Beheading a vampire? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beheading a vampire? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Morphius
07-05-06, 06:01 AM What happens if you cut off a vampire's head during battle, either with a vorpal weapon or through some other maneuver? I mean, it's undead, but you have to decapitate it when you stake it, and then fill its mouth with holy wafers. So, I guess I actually have three questions.

1. What happens if you cut off a vampire's head, whether with a vorpal weapon or simply by incapacitating it and sawing its head off or something? No stakes are involved.

2. What happens if you stake a vampire, THEN decapitate it, but don't destroy the body or fill its mouth with holy wafers?

3. What happens if you decapitate a vampire and then stake it? Obviously, this question might very well be invalidated by question 1.

I'd really like to know, because my group sometimes goes up against vampires, and if they behead them, I want to know exactly what its effects are. After all, it doesn't usually kill undead, but the vorpal weapon description specifically names vampires as being affected.
Callahan
07-05-06, 10:03 AM 1. he takes regular damage and has to carry his head around but otherwise there is no real effect. The vampire functions as he would normaly funcion excep he would not be able to deliver a bite attack until the head is re-attached.

2. the vampire is slayn untill such time as the stake is removed. The head is still detached and again no real effect.

3. same thing.
dengarbountyhunter
07-05-06, 10:33 AM SRD:
Vorpal: This potent and feared ability allows the weapon to sever the heads of those it strikes. Upon a roll of natural 20 (followed by a successful roll to confirm the critical hit), the weapon severs the opponent’s head (if it has one) from its body. Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off. A vorpal weapon must be a slashing weapon. (If you roll this property randomly for an inappropriate weapon, reroll.)

Strong necromancy and transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, circle of death, keen edge; Price +5 bonus.
That means vampires are affected in *some way* by decapitation, but nothing's clarified.

Slaying a Vampire: Reducing a vampire’s hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn’t always destroy it (see the note on fast healing). However, certain attacks can slay vampires.

Exposing any vampire to direct sunlight disorients it: It can take only a single move action or attack action and is destroyed utterly in the next round if it cannot escape. Similarly, immersing a vampire in running water robs it of one-third of its hit points each round until it is destroyed at the end of the third round of immersion.

Driving a wooden stake through a vampire’s heart instantly slays the monster. However, it returns to life if the stake is removed, unless the body is destroyed. A popular tactic is to cut off the creature’s head and fill its mouth with holy wafers (or their equivalent).
After the stake is driven through the heart, the body must still be destroyed or it will come back to life if the stake is removed. Most people do so by decapitating it and stuff it with holy wafers. It is not clear though if decapitation has any effect on an "unstaked" vampire...

Also, I've wondered for a bit how the hell do you stake a vampire? Get a stake (I assume it is an improvised weapon so -4 to attack, 1d4 and crit 20/x2) and hope for a critical hit? Dwelve in the shady world of houseruled called shots?
I guess you're better off with holy water flasks and a greatsword...
Callahan
07-05-06, 10:47 AM The vorpal sword inclusion is for the purpose of staking the body and filling the mouth with holy wafers. Unless you did all of the above the vampire is not affected (aside for the stake in which case he is temporeraly slain).

When reduced to 0hp and forced in to his coffin the vampire remains helpless and durring this time can be staked.
Shaggy_Shaggs
07-05-06, 10:57 AM Presumably, cutting off an unstaked vampire's head would render the vampire's body blind, deaf, and unable to drain blood or speak until the head were reattached.
Watchdog_of_Hades
07-05-06, 11:21 AM Presumably, cutting off an unstaked vampire's head would render the vampire's body blind, deaf, and unable to drain blood or speak until the head were reattached.I just got an image of a vampire trying to shove his head against someone's neck so it could bite them.
Shaggy_Shaggs
07-05-06, 02:32 PM I just got an image of a vampire trying to shove his head against someone's neck so it could bite them.
:plotting:
Note to self: work out some way to make a blood-draining heavy mace from a severed vampire head and an axehandle.
Millennium
07-05-06, 02:47 PM For the special case of vampires, I rule that beheading essentially renders the vampire unconscious. It doesn't kill the vamp outright, but if you know what else you have to do (and you have the supplies for it) then finishing the job is no problem.
Morphius
07-05-06, 03:10 PM Thanks for your input, guys. Man, I wish there was some official rule, though. This is driving me nuts!
KhalaKyRelai
07-05-06, 03:19 PM Another vampire related question I have myself:

If a vampire is reduced by a single hit to negative hit points, is it destroyed or vapored?
Kresalak
07-05-06, 03:21 PM You can't stake a vampire, as they are immune to critical hits.
Morphius
07-05-06, 03:22 PM The vampire is forced into mist form at 0 hit points, regardless of how much damage it took to get there.

Hrm... is there any way to actually get an official response from one of the developers of D&D on this question?
Khael
07-05-06, 03:22 PM Another vampire related question I have myself:

If a vampire is reduced by a single hit to negative hit points, is it destroyed or vapored?

