Curse of lycanthropy

The nature of lycanthropy has varied immensely across the past four or five editions of D&D. Here is my attempt at a framework which accounts for all of them at once. More information below the break...

I have divided lycanthropy into three types and a variable number of subtypes. This typology is based on that originally presented in Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts for 2e, then expanded to account for the types introduced in later editions.

• Type 1 was a hereditary condition in which the lycanthrope had full control over their transformation. These lycanthropes were carriers of type 2 lycanthropy and could infect others through their natural attacks or certain bodily fluids.
• Type 1B did not carry type 2 lycanthropy. Instead, they had cursed natural attacks that could afflict victims with type 3 lycanthropy as the spell curse of lycanthropy.
• Type 1C were solely hereditary could not infect others with lycanthropy. They could carry other diseases like "filth fever" and "moon frenzy," depending on their phenotype.
• Type 2 was an affliction in which the lycanthrope had no control over their transformation. It was spread like a disease and could be contracted from the natural attacks or bodily fluids of a lycanthrope or inherited as a congenital disease from an afflicted parent.
• Type 3 was the result of a curse, such as the spell curse of lycanthropy. These lycanthropes had no control over their transformation. They could not spread lycanthropy to others.
• Type 3B was infectious in a manner similar to type 2.

Although monster manuals gloss lycanthropes as vulnerable to silver and involuntary changing shape under the full moon, Van Richten's Guide suggests that GMs feel free to change the specific vulnerability and trigger for each manifestation of lycanthropy to keep players on their toes.

3e introduced the Control Shape skill for lycanthropes to learn how to control the transformation, if they did not have full control. Similar mechanics may or may not exist in other editions.

Different campaign settings may be limited to only one or two types of lycanthropy. In 2e only types 1, 2, 3, and 3b were available. In 3e only types 1b and 3 were available. In 4e only type 1c was available. In 5e only type 2 was available.

In a future post I will go into more detail on lycanthrope lore...