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HandFullofCheese
Acolyte
USA
5 Posts |
 Posted - 08 May 2013 : 22:07:54
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Okay, so I'm running a campaign in the realms with some new players. We're at level 4 and one of my characters, a ghost tree tribe uthgardt barbarian, really wants to become a werebear. We've talked about what it does to party balance with adjustments and ecls but they're okay with it. What would be the best way to go around it, both story wise and mechanically with the unbalance it'll make.
Story wise, I know that Selune has a lot of good lycanthrope followers, but I haven't seen much in the way werebear groups or the like. We're currently playing in the North around Silverymoon and we're likely to be moving around the southern rim of anauroch and east of anauroch (cormanthor area).. Any suggestions?
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HandFullofCheese
Acolyte
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 22:09:10
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| Worth noting we're in the 3.5 rules and timeline. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4448 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 23:06:39
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From a mechanical standpoint, it's pretty significant due to the increase of HD and overall level. A Werebear instantly adds 6d8 HD to your character, thus a 4th level character would have Hit Die and Hit Points for a 10th level character, including Base Attack Bonus, feats, and skills for a 10th level character. Compare that to others in the group who are still at around 4th level and you have a large difference.
Have they thought about just taking the Bloodline Variant HERE that has properties that resemble a Lycanthrope but doesn't go whole-hog off the broken end? Also, how about a lot of it just being flavor or giving him a Bite attack when he's in Hybrid form? I know from playing 4E I had a Werebear Berserker who would hybrid when he frenzied and I didn't change my stats or have HUGE mechanical benefits but got a bite attack and some other flavorful stuff. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36813 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2013 : 23:42:17
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Sean K Reynolds did a great pdf called Curse of the Moon, which has a lot of good stuff for werecritters and in particular addresses the issue of lycanthropy unbalancing things. It's worth the $5 price.
And in case you're not aware, he's one of the guys that wrote the 3E ruleset, and some good Realms material. |
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HandFullofCheese
Acolyte
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 03:45:22
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| Awesome, thanks guys. I havent purchased that pdf yet but will here pretty quick. But what would you guys think of this? At each level, he gains a small fraction of the abilities of a werebear. Not even get form shifting until 3 or so levels as barb, and after say 8 levels, he has capabilities as far as it'll go. They won't be cut and dry werebear template, as not to mess with balance as much as normal but still better capabilities than bloodline? |
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Razz
Senior Scribe
USA
749 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2013 : 22:20:57
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Actually there is a perfect way.
Leveling into the template.
There's a series of articles that suggest you split the Hit Dice + Level Adjustment into it's own levels. With each level, the character receives more abilities of the race/template. It's a perfect way to blend in a story such as "We will place the blood of the werebear in you, but be aware that the blood affects those who are willing and unwilling to receive it differently. The unwilling receive a full transformation. The willing must devote time and work themselves into attuning into the lycanthropic heritage. As you grow in power, so too will your lycanthropic powers."
Actually, this link is perfect to use. Though it's for the brown bear only.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031114a |
Edited by - Razz on 12 May 2013 22:21:26 |
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DM question regarding werebears in the realms