Vapoured. Vampires, being undead don't go into negative hps.
pileobone
07-05-06, 04:23 PM I would say that you could stake a vampire with a coup-de-grace. Therefore the players would have to imobilize it completely somehow, then comes the pain. For the vampire at least.
Morphius
07-06-06, 05:05 AM Yeah, vampires are normally immune to coup de graces because they're immune to critical hits, but it can be a house rule. I just wish there was an official rule regarding decapitation. Although the vampire carrying its head around trying to bite people with it makes for a funny visual.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Morphius 07-05-06, 06:01 AM	What happens if you cut off a vampire's head during battle, either with a vorpal weapon or through some other maneuver? I mean, it's undead, but you have to decapitate it when you stake it, and then fill its mouth with holy wafers. So, I guess I actually have three questions. 1. What happens if you cut off a vampire's head, whether with a vorpal weapon or simply by incapacitating it and sawing its head off or something? No stakes are involved. 2. What happens if you stake a vampire, THEN decapitate it, but don't destroy the body or fill its mouth with holy wafers? 3. What happens if you decapitate a vampire and then stake it? Obviously, this question might very well be invalidated by question 1. I'd really like to know, because my group sometimes goes up against vampires, and if they behead them, I want to know exactly what its effects are. After all, it doesn't usually kill undead, but the vorpal weapon description specifically names vampires as being affected.
Callahan 07-05-06, 10:03 AM	1. he takes regular damage and has to carry his head around but otherwise there is no real effect. The vampire functions as he would normaly funcion excep he would not be able to deliver a bite attack until the head is re-attached. 2. the vampire is slayn untill such time as the stake is removed. The head is still detached and again no real effect. 3. same thing.
dengarbountyhunter 07-05-06, 10:33 AM	SRD: Vorpal: This potent and feared ability allows the weapon to sever the heads of those it strikes. Upon a roll of natural 20 (followed by a successful roll to confirm the critical hit), the weapon severs the opponent’s head (if it has one) from its body. Some creatures, such as many aberrations and all oozes, have no heads. Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads. Most other creatures, however, die when their heads are cut off. A vorpal weapon must be a slashing weapon. (If you roll this property randomly for an inappropriate weapon, reroll.) Strong necromancy and transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, circle of death, keen edge; Price +5 bonus. That means vampires are affected in some way by decapitation, but nothing's clarified. Slaying a Vampire: Reducing a vampire’s hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn’t always destroy it (see the note on fast healing). However, certain attacks can slay vampires. Exposing any vampire to direct sunlight disorients it: It can take only a single move action or attack action and is destroyed utterly in the next round if it cannot escape. Similarly, immersing a vampire in running water robs it of one-third of its hit points each round until it is destroyed at the end of the third round of immersion. Driving a wooden stake through a vampire’s heart instantly slays the monster. However, it returns to life if the stake is removed, unless the body is destroyed. A popular tactic is to cut off the creature’s head and fill its mouth with holy wafers (or their equivalent). After the stake is driven through the heart, the body must still be destroyed or it will come back to life if the stake is removed. Most people do so by decapitating it and stuff it with holy wafers. It is not clear though if decapitation has any effect on an "unstaked" vampire... Also, I've wondered for a bit how the hell do you stake a vampire? Get a stake (I assume it is an improvised weapon so -4 to attack, 1d4 and crit 20/x2) and hope for a critical hit? Dwelve in the shady world of houseruled called shots? I guess you're better off with holy water flasks and a greatsword...
Callahan 07-05-06, 10:47 AM	The vorpal sword inclusion is for the purpose of staking the body and filling the mouth with holy wafers. Unless you did all of the above the vampire is not affected (aside for the stake in which case he is temporeraly slain). When reduced to 0hp and forced in to his coffin the vampire remains helpless and durring this time can be staked.
Shaggy_Shaggs 07-05-06, 10:57 AM	Presumably, cutting off an unstaked vampire's head would render the vampire's body blind, deaf, and unable to drain blood or speak until the head were reattached.
Watchdog_of_Hades 07-05-06, 11:21 AM	Presumably, cutting off an unstaked vampire's head would render the vampire's body blind, deaf, and unable to drain blood or speak until the head were reattached.I just got an image of a vampire trying to shove his head against someone's neck so it could bite them.
Shaggy_Shaggs 07-05-06, 02:32 PM	I just got an image of a vampire trying to shove his head against someone's neck so it could bite them. :plotting: Note to self: work out some way to make a blood-draining heavy mace from a severed vampire head and an axehandle.
Millennium 07-05-06, 02:47 PM	For the special case of vampires, I rule that beheading essentially renders the vampire unconscious. It doesn't kill the vamp outright, but if you know what else you have to do (and you have the supplies for it) then finishing the job is no problem.
Morphius 07-05-06, 03:10 PM	Thanks for your input, guys. Man, I wish there was some official rule, though. This is driving me nuts!
KhalaKyRelai 07-05-06, 03:19 PM	Another vampire related question I have myself: If a vampire is reduced by a single hit to negative hit points, is it destroyed or vapored?
Kresalak 07-05-06, 03:21 PM	You can't stake a vampire, as they are immune to critical hits.
Morphius 07-05-06, 03:22 PM	The vampire is forced into mist form at 0 hit points, regardless of how much damage it took to get there. Hrm... is there any way to actually get an official response from one of the developers of D&D on this question?
Khael 07-05-06, 03:22 PM	Another vampire related question I have myself: If a vampire is reduced by a single hit to negative hit points, is it destroyed or vapored? Vapoured. Vampires, being undead don't go into negative hps.
pileobone 07-05-06, 04:23 PM	I would say that you could stake a vampire with a coup-de-grace. Therefore the players would have to imobilize it completely somehow, then comes the pain. For the vampire at least.
Morphius 07-06-06, 05:05 AM	Yeah, vampires are normally immune to coup de graces because they're immune to critical hits, but it can be a house rule. I just wish there was an official rule regarding decapitation. Although the vampire carrying its head around trying to bite people with it makes for a funny visual.