Is it really legal to have swarm as base animal for lycanthrope? IIRC you do not gain any subtype of the animal you assume (except Aquatic subtype), which would make any swarm lycanthropes (thematic reasons aside) unviable to play if at all.
The exact text from the SRD of the template and it makes no mention of subtypes whatsoever, it just says that the type of the lycanthrope doesn't change. So by RAW I see nothing illegal.
Alternate Form ability's text makes it clear that: "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.". It seems to me that unfortunately (I do really like the idea of Swarm lycanthrope too...) you won't be gaining that Swarm subtype
Sad, ain't it?
lil necro here..
just rereading somethings..
i was very disappointed to see a good argument made against were-swarms.
so i kept looking...
quote the raven
Alternate FormA 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.
three pieces here:
1. Were is a template, the first underlined bit is somewhat contradictory. apply template that grants alternate form, and you cannot use alternate form.
2. retain type and subtype. does gaining new subtypes effect your current type or subtype? no, not that i know of.
3. is were-octopus (PotC: Davey Jones?) a valid combo? yes, as far as i can tell. its an animal w/ a (probably) new subtype, a subtype that is specifically called out in the Alternate Form description.
either aquatic is special, or its a general example. i dont see anywhere that it says.
finding Animal type w/ subtypes other than aquatic is abit tricky. i see
Piranha Swarm, its aquatic and swarm.
Critic Lizard, its subtype Psionic
Razorwing, subtype Psionic
Pterrax, subtype Psionic
Cilops, subtype Psionic
add to that the plain ol swarm subtype creatures.
so is a were-razorwing not psionic? its a fundamental part of the base animal, such as water breathing is to fish.
the big problem i see is that you Specifically do not gain Special Qualities (without tricks), so no Swarm traits. that kills off most of the joy in being a Were-swarm. all thats left is gaining LA and neat party tricks.
by party tricks, i mean, Unbodied (incorporeal/psionic) Half-Troll (become a Giant, no size change listed in the crystal pdf) were rat swarm. +6 LA is gonna suck.