As far as i know there is no actual level adjustment system in Pathfinder so what do i do if a player ends up becoming bitten by weresomething or decides to turn himself to a lich? In D&D 3.5 when you got a template you got a level adjustment to compensate for the power boost. Do i just treat the increased CR as level adjustment?
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PC's are not "supposed" to have templates.
A template is a set of rules that you apply to a monster to transform it into a different monster. All templates give precise directions on how to change a monster’s statistics to transform it into the new monster.
There is no Effective Player Level adjustment because Paizo front-loaded PC power with a lot of their Featured, Uncommon, and Advanced Races. Players are not "supposed" to attain Templates, so there aren't any rules for it.
A GM could allow PC's to gain templates...
As always, a GM could allow the Rule of Cool (a derivative of Rule 0) and allow this, but they're going to have to figure it out themselves. They could also decide that a PC that becomes an NPC if they completely turn into a were or lich (etc.) because they are no longer valid PC's and/or have lost some of the free will inherent to the PC concept.
Of course, if they don't want to do that to their players, Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 templates are slightly different, but the level adjustment should stay relatively close. If you apply the Pathfinder template and D&D level adjustment, the PC may end up fairly close to what you expect.
A third option, if I may...
Don't give PC's templates. Instead, give them superficial effects to represent the changes that don't alter day-to-day adventuring as much. A Lich might have Undead traits and a phylactery... but lack the Natural Armor bonus, DR, Touch Attack, Special Abilities, Skill Bonuses and Ability Score adjustments. The exact nuances could be bartered by the GM and player so that the PC doesn't instantly become significantly more powerful but does feel like their character is living out its monstrous plans.
And the 'balance in all things' option...
Allowing all PC's to attain a +1 or +2 template would keep the PC's equal(ish) to each other and allow you to 'calculate' their new CR and simply send stronger creatures at them. This way, no PC is left asking why (Lich player) gets to paralyze everything infinitely forever and he's stuck with normal PC rules. Keeping the CR close means that encounters can still be kept at an appropriate level for the party without significant rewrites.
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1RE: "PC's are not 'supposed' to have templates." Um. Not even lycanthropy? (I mean, not to start out, of course, but it seems that it's sometimes an unfortunate consequence of adventuring.) Should PCs that catch lycanthropy become NPCs? – Hey I Can Chan Apr 01 '18 at 04:04
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1Yes, you're 'supposed' to cure Lycanthopy, not accept it as a PC. I'm not saying that's for every group, but that was the intent with how the rules are written – Ifusaso Apr 01 '18 at 04:25
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I'd love a little clarification. One of my players believes that templates should always be available to PCs and won't budge on this opinion. Is there a section in one of the PF core rules that explicitly state that templates are only available for DMs and party enemies? I do not want to allow the use of templates for players but I need to find an explanation somewhere that backs my belief and refutes his. TY – Ev- Mar 03 '19 at 07:34
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This might be worthy of its own question, but "A template is a set of rules that you apply to a monster to transform it into a different monster." Seems like the PC's aren't generally monsters. It's the same reason you don't have to allow Greater Drow, Trox, and Gargoyle PC's. – Ifusaso Mar 04 '19 at 01:49
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Also 'Rule 0' "Game Designer: Even with the vast range of options available, only GMs know what threats their players might face or powers they might come to control. Just as GMs arbitrate the rules within their games, so can they manipulate, repurpose, and wholly invent new rules to improve their games. They're allowed to have their own opinion, but they have no right to refuse the GM's decision about what is/isn't available to PC's. There are entire classes/archetypes that I don't allow in my games that are explicitly available to PC's otherwise. – Ifusaso Mar 04 '19 at 01:50