Canonfire! Forums-viewtopic-Lycanthropic Demi-Humans

Sun May 20, 2018 3:22 pm Lycanthropic Demi-Humans

In my campaign, and in the one I play, demi-humans (and potentially humanoids, too) CAN become lycanthropes.

Question: Would you allow demi-lycanthropes to retain their unique demi-human traits/powers in beast or hybrid form?

Ex: would dwarven or halfling lycanthropes have their innate magic or poison resistance? Would elven lycanthropes be more resistant to sleep and charm spells?

In most books it says nothing one way or the other, except for Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts (but that may only pertain to the Demi-Plane of Dread).

Just curious as to the opinions and thoughts of others.

-Lanthorn

Sun May 27, 2018 4:45 am

I actually have a halfling werebat in my band of players right now. I've just allowed him to continue applying any non-physical abilities he had as a halfling, partly for ease of play and partly because I imagine that only the physical aspects of a lycanthrope change when they shift. I suppose then it raises that questions, what racial abilities possessed by demihumans are a function of their physiology!

The 1st edition DMG has some interesting rules about lycanthropy actually, some charts about phases of the moon and involuntary shifting that are worth checking out.

Sun May 27, 2018 10:59 am

I'm not 100% on this since I'm away from my books but Book of Humanoids should help.

From a 3e perspective the answer would be yes they would keep all native abilities. But as with any rules it is still DMs ruling is final.