Vampire possibilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Vampire possibilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
grantadevine
05-02-07, 04:08 AM Are there any limits to what species can be vampires? Would it matter if the creature was celestial, fiendish or abberation? ie, aasimar/tiefling/mindflayer
Seldriss
05-02-07, 10:44 AM For lesser planars, like aasimars and tielfings, i don't see what would prevent such a transformation.
I know the rules say otherwise (the vampire template can only be applied to a humanoid or monstrous humanoid), and i am not sure if aasimars or tieflings are classified as humanoids, but it's only a technical point which doesn't necessary make sense.
For greater planars, celestials or fiends, if they are vulnerable to energy drain, well, they could become vampires.
Of course, a celestial could be saved by another coming to redeem his tainted fellow.
This is of course if the transformation was not voluntary or the result of a fall from grace, then the fallen celestial would be doomed and exiled.

About the illithid vampire, there is already such a creature. You don't want to meet one ;)
grantadevine
05-02-07, 06:12 PM About the illithid vampire, there is already such a creature. You don't want to meet one ;)

I know but if I was one then my enemies wouldn't want to meet me eiher. Where could I find the pre-existing one?
Anansi
05-02-07, 06:50 PM Aasimar, tieflings and other planetouched are outsiders with the native subtype. So, no, they can't technically become vampires.
Ebonyte
05-02-07, 07:00 PM The Illithid Vampire originates from old Ravenloft, they have to be made in a very complicated and unorthodox method, and are utterly unplayable. Totally feral and without sentience. The only way you could EVER play it (and I wonder why you would, which is weird for me...) would be to switch minds with it, and that would take some doing.

To find the 3.5 edition version, check the Lords of Madness book.

As for normal vampire applications, it is, hard and fast rules-wise, impossible for anything but a humanoid or monstrous humanoid to become one. Of course, this is a fantasy world, so whatever the setting and DM say goes. I've seen one setting with vampiric Celestials, akin to the Gravetouched Ghoul Demons in the employ of Doresain, and others where there were vampire werewolves (classic) or animals. So do as you will, as always. I'd say it's possible, since with magic, most things are.
grantadevine
05-04-07, 06:56 AM The Illithid Vampire originates from old Ravenloft, they have to be made in a very complicated and unorthodox method, and are utterly unplayable.

Could someone elaborate on this please? What makes the character creation so unorthodox and why are they unplayable?
Tevin Kevlak
05-04-07, 02:25 PM Could someone elaborate on this please? What makes the character creation so unorthodox and why are they unplayable?

"Totally feral and without sentience."

That's my assumption. You know, the very next sentance :P
stsword
05-05-07, 01:21 AM The Illithid Vampire originates from old Ravenloft, they have to be made in a very complicated and unorthodox method, and are utterly unplayable. Totally feral and without sentience. The only way you could EVER play it (and I wonder why you would, which is weird for me...) would be to switch minds with it, and that would take some doing.

To find the 3.5 edition version, check the Lords of Madness book.

As for normal vampire applications, it is, hard and fast rules-wise, impossible for anything but a humanoid or monstrous humanoid to become one. Of course, this is a fantasy world, so whatever the setting and DM say goes. I've seen one setting with vampiric Celestials, akin to the Gravetouched Ghoul Demons in the employ of Doresain, and others where there were vampire werewolves (classic) or animals. So do as you will, as always. I'd say it's possible, since with magic, most things are.

For one looking to add more versatility to vampire creation there is the monstrous vampire template from ghostwalk which is the vampire template but applicable to aberrations, animals, dragons, fey, giants, humanoids, magical beasts, monstrous humanoids, and vermin.

Another option is human heritage feat from races of destiny, which would make anything of human heritage into a humanoid, so you could have all sorts of vampires with that one.
Ebonyte
05-05-07, 11:56 PM Well, to explain the exact creation of a vampire illithid...

You have to turn the potential body to become an illithid into a vampire... then, implant the illithid tadpole into the body as it's transforming. The problem is, the transformation breaks down the evolution of the creature's intellect and connection to other illithids, driving the creature insane beyond a shadow of sentience.

This is the primary problem with playing an illithid vampire. They must be created intentionally, which no sensible illithid would ever do. They are uncontrollable, and are as willing to kill another illithid as any other creature. And they are bereft of higher brain functions. Playing an illithid vampire is akin to playing a rabid dog. Not a lot of options, and zero personality. They aren't even tactical, they just rage in.

Their origin is the Ravenloft domain of Bluetspur, where illithids rule underground under the command of a god-brain. An illithid noble of sorts wants to usurp that power, and so cuts a deal with Strahd von Zarovich's niece, Lyssa (a vampire, herself, who seeks the destruction of her uncle, no matter who gets hurt in the process). Lyssa will help the illithid noble to become a vampire to kill the god-brain, and in return, the noble will lead his illithids against Strahd. Only by turning a captured psionicaly able paladin into a vampire, then hatching a vampire illithid from the body (The strong spirit of the paladin, and his psionic ability keep his mind intact through both transformations), then using a pair of relics called the Apparatus and the Rod of Rastinon to switch bodies between the hatchling and the noble, so that the paladin's mind and soul are in the noble's old body, and the noble is a vampire illithid with intellect. Even then, it seemed to be fairly weak and nonsensical, but it seems that, under those EXTREME circumstances, around which a high level 2'nd ed adventure was formed, a vampire illithid MIGHT be playable. And even then, it's not especially worth it.

