Is there a way to become a more powerful Werewolf?
If you upgrade bare handed combat, does that mean you are more powerful when in Beast Mode? Is there even a bare handed skill?

Unfortunately no on both accounts.

Actually, your damage while in beast form *does* increase as you increase in level. That's according to the big ol' Prima guidebook I have. It doesn't look like a tremendous increase, but it's (apparently) there.

However, one interesting implication of the lycanthropy skill tree they showed on the Game Jam video is that ... well, you'd need some way to measure "lycanthropy skill". To me, that suggests you would get skill increases as you attacked while in beast form, or perhaps some skill advancement just for shifting. How else would you be able to earn lycanthropy "perks"?

I'm really hoping they include the lycanthropy tree. Thing is, if they do that, there would be pretty much no reason to not have an Unarmed tree as well...

I'd like to see a neck snapping, bare-handed equivalent to the throat slit kill cam if we do get an unarmed tree.

Other than easy bandits, is there anytime when Beastmode is advantageous?
I loved the Werewolf addition, I think is one of the best, but maybe is not as useful. Haven't tried it enough, maybe.