Lycanthropy

Using the core mechanics from Grimhollow, and adjusting/supplementing as needed.

Prerequisites:

First Transformation

To successfully experience a transformation, there are certain prerequisites - narrative and mechanical - before you can gain the first transformation level. For Lycanthropy, those are as follows:

• Have contracted the "curse of Lycanthropy" - i.e. being bitten and failing the constitution save. Or being imbued by other druidic rituals.
• Str: 13

With these prerequisites satisfied, the transformation takes hold and alters your physicality whenever your character next experiences a full moon - be it 2 days or 3 weeks from when they contracted the curse. If they are still cursed by the time the next full moon first rises on the horizon, the transformation process begins, and they experience a horrific bodily change as the curse is forcefully integrated into their body.
Strength is your Transformation Save DC as a Lycanthrope for all your abilities, so:

• Ability Save DC = 8+ Proficiency bonus+ Str modifier

Transformation Levels

After this process is completed - assuming the character has survived the ordeal, they are now at transformation level 1. To progress through transformation levels, your character must cross certain milestones. Keep in mind - your character likely doesn't know exactly what they need to do to progress these levels and this power, unless they uncover ancient texts, or perhaps encounter an NPC who has gone through those changes themselves... These are a few examples, and the specific milestones your character must reach up to DM discretion:

• Killing an Alpha Lycanthrope.
• Gaining control of your animalistic urges.
• Unleashing the beast within you and losing your humanity.
• Completing an ancient ritual.
• Obtaining a powerful artifact.
• Being cursed by a dark agent.
• Undertaking an exceptionally evil (or good) act.

Features - Boons and Flaws:

Helpless creatures - Explained:

For some features, you may see mention of a "helpless creature" - these are specific qualifiers to this transformation and how you interact as your transformed bestial self. While helpless creatures are often met with a modicum of sympathy by most - to the bestial side of a Lycanthrope, these creatures represent prey. For in-game purposes, a helpless creature is defined as a humanoid that has one of the following conditions:

• Unconscious
• Restrained
• Blinded
• Paralyzed
• Or frightened

Additionally, creatures that are so vulnerable in their current situation they are completely defenseless are also considered helpless. For example, a disarmed, defeated enemy currently pleading for mercy. In these instances, the GM decides if the creature is considered "helpless" or not.
Optional Replacements are included here, from the Players Guide. will import from my iPhone scan...

Level 1

At Tranformation Level 1. you get 2 boons and a flaw: Lust for the Hunt, as well as Hybrid Transformation, and Shapechangers Form.

Lust for the Hunt - flaw

The savage nature of your curse sometimes causes you to lose control. These ferocious tendencies are a constant struggle between you as a humanoid and the beast within. When you are in your hybrid form, you must succeed at a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw at the beginning of each turn or lose control. If you are in the light of a full moon, you automatically fail this saving throw. If you fail this saving throw, you are subjected to the following until you succeed:

• You must move toward the closest non-player creature you can see, smell or hear, prioritizing helpless creatures. If you end your movement and no non-player creature is within 5 feet of you, then you must use your action to dash toward one.
• If there is a non-player creature within 5 feet of you and you have not used your action, you must make a melee attack against it, prioritizing helpless creatures.
• If you made a melee attack against a creature, and that creature is still alive, then you must use your bonus action to make an unarmed claw or bite attack against the same creature.

Additionally, if you are subjected to the light of a full moon you must succeed at a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or automatically turn into your hybrid form and cannot transform back until dawn. If you succeed in this saving throw, you are immune to its effects for 24 hours.

Hybrid Transformation - boon

As an action, you may transform into a monstrous hybrid: half-beast, half-sentient. While in your hybrid form, the following rules apply:

• You can't cast spells or concentrate on spells.
Your ability to speak is reduced to short, basic, guttural responses.
• Your stats remain the same as your humanoid stats.
• Any armor you are wearing merges into your Hybrid Form or immediately drops to the ground. The GM may decide if they feel the armor is too large to merge.
• While transformed and not wearing any armor or using a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Constitution modifier + your Dexterity modifier.
• While transformed you can use weapons and equipment as normal, unless specified elsewhere.
• You roll a d6 in place of the normal damage for your unarmed strikes. Attacks using your claws deal slashing damage instead of bludgeoning damage.
• When making the attack action you may substitute one attack to make an unarmed bite attack. If the attack hits, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d8 + your Strength modifier.
If you make a bite attack, you cannot make another until the beginning of your next turn.
• If you made the attack action, as a bonus action you may make an unarmed claw attack or bite attack, provided you have not already used your bonus action.

Your hybrid form lasts for a number of hours equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1) and ends early if you are knocked unconscious or reduced to o hit points. You can end your Hybrid Form by using an action on your turn.

Shapechangers Form - boon

Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1. An ability score cannot be increased beyond 16 this way. You become a Shapechanger in addition to any other creature types you are. Spells and abilities that affect Shapechangers of a specific CR have no effect on you.

Level 2

At Transformation Level 2. you get to choose one of the boons from the following, and also gain this level's flaw: x, and a choice between y, z, etc.

Silver Sensitivity - flaw

The savage nature of your curse sometimes causes you to lose control. These ferocious tendencies are a constant struggle between you as a humanoid and the beast within. When you are in
and either of:

Iron Pelt- boon

While in hybrid form, you have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-silvered, non-magical sources.

Hunters Howl - boon

While in your hybrid form, you can use a bonus action to let out a loud howl and mark a creature within 60 feet as your prey. A creature remains marked this way for 1 hour, or until it dies. While a creature is marked as your prey, you gain the following benefits:

• Whenever you hit the marked creature with a melee attack, you deal an additional 1d6 damage. This damage is the same type as the attack.
• You have advantage on any Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check you make to track your prey.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Strength modifier (minimum of 1). You regain all expended uses of this feature upon a short or long rest.

