Characters can often attain templates outside of normal class progession (like turning vampire, becoming a lycanthrope, outsider, or elemental)
If a character gets turned into a ghoul / vampire / were they immediately get all the drawbacks of the new form, but none of the advantages. The advantages must be bought with experience points
The tempates have the following costs. The costs stack so getting a CR 2 teplate requires 6000 xp for a natural vampire. Buying only part of the full template give only the least of the natural abilities. The full template must be bought before the most powerful abilities are granted.
Natural (born-with template)
0 CR no cost. Character may not get normal racial bonuses.
1 CR 2000
2 CR 4000
3 CR 7000
4 CR 11000
5 CR 16000
Added (template gained after birth)
0 CR 500
1 CR 2000
2 CR 4000
3 CR 7000
4 CR 11000
5 CR 16000
Example Template
The following is an example of how lycathropy would affect a party member if they were bitten by a were-rat. It shows what abilities show up at what template levels (500, 2500 & 6500 xp, iirc)
Template 0 (500 XP)
Darkvision 60 ft
Type changes to shapechanger
Alternate form (Su) change into animal form
Curse of lycanthropy (Su) damage dealt w/ bite or slashing/piercing
Template 1 (2500 XP)
Lycanthropic empathy (Ex) (+4 to checks when dealing w/ rats/dire rats)
+2 natural armor bonus to AC (+3 in hybrid & animal forms)
Damage reduction (Ex) 5/Silver
Abilities: +6 Dex, +2 Con in hybrid & animal forms
Saving throws: +2 Fort, +2 Will
Skills: +4 racial bonus to Search, Spot, Listen (+8 in hybrid/animal)
Feats: hybrid & animal form have Multiattack, Weapon Finesse (any), Weapon Finesse (Bite) - Dire Rat also has Scent
Template 2 (6500 XP)
Alternate form (Su) change into hybrid
Damage reduction (Ex) 15/Silver
Stops losing XP to template.
Questions and answers :
Q: when does XP start getting funneled to the template instead of class levels? at infection? end of incubation (1st full moon)? first voluntary change?
A: XP starts funneling at first change. If you are fighting the disease you can make Will saves (DC 15) to stop at 0th or 1st level. Anytime you kill as a shapechanger or infect another using a lycanthrope form the DC raises by 10.
Q: what happens if XP is spent & levels of template gained, and The character is cured? That XP disappears & is unrecoverable?
A: The XP is lost. If cured before the first voluntary change, XP may be recoverable. The XP permanently lost is around 500 XP per kill or infection while in lycanthrope form. (i.e. non human)
Q: the MM lists shapechangers as having darkvision 60ft
A: Darkvision is present in all forms. It is part of the dark taint in your blood.
Q: the MM also lists animals as having low light vision
A: Only affects animal shape.
The following is an example of how lycathropy would affect a party member if they were bitten by a were-cougar. It shows what abilities show up at what template levels (500, 2500 & 6500 xp, iirc)
Template 0 (500 XP)
Darkvision 60 ft
Type changes to shapechanger
Alternate form (Su) change into animal form
Curse of lycanthropy (Su) damage dealt w/ bite
Template 1 (2500 XP)
Lycanthropic empathy (Ex) (+4 to checks when dealing w/ cats/cougars)
+2 natural armor bonus to AC (+2 in hybrid & animal forms)
Damage reduction (Ex) 5/Silver
Abilities: +6 Str, +8 Dex, +4 Con in hybrid & animal forms
Saving throws: +2 Fort, +2 Will
Skills: +4 racial bonus to Search, Spot, Listen (+8 in hybrid/animal)
Feats: hybrid & animal form have Multiattack, Weapon Finesse (claw), Weapon Finesse (Bite), Blindfight - Cougar also has Scent
Template 2 (6500 XP)
Alternate form (Su) change into hybrid
Damage reduction (Ex) 15/Silver
Stops losing XP to template.
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