I've been a long time fan of werebeast, but they sort of kick the bucket when viri made the werebeast changes that forced you to transform and do hand to hand and have dodge as your only defence..... **What really hurts right now is autotransformation when you have semi low - mid health. Can there be a toggle option where you can choose whether you want autotransformation to be on or off? ** This really hurts when have a close fight with melees and this just kicks in out of nowhere. It really does change the battle in favor of the opponent because now you arent using the weapons you had set up (maybe they had some effects or that class doesnt know that weapon type) and you LOSE your defences. Dodge doesnt help as a sole defence. From my experience 100% parry, dual parry, two-handed, pugil, shield block, works waaaay better than even 110% dodge. I dont think its fair they the game forces the player to transform when maybe he or she doesnt want to. Thats I suggest a toggle command so that you can have it off when you want to. (Even better if we do away with the current transformations and revert back to the old ones.)
Auto Transformation for werebeast
I like that the transformation can't be completely controlled. It adds a potentially interesting RP element to the race if someone were to play it up a bit.
As far as the character being severely weakened by the transformation, I'm not sure if that's the case or not--I've never played a werebeast at 50. I certainly don't think it should be the sort of thing where if you autotransform, you might as well get ready to type directions back to your corpse.
If I were to make a suggestion about werebeasts, it would be to make the strength of their beast form dependant on the moon. I don't even know if lunar cycles are one of the things that show up in 'time' or something, but it would add a cool, albeit a somewhat complex element to the game. How many moons does Aabahran have? If there's one, it could be full once every four nights, or for two consecutive nights in eight, causing werebeasts to be at a power peak. Additional moons could add even more fun...
I'm gunna go out on a huge limb and disagree with you here. Werebeasts are a very strong race from everything I've seen and experienced with them, and auto-transformation is an acceptable "weakness" for what are some seriously beneficial perks.
Isn't there a way to get out of transformed state now?
L-A
Yes there is a way, its called revert..
However transforming is NOT a really bad thing... All of my werebeasts have been wolves.. And I can tell you transforming has SAVED me from being lag locked so many times... There are more perks to the race then many care to look into.. I suggest you experiment a bit before you think its such a bad thing.
Im not saying to take it out, im saying to gave the player the option of whether they want to transform or not. Or at least be able to set the transformation hp limit.
Re: LA
Yes you can revert back to your orginal form by typing the revert command. The problem with this is that this commands lags a bit.
All in all, im just mearly suggesting a toggle function where you can turn it off or on. Im not saying the current system should be scrapped (although it would be nice 
) but the player should be able to choose if he or she wants to transform.
Cheers,
Why? You are an animal at heart.. You have instincts.. They are primal.. In danger your survival instincts kick in. You revert to primal (transform) to increase your chance of survival (so your instincts tell you).
I cannot see a reason why this would be changed.. Its one of the fundamental RP points of playing a werebeast not to mention one of the downsides (because every race needs one).
Personally, Id like to see werebeasts have some more abilities that they can only access when they are in their beast forms... killalou is right in the sense that one defense doesnt cut it [unless they have some sort of super-defense... but then i guess that would be a code thing]. Maybe the werehawks can scratch your eyes for a blind... screech at you for a thunderclap like effect.. Nothing overpowered, but something to make these forms a bit more useful for combat purposes.
Caution: Possible gluteus-speak warning:
Iconz - ... Ive never played a werebeast to 50 though....
Think of it like having to pee really badly.
If someone is attacking you with a sword/axe/ball of fire, are you really going to concentrate on not pissing yourself?
Not only would I not piss myself, but I'd be standing over the corpse saying, "Your soul is mine!" Now I wanna play the game...