Kindred Form- boon

Either Wolf, or Bear - (If we want to make a new subset we can) You gain the ability to transform into the animal form representative of your Lycanthropy type, known as your Kindred Form. You follow the same rules as the Hybrid Transformation feature and any feature that specifies the hybrid transformation, unless specified otherwise. You can only transform into the kindred form representative of your Lycanthropy. Each Kindred Form gains the following rules:

• You cannot speak.
• You cannot take any actions requiring hands, except your Transformation capabilities.
• You can only use unarmed claw and bite attacks.
• You automatically succeed at all saving throws relating to the Lust for the Hunt flaw.
• Other than being larger, you are indistinguishable from a regular animal of your Kindred Form.

KINDRED FORM - BEAR

Your kindred form takes the shape of a large bear. While in your kindred form, you gain the additional features:

• You can speak to and understand other bears.

• When you make any saving throw, you can add your Constitution modifier to the result.
• Your hit point maximum increases by 15
hit points.

KINDRED FORM - WOLF

Your kindred form takes the shape of a ferocious dire wolf. While in your kindred form, you gain the additional features:

• You can speak to and understand other wolves.
• When making an attack against a creature, if an ally is within 5 feet of that creature and not incapacitated, you have advantage on that attack roll.
• Your speed increases by 20 feet, to a maximum of 60.

Optional addition

Heart of the Wild - boon

the spirits of nature speak to you through your bestial side, offering you guidance and knowledge. You may now cast and concentrate on spells in hybrid form. Additionally, you can speak, read, and write Sylvan, and you have advantage on Wisdom and Charisma checks to interact with fey and beasts.

Level 3

At Transformation Level 3. you get to choose one of the boons from the following, and also gain this level's flaw: x, and a choice between y, z, etc.

Fraying Memories - flaw

You have begun to suffer the effects of sharing a mind with two personalities. Memories of less practical significance have been lost to new ones of midnight hunts. You have disadvantage on Intelligence ability and skill checks recalling information or knowledge.
and either of:

Titanic Vigor - boon

Your hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to twice your character level, and it increases by 2 every time you gain a character level. Additionally, when in your hybrid form, you gain 5 temporary hit points at the start of your turn..

Predatory leap- boon

Your jump distance is doubled. In addition, in hybrid form, if you jumped more than 5 feet and land within 5 feet of a creature, you can immediately take the attack action to attack that creature. On a hit, the target must make a Strength saving throw or become prone on a failed save. You can decide to automatically grapple the target if they fail their save.

Bestial Savagery - boon

You have embraced the animalistic side of your transformation. While in your Hybrid Form, you gain the following benefits:

• Your unarmed attacks deal 1d8 slashing damage and are considered magic attacks.
• Your AC increases by 1.

• You are immune to the charmed and frightened conditions.

Optional addition

Call the Pack - boon

NOTE - Requires the Hunters Howl feature When you use your Hunter's Howl ability, up to three allies you designate within 60 feet of the target also gain the benefits. Your Hunter's Howl also grants those allies advantage on attack rolls against the target if another affected ally is within 5 feet of the creature and not incapacitated. Additionally, when a hostile creature afflicted by your Hunter's Howl dies, you regain hit points equal to twice your Strength modifier.

Level 4

At Maximum Transformation Level 4, you get to choose one of the boons from the following, and also gain this level's flaw: x, and a choice between y, z, etc.

Predatory Nature - flaw

You have begun to realize the true cost of your transformation. The beast within has gained more control of your body than you have. While you can control it at times you know it cannot be contained forever, and when it breaks free, it will delight in any slaughter it can find. You gain the following features:

• If you can see, hear or smell a helpless creature, you gain disadvantage on all Wisdom saving throws.
• At the beginning of your turn, if you can see, hear or smell a hostile or helpless non-player creature, you must succeed a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be transformed into your Hybrid Form. If you succeed this saving throw, you become immune to this effect until dawn.
• Whenever you kill a creature and you are in your Hybrid Form, you cannot transform back into your humanoid form until dawn the next day. Although you can transform into your Kindred Form.

and either of:

Savage instincts - boon

You have developed an unrelenting thirst for bloodshed and carnage. While in your hybrid form, if you hit a creature with an unarmed attack, and it is missing any of its hitpoints, the base damage die is increased to 1d12.

Kindred Affinity - boon

NOTE - Requires Kindred Form Transformation feature. You have reached true harmony with your Kindred Form, achieving a state of peace most Lycanthropes never find. You gain the following benefits while in your Kindred Form:

• You can speak.
• You can cast spells without needing to provide their verbal or somatic components.
Additionally, you can cast spells without needing to provide material components, provided they do not have a gold cost.
• Friendly creatures within 20 feet of you have advantage on Wisdom ability checks and saving throws.

Unstoppable rage - boon

You have become a visage of unkillable carnage and slaughter even other Lycanthropes fear. When you are reduced to 0 hit points and you are not killed outright, you are not knocked unconscious. You can take your future turns as though you were not at o hit points and are affected by all spells, abilities, and features as normal. While you have 0 hit points, taking damage causes death-saving throw failures as normal, and three death-saving throw failures can still kill you.
Optional addition

Blood Frenzy - boon

NOTE - Requires Bestial Savagery feature Your bite attack damage increases to 2d8. If you hit a creature with a bite attack, you can force the creature to make a Strength saving throw against your Transformation Save DC or be grappled. While the target is grappled in this way, you have advantage on attack rolls against them and deal additional damage with your natural weapons equal to your Strength modifier.

Image of book levels for easier reference 

Ability Save DC

8+ Prof. bonus + Str. mod

Type

Supernatural

All Book images for reference

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