Lycanthrope Class for D&D 5e (2024)

Hi! I'm glad you like the class!

Although some origins have less damaging natural weapons in their hybrid forms, they do get other bonuses that make up for it either at 1st level, such as the Wereraven gaining a flying speed in their hybrid form and being able to use Dexterity for their Predatory Strikes, at later levels or via totem powers unique to that origin.

Also if you liked this brew, please do have a look at my other work too, it's all PWYW.

Glad to hear you like the class!

I could possibly put together a json file (there's already one out there in a homebrew repo of 5e tools), what app would you need it for? Something like Avrae or Fantasy Grounds?

I would use it for the 5th edition character builder apps me and my friends use. Heres a link if that helps.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wgkammerer.testgui.basiccharactersheet.app&hl=en_US&gl=US

I'll take a look into it, it's not an app I've used but I might be able to work something out for it.

Hi, if you knew what repo that is could you please tell me? I use roll20 and it will make a lot esay adding the class features. Thaks in advance!

If you have "Better Roll20" you should be able to import it from the associated repo, although maybe hold fire as I still need to submit an updated json file to the repo with the new subclass and such.

Hey, glad to hear you like the class!

Specifics for the features would depend exactly on what the technology is like/how it functions in your setting but to start with I can give a few general notes for designing something:

1st level feature: This is where you'll give them a hybrid form which comes with some sort of natural weapon (which could be anything from jaws/claws to cyberpunk-like arm blades in your setting), the strength of the weapon depends on what you're going for with the subclass but will stay within the general bounds for melee weapons in 5e: no higher damage that 12 (1d12/2d6/3d4) before mods, no higher than 10 (1d10) if it has reach, and no higher than 8 (1d8/2d4) if you're able to use Dex instead of strength. Also includes the Con save on hit to avoid Lycanthropy, which I guess could be whatever mechanical virus/nanovirus/etc is causing it in your setting getting partially transferred by the attacks, and anything else appropriate (like the Were-Hell Hound's fire resistance...See more or the Wereraven's flying speed).

6th level feature: This is either a "ribbon" (something thematically neat but not necessarily impactful or a minor feature (something mechanically useful but not subclass defining). No matter which this'll reinforce the idea you're going for with the subclass and for your setting you could borrow one from an existing subclass (like formidable strength being strength from mechanical servos, etc) or throw in something more directly referecing/based on your setting's tech.

10th level feature: This one is generally the counterpart to the first level feature that offers an "animal" form with a +1 to AC; however this might not entirely be appropriate depending on how you're handling the subclass so you could either chuck a major feature here or do something similar to the Lupus Virtute where you drop a minor feature here followed by two major features.

14th level feature: This will either be a minor feature that reinforces the concept of the subclass (Charge/El-ahrairah's Blessing/Eye of the Tiger) or something mechanically useful but not particularly overt (Ursine Toughness, Pack Hunter, Swooping Blow). Exception of course being the Lupus Virtute who has this last level and has a major feature here.

18th level feature: This is usually a major feature as the capstone, something mechanically and thematically relevant that represents one of the stronger abilities the subclass has or in some cases provides something very useful that rounds things out nicely.

Hopefully some of this has been helpful and I'm happy to provide further suggestions if you'd like?

Glad to hear you like the class and that you got the band reference! I'm a big fan of Powerwolf so I couldn't stop myself from adding something related; the Were-Hell Hound was just based on a neat bit of art I found.

Y'know, something like a Were-Dragon or Were-Drake sounds like a neat idea although balancing may be a pain. I'll give it a go and see what I can come up with, thanks for the idea!

A good place for some ideas, at least on the balancing side, might be the Child of the Dragon supplement by Niels de Jong given their alternate takes on Dragonborn, Half Dragons, Kobols, and Lizardfolk and a fair chunk of dragon related subclasses.

I'll give it a look in, thanks!

I just downloaded the updated file and I like the way you made it, and I love the bonus powers for it. I'm gonna be using this class for a boss (I build my bosses like PCs for uniqueness) and it's gonna be an interesting fight.

Glad to hear you like the update! Let me know how the boss fight goes!

Glad you like the class! Hope you've been enjoying playing it so far!

As for the remove curse thing, since multiclassing into the Lycanthrope class requires a Lycanthropy curse of some kind the remove curse spell would remove the curse of Lycanthropy. It's kind of intentionally left open so a DM can rule it how they want for what happens to the character after the curse is removed.