Scummer D&D

[quadz08]

how would rage interact with animal forms - does it still apply?

[quadz08]

when you refer to "base creature/animal" do you mean rat or half-orc?

[FakeGod]

You can rage while in any form.

When I say base creature/animal, I mean in half-orc form, your speed is like a half-orc, and when in animal form, your speed is like a dire rat.

[quadz08]

ok cool. For clarity's sake - I gain the hit die, feats, modifiers, and skill points immediately upon first full moon, I assume? Also, I assume that the two claw + bite attack that I get as a hybrid also applies in my full animal form?

So the biggest issue would be the first full moon - how are you keeping time in-game? Will full moon affect me if I'm underground / in a dungeon?

[FakeGod]

Yep, you'll gain the template at the first full moon.

The two claw + bite is only in the hybrid form. In animal form, you only have bite.

Generally, people suspected of lycanthropy is locked up in a cage during the next full moon. It would be reasonable to assume the same for your case.

Every 30 days or so spent in game should be met with a full moon, but because you have full knowledge of when the full moon will occur and simply choose not to adventure that night, I think we can safely ignore it ever occurring during one of our sessions.

Full moon will affect you even if you're underground or in a dungeon.

[quadz08]

Oof. I guess the issue is the taking damage swapping me into animal form - a 1d6 is a big nerf from 1d12+2, particularly since I'm intended to be a meatshield and take damage. Hrm.

I will get an extra +2 in AC which will put me at 21, so a lot of things will have a hard time hitting me anyway, but the things that DO hit me...


AGH THIS DECISION IS HARD

I guess I am still a pretty effective meatshield in rat form, even though I won't be able to deal quite as much damage - I'll still have a pretty massive strength modifier when raging, plus the ability to use power attack - I won't be unable to deal damage by any means.


Just to be sure - do I lose any abilities / feats / skills / etc other than using my greataxe when I'm in animal form?

[FakeGod]

You don't lose anything in animal form, other than ability to use gear. (no weapons/armor/shield)

[quadz08]

oh I lose my armor too

oof that's going to hurt my AC a whole bunch - drops my to AC 13 even with the natural armor bonus.

I will mull this over - input from the group would be appreciated too

[FakeGod]

We won't be playing on Weds, so you have a full week to mull over this.

[Who]

Can you cast/use eldritch blast while in animal form?

oh I lose my armor too

oof that's going to hurt my AC a whole bunch - drops my to AC 13 even with the natural armor bonus.

I will mull this over - input from the group would be appreciated too

You forgot about the dex bonus to AC 13. You'll actually have AC 16. Speaking of which, you should probably switch to a different armor which has more max dex bonus if you stay a lycanthrope.

I think it sounds as if you'll benefit defensively, but take a hit offensively, at least until you learn to control your shape. I thus vote you stay a lycanthrope but I'm biased because I'm a caster who relies on hiding behind you.

[Who]

You gain +2 to Wisdom. In addition, in animal or hybrid form, you gain +6 Dex and +2 Con.

Wait, if you only have the Con bonus while in hybrid form, do you get the HP bonus when leveling up or not?

[Varsoon]

Edgar (if informed), is against it, and highly suggests you seek treatment as soon as possible. He makes a point of arguing that power at the cost of control is not power at all.

[Who]

Edgar (if informed), is against it, and highly suggests you seek treatment as soon as possible. He makes a point of arguing that power at the cost of control is not power at all.

Quadz isn't going to lose control of himself, he's just going to occasionally change into a rat by accident. (He will remain in control of himself as a rat)

[Who]

Oh, also, speaking of losing control, not included in the summary was the part where I got confused and fortunately said confusion got dispelled by Caled before I fireballed the group.
(Quadz attacked the group before his got dispelled, but everyone was fine)

[Varsoon]

Not on the first moon, right?
And not having control over when you transform all the time also feels like a problem.
Especially if it leaves you without armor and weapon.

[Varsoon]

Furthermore, you only work to spread lycanthropy, which drives the world towards a darker future. Not good at all.

[Who]

Not on the first moon, right?
And not having control over when you transform all the time also feels like a problem.
Especially if it leaves you without armor and weapon.

The first moon is not only irrelevant, it will happen regardless of whether or not he gets cured. The cure is remove curse when he transforms the first time.

Not having control over when he transforms is a downside but the power is worth it.

[Who]

Furthermore, you only work to spread lycanthropy, which drives the world towards a darker future. Not good at all.

For the average non-adventurer I fail to see the downsides.

Other than racism.

[Who]

Are you a racist? Is that why you're against it?

Also, the racism sounds fun from an RPing perspective. It's tempting to murder racists, but it's a little hard to justify when they're not being racist at that moment. So if you have a lycanthrope in the party, they bait out the racists and then we all murder them.

[Varsoon]

Besides being considered a beast by most of society?
It's a literal curse. That's how these things work--they tempt weak hearts with power. True strength does not come from any dark pact, foul blood, or at the cost of one's humanity.
It is unwise to harbor a beast within oneself, especially a literal one.
As far as spreading the curse goes--that's a case of ruining the lives of others. What if someone murders their spouse in children during their first moon? Even if they make it through the initial ordeal, they'll forever live with the knowledge that they are cursed and have lost their humanity. To lightly shrug off the consequence of forcing that upon innocents is a cruel notion. No power is worth risking the lives, sanity, and well being of the innocent.

Taking on this curse will not magically banish all evils or even empower us to accomplish that feat on our own. All that this succeeds in doing is inviting more evil into the world. It's unnecessary. There are several other paths to power--ones that are clean of curses and without accident. A hero stands against such corruption. I know I can not make this decision for you, but I must stand to protect innocent lives here and even safeguard your own. It isn't just my duty as a Knight Valiant of Heironeous, but my oath as a mortal and your friend. I urge that you will take my word into consideration and seek a cure--I will even cover any expenses this may incur. I gild my coffers only to protect humanity and yours is at risk; no cost is too much.

[Varsoon]

Where racism is concerned, I feel that man commonly fears what he doesn't understand.
I've always striven to consider the plights of others. While my duty to the Arch-Paladin is the greatest code I live by, a Knight Valiant must be ever vigilant in his duty to the people. This is no simple creed to protect one's race or any select group of people, but to champion the fight of all peoples in order to mete out justice, protect the weak, and stand against the evils that threaten us all.

There are those that will tell you that man is just as foul a monster as any other beast. I do not believe in this ethos. Humanity allows for choice. Monsters are creatures defined by their inability to govern their own fates. They feast on prey, revel in madness, and always embody evil when given the chance to do otherwise. This isn't cynicism--monsters are dubbed such because they are monstrous. This does not mean they bear fangs or fur or wings, but that their very souls and thoughts lack humanity. They are foul beings that thrive when causing others misery and pain. A monster does not want to be a member of society. It only wants to destroy what others build. A monster does not seek to do right by others, but only to bereave them. If I have any mercy for monsters, it is that they lack the capacity to be anything but what they are, that their existence is bound to evils that plague the people.

I will not be caught up in a pointless or self-serving dialectic that separates me from my fellow man, but make no mistake--while men may become monsters, a monster is not a man. I reiterate; Humanity allows for choice. This is why I am not stripping you of your choice. It is yours to make. All I can do is warn you of the evils such a choice invites and reaffirm that I will always stand radiant against such evils.

[Who]

Blah Blah Blah I'm a racist.

As regards the first full moon, nothing bad will happen provided you take precautions. And again, at this point we need to go through the first full moon whether or not he decides to become a wererat.

Also, you do realize that Mo'ak isn't a human, right? He's a half-Orc.

As regards spreading it, he's not going to be attacking innocent people. He's going to be attacking people he wouls have attacked anyway, and he won't be spreading it because his victims will be dead.

[ConManMick]

Pet wereratperson pls

[T-Bone]

It depends if you want the role playing opportunity or not. That seems like a more important choice to me than stats.

Obviously Edgar and I will react in character as appropriate, though doesn't seem like the rest of the party will bother. (Hence Who fighting against all role-playing opportunities )

[T-Bone]

I'll come up with Lorick's response later when I'm not mobile.