Skinwalkers & Shapeshifters is a 1980 tabletop game supplement published by Morningstar Publishing.
Skinwalkers & Shapeshifters is a supplement in which a comprehensive exploration of lycanthropy is offered, delving into the lore of were-creatures across the globe, and examining totemism practices. The book also provides techniques for painting werewolf miniatures. [1]
Skinwalkers and Shapeshifters is a resource aimed at improving portrayals of lycanthropic characters, and for incorporating were-creatures into gameplay. Structured in five chapters, the guide blends exposition with practical suggestions for integrating its content into fantasy settings, discussing the creatures in both real-world mythological context and game mechanics. It includes an annotated reading list, offering both fiction and nonfiction sources for further exploration, along with a dual table of contents that separates historical background from gaming applications for easy reference. The book is divided into two major sections: Skinwalkers, who gain their powers through totemic connections, and Shapeshifters, whose transformations stem from magic or natural phenomena. This allows for a wide variety of were-creature types, moving beyond the werewolf to include forms like the Werecat. It also introduces the new Shapeshifter character class. The guide is crafted for use by both players and game masters. It also offers flexible transformation mechanics, allowing for voluntary or involuntary shifts. [2]
Skinwalkers & Shapeshifters was written by C.A. Hundtermark and Marjorie Jannotta and published by Morningstar Publishing Co. in 1980 as a digest-sized 72-page book. [1]
Clayton Miner reviewed Skinwalkers and Shapeshifters: A Guide to Lycanthropy for Players, Dungeon Master, and the Curious for Pegasus magazine and stated that "All in all, Skinwalkers and Shapeshifters is an interesting, informative, and well thought out product which should be of interest and be of much use to both players and Judges." [2]