Lycanthrope

Lycanthropy is, a disease or a hereditary condition that causes humanoids to change form, usually into a hybrid humanoid-animal state. A lycanthrope is an individual who possesses this condition. Some lycanthropes are in control of their ability to transform and others are not. Most lycanthropes have some empathy with animals with which they share their forms. Most lycanthropes are humans or elves.

Physical Characteristics

Superficially, lycanthropes resemble their original species but with the head of the specific animal whose shape they are cursed with. Lycanthropes can disguise themselves somewhat through their shape shifting abilities, either taking on a form almost identical to a humanoid but with subtle details revealing their true nature such as pointed teeth or long fingernails. Similarly, lycanthropes can assume an animal form, which would be a perfect disguise except for the unusual spark of intelligence in their eyes that sometimes gives them away.

Types of Lycanthropes

• Lythari
• Werebat
• Werebear
• Wereboar
• Werecat
• Werecrocodile
• Werefox (foxwoman)
• Weremole
• Wererat
• Wereraven
• Wereserpent
• Wereshark
• Weretiger
• Werewolf
• Werespider
• Wolfwere

Though not technically lycanthropes, shifters are a similar race found where humans have interbred with lycanthropes for generations, acquiring the trait of shapeshifting from their feral ancestors.

Basics

Lycanthropy Basics

Lycanthropy Templates There are three basic templates.

1) The main Lycanthropy template, found in the SRD.  Turn into an animal or a hybrid, get some nifty bonuses.
2) The Entomanothropy template, turn into a vermin instead of an animal
3) The Blacktooth Lycanthropy template from Dragon 129, turn into an animal and get mediocre bonuses for an outrageous LA.  Honestly I don't even think it is worth it for NPCs.

Things to Remember when making a Lycanthrope Picking a base animal: The hit dice of the animal chosen are added to your hit dice total, that means that your ECL is equal to racial ECL + LA from the template + animal hit dice. Minimizing animal hit dice is a plus, they have Cleric BAB and 2+Int skill points per level. In addition, animal hit dice are NEVER your first hit dice. This means that you can't replace them with a class level.

Also remember that when in animal/hybrid form you gain ability score adjustments based on the animal's ability scores. The thing to remember is that ability scores are rarely as useful as character levels. You also get the animal's feats as bonus feats. Keep this in mind when picking an animal, bonus feats you'll actually use are the goal. (Some people think that you have to take all feats of the animal as listed on the statblock. I disagree, Dungeonscape shows that monster feat choices are not set in stone. However, Bonus Feats obviously cannot be changed.)

Lastly, as of the MM errata: "A creature cannot use alternate form to take the form of a creature with a template." So goodbye templated base animals.

Hybrid Form: Remember that by default hybrid form DOES NOT gain any of the special attacks from the base animal, and most of your combat will be in hybrid form so that you can keep your gear. It does keep the base creature's special attacks however. In addition, the base lycanthropy template grants two claw and one bite attacks as natural attacks, regardless of what natural attacks are available to the animal form. However, the hybrid form retains all the special qualities of both the base creature and the base animal. Regeneration is a big one that comes to mind.

Also, hybrid form has the movement speeds of the base creature, and DOES NOT GAIN THE MOVEMENT SPEEDS OF THE BASE ANIMAL. Even if the animal can fly (which a lycanthrope can do as well in animal form), the hybrid form cannot fly.

Alternate Form Rules: The Alternate Form rules state that as long as the form you're turning into can wear/carry your gear, that gear changes size to match that of your new form. This means that your hybrid form can keep using all your gear regardless of its size.

They also state: "The creature loses the natural weapons, natural armor, and movement modes of its original form, as well as any extraordinary special attacks of its original form not derived from class levels (such as the barbarian's rage class feature)." The natural armor isn't a problem since the Lycanthropy template specifically overrides that, but the extraordinary special attacks section is something to remember.

Lastly: "Apply any changed physical ability score modifiers in all appropriate areas with one exception: the creature retains the hit points of its original form despite any change to its Constitution." On the plus, less math. On the minus, less hp for the high con animals.

Templates that turn creatures into Giants or Humanoids Race Source Ability Scores Bonus Feats Special Qualities

    Half-Troll 	   Fiend Folio 	  Str +6, Dex +2, Con +6, Int –2, Cha –2 	   - 	   4LA; +4 Natural Armor, Fast Healing

A list of all animals sorted by size category and HD.

Since Iron Will is gained from the Lycanthropy template, any animal who gains the Iron Will feat has that feat marked in red since you can't take it twice.

Diminutive (click to show/hide) Animal Source Ability Scores Feats Other Less than 1 HD

    Bat 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Alertness 	   Blindsense

Tiny (click to show/hide) Animal Source Ability Scores Feats Other Less than 1 HD

    Cat 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Weapon Finesse (b) 	   -
    Lizard 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Weapon Finesse (b) 	   Stealthy
    Otter 	   Stormwrack	   Dex +4 	   Weapon Finesse (b) 	   Stealthy
    Penguin 	   Frostburn	   - 	   Alertness, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   +1 Natural Armor
    Rat 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Weapon Finesse (b) 	   Stealthy
    Raven 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Alertness, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   -
    Snake, Tiny Viper 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +6 	   Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   +2 Natural Armor, Scent
    Weasel 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Agile, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   -

1 HD

    Chordevoc 	   Races of the Wild	   Dex +8, Con +2 	   Flyby Attack, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   +2 Natural Armor
    Hawk 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +6 	   Alertness, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   +2 Natural Armor
    Huitzil 	   Dragon Magic	   Dex +4 	   Hover, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   +3 Natural Armor
    Lizard, Horned 	   Sandstorm	   Dex +2, Con +2 	   Alertness 	   +3 Natural Armor
    Monkey 	   Monster Manual	   Dex +4 	   Agile, Weapon Finesse (b) 	   -
    Owl 	   Monster Manaul	   Dex +6 	   Alertness, Weapon Finess (b) 	   +2 Natural Armor

4 HD

    Swarm, Murder of Crows 	   Tome of Magic	   Dex +4 	  Alertness, Improved Initiative 	   Swarm traits