Lycanthropy

[Elise567]

I've been looking around but don't understand this.

My level 3 halfling rogue was bitten by a wererat about half a day of game time ago. My GM is new to being a GM, and he doesn't have much experience with lycanthropy. I contracted it. I realize my character doesn't have this knowledge.

There are no 12th level clerics hanging around, and there is no wolfsbane in my adventure path. We're also running a 1-on-1 game. For story purposes, my GM doesn't care if we go with it being more of a benefit than a curse. I doubt he will have me slaughtering tons of people while I have no control over my character. For simplicity's sake, I will lean toward curing it, but I know that my character will spend a bit of time afflicted.

Can someone explain in simple words how we apply the template to my character? Do I automatically become a wererat (as opposed to a werewolf) since the creature that bit me was a wererat? I've looked in the bestiary and core rules, and I am just not understanding this. I know nothing about applying a template.

[Weirdo]

Yes, you automatically become a wererat.

To apply a template, you just go to the template page and follow the instructions as an afflicted lycanthrope.

The result is: you can turn into a dire rat or a dire rat/halfling hybrid, all size small.

In all forms you get: shapechanger subtype, change shape (as described in the lycanthrope template for an afflicted lycanthrope), +2 Wis, -2 Cha

As a dire rat or hybrid you get in addition: +2 Nat AC, DR 5/silver, rat natural attacks (bite d4 damage), rat special abilities (disease), low-light vision, scent, lycanthropic empathy (Diplomacy with rodents at +4), pick the better of your physical stats or the Dire Rat's (Str 10, Dex 17, Con 13), and add +2 Str, +2 Con to that.

As a dire rat you use dire rat speed (40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft) while as a hybrid you keep your own speed (and the ability to use items as a humanoid).

You do not pass on the Curse of Lycanthropy because you are not a natural lycanthrope.

[Elise567]

Thank you. I really, really appreciate the link to the template page. That is one of the things I was looking for!

[Tacticslion]

Dot. Though Weirdo answered it. :)

[Healer]

Hey, but what can one do after the 3 days?

There are no further informations, aren't there?

[Mojorat]

Basically if you keep failing your saves you turn into an animal 3 nights of the month. This repeats every month.

I think the rest of the time your normal aside from the stat changes. Its been a while since I read up on it.

Also note if your playing in golarion it doesn't force an alignment change. Though I think there are urges to behave that way. The carrion crown book witu the werewolves likely has more info.

[Healer]

so remove curse wouldn't work?
But it is a curse, I thought, so it might work.

I haven't read anything against it...

[Tacticslion]

Healer wrote:

so remove curse wouldn't work?

But it is a curse, I thought, so it might work.

I haven't read anything against it...

The problem with presuming Remove Curse works is that it specifies,

Template wrote:

A remove disease or heal spell cast by a cleric of 12th level or higher cures the affliction, provided the character receives the spell within 3 days of the infecting lycanthrope's attack. Alternatively, consuming a dose of wolfsbane gives an afflicted lycanthrope a new Fortitude save to recover from lycanthropy.

Bolded the most relevant parts.

What that means is after three days spells stop working.

After three days, the only thing that I can see is ingesting wolfsbane.

The template doesn't call out that approach as being only available within the three days.

However, wolfsbane is problematic in itself, as it harms the constitution and thus weakens your fortitude save... so it's effectively giving you another shot at the fortitude save, but with a potential penalty (though usually no more than -1 per dose of wolfsbane).

Still, depending on how much of a curse your GM rules it to be, it may be worth it.

[Nearyn]

Healer wrote:

so remove curse wouldn't work?

But it is a curse, I thought, so it might work.

I haven't read anything against it...

Seconded. As it is presently, it does not make a whole lot of sense. I actually recently made a rant-thread about it

Alot-O'-What?: Lycanthropy

There seems to be alot of artefacts in the Lycanthropy writing, and it basically amounts to alot of confusing writing IMO.

But as I read it, presently you can just have lycanthropy removed by a level 5 cleric with Remove Curse.

-Nearyn

[Healer]

So now I've read your thread.

That is exactly, what I meant..it is just confusing.
I was thinking and when it is such a mighty curse/disease, why are the DC that low, so character beyond the 10 -12th level could use it to get more power..