Lycanthrope Question

[xerxez]

Hello folks.

In your games, when a were-beast dies in animal form, do you assume the creature will change back to human form during it's throes?

Having one not do so is, frankly, a good way to make the players believe they have encountered a dire wolf or some such creature, being heedless of the danger of lycanthropy.

This would not be so that one could be an evil DM, but to serve up a fresh take on an old theme, instead of player knowledge of were-creatures informing character actions.

[Red Baron]

I think that when normal weapons bounce right off a wolf, players start to consider that there might be something magical at work.

[waysoftheearth]

True, but it's also a plausible interpretation of the rules that heroes can hit such monsters even with normal weapons (this being derived from Chainmail, and stated explicitly for missiles in D&D under the protection from normal missiles spell).

[oldkat]

Not only do I "assume" it--but I expect it! The reason: the disease which caused/es lycanthropy dies with the host, thus resulting in the deceased resuming its natural form. Such similar cases would be beings/creatures Polymorphed; once dead, the magic causing them to be different than their natural form would cease, and the natural form would appear.

But that's just me.

[Porphyre]

As you put it, it's an old theme I would rather follow. But if your objective is to lead players astray , the change could come later after death.
Or the mortally wounded beast could flee and hide to die, like in the old tales where the huntsman fires on an unusually large wolf , then later follows its trail to found the corpse of a witch/warlock.

[xerxez]

Interesting replies, my fellow gamers.

Interesting indeed. I suppose it's all in line with the lore, even if it does not expressly state in any of my books (that I am aware) that it is as you have said.

This did in fact happen--the player characters were all armed with magical weapons and thus the werewolves' immunity to non-magical weapons did not reveal itself.

The were-creatures in this campaign are unwilling servants to a Lower Power who has assumed some control over their shifting and their minds.

I should state that it is never my intent to lead players astray--it is only that I sometimes lament that my players are full of knowledge from the gaming books that their PC's would not have and I simply wanted to revive some dormant instincts and emotions when one of them finally does realize they have been afflicted.

I claim a liberty or two when I am running a home stitched setting...

[xerxez]

Interesting replies, my fellow gamers.

Interesting indeed. I suppose it's all in line with the lore, even if it does not expressly state in any of my books (that I am aware) that it is as you have said.

This did in fact happen--the player characters were all armed with magical weapons and thus the werewolves' immunity to non-magical weapons did not reveal itself.

The were-creatures in this campaign are unwilling servants to a Lower Power who has assumed some control over their shifting and their minds.

I should state that it is never my intent to lead players astray--it is only that I sometimes lament that my players are full of knowledge from the gaming books that their PC's would not have and I simply wanted to revive some dormant instincts and emotions when one of them finally does realize they have been afflicted. It may be that at that point, someone will dispute the wolf corpse, but I'll call it metagaming if they do

I claim a liberty or two when I am running a home stitched setting...

[coffee]

Dec 12, 2013 20:35:55 GMT -6 xerxez said:

I claim a liberty or two when I am running a home stitched setting...

As well you should!

Your game is just that: Your game. Your lycanthropes (or dragons, or orcs, or whatever) work the way you decide, and if the players insist that the books says otherwise, calmly tell them they shouldn't put so much faith in folklore and rumor.