Were OttersWere Otter is an Acquired or Inherited Template that can be applied to any Humanoid. Were Otters are minions of the Goddess of Zoanthropes, as are most weres. Since Otters are playful, and people seem to adore them, she thought they'd make perfect nautical spies. She was right. Unfortunately their preferences for water don't make them wide ranging spies. But since city ports are where much activity and business happens, they are still quite useful. And Otters are soft fuzzy critters. People find it hard to kill soft fuzzy critters.
Size and Type: Type remains the same, and the Base Creature gains the Shapechanger Subtype. Size in Otter form is Small, Size in Hybrid form is Small. Size in humanoid form is unchanged.
Hit Dice: Same as the base creature plus 1d8. To calculate total hit points, apply Constitution modifiers according to the score the zoanthrope has in each form.
Speed: Land speed is 20 in Hybrid and Otter forms, otherwise unchanged. May not use any alternate movement forms the humanoid form possesses in the Otter or Hybrid Forms. All 3 forms have a Swim speed of 30 feet (unless they have a higher racial Swim Speed).
Armor Class: Use the humanoid forms Natural Armor bonus for all 3 forms. Natural Armor bonus increases by +1.
Attacks: Use the humanoids BAB for all 3 forms (Grapple bonus will change due to Size penalties in Hybrid and Otter forms).
Damage: The Hybrid and Otter Forms have a Bite attack that does 1d3 damage (1d4 in Hybrid Form) plus one and a half times Strength Modifier.
Special Attacks: A zoanthrope retains the special attacks of the base creature or base animal, depending on which form it is using, and also gains the special attacks described below:
Curse of Zoanthropy(Su): Any humanoid or giant hit by a natural zoanthrope’s bite attack in animal or hybrid form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract zoanthropy. If the victim’s size is not within one size category of the zoanthrope the victim cannot contract zoanthropy from that zoanthrope. Afflicted zoanthropes cannot pass on the curse of zoanthropy.
Special Qualities: A zoanthrope retains all the special qualities of the base creature and the base animal, and also gains those described below:
Alternate Form (Su): A zoanthrope can assume the form of a specific animal (as indicated in its entry). Changing to or from animal or hybrid form is a standard action. A slain zoanthrope reverts to its humanoid form, although it remains dead. Separated body parts retain their animal form, however. Afflicted zoanthropes find this ability difficult to control, but natural zoanthropes have full control over this power.
Damage Reduction (Ex): An afflicted zoanthrope in animal or hybrid form has damage reduction 5/silver. A natural zoanthrope in animal or hybrid form has damage reduction 10/silver.
Otter Empathy (Ex): In any form, zoanthropes can communicate and empathize with normal or dire animals of their animal form. This gives them a +4 racial bonus on checks when influencing the animal’s attitude and allows the communication of simple concepts and (if the animal is friendly) commands, such as "friend," "foe," "flee," and "attack."
Low-light Vision (Ex): A zoanthrope has low-light vision in any form.
Scent (Ex): A zoanthrope has the scent ability in any form.
Hold Breath (Ex): A Were Otter can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Saves: Increase Base creatures Fortitude and Reflex Saves by +2.
Abilities: Were Otters gain +2 Wis. Physical Stats in Otter and Hybrid Forms are -2 Str, +4 Dex, +2 Cha.
Skills: Were Otters gain a +8 Racial Bonus on Swim Checks, and may Always Take 10 on a Swim Check. They can use the Run Action while swimming in a straight line. They also gain a +4 Racial Bonus on Balance, luff, Climb, Hide, Move Silently and Perform Checks, and may use their Strength or Dexterity Modifier for Climb Checks, whichever is better. Skill bonuses are in Otter and Hybrid forms only. It gains (Int+2) skill points, Class Skills are Balance, Bluff, Climb, Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Spot and Swim.
Feats: Gains Weapon Finesse and Iron Will as Bonus Feats.
Environment: Unchanged, but Were Otters prefer to move near water.
Organization: Solitary (Unchanged if there are enough other Were Otters about, or in squads of 5-10 if working for the Lycanthrope Goddess).
Challenge Rating: +1
Treasure: Unchanged.
Alignment: Usually Neutral with some tendencies towards Chaos.
Advancement: Unchanged, usually by Character Class
Level Adjustment: +1 Afflicted (+2 Natural)
Example of creature using template here:
Piggie Faced Bob (Human Form)
Medium Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger) Expert 1
Hit Dice: 1d6+1 (4 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), Swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 12 (+1 Dex, +1 Natural), touch 11, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/+2
Attack: Club +2 melee (1d6+2)
Full Attack: Club +2 melee (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: ---
Special Qualities: Alter Form, Low Light Vision, Scent, Otter Empathy
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +5
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 8
Skills: Balance +5, luff +3, Climb +6, Hide +5, Knowledge (Local, Nature) +3, Listen +5, Move Silently +5, Perform +3, Profession (Fisherman, Sailor) +4, Spot +5, Swim +10
Feats: Alertness, Iron Will (B), Weapon Finesse (B)
Challenge Rating: 2
Alignment: Neutral
Advancement: By Character Class
Level Adjustment: +2
Piggie Faced Bob (Hybrid Form)
Small Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger) Commoner 1
Hit Dice: 1d6+1 (4 hp)
Initiative: Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), Swim 20 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Size, +3 Dex, +1 Natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-4
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Curse of Zoanthropy
Special Qualities: Alter Form, Low Light Vision, Hold Breath, Scent, Otter Empathy, DR 10/Silver
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +5
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10
Skills: Balance +7, Bluff +4, Climb +7, Hide +11, Knowledge (Local, Nature) +3, Listen +5, Move Silently +7, Perform +4, Profession (Fisherman, Sailor) +4, Spot +5, Swim +9
Feats: Alertness, Iron Will (B), Weapon Finesse (B)
Challenge Rating: 2
Alignment: Neutral
Advancement: By Character Class
Level Adjustment: +2
Piggie Faced Bob (Otter Form)
Small Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger) Expert 1
Hit Dice: 1d6+1 (4 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), Swim 20 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Size, +3 Dex, +1 Natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-10
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d3+1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d3+1)
Space/Reach: 2 1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Curse of Zoanthropy
Special Qualities: Alter Form, Low Light Vision, Hold Breath, Scent, Otter Empathy, DR 10/Silver
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +5
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 17, Cha 10
Skills: Balance +7, luff +4, Climb +7, Hide +11, Knowledge (Local, Nature) +3, Listen +5, Move Silently +7, Perform +4, Profession (Fisherman, Sailor) +4, Spot +5, Swim +9
Feats: Alertness, Iron Will (B), Weapon Finesse (B)
Challenge Rating: 2
Alignment: Neutral
Advancement: By Character Class
Level Adjustment: +2
Piggie Faced Bob is a local fisherman and sailor. Hanging out fishing by the docks it was inevitable he'd end up becoming a Were Otter. Guess they felt it was payment for all the free fish he gives them.
Were Otter"So you became a Were Otter because the Otters liked you?""Yup.""And that's all there is to it?"
"Yup.""What do you do now?"
"I'm still a fisherman."Alternative Cats"And you do side jobs or the Church?"
"Yup, they been good to me""Any changes in your life?""I get to play with the critters more."Unexpectedly Savage"Is there any advice you'd like to give our viewers?"
"Otters can be mean, don't tease them."