Lycanthropes and CON scores

[The Kool]

So, the stat blocks on the SRD don't have the HP of these monsters increasing when their CON scores do. Is this right? Or in error?

[hamishspence]

So, the stat blocks on the SRD don't have the HP of these monsters increasing when their CON scores do. Is this right? Or in error?


Nope - the statblocks are fine. Creatures with Alternate Form don't change their HP when they change their CON:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#alternateForm

Alternate Form
A creature with this special quality has the ability to assume one or more specific alternate forms. A true seeing spell or ability reveals the creature’s natural form. A creature using alternate form reverts to its natural form when killed, but separated body parts retain their shape. A creature cannot use alternate form to take the form of a creature with a template. Assuming an alternate form results in the following changes to the creature:

The creature retains the type and subtype of its original form. It gains the size of its new form. If the new form has the aquatic subtype, the creature gains that subtype as well.
The creature loses the natural weapons, natural armor, and movement modes of its original form, as well as any extraordinary special attacks of its original form not derived from class levels (such as the barbarian’s rage class feature).
The creature gains the natural weapons, natural armor, movement modes, and extraordinary special attacks of its new form.
The creature retains the special qualities of its original form. It does not gain any special qualities of its new form.
The creature retains the spell-like abilities and supernatural attacks of its old form (except for breath weapons and gaze attacks). It does not gain the spell-like abilities or attacks of its new form.
The creature gains the physical ability scores (Str, Dex, Con) of its new form. It retains the mental ability scores (Int, Wis, Cha) of its original form. Apply any changed physical ability score modifiers in all appropriate areas with one exception: the creature retains the hit points of its original form despite any change to its Constitution.
The creature retains its hit points and save bonuses, although its save modifiers may change due to a change in ability scores.
Except as described elsewhere, the creature retains all other game statistics of its original form, including (but not necessarily limited to) HD, hit points, skill ranks, feats, base attack bonus, and base save bonuses.
The creature retains any spellcasting ability it had in its original form, although it must be able to speak intelligibly to cast spells with verbal components and it must have humanlike hands to cast spells with somatic components.
The creature is effectively camouflaged as a creature of its new form, and it gains a +10 bonus on Disguise checks if it uses this ability to create a disguise.
Any gear worn or carried by the creature that can’t be worn or carried in its new form instead falls to the ground in its space. If the creature changes size, any gear it wears or carries that can be worn or carried in its new form changes size to match the new size. (Nonhumanoid-shaped creatures can’t wear armor designed for humanoid-shaped creatures, and vice versa.) Gear returns to normal size if dropped.

[The Kool]

Many thanks... I suspected there was something in the Alternate Form description but wasn't finding it. Sad, that CON buff could be a massive handful of HP.

On a tangential note, does it make sense that a werewolf who undergoes a physical change gains no extra HP, but a barbarian who just gets blindingly mad DOES get extra HP?

[KillianHawkeye]

So, the stat blocks on the SRD don't have the HP of these monsters increasing when their CON scores do. Is this right? Or in error?

They actually have the hit points from the increased Con on their animal Hit Dice all the time, which you can actually see in all the stat blocks. The text is in the rules of the template:

Hit Dice and Hit Points

Same as the base creature plus those of the base animal. To calculate total hit points, apply Constitution modifiers according to the score the lycanthrope has in each form.

So you get your normal character levels hp with your normal character Con score plus your animal hp with your improved animal Con score. You can verify that it works this way by checking the stats for the Werewolf Lord, which is a human 10th-level Fighter dire werewolf. He has the normal hp of a 10th-level Fighter with a 14 Con plus the hp of a 6 HD animal with a 20 Con no matter which form he is in.

[The Kool]

That's really helpful. I just ran my players against a Half-Dragon Hill Giant Dire Wereboar. Two level 5s and a level 8. They managed to win, but he used poor tactics. He'll be back when they're higher level.