Idward Evanhand |
I don't know if this has ever been discussed, but what would happen if an animal companion contracted lycanthropy? Would it be able to be my AC? Would it be able to shift into a human (or if it got bit by a werewolf would it turn into a wolf?). And does it gain any intelligence? Has anyone run into this issue before, and if so how did they handle it?
Saldiven |
My understanding of lycanthropy is that it doesn't infect animals. (Though, to be totally pedantic, if your tiger did contract lycanthropy, he would turn into a wolf and back. "Lycan" comes from the Greek word for wolf.)
In paizo rules, there is the curse, "Werewolf Lycanthropy" which has the following description:
"Type: curse, injury; Save: Fortitude DC 15 negates, Will DC 15 to avoid effects
Onset: the next full moon; Frequency: on the night of every full moon or whenever the target is injured
Effect: target transforms into a wolf under the GM's control until the next morning"
Again, this seems to indicate that a being cursed with whatever-thropy turns into an animal, not a man. So an animal so cursed, assuming an animal can be affected, would turn into another animal.
Melkiador |
Pathfinder often takes words and gives them in-game meanings other than their real world meanings. As for the rules:
Lycanthropes are humanoids with the ability to turn into animals and animal-humanoid hybrid shapes. Natural lycanthropes are born with this ability and have perfect control over their shapechanging. Afflicted lycanthropes contract this ability like a curse or disease from another lycanthrope; they sometimes change form involuntarily.
Creating a Lycanthrope
"Lycanthrope" is an inherited (for natural lycanthropes) or acquired (for afflicted lycanthropes) template that can be added to any humanoid.
Saldiven |
There are some game systems and fantasy literature pieces that discuss the reverse werewolf, or "wolf-were" that seems to be the name I've seen. These are natural animals that are infected with a form of lycanthropy that allows them to turn into rather feral humans, but if cured, reverts them back to normal animals.
I don't know if Pathfinder has rules for these anywhere, though.