Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter - Dungeons and Dragons

[@IrontMesdent]

Multiclass a bloodhunter with a gunslinger and you'll be playing the protagonist of Bloodborne

[@TitanGamingTV]

Gunmagic bloodslinging!

[@Z1Blue]

@@TitanGamingTV Hello I am making a Drow Bloodhunter at the moment and I have decided to be in the order of the lycan and I was wondering if you have any advice for me and possible stats that I should have? I am using a heavy crossbow pluss dual wielding a longsword and a dagger. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[@thesarcasticmagician9092]

Had a ranger get inflicted with lycanthropy in my current campaign. He tried his best to find a cure but, heard of a group striving to find a way to control such a curse not remove it. He multiclassed as a bloodhunter of this order and i was so hyped my buddy wanted to try this lol.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Yea! That's an awesome way to organically feature this in the game. Good on you both for playing that through!

[@thesarcasticmagician9092]

Titan Bear Gaming there was a moment we all thought he would die as we climbed up a mountain pilgrimage to reach a ruin. We were stuck in one the mountain crevices with a Roc flying over head. If we stayed the night he would of turned under the moon. At the time only my character knew his curse and was worried the other two would accept his proposal to distract the roc for us to leave. We all agreed to fight his roc and won! The party got to escort an injured man back down while he stayed to "harvest" the bird. He went berserk that night in the safest spot. Lucky gambles my friend.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Love it.

[@bbtman1]

I just realized that this is basically a usable version of a Barbarian / Monk multiclass but just put into a different theme, basically a rage monk but as a Lycan trained monster hunter

[@TitanGamingTV]

"Rage monk" is the new subtitle for this :)

[@bbtman1]

Thanks for the reply :D

[@dmitrijones3064]

mollymauk should be a were-peacock

[@TitanGamingTV]

This is now canon.

[@chaddixon9764]

Lol wow the big bad could hire an actual good cleric to cure the PC as a means of attacking the party.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Sure could. I love that addition to the text here, very insightful of Matt Mercer to include it.

[@HereticDuo]

It also isn't a class ruined too as it's included in the description that if they get cured against their will they an just get a hold of another member in a city & have it re applied without any negative reputation or dishonour attached. Its also cool how it specifically says it's taboo to inflict lycanthropy on to an unwilling target so if a party member wants it for whatever obscene reason you can give it to them willingly.

[@ryangottlieb9939]

I played this class for 9 levels and loved every minute of it. The GM for this game changed a little bit of the flavor of the class by allowing me to have already been cursed prior to finding the Order of the Lycan. The taming for him was a ritual performed so he could maintain control of his curse and his hybrid form. Even so for RP reasons my character was actually very hesitant about using his hybrid transformation for most of levels 3-7 (the first time he transformed he attacked, and almost killed, the group's paladin). The character's curse caused a lot of great RP tension in our group, with people constantly trying to convince my character to get cured or suppress his "inner beast" and not transform. He even went so far as to get help from the group's monk to learn meditation so he could suppress his desire to transform. It wasn't until the character found religion and started following the setting's hunter deity that he started embracing being part of the Order and using his hybrid form more and more (by the time the game ended he was using his hybrid form almost every combat). Mechanically, due to that, and the action economy of not wanting to spend an entire turn to transform, the character would only use the ability in emergencies for those levels. There were actually a few combats where spending a turn to transform turned out to be a detriment to the group. My character was also a high strength great-weapon user, so I didn't get much use from the predatory strikes aspect of hybrid transformation, but I never cared. The rest of the benefits I got from transforming were enough for me to be happy. As I said above the Bloodlust was a detriment. It came into play several times, and I took pains to try to keep the character farther away from allies than enemies so they wouldn't be target option. At least three times this failed though (in addition to the mention above) and the character seriously hurt party members each time. I love this class, it didn't feel overpowered and it fit right in with the rest of the group.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Sounds like you got some excellent play out of it, Ryan. It also sounds like your fellow players really bought into the curse of the transformation too -- drove some really rich narrative. Way to go :)

[@AnElite112]

Tova (played by Noelle Stevenson) in campaign 1 was a blood Hunter order of the Lycan (she was a were-bear) granted she was only on for a couple of episodes but she was level 14

[@TitanGamingTV]

And of course Travis was drooling the whole time ^^

[@AnElite112]

@@TitanGamingTV and so was trinket

[@TitanGamingTV]

Hahah too right.

[@matthewcoyle4131]

Matt does like Bloodborne a lot. Maybe even more than I thought.

[@luketfer]

Yeah this is literally a Bloodborne hunter. I already used the "hoonter must hoont" joke on the main Blood hunter video so I'll refrain from using that here. Considering this was put out after the rest I wouldn't be surprised if someone pointed out to him the similarities to Bloodborne and he put it out because of this.

[@darkchronos7758]

Matthew Coyle it's more Witcher than Bloodborne IMO

[@matthewcoyle4131]

DarkChronos He likes witcher a lot too but I feel like this particular archtype is very Bloodborne with the whole becoming the beasts you hunt.

[@romeochavez1111]

DarkChronos Know I'm late and you probably already know but the mutant is much more like a witcher

[@matthewcoyle4131]

Romeo Chavez I mean yeah it's kinda been addressed. But a Witcher isn't part warewolf are they? That's kinda Bloodborne. I mean Matt really likes both games he could've taken inspiration from both.

