#SHADOWBANE TEMPLATES MANUAL#
The animal class, like the template class, does not count when determining whether a character takes an XP penalty for multiclassing.Īn afflicted lycanthrope that is cured of his lycanthropy (as described in the Monster Manual on page 178) immediately loses all wererat template class levels and dire rat class levels (if any).
#SHADOWBANE TEMPLATES FREE#
He is also free to take levels in other classes between levels of the template class and the animal class, as desired. Levels in the animal class may be taken at any point after the character takes 1 level in the lycanthrope template class. Taking levels in the appropriate animal template class (or just 1 level, as is the case with the dire rat animal class) gives the character the animal's Hit Dice and hit points (in all forms), saving throw bonuses (in all forms), skill points (in all forms), racial skill bonuses (in all forms), conditional skill modifiers (in animal form), ability score modifiers (in hybrid or animal form), natural armor bonus, and special attacks (such as the dire rat's ability to transmit disease). No would-be lycanthrope is required to take it, but doing so is an advantage, since a character without it is weaker than other lycanthropes of the same type.
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Essentially, a character progressing as a lycanthrope multiclasses into the template class and can also multiclass into the appropriate animal class if desired. Thus, in addition to the 2 or 3 levels offered via the appropriate lycanthrope template class, each kind of lycanthrope also has a separate (optional) class progression for his animal abilities. Likewise, a 1st-level natural werebear human warrior has an ECL of 10 - 1 from his warrior Hit Die, +3 from the template, +6 for his bear Hit Dice. So while a 1st-level human natural wererat warrior (as presented in the Monster Manual) has a level adjustment of +3, his ECL is actually 5 - 1 from his warrior Hit Die, +3 from the template, +1 for his dire rat Hit Die. The template allows for a level adjustment of +3 (or +2 for afflicted lycanthropes), but that value does not include the Hit Dice from the lycanthrope's animal form. Lycanthrope template classes also follow special rules relating to the benefits such characters acquire from their animal natures. An afflicted lycanthrope can take only levels 1 and 2, since his level adjustment is +2 instead of +3. Note that each lycanthrope template class has 3 levels, but only natural lycanthropes can take all the levels it offers. Any ability noted as applying to all forms is available to the wererat in his natural, hybrid, and animal forms, but not forms acquired via polymorph or other means.
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This template class assumes that the character is aware of his condition, whether because he was born a wererat or because he realizes he is afflicted with lycanthropy. This template class can also be used by natural wererats who wish to start play at lower levels and develop their powers, or for characters who somehow acquire this form of lycanthropy from another source. Characters who choose to keep their lycanthropic curse can progress in the wererat template class to gain wererat abilities. However, such characters are more likely than their higher-level counterparts to fail their saving throws against the curse of lycanthropy and become wererats themselves. A standard wererat's CR is fairly low, so this creature makes an appropriate encounter for a low-level party. Since most characters spend considerable time in cities, they're bound to encounter wererats at one time or another - particularly when they make their inevitable exploration of the city's sewer system.