Modified Vampire Template [Archive] - Wizards Community

Modified Vampire Template [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RobbyPants
10-13-06, 10:52 AM I came up with some rules a while ago for a modified vampire template (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=708607).

The first bit is the typical template info, but the ending section is a more clarified set of rules for things like feeding and hybrenating.

Let me know what you think, and if you'd ever consider using them.
True Cavalier
10-13-06, 11:09 AM Good idea, but I think your vampires are a little over-hungry "for me".

4 Con a day and 2 Str after the second day is a little too harsh for my image of a vampire; such a creature would not be able to stand close to civilization a lot, because either everyone living around it would be dead within a month, or it would have to look for animals to feed on.

If I remember correctly, Libris Mortis has rules for undead hunger.

Edit: I skipped quickly to the last part. Now I noticed some other things, too; I like the Leap of the Clouds idea. And the variation of abilities depending on hit dice is interesting, too, though wouldn't it modify the Level Adjustment accordingly?
RobbyPants
10-13-06, 11:38 AM Edit: I skipped quickly to the last part. Now I noticed some other things, too; I like the Leap of the Clouds idea. And the variation of abilities depending on hit dice is interesting, too, though wouldn't it modify the Level Adjustment accordingly?
Yeah... I've had a hard time figuring that one out. It's not too far off from the half-fiend's increasing spell-like ablilities and static LA, but my vampires have a lot more changing than that.

The feeding thing is still kind of iffy. I picked the 4 Con for 2 reasons:

It seemed like a convinient number, given their 1d4 Con damage per bite.
If you figure an average human having a Con of 10, it would take 3 days to drain him, even with him healing 1 point per night. This was more of a flavor thing taken from Brahm Stoker's Dracula.

You're right though, unless he's clever as heck, he'll have to lie low a lot, or at least by very sneaky to keep from getting caught. The rules for hybrenation allow him to let time pass without starving, but then they can't go out and socialize...
True Cavalier
10-13-06, 01:43 PM I dug up my copy of Libris Mortis, well, that too handles it on a "per day" basis for vampires.

I don't know... I would do it per week or something, but that's for my campaign setting where vampires simply don't go on a killing spree when near people.

I suppose per day does suit the vampire-as-monster idea, I just don't like it.
RobbyPants
10-13-06, 02:38 PM I don't know... I would do it per week or something, but that's for my campaign setting where vