Vampire that wants to be good... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Vampire that wants to be good... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AnimeSensei
06-13-06, 01:50 PM One of the PCs in my campaign had a very lengthy backstory, and one of his elements from it I would like to put into the story, but I just have a question about how I should play it out.

Keep in mind, this is this person's first D&D experience, so the story takes a lot of liberties that don't work if you go by hardcore D&D philosophy.

In his backstory, his wife (A "good person" in his backstory, I'd guess LG or CG alignment) recieved a rune that turned her into basically a Queen of the Undead. (And a vampire, which according to the MM is "always evil.") She went crazy for about 800 years before she learned how to control it. (He is immortal, and has since been able to stick around the whole time. And yes, wounds can kill him. Just immune to aging.) Around 80 years ago, someone stole that rune from her (basically peeled off her skin >_<) and after a long battle, she got it back, and he hasn't seen her since. She likes him a little "too much" he says, so his character is enjoying his time away from her.

I want to make her have to deal with the insanity issue again, as she lost control of the rune for a time and has to re-adapt.

Any suggestions on running a character that has an alignment conflict? (Good and Evil at the same time, vying for power) I'm making that the central theme of her insanity.

Any general ideas? It's not that hard to do, but I'd like to be creative with it, and that's why I'm asking for input.

I don't want to go with the multiple personality thing if I can help it. But that's the only good idea I have right now.

Thanks in advance.
Narishma
06-13-06, 03:37 PM I'de say either play her as evil, with a few exceptions, like maybe she reverts to her old alignment when she is around things tht she destinctly remembers as good, or things she used to love before her... "change" i guess.

OR! You could play her as good... and trying not to drain blood... but she has the issue of when she is low on blood... she starts like freaking out... going into a rage like state turning on friends and desperately attempting to "quench the thirst".
AnimeSensei
06-13-06, 06:19 PM I like the rage idea. I also got some advice from the What's a DM to Do? forum with having her makes saves vs. being evil.

I'm thinking of something along the lines of the longer she is without blood, the higher the save is to be Good, and once she fails the save, she is Evil until the urge for blood is met. (At that time, the save goes down.) Every hour she can make a save to be Good, (even if the urge for blood hasn't been satisfied) and that way she can still "regain control," or she can go Evil at any time, should she fail the save. That would also be a good reason why she got it under control in 800 years. In 800 years, the DC became so low, or she found an alternate way of feeding, that the Save Vs. Evil wasn't really a concern anymore.

Save DC = 10 + days without blood?

Also, every time she would do something her "true alignment" would oppose doing, she would be able to retry her save. So I guess it would be like a Barbarian raging, but having to make a save to stop the rage. (In the most general sense)

Thoughts? Comments?
Narishma
06-14-06, 01:44 AM That sounds good... if you have libris mortis... you should check out the half vampire template and maybe use the save vs. fatigue mechanic they have(which sounds roughly similiar to your own idea) but use it as the save vs. alignment thing, just in case a player asks what you are basing it off of... I know I tend to like reasons other than "I am the DM, I can do how i want it" answer that some give.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AnimeSensei 06-13-06, 01:50 PM	One of the PCs in my campaign had a very lengthy backstory, and one of his elements from it I would like to put into the story, but I just have a question about how I should play it out. Keep in mind, this is this person's first D&D experience, so the story takes a lot of liberties that don't work if you go by hardcore D&D philosophy. In his backstory, his wife (A "good person" in his backstory, I'd guess LG or CG alignment) recieved a rune that turned her into basically a Queen of the Undead. (And a vampire, which according to the MM is "always evil.") She went crazy for about 800 years before she learned how to control it. (He is immortal, and has since been able to stick around the whole time. And yes, wounds can kill him. Just immune to aging.) Around 80 years ago, someone stole that rune from her (basically peeled off her skin >_<) and after a long battle, she got it back, and he hasn't seen her since. She likes him a little "too much" he says, so his character is enjoying his time away from her. I want to make her have to deal with the insanity issue again, as she lost control of the rune for a time and has to re-adapt. Any suggestions on running a character that has an alignment conflict? (Good and Evil at the same time, vying for power) I'm making that the central theme of her insanity. Any general ideas? It's not that hard to do, but I'd like to be creative with it, and that's why I'm asking for input. I don't want to go with the multiple personality thing if I can help it. But that's the only good idea I have right now. Thanks in advance.
Narishma 06-13-06, 03:37 PM	I'de say either play her as evil, with a few exceptions, like maybe she reverts to her old alignment when she is around things tht she destinctly remembers as good, or things she used to love before her... "change" i guess. OR! You could play her as good... and trying not to drain blood... but she has the issue of when she is low on blood... she starts like freaking out... going into a rage like state turning on friends and desperately attempting to "quench the thirst".
AnimeSensei 06-13-06, 06:19 PM	I like the rage idea. I also got some advice from the What's a DM to Do? forum with having her makes saves vs. being evil. I'm thinking of something along the lines of the longer she is without blood, the higher the save is to be Good, and once she fails the save, she is Evil until the urge for blood is met. (At that time, the save goes down.) Every hour she can make a save to be Good, (even if the urge for blood hasn't been satisfied) and that way she can still "regain control," or she can go Evil at any time, should she fail the save. That would also be a good reason why she got it under control in 800 years. In 800 years, the DC became so low, or she found an alternate way of feeding, that the Save Vs. Evil wasn't really a concern anymore. Save DC = 10 + days without blood? Also, every time she would do something her "true alignment" would oppose doing, she would be able to retry her save. So I guess it would be like a Barbarian raging, but having to make a save to stop the rage. (In the most general sense) Thoughts? Comments?
Narishma 06-14-06, 01:44 AM	That sounds good... if you have libris mortis... you should check out the half vampire template and maybe use the save vs. fatigue mechanic they have(which sounds roughly similiar to your own idea) but use it as the save vs. alignment thing, just in case a player asks what you are basing it off of... I know I tend to like reasons other than "I am the DM, I can do how i want it" answer that some give.