But hey, I know what it's like to want to play something esoteric and extreme. So, if you want to, just rule it was a ritual transformation, or that illithids can maintain their sanity and soul and become a vampire. It's really up to you. But the origin of the illithid vampire.... well, now you know.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
grantadevine 05-02-07, 04:08 AM	Are there any limits to what species can be vampires? Would it matter if the creature was celestial, fiendish or abberation? ie, aasimar/tiefling/mindflayer
Seldriss 05-02-07, 10:44 AM	For lesser planars, like aasimars and tielfings, i don't see what would prevent such a transformation. I know the rules say otherwise (the vampire template can only be applied to a humanoid or monstrous humanoid), and i am not sure if aasimars or tieflings are classified as humanoids, but it's only a technical point which doesn't necessary make sense. For greater planars, celestials or fiends, if they are vulnerable to energy drain, well, they could become vampires. Of course, a celestial could be saved by another coming to redeem his tainted fellow. This is of course if the transformation was not voluntary or the result of a fall from grace, then the fallen celestial would be doomed and exiled. About the illithid vampire, there is already such a creature. You don't want to meet one ;)
grantadevine 05-02-07, 06:12 PM	About the illithid vampire, there is already such a creature. You don't want to meet one ;) I know but if I was one then my enemies wouldn't want to meet me eiher. Where could I find the pre-existing one?
Anansi 05-02-07, 06:50 PM	Aasimar, tieflings and other planetouched are outsiders with the native subtype. So, no, they can't technically become vampires.
Ebonyte 05-02-07, 07:00 PM	The Illithid Vampire originates from old Ravenloft, they have to be made in a very complicated and unorthodox method, and are utterly unplayable. Totally feral and without sentience. The only way you could EVER play it (and I wonder why you would, which is weird for me...) would be to switch minds with it, and that would take some doing. To find the 3.5 edition version, check the Lords of Madness book. As for normal vampire applications, it is, hard and fast rules-wise, impossible for anything but a humanoid or monstrous humanoid to become one. Of course, this is a fantasy world, so whatever the setting and DM say goes. I've seen one setting with vampiric Celestials, akin to the Gravetouched Ghoul Demons in the employ of Doresain, and others where there were vampire werewolves (classic) or animals. So do as you will, as always. I'd say it's possible, since with magic, most things are.
grantadevine 05-04-07, 06:56 AM	The Illithid Vampire originates from old Ravenloft, they have to be made in a very complicated and unorthodox method, and are utterly unplayable. Could someone elaborate on this please? What makes the character creation so unorthodox and why are they unplayable?
Tevin Kevlak 05-04-07, 02:25 PM	Could someone elaborate on this please? What makes the character creation so unorthodox and why are they unplayable? "Totally feral and without sentience." That's my assumption. You know, the very next sentance :P
stsword 05-05-07, 01:21 AM	The Illithid Vampire originates from old Ravenloft, they have to be made in a very complicated and unorthodox method, and are utterly unplayable. Totally feral and without sentience. The only way you could EVER play it (and I wonder why you would, which is weird for me...) would be to switch minds with it, and that would take some doing. To find the 3.5 edition version, check the Lords of Madness book. As for normal vampire applications, it is, hard and fast rules-wise, impossible for anything but a humanoid or monstrous humanoid to become one. Of course, this is a fantasy world, so whatever the setting and DM say goes. I've seen one setting with vampiric Celestials, akin to the Gravetouched Ghoul Demons in the employ of Doresain, and others where there were vampire werewolves (classic) or animals. So do as you will, as always. I'd say it's possible, since with magic, most things are. For one looking to add more versatility to vampire creation there is the monstrous vampire template from ghostwalk which is the vampire template but applicable to aberrations, animals, dragons, fey, giants, humanoids, magical beasts, monstrous humanoids, and vermin. Another option is human heritage feat from races of destiny, which would make anything of human heritage into a humanoid, so you could have all sorts of vampires with that one.
Ebonyte 05-05-07, 11:56 PM	Well, to explain the exact creation of a vampire illithid... You have to turn the potential body to become an illithid into a vampire... then, implant the illithid tadpole into the body as it's transforming. The problem is, the transformation breaks down the evolution of the creature's intellect and connection to other illithids, driving the creature insane beyond a shadow of sentience. This is the primary problem with playing an illithid vampire. They must be created intentionally, which no sensible illithid would ever do. They are uncontrollable, and are as willing to kill another illithid as any other creature. And they are bereft of higher brain functions. Playing an illithid vampire is akin to playing a rabid dog. Not a lot of options, and zero personality. They aren't even tactical, they just rage in. Their origin is the Ravenloft domain of Bluetspur, where illithids rule underground under the command of a god-brain. An illithid noble of sorts wants to usurp that power, and so cuts a deal with Strahd von Zarovich's niece, Lyssa (a vampire, herself, who seeks the destruction of her uncle, no matter who gets hurt in the process). Lyssa will help the illithid noble to become a vampire to kill the god-brain, and in return, the noble will lead his illithids against Strahd. Only by turning a captured psionicaly able paladin into a vampire, then hatching a vampire illithid from the body (The strong spirit of the paladin, and his psionic ability keep his mind intact through both transformations), then using a pair of relics called the Apparatus and the Rod of Rastinon to switch bodies between the hatchling and the noble, so that the paladin's mind and soul are in the noble's old body, and the noble is a vampire illithid with intellect. Even then, it seemed to be fairly weak and nonsensical, but it seems that, under those EXTREME circumstances, around which a high level 2'nd ed adventure was formed, a vampire illithid MIGHT be playable. And even then, it's not especially worth it. But hey, I know what it's like to want to play something esoteric and extreme. So, if you want to, just rule it was a ritual transformation, or that illithids can maintain their sanity and soul and become a vampire. It's really up to you. But the origin of the illithid vampire.... well, now you know.