[@misterkewlaid5420]

I'm really glad you got around to making this video!

[@TitanGamingTV]

Had to complete the set!

[@Gemini-Lion]

I made a Golden Dragonborn as an Order of the Lycan Bloodhunter. Mostly because I know my DM would allow me to make it a werecreature other than werewolf (as long as the stats wouldn’t be different from werewolf). I made this Golden Dragonborn a weredragon (granted it doesn’t have wings due to the fact that having wings would probably change some stats).

[@hanbeihood3202]

I'm really glad that you mentioned how you figured the Hybrid Transformation feature doesn't make you any larger and that it's more like your body just becomes more like your werecreature in appearance. I was really curious about that feature because I'm wanting to make a Halfling Blood Hunter that becomes a Weretiger. Since all the werecreatures (that I've seen) are Medium, I had figured that my Halfling would go up a Size upon transforming. If anyone has any thoughts on a Small character playing this archetype I'd love to hear how you'd go about it!

[@TitanGamingTV]

Questions to answer with your DM: - Movement speed, do you normalize to Medium creature's movement speed when you grow? - Equipment, does your stuff grow with you (because magic) or does it "meld" into your form? Matt's class doesnt do this, but you could. Growing to Medium is easy -- its growing to Large thats trouble (which is probably why Matt avoided it). You could also stay a Small weretiger, nothing wrong with that. Strength and Dexterity ratings are global, so a Halfling with 18 STR is as capable as a half-orc with 18 STR. Depends on what you're interested in :)

[@hanbeihood3202]

That's what I was leaning towards; thanks for the input!

[@dylanmaguire3595]

A kenku or goblin werebear would be adorable

[@thomasjoychild4962]

I'd be tempted to fluff in that the character's armour, if it's a set they've had for a while or got from their order, is actually modified to be able to quickly expand/loosen a bit at the joints to accomodate the wearer's frame suddenly bulking up a bit. Observant people could notice the straps being odd when they first meet the hunter, and know it as an indication that someone's from the Order.

[@chriswilder9719]

Know I'm late but I do believe it states you keep all your equipment and can still use it when you shift into your were form

[@BlackestHeart101]

I wanna try this one! I love characters that have a chance of becoming a threat to the group themselves. Opens up a lot of story points, and character development points.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Yeah, it's a wonderful forced narrative element that, I agree with you, adds a lot to the base definition. Welcome to the party Scott!

[@PartridgeQuill]

I really like how you explain the need to spend an action, and your comparison to the Hulk made it make a lot of sense. Great job!

[@TitanGamingTV]

People seem to care most about balance, and the sheer benefits of Hulking out are so good, it was an easy call to pre-empt folks concerns. Shaving 1 action off the list matters quite a lot in 5e.

[@seanmasterson1448]

It's very interesting to watch you just make a KZbin channel out of absolutely nowhere. This is a masterclass in how to grab and capture people's attention. Well done!

[@TitanGamingTV]

D'aw wow, thanks Sean! Welcome to the party my friend, take a peek at some of the other videos and let me know your thoughts!

[@gunit5948]

I haven't played a ton of DnD, but I have watched a ton of Critical Role. In the episodes the players frequently use abilities before combat starts to get a head start. For example, Taliesin will "activate" his blood rite before combat starts so he doesn't need to burn a bonus action when it's his turn. So, would that same aspect work for the Lycan transformation? Sense impending conflict and transform into a werewolf before initiative rolls are called. That way you start your mayhem immediately. How would you rule this?

[@MonStarGuy]

Take grung (i.e. One Grung Above), Order of the Lycan, take a 2 level dip in monk for unarmored defense and movement as well as Flurry of Blows, or a 3 level dip for an extra ki point and monastic tradition (I like Kensei in order to make rapier and shortbow monk weapons), dip into fighter for fighting style at level 1, action surge at level 2, or Battlemaster maneuvers at level 3. For level 1 BH spell choose Hex, and melee cantrips. Use a rapier. You'll attack with 1d8 piercing+1d8 rite+2d4poison (grung can apply their poison to a weapon, the target must make a dc12 con save or take the poison damage)+1d6 hex, follow up with flurry of blows for 1d8 slashing+Rite+hex damage each attack, also the target must make a con save or be poisoned (because grung contact poison). Even if you don't take fighter for action surge and fighting style and only dip into monk, flurry of blows and unarmored defense are pretty great on a Lycan BH. Choose the Marked Blood Maledict and amplify it to double your crimson rite damage. It takes a couple rounds to set up because BH is BA heavy, and hex and Blood Maledict are BA also, but you should be able to keep your Rite active on your rapier so long as it stays in your hand (you can only keep your rite active on your unarmed strike while your lycanthropy is active, unless there's a loophole in missing by being monk) which should help your action economy a bit. Even more if you're able to have your lycanthropy and crimson rite already going before combat begins. The beautiful thing about this Class and this archetype is that they multiclass really well without losing a whole lot at the top end. Taking BH to 14 or 15 nets you plenty of benefits, while taking a dip makes you more versatile, more sturdy, and slightly less fragile. Going to 16 gets you an absi, and going to 17 ups your rite damage and nets you your 3rd spell slot somewhere along the way. And even just a 3 level dip into monk can land you a devastating nova round with a well-timed Flurry of Blows. If I'm missing something or making an incorrect assumption, let me know (but be gentle lol).

[@MonStarGuy]

Since you can't use melee cantrips with multi-attack unless you cast the melee cantrip with action surge, Melee cantrips are more useful for the rounds leading up to your nova round, since your action economy relies so heavily on Bonus Actions.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Solid build advice David!

[@swadow1497]

God am I happy I banned multiclassing into three classes...

[@HaleCommissar]

Just as a question I downloaded the pdf and I can't see where you get a spell as a blood hunter. How did you get hex into the build?

[@mollymauktealeaf]

It's in order of the profane soul. It gives you pact magic.

[@WylRobins0n]

Well I guess I’ll need to consider allowing the Bloodhunter class in my Ravenloft run; we’ll be recording it and posting on KZbin after editing is complete. Looks like we might get see the Order of the Lycan archetype in action after all. (Unless someone else beats our group to it) 😎

[@ticozayas6430]

By far the most interesting of the 4 orders, at least to me but I've always been partial to lycanthropy :)

[@TitanGamingTV]

I think an alarming amount of the internet would admit partiality towards lycanthropy. Haha.

[@ericspears5237]

Dragonborn blood hunter, based on the Red Dragon ( fire breath) then using hellish rebuke and rite of flame....lots of fire to go around

[@TitanGamingTV]

Tons of fire. And claws.

[@paulh3892]

You guys have a great channel, and your videos are so enjoyable! Having fun is good for ya, too! You guys have the best sign off quote of any channel haha

[@stressed_dm]

These have actually been super helpful, I have a player who will playing a blood hunter in my campaign and this has given me a pretty good idea of how to go about it

[@TitanGamingTV]

Excellent to hear Aidan. Means I'm doing the videos correctly :)

[@BoastfulIvy]

A good way to run the action economy (at very high levels) would be transforming with your bonus action, then howling either frightening or stunning (hopefully) everyone nearby. This should give you enough of a buffer for you to be able to bonus action rite next turn, then focus down on the enemies you have advantage against.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Great suggestions Ross.

[@WobblezTheWeird]

a potential 60 foot radius stun on EVERYTHING... holy shit, i really wanna run one of these all the way to 20 its just so solid on its own

[@TitanGamingTV]

Yea. A smidge insane.

[@OckertvdW]

Love Matt's stuff. I do find his classes very powerful. But that does not say that his classes are bad, more that some base classes need revisiting.

[@TitanGamingTV]

What's on your list of revisits, Oakheart. I've got my list, I might do a brass-tacks video on them. See if we can't whip up some support.

[@OckertvdW]

Monk monk monk. Sorcerer. Then the ranger. Sorta. They did change it somewhat in the new version, but I think they went too far with some things and not far enough with others. A few tweaks with druids as well. Some subclasses also need work like the gloom stalker and kensei I think.

[@MrZemIan]

I'm DMing for my friends...but from the first time I heard of this class I knew that when/if someone else DMs...this is my class!

[@TitanGamingTV]

There's a lot to like! Welcome to the party MrZemlan!

[@BeastGamerKuma]

Just curious what the character sheet would look like for this class? I am new to DND only played Werewolf the Apocalypse and Pathfinder.

[@Candied.Carrion]

Hold on... Can there be pseudodragon lycanthrope? *scribbles down a gnome blood hunter wherepsudodragon*

[@BeeGameDev]

I love your closing statement, it's very light and super positive. :)

[@TitanGamingTV]

Thanks Ben -- it's my motto for my board game store! People should have more fun in the world.

[@grimmofsparta5022]

Fun fact: This is the second time Taelison has used a homebrew class that Matt made. That said, I think he'll go with order of the mutagen, just a hunch I have Also, first

[@TitanGamingTV]

Internet points to you sir!

[@foolbrightw6589]

honestly thinking it will be a order of the profane soul. the character already feels fey

[@chaddixon9764]

GrimmofSparta I say he will be going Ghost Slayer.

[@killcat1971]

I agree with others that it's likely to be Profane Soul, mainly because Mutagen and Lycan have negatives and Taelison seems to think out his character fairly carefully, as a Minmaxer myself the Profane Soul seems the most user friendly.

[@DeKoTree]

He’s gone ghost slayer :3

[@time_flash]

This is my first Titan Bear Gaming video that I've watched, and i loved it. It's very well made BUT i avoided clicking the video for so long due to the thumbnail(s) I've seen from the channel. I am now subscribed but as a friendly suggestion i would maybe try formatting your thumbnails differently

[@ericksemones9681]

Awesome video! I'm ashamed to say that I didn't realize the lycan transformation could be cured like standard lycanthropy. One of my players may hate me soon. :D

[@TitanGamingTV]

Because of course. We had another comment that said a villain could hire a good cleric to pursue the party to cure the blood hunter. Mindgame that.

[@ericksemones9681]

That's brilliant!

[@thomasjoychild4962]

I love the flavour text that it's regarded as really embarrassing for both you and your order if you fail to prevent some stupid do-gooder or savvy antagonist curing you.

[@quinnwilder6990]

It's your game but as a player I'd say that could be a game ruiner for me. It should be something that can only happen very rarely, not potentially every time they go on a quest or explore a dungeon. At the very least, if it can be done with fairly common magic, players should have the option of going on an adventure to obtain an artifiact to prevent or reverse unwanted removals of the specific curse.

[@thomasjoychild4962]

oh yeah, it's definitely fun/interesting once but not more than once. I might even actually adjudicate it like the born-lycanthrope variant, where nothing short of a Wish will remove it.

[@jacquestrahan982]

2 things that popped in my head. 1. If a shifter were to take this class, would it still be considered a "curse" since, at least in the original Eberron campaign guide their lycanthropy wasn't a curse, it was a natural ability. 2. I think they do actually grow in their hybrid form. There was a guest in campaign 1 that took this class, the Dwarf Werebear Order of the Lycan, Tova and from what I remember she went from Dwarf form to werebear form and changed size to the new form. I could be wrong though

[@TitanGamingTV]

Natural shifting and "unnatural" shifting have always been at odds in these types of games. Also much

[@justinkitchur1443]

How well would a monk/ blood hunter - order of the lycan do? Would their bonuses stack?

[@TitanGamingTV]

There is some immediate synergy, but not in the ways you expect. You'd choose which Unarmed damage feature to use (Martial Arts vs Predatory Strikes) for your unarmed damage dice. They arent too different, though. Monk would give you Ki at level-2, so you could Flurry of Blows with your claws. Lycan contributes some bonus damage. Rite damage per attack, and Feral Might (+ half proficiency bonus to damage), and Beastly Precision (+ the other half proficiency bonus to damage). Definitely a strong combo.

[@Andrija722]

It is Great combo with decent synergy. Here is my plan for my char who is atm lvl 6 12/8 Lycan/Open hand monk 12 level of Lycan for regen on 11 and ASI on 12,rest in to Monk. The reason why is quite simple, with the rites you are basically making 2d8 three times,which is on its own awesome,but adding monk you gain Flurry of Blows that allows you to make four attacks,total 8d8 +XX. The more monk levels you have,the more KI points you will have available for Flurry or Stun . OPen hand monk gives you bonus effect as Icing on the cake for when you use Flurry,such as knock enemy prone,push them away or make them lose their reaction so you can do hit and run. Above everything else it works well wtih Unarmored defense which based on your primary stats anyway,DEX and WIS,so you will be rocking 21 AC or AC depending on your stats,which would be pretty high. You will have GOod perception,and would rarely fail Bloodlust check due to high WIS . Maxing Wis also improves your stun check,prone effects spell DC,so its a win - win . And if you went with aasimar race,you would have between lay hands,regeneration and monk heal and resists to s/p/b you will have great survivability like wolverine for ex. In my opinion it beats going full blood hunter,since its better to attack with more attacks than simply raising your crimson rite dice or your claw attack and besides d8 for both is awesome in my book. HOpe it helps you ! ;)

[@ethandashnaw2675]

You should do the Pugilist class on the DM's Guild.

[@TitanGamingTV]

I'll add it to the list!

[@DayglowRed]

Hmm I'm curious what potential this has for being adapted as a subclass for some of the core classes. Seems like a theme that could be really spread around and has very little core connection to blood hunter base features.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Very fine point, Dago Red. The only real linkage is just saying that the Lycan Claws are compatible with the Blood Rite feature. Would seem fairly easy to port to a general subclass. Nice thinking.

[@DayglowRed]

Long time gap on replies yah but something occurred to me recently. Is the risk of infecting enemies with lycanthropy brought up at all in the material? Like if you're having to deal with the fact that any random bandit you've swiped but got away could go full werewolf it's really going to put a damper willingness to use claws. Never mind how many critically wounded enemies might require being finished just to make sure you're not leaving a trail of supernatural evil creatures everywhere you go.

[@scumbad7953]

12:55 Thanks for clarifying

[@SamGlaze]

New viewer here! Brought here by your Blood Hunter coverage, stayed for the other great stuff. You have a very nice professional presentation manner and quality content! Hope to see the channel grow soon!

[@TitanGamingTV]

Welcome to the fam Samuel! Thanks for the kind words :)

[@dragonmaster613]

The lv11 ability to transform as a bonus action melds well with the lv3 Assimar ability to transform as action. Sacking a whole turn to get both Hybrid transformation + Fallen Aasimar's Necro Shroud then on the next turn using bonus action to crimson rite is amazing!

[@ethennicholson9464]

I have a goliath who went into this subclass to hunt the Lycanthropes that killed his village even though he was the clan outcast from being born with red eyes on the day that the previous chief died

[@thezerowulf2046]

Great video as always I love your take on all these classes. But more so I love how much time you spend responding to all the comments it really shows great involvement with your viewers

[@TitanGamingTV]

My viewers are the reason I make the videos after all :) Otherwise I'd just be sitting in a room and talking to myself. Like some kind of crazy person. Which im not. >.>

[@tonybrown1383]

I am currently DM a player that is using this class. Thanks for the great video it solved a lot of my questions that I had. I do have one more that was not mentnioned in this video. When the PC in Werewolf form loses all his HP does that player revert to his normal form at the HP that was left off like a druid in wild shape or does that PC go unconscious.

[@thomasjoychild4962]

...I have just the mini for a lycan bloodhunter, too :P

[@TitanGamingTV]

You're all set then Thomas! Activate!

[@toshomni9478]

Great video. The only thing I'd change about this subclass is doubling the movement speed increase and the jump height increase from Stalker's Prowess when in hybrid form as those numbers seem pretty underwhelming for a supernatural beastly form.

[@TitanGamingTV]

I might agree, I'd need to see the effects in practice. Movement speed is a wonky wonky thing. Super on board for the jumping statements though, supernatural jumps are what lycans DO.

[@toshomni9478]

True. The speed would only be on par with what a 2nd level monk or 5th level barbarian could do if they had the mobile feat and without the extra benefits the feat provides or what unarmored movement can do at higher levels and you get it at 7th level. I could see wanting to limit it to not applying if wearing heavy armor or encumbered.

[@TitanGamingTV]

I'm with ya there my friend.

[@andric2042]

My character is a natural borne lycanthrope from a diety cursed father and a blood hunter- lycan order mother. Pretty excited of what our DM would do.

[@KevShaw808]

This sounds like a really fun class to play. I also think that Wizards should look at Frightful Presence and the like and treat them similarly.

[@TitanGamingTV]

It does seem to play out better this way.

[@Gemini-Lion]

Right now, I have a strength-centered level 1 Goliath Bloodhunter, and I’m definitely leaning towards Lycanthropy. It just sounds very interesting to me in a way the other orders don’t. I’ve been a warlock in the first campaign I did (This is the second), so I want something not so spell-centered like the order of the profane soul. I’m the tank of the party, I’m going to have a rogue and some other character that I wasn’t told about yet in my party. I’m excited for this campaign.

[@Arcae95]

Finally!! Thank you so much for this!!

[@akatsukioverlord1169]

So just to start: I'm pretty new to D&D But I have a question and would appreciate help. So going the blood hunter order of the lycan route, what abilities/skills/spells would you have in human form?

[@TitanGamingTV]

Hi Akatsuki, You'll have all of the abilities listed in the base class -- the Blood Hunter. I have another video detailing those, be sure to check it out. You'd get your blood maledicts, and your weapon rite, etc. The Lycan powers are an archetype, so its on top of the base abilities. Cheers!

[@akatsukioverlord1169]

@@TitanGamingTV Thanks!

[@stressed_dm]

Review Mercer’s Gunslinger (fighter archetype) maybe?

[@TitanGamingTV]

More than maybe, baby.

[@pierrehurley]

You should review the lingering soul class

[@TitanGamingTV]

Which one is that? Point me to a link, or an author? I'll take a look.

[@crazyozzy484]

It's also written by Matthew Mercer

[@TitanGamingTV]

Even better. I'll probably do it then, Matt makes some great classes.

[@luketfer]

Hmm this is an interesting baseline class where I could make some alterations and turn it into the Abomination from Darkest Dungeon with a few tweaks.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Its a strong starting platform for sure.

[@TheHulkAdmc]

currently playing a blood hunter in my friends campaign and everyone hates that i disappear for a bit and when i come back my sword is bloody because i kill alot of people as i use being a bounty hunter as a front for being able to kill my contracts :)

[@TitanGamingTV]

Nice thematic element. >hand gestures fervent approval< Though I question whether it is of the Lethani. >gestures bemused wondering

[@natiep8433]

so I was reading in the blood magic 5e book and came across a half spawn subrace which makes your character half vampire a Blade type origin, so that got me thinking what if instead of half human like the subrace suggests what if I made it half Longtooth shifter? cross class a sorceror with a vampiric bloodline sorcerous origin, with a blood hunter with the order of the lycan to make a true Hybrid, think I would get more freedom with my Rites and maledicts? Using the Vampiric regeneration of the vampire side to stave off losing control of my character? using my classes to enhance the racial bonuses of my character?

[@chaddixon9764]

If I was playing this subclass I would only have my eyes change when I transform.

[@TitanGamingTV]

I would get super hairy. Like bigfoot hairy. That would be the explanation for my resistance to slashing damage.

[@chaddixon9764]

Titan Bear Gaming Nice

[@robertsilvermyst7325]

I wonder how this could work in RP for someone who was born with Lycanthropy as opposed to being infected through the rite. Maybe a natural born lycan seeks out the order to help him overcome and control his own natural abilities.

[@huntedxbe4s7]

Well this is awesome i thought id have to pick myself up a copy before i learned how it worked. Thanks

[@TitanGamingTV]

You're welcome Tarance, glad I could be of use!

[@videogamefreered]

Speaking of Critical Role, could you possible do reviews of the Player Class options in the Tal'dorei Campaign Setting, there's some really cool archetypes and there aren't many videos about them.

[@TitanGamingTV]

I've had a couple requests for that section :)

[@brunacaroline2583]

I am starting a campaing as a Lycan, and I'm also an Aasimar who has fallen because of her choice to mantain the blood curse. As a Force based character it's hard to improve your AC since we don't have heavy armor proficiency, and the class demands a good amount of Con and Wis. I'm thinking about using the feat "Heavily Armored" to kind of get rid of this Dex need. =/

[@TitanGamingTV]

I'm a big fan of the feats that provide armor proficiency, as a general statement of the 5e ruleset. I think its one of the purest ways that a feat legitimately expands your character's capabilities and playstyle without risking a power imbalance. I had a houserule once that allowed my player's Aarakockra to wear medium armor and still fly so long as he took the medium armor proficiency feat, and it was one of his favorite moments in the character's history.

[@sacv27]

I'm dipping my Blood Hunter into Monk specifically for the Unarmored Defense. Because the Blood Hunter already works well with a high Wisdom and Dex score it works pretty perfectly to bump up your AC. If somehow you managed to max those scores (leveling, items, lucky rolls, etc.) you would have 20 AC by default, +1 in Hybrid Form, and then potentially some more via items like a cloak of protection, Ring of protection, or bracers of defense. If you wanted to lean heavy on defense and your DM allows it you could attuned all three of those if you can find them. On top of that, the unarmored movement plus the movement bonuses you get as a BH Lycan work great together if you want to be mobile. Heck, take the Mobile feat too if you want.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Pretty strong!

[@Jaijaibinkx]

run warforged, dip fighter for mariner fighting style, and take forge cleric for an extra 3 ac. If you want, you could hybrid barbarian for shield unarmoured defense instead.

[@jonathonbartos5420]

This sub-class is absolute RP gold. The other sub-classes might be slightly better mechanically (the action cost of transforming is *painful*), but this class offers the best RP potential. I have a player in my game who's playing it in Eberron. And he has to be really careful because of the Church of the Silver Flame.

[@ShayneRawls]

More than werewolf. It's a were beast

[@TitanGamingTV]

100% beest. Now with more beest.

[@XxACExWOLFIERxX]

So, as the player do you still get the benefits and attacks that the forms provide, like stat bonuses in str, The attacks (like bite)?

[@TitanGamingTV]

Negatory -- the stat blocks for werepeople in the monster manual is entirely independent of this class. There is an approximation for most of those characteristics already built into the class definition. Claw attacks, bonus damage on them, weakness to silvered weapons, increased AC while in form.

[@notorious.scoundrel]

I've been crafting a homebrew Primal Path for the Barbarian (Path of the Werebeast), but I've had a little dificulty trying to not make it OP. This was helpful, hopefully I can release it as a PDF in a near future.

[@mariopradojrPB]

Can you check my math on Predatory strikes? Let's assume the ability bonus is +3. So in a single round: 1d6 (hand1) +3(ability mod) + 1d6 (hand2) +3 (abilbility mod) +1d4 (rite damage) +1 (feral might)=15avg damage, max 23 damage? Thanks for your help.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Thats the right breakdown, Mario. In the interest of accurate math, the expected value (average) is 3.5+3+3.5+3+2.5+1 = 16.5 (16-17 damage in practice), and the max is 6+3+6+3+4+1=23. Cheers.

[@jasoneastman7817]

If I was to mix 6 levels of open hand monk with 14 levels of lycan order bloodhunter, and if I attacked and then went for Flurry of Blows, would the Flurry of Blows use the d8 of my hybrid form, or a d6?

[@AoWgoldsteel]

So as a Werewolf can you not make a sword attack and then a claw attack as a bonus?

[@TitanGamingTV]

Correct - the rules for making unarmed strikes as bonus actions are pretty specific for 5e. As a Lycan, you may only make one when your Attack action also used an unarmed strike.

[@Nyarancia_]

If you make your lycanthrope form a dinosaur you can become Diego Brando

[@felltactician]

Question; so im using a dragonborn, so i kinda went the dragon transformation route for my order of the lycan, keeping to all the rules but just looking like a dragon. Not gaining flying or breathing elements or anything, but just an altered appearence. This is ok, right? Dm didnt care cause it makes sense with my character but other players complained because "lycanthropy means werewolf, and you cant be a dragon"

[@TitanGamingTV]

Other players can take a seat, lol. This falls under the 'Your fun is wrong, my fun is right' falsehood. I would totally run this as a supernatural transformation that renders you more bestial that originates from some kind of curse. Draconthropy sounds spectacular. You do you, baby. And maybe at high levels it does mean wings, because dragons. Just sub out one of the later game powers for it.

[@sexy_bugbear8957]

Show the monster manual for the other players. That is even a wererat. Using a flavor for a were dragon wouldn't be too crazy. But if you are already a dragonborn, how would become a weredragon change you?

[@dinorocks4887]

so if I've never played dnd before, but want to have an already weretiger character, would that work with this?

[@Constrictor_Victor]

The onus says that hunters of this order are not permitted to spead their lycantrophy, so how does one spead lycantrophy as a blood hunter? Is it the same rules as regular lycantrophy, where you just need to injure them? Because that combined with you losing control could just end a low level character or an important NPC. Or you could cripple a recurring BBEG, simply catching them as a feral lycan instead of a lethal commander.

[@matthewc9868]

if i remember correctly the order state that through the "tameing" they use rituals and blood magic to prevent accidental infections.

[@BR4IN1N4J4R]

I'm planning on playing a Beasthide Shifter Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter. I foresee me being a real tough bruiser and pretty damn nasty

[@BR4IN1N4J4R]

And for those who are afb, for a full turn action, I can wolf out and shift, not only giving me Hybrid Form bonus, but also +1 AC and 1d6+Level+Con temporary HP. So this is kinda scary

[@Bondanalloy]

More D&D channels! yee haw

[@TitanGamingTV]

One of us! One of us!

[@jackal242]

Sounds super over the top OP to me compared to other standard classes in 5E.

[@acecomics150]

What about the blood hunter order of the vampire and order of the poisoned?

[@TitanGamingTV]

Soon to come! The orders for this class are too good to pass up.

[@acecomics150]

Titan Bear Gaming awesome thanks. I'm playing as vamp blood hunter and am beginning to compile the two vampire archetypes

[@Randomdudefromtheinternet]

Bloodhunter + cleric/paladin = Powerwolf

[@ticozayas6430]

Yay it's here!

[@TitanGamingTV]

I'll still get people asking where it is even now that its out, just because of the time delay in releases, haha.

[@isaihalehman-lucas2230]

does the hybrid form offer temp hp? or is more or less just a buff u gain?

[@kenneth6989]

are you a teacher you are making it simple to understand and. I've been going back looking at some of your vides

[@TitanGamingTV]

Thanks Kenneth - I am not a teacher, but clarity and ease of understanding are two of my primary video objectives. So I'm happy to hear that!

[@scarletjester7831]

Is multiclassing good with Blood Hunter, or would it be a fool's journey? If it's good, which class would go well? Imagine a Lv8 Bard with Lv10 Blood Hunter

[@SoowDeJu]

I REALLY NEED HELP! So for a level 3 lycan blood hunter, how much damage do I deal? Is it 1d6 + 3(dex modifier) + 1d4 (crimson), or is it half the dex modifier, OR is it half general proficiency? Also, can you only make your second attacks when the first one HITS?

[@razgula1764]

At level 3 while transformed you should deal 1d6 + 3(dex) + 1(half your proficiency) and the 1d4 for your rite. And looking at the wording for predatory strikes it says you can make the bonus action attack as long as you use your main action to use an unarmed attack. Doesn’t say you have to hit, just try

[@asherandai1000]

Its not quite the same as barbarian resistances, since barbarians resist against even magic weapons. Also there is the note regarding bloodlust you didn't mention, that if you are also raging as barbarian (double hulk out!) you automatically fail your bloodlust save. Pretty awesome inclusion in my opinion, just the idea of a raging werewolf rampaging around the battlefield slaughtering indiscriminately! I do think I need some clarification on the whole fists/claws with rite damage, and the change of transforming to a bonus action though. I can kinda read them two ways... Crimson Rite states that it needs to be used on a weapon, which fists technically are not. It also lasts until a short or long rest, so you can activate it at the start of the day well before any combat. But since fists are not weapons it can't be used on them. However the Lycan order makes states that fists (claws now) count as one weapon... So is this only when transformed and can't be activated before transformation? And does that mean it fades with the transformation? I can see it being intended to work both ways (though i'm inclined to think they only count when transformed). The "upgrade" of transformation to a bonus action states "You *can* now transform...etc." To me this implies you can still transform as an action if you want, though i've seen others (including you) read it as you can no longer transform as an action. Possible clarification needed... I really love the idea and mechanics of this class (differing rule interpretations aside), and its actually going to be my first ever D&D character in a couple of weeks! Starting at level 3, so i'll have transformations right off the bat which is awesome. I haven't been this excited since... well, ever! its a strange feeling.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Great points across the board, Kyle. I would totally arbitrate it as *can use a bonus action instead of must, because more fun is more better. And I think I agree with your interpretation on only activating claws blood rite while transformed. Doesn't preclude you from blood rite'ing a weapon pre-emptively and then switching mid-fight if you wish :)

[@sajanpatel9313]

It means that as Order of the Lycan, you only need to activate Crimson Rite ONCE to benefit from the extra d4 on all both your claws.

[@StormSage13]

Can we expect a video on the new Hunter design?

[@killianduggan8730]

I'm playing a 10 level Lycan in my Westmarch campaign. I'm Blood Hunter 6 (Lycan)/Druid 4 (Circle of Spores). The bloodlust is actually quite manageable as you go on. It requires a bit of extra thought in combat to try make sure only enemies are close to you but unless you have a plan to do something special on your turn you are pretty alright even if you fail. The only time it became an issue was during an ambush where enemies were able to reduce my speed with arrows so much that only allies where close but dropping form would mean my death. I may have had to jump into a river just to keep everyone around me safe...

[@thomasjoychild4962]

I do like disadvantages that one can often manage with planning, and the bloodlust is also pretty cool.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Lycan AND spore druid! What an interesting weremushroom! And I love hearing about the river jump, haha. That kind of choice is perfect. Welcome to the party, Killian! Love the story.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Agreed, it keeps things interesting and fresh with your character. Welcome to the party Thomas!

[@rayisawesoem]

Could you be a Goliath lycan blood hunter?

[@kevins7535]

Question: the vulnerability to silver weapons is that only when in hybrid transformation or when your in human form as well?

[@TitanGamingTV]

Only while transformed, according to the doc. It wouldn't be out of theme to apply the weakness uniformly if you wanted to, in my opinion.

[@Chigen_Atomic]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a Lycan Monk subclass. Or an all around were-(insert creature here) subclass.

[@TitanGamingTV]

True that. I'm still astounded by how well the Blood Hunter seems to fit in the 5e thematic space.

[@sajanpatel9313]

As a DM I probably wouldn't allow any multiclassing with homebrew classes. There is a lot of exploitable stuff by multiclassing monk with order of the Lycan.

[@superkeaton9912]

I'm not big on the action economy issues with the class, reminds me of PHB Ranger's issues.

[@Meteor2022]

If you go barbarian does the resistance stack? Not for min maxing, thought of a cool Dwarven were bear. Subscribed!

[@thomasjoychild4962]

There's actually a bear-lycan dwarf bloodhunter who gueststars in the first CR campaign (eps 92 and 93 IIRC). Her name's Tova and she's played by Noelle Stevenson, if you wanna google.

[@Meteor2022]

Thomas Joychild Oh yeah I new that *facepalm, Or at least I knew Tova lol.

[@TitanGamingTV]

As far as I understand, since they're both termed resistance, it would not stack, since effects in 5e don't typically stack that way. Welcome to the fam Oompa!

[@TitanGamingTV]

There's also a detail I glossed over in the video, which is that if you are raging from a barbarian-like feature, you automatically fail your Bloodlust check. Just a little snippet Matt anticipated :P

[@poke2981]

Monk/order of lycan blopd hunter is pretty cool

[@zwordsman]

I really wish this Order gave you the unarmed stuff-while not in wolf as well. Even if the damage was very low. Would just be nice if you could. Really wish unarmed stikes innately had fineese property

[@dark_natas_666]

Great vid! Subbed!

[@afrosamurai3847]

Hey dude I know this video was put out a while ago and not sure if you will see this but I'm actually working on my own custom class for 5e and if you'd like to, I'd be honored to have you look at it once I'm finished and give me your thoughts and critiques. This would extend to anyone since I plan on posting it on the D&D Guild similar to how Matt did for this class and archetype but yeah keep up the great work man.

[@magecraft2]

Nice vid just wondered if you have had a look at Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting would be interesting to get your views on it.

[@TitanGamingTV]

I definitely have, because we sell it in the store. I'm mostly collecting my thoughts on it before I sit down to do any videos, there's a lot to it. Anything in particular you'd like to see?

[@magecraft2]

Nothing specific just like to get a different view points and opinions :)

[@TitanGamingTV]

That I can provide!

[@zoe_gevalt]

Can you cover the multi spell attack (or the homebrew rule section in general?)

[@TitanGamingTV]

For sure Zoe -- thats a big addition Matt Mercer made for the VM campaign, I'm POSITIVE itll be relevant for the new troops.

[@quinnwilder6990]

Awesome video. I like this subclas but I'm not crazy about the idea of anyone running around with a 3rd level Cleric spell or whatever being able to turn you into a very gimped fighter by "curing" you against your will. Hopefully any good DM would limit that to something like a Wish spell which can only be done at certain times of the year and also requires a gread deal of time and expense to prepare.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Those are some great details to build into your world. A forced cleansing definitely seems like an ordeal!

[@oOPPHOo]

I think I would impose a general rule for all lycanthropy that the lycanthrope needs to be either willing or unconscious in order for the curse to be removed via a simple Remove Curse spell. Even when players are fighting were-wolves, I don't think the intention is that an encounter with one can be ended with a single spell. In fact, I imagine that when fighting a were-wolf, you would need to cast Calm Emotions if it's in hybrid form and only assuming it is then willing to be cured can you cast remove curse.

[@TitanGamingTV]

To be perfectly honest, I'd pull Lycanthropy from the list that Remove Curse is able to cure. Feels more like a Greater Restoration with a save, to me.

[@oOPPHOo]

TBG Yeah, that's probably the simplest way to make it harder to solve and likely even the best. If you then wanna pump the difficulty up a little more you could maybe add the extra requirements I mentioned on top of it all.

[@itswiil9044]

Review the Gunslinger build by Matt!

[@staulwart2317]

Another great vid. Thanks.

[@TitanGamingTV]

Thanks TGS, I appreciate you saying so.

[@TheTimberwolf44]

Thanks, this helped a ton!

[@TitanGamingTV]

Excellent, its a pretty compelling archetype.

[@JonPaulDiefenbach]

All characters get proficiency with unarmed strikes? Are you sure? I thought you only got that as a monk.

[@Gerritch]

Jon-Paul Diefenbach yeah everyone is proficient in unarmed strikes. Only the monk gets a damage die though. Everyone else does 1+STR damage

[@TitanGamingTV]

Sure am. Your damage is only 1+Strength though, which is really where the monk features give you the extras. Str or Dex, and actual die damage instead of just 1 damage. What's more, monks get the ability to bonus attack with an unarmed strike, which is not part of the normally assumed character abilities. (Thats why Matt Mercer lists the bonus attack as a thing explicitly here in Lycan). It was clarified in the errata released for the PHB (obnoxious that its separate, I know). It also helps explain why no where in the monk section does it say 'you gain proficiency'. Enjoy the read! media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/Errata_PH.pdf

[@JonPaulDiefenbach]

Thanks for clarifying!

[@TitanGamingTV]

Is what I'm here for :) Especially for convoluted stuff, or stuff that only makes sense when multiple sources are pulled together. I figure I'm taking the time to straighten it all out, I might as well share the findings.

[@imathias423]

Mutant order vs. lucan

[@bcoble121691]

Stout halfling were-wolverine

[@TitanGamingTV]

Perfect. Run it, I need it.

[@jacoblangley9567]

Ok doing order of the Lycan 👍👍👍