?

I also think it had to do with the 5e design philosophy to reduce complexity where possible. Having to keep track of multiple stat changes for one monster stat block depending on their chosen form would not go well with what 5e as a whole was trying to accomplish.

 

[Mirtek]

I always saw the werewolf stats as a misstake and considered it some leftover from an earlier design stage of monster rules that was erroneously printed in the final book.

Never made sense that they should be tougher than actual deities

 

[Blue]

Yeah, it was mostly the weapon immunities I was thinking of. It just makes giving lycanthropy to a PC such a MASSIVE power boost when it's regeneration. For all intents and purposes, that makes a PC unkillable. The baddy would have to have some sort of cantrip attack or at will magic blast and not that many critters have that. The only other way would be to outright kill the PC and very, very few monsters can deal that much damage in a single attack.

When I had a character inflicted the DM just homebrewed something for me, where when I changed I got a bunch of temp HPs and that was it for the defenses. What's in the book isn't balanced vs. PCs.

 

[dave2008]

I always saw the werewolf stats as a misstake and considered it some leftover from an earlier design stage of monster rules that was erroneously printed in the final book.

Never made sense that they should be tougher than actual deities

What do you mean? Tiamat has immunity and regeneration. The lycanthropes are trading one for the other.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

D&D does the curse lycantropes too and the "curse"

curse is often becomes 'cursed with awesome'

 

[Fanaelialae]

curse is often becomes 'cursed with awesome'

I mean, that's just the monster stat-block though.

IMC, the stat block is for those who have embraced or been consumed by the curse. While they can transform at will, their will has been subsumed in service to the curse.

Those who resist the curse don't get the benefits, except when they're forced to transform during a full moon.

Technically, there are also a few who learn to master their curse, represented by taking levels of a monster class that I made. However, those don't get all the same benefits as the stat block. Rather than immunity to weapons, I gave them an enormous number of hit dice and damage vulnerability to silver.