The Werelion
Werelions are noble creatures that attack and
destroy all evil aligned creatures on a full moon. Affliction tends to happen when a natural
werelion attacks a good aligned creature in the intention of giving the person
strength to destroy evil and villainy.
Sometimes though, some evil aligned creatures become afflicted and use
these powers for evil instead of good.
This template class assumes that the
character is aware of his condition, whether because he was born a Werelion or
because he realizes he is afflicted with lycanthropy. 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.
Note that each lycanthrope template class has
3 levels, but only natural lycanthropes can take all
the levels it offers. An afflicted lycanthrope can take only levels 1 and 2,
since his level adjustment is +2 instead of +3.
Lycanthrope template classes also follow
special rules relating to the benefits such characters acquire from their
animal natures. 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. 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. 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.
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. Essentially, a character progressing as a
lycanthrope multiclasses into the template class and can also multiclass
into the appropriate animal class if desired.
He is
free to take levels in other classes between levels of the template class and
the animal class, as desired. The animal class, like the template class, does
not count when determining whether a character takes an XP penalty for
multiclassing.
An afflicted lycanthrope that is cured of his lycanthropy (as described in the Monster
Manual on page 178) immediately loses all [lycanthrope] class levels and
{animal} class levels (if any). These levels cannot be
restored with restoration or similar magic; they are simply gone.
Most lycanthropes that do not wish to lose their lycanthropy in this way deliberately fail their saving throws against the spell
in order to prevent this traumatic change.
Table SC-1: The Werelion Template Class
|
Level |
CR |
Special |
|
1 |
+1 |
+2 Wis, natural armor +2, alternate form (lion), low-light vision,
shapechanger subtype, lycanthrope feat (Alertness) |
|
2 |
+1 |
Alternate form (hybrid), damage reduction 5/silver, lion empathy,
lycanthrope feats (Iron Will, Run) |
|
3 |
+2 |
Damage reduction 10/silver, curse of
lycanthropy |
Werelion Template Class
Features
All of the following are class features of
the Werelion template class.
Ability Score Changes: The indicated ability score increases or decreases by
the amount noted.
Natural Armor Improvements: At 1st level, the werelion 's
natural armor bonus increases by +2. A character that does not normally have a
natural armor bonus (such as a human) is considered to have an initial natural
armor bonus of +0 for the purpose of this ability.
Thus, a human's natural armor bonus would increase to +2
at 1st level.
Alternate Form (Su): At 1st level, the werelion can
take the form of a [animal], and he undergoes this change involuntarily on the
nights of the full moon or in times of stress, as described in the Monster
Manual. Unless the werelion] is a natural lycanthrope, he does not
automatically have control over this ability and must attempt a Control Shape
check to intentionally change form or to resist an involuntary change. For an
afflicted lycanthrope, Control Shape is a class skill for all classes as well
as racial Hit Dice, if any. Natural lycanthropes have full control over when
they change shape and do not need to take ranks in this skill. Changing form is
a standard action that can be attempted once per
round.
A werelion] who is aware of his condition
retains his identity and does not lose control of his actions when he changes.
Each time he involuntarily changes to his animal form, however, he must make a
Will save (DC 15 + number of times he has been in animal form) or permanently
assume the alignment of his lycanthrope type (lawful good for werelions]) in
all forms. Any voluntary change to lion or hybrid form immediately and
permanently changes the character's alignment to lawful good.
Until the character has taken the optional levels in
the lion class (see Lion Abilities, below), changing shape to lion form does
not give him the abilities of a lion -- he simply is able to take that
creature's shape, as if he had a perfect disguise. Since this ability is of
limited use, most characters taking levels in the werelion template class choose
to take the optional levels of the lion class as well in order to gain the full
abilities of their animal forms.
At 2nd level, the werelion
gains the ability to assume a hybrid form -- a shape between his humanoid and
his lion] forms. As with the lion form, this change is purely cosmetic unless
the character has taken the lion class to gain the appropriate abilities. He
will also gain a claw attack for use in his hybrid form (see the chart SC-3).
Natural Armor Improvements: At 1st level, the werelion’s
natural armor bonus increases by +2 in all forms. A character that does not
normally have a natural armor bonus (such as a human) is considered to have an
initial natural armor bonus of +0 for the purpose of
this ability. Thus, a human's natural armor bonus would increase to +2 at 1st level. The werelion also gains additional natural
armor increases in his hybrid or animal form if he takes the lion class.
Shapechanger Subtype (Ex): At 1st level, the
lycanthrope gains the shapechanger subtype.
[Lycanthrope] Bonus Feats: At 1st and 2nd level, the werelion
gains the feats indicated on Table SC-1, assuming that he doesn't already have
them. If the werelion doesn't meet the prerequisites
(if any) for a bonus feat, he gains the feat but cannot use it until he does
meet the prerequisites.
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A 1st-level werelion gains low-light vision.
Lion Empathy (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a werelion
in any form can communicate and empathize with normal or dire lions. This
ability gives him a +4 racial bonus on checks made to
influence the attitude of lions or dire lions]. It also allows the
communication of simple concepts and (if the animal is friendly) commands, such
as "friend," "foe," "flee," and
"attack."
Damage Reduction (Ex): At 2nd level, the werelion gains
damage reduction 5/silver. At 3rd level, a natural
lycanthrope gains damage reduction 10/silver. An afflicted lycanthrope's damage
reduction does not improve beyond 5/silver.
Curse of Lycanthropy (Su): At 3rd level, a natural
lycanthrope can infect other creatures with lycanthropy. Any humanoid or giant
hit by the bite attack of a werelion in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a
DC 15 Fortitude save or contract lycanthropy. Afflicted lycanthropes do not
transmit lycanthropy.
Table SC-2: The Lion (Lycanthrope) Class
|
Class Level |
Hit Dice |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort. Save |
Dex. Save |
Will Save |
Skill Points |
Special |
|
1 |
1d8 |
+1 |
+1 |
+1 |
+0 |
2+Int
mod. |
+2 Str., bite,
natural armor +2, lion abilities |
|
2 |
2d8 |
+1 |
+2 |
+2 |
+0 |
2+Int
mod. |
+2 Str., Dex +2,
scent, 2 claws |
|
3 |
3d8 |
+2 |
+3 |
+2 |
+1 |
2+Int
mod. |
+2 Str., Con+2,
natural armor +1, pounce |
|
4 |
4d8 |
+2 |
+3 |
+3 |
+1 |
2+Int
mod. |
+2 Str., Dex+2,
Con +2, Improved Grab, Large |
|
5 |
5d8 |
+3 |
+4 |
+4 |
+1 |
2+Int
mod. |
+2 Str, Dex +2, rake |
Bite: The
[animal] animal class gives the [lycanthrope] a bite attack. The bite is a
natural weapon that deals 1d8 points of damage. In
hybrid form, it gains certain damage according to the lycanthropes’ size. (See
table SC-3)
Claws: Upon reaching 2nd level in
the lion class, a werelion gains two claw attacks in his animal form. His claws
are natural weapons, each dealing 1d4 points of damage.
Lion Abilities (Ex): Upon taking a level in the lion animal class, the
character gains the lion's Hit Dice (in all forms), base attack bonus (in all
forms), base saving throw bonuses (in all forms), ability score modifiers (in
hybrid and animal forms), skill points (in all forms), and natural armor bonus
(in hybrid and animal forms), as well as the special abilities indicated on
Table SP-4. In lion form, the werelion's speed changes to
40 feet. In all forms, he gains a +4 racial bonus on Balance, Control Shape, Hide,
and Move Silently checks. When in lion
form and in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, his Hide bonus improves
to 12.
Scent (Ex): As a 2nd level lion, a werelion in any
form gains the scent ability
Pounce
(Ex): If a werelion who is 3rd level or higher in the lion
class charges an opponent while in lion form, he can make a full attack even
though he has moved. If he has the rake ability, he can include two rake attacks
as part of his full attack.
Improved
Grab (Ex): At 4th
level in the lion class, the werelion gains the improved grab ability. To use
it, he must hit a creature at least one size category smaller than himself with
a claw attack. He can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without
provoking an attack of opportunity. If he wins the grapple check, he
establishes a hold. If he has the rake ability, he can make two rake attacks at
the start of each round against a foe that he is grappling. He can use this
ability only on creatures at least one size category smaller than himself.
Large (Ex): When a werelion reaches 4th
level in the lion class, his animal and hybrid forms become Large size. In
either of those forms, he takes a -1 penalty to AC and attack rolls because of
his size, and his Space/Reach changes to 10 ft. /5 ft. His bite and claw damage
each increase by one-step (see Table SC-3).
Rake
(Ex): At 5th
level in the lion class, the werelion gains extra attacks with his rear claws
in certain circumstances. When he makes a pounce attack or starts a turn
grappling with his claws while in animal form, he can make two additional claw
attacks against the target for normal claw damage. The werelion cannot begin a
grapple and rake in the same turn. Rake attacks are not subject to the usual -4
penalty for attacking with a natural weapon in a grapple.
Table
SC-3: Claw and Bite damages for hybrid form
|
Hybrid Size |
Claw damage |
Bite damage |
|
Small |
1d3 |
1d4 |
|
Medium |
1d4 |
1d6 |
|
Large |
1d6 |
1d8 |
|
Huge |
2d4 |
2d6 |