Mad_Jack
Legend
I think the key is to gatekeep the damage immunity, strength increase and multi-attack behind the requirement to be in hybrid form.
Some things to consider, going on the above assumption...
The lycanthrope's hybrid form is a melee beast (pun intended)... But the character is a gunslinger, and assuming he's still looking to play a ranged character rather than going all John Wick gun-fu, should be making at least a token effort to stay out of melee range. Which means that, in general, they're not taking nearly as much damage as a melee character or as often. And if they're not taking as much damage, the ability to resist/completely shrug off damage that they're not taking anyway becomes somewhat less impressive. If they're not planning to stay in melee range, the beast form's multi-attack isn't as useful.
Since the transformation requires an action, and combats are generally brief, action economy strongly behooves them to pick one form - Quickdraw McGraw or Fluffy the Wonder Poodle - and stick with it for the entire fight: They can't effectively be fast and furry-ous in the same battle, particularly since their equipment doesn't transform with them.
So here's how I'd do it...
- The transformation to wolf form and to hybrid form are handled differently:
Wolf form can be taken proficiency bonus times per long rest.
Hybrid form is modeled on the frequency and duration of the barbarian's rage ability, with the caveat that:
A) if the character takes damage in the first turn of an encounter before they've had a chance to act, or
B) they take damage equal or greater than their CON score in a single round,
they must make a CON save (DC = damage taken) or transform involuntarily if they still have uses of their transformation available.
During the transformation to hybrid or wolf, they gain the STR increase, the AC bonus, the damage immunity and the wolf/hybrid attacks.
You'll have to work out whether or not the hybrid form is capable of wearing the gunslinger's armor and using his guns. Which probably isn't too problematic since shooting the guns isn't affected at all by the effects of the transformation.
Some things to consider, going on the above assumption...
The lycanthrope's hybrid form is a melee beast (pun intended)... But the character is a gunslinger, and assuming he's still looking to play a ranged character rather than going all John Wick gun-fu, should be making at least a token effort to stay out of melee range. Which means that, in general, they're not taking nearly as much damage as a melee character or as often. And if they're not taking as much damage, the ability to resist/completely shrug off damage that they're not taking anyway becomes somewhat less impressive. If they're not planning to stay in melee range, the beast form's multi-attack isn't as useful.
Since the transformation requires an action, and combats are generally brief, action economy strongly behooves them to pick one form - Quickdraw McGraw or Fluffy the Wonder Poodle - and stick with it for the entire fight: They can't effectively be fast and furry-ous in the same battle, particularly since their equipment doesn't transform with them.
So here's how I'd do it...
- The character gains the enhanced senses (maybe proficiency in Perception if they don't already have it, maybe expertise if they do) and shapechanger in all his forms.
- He also gets the tabaxi's claws trait (1d4/slashing unarmed strike) in all his forms.
- You might give him resistance to non-magical, non-silver b/p/s damage (perhaps for CON modifier rounds usable proficiency bonus times per long rest) if you're feeling generous.
- The transformation to wolf form and to hybrid form are handled differently:
Wolf form can be taken proficiency bonus times per long rest.
Hybrid form is modeled on the frequency and duration of the barbarian's rage ability, with the caveat that:
A) if the character takes damage in the first turn of an encounter before they've had a chance to act, or
B) they take damage equal or greater than their CON score in a single round,
they must make a CON save (DC = damage taken) or transform involuntarily if they still have uses of their transformation available.
During the transformation to hybrid or wolf, they gain the STR increase, the AC bonus, the damage immunity and the wolf/hybrid attacks.
You'll have to work out whether or not the hybrid form is capable of wearing the gunslinger's armor and using his guns. Which probably isn't too problematic since shooting the guns isn't affected at all by the effects of the transformation.
Last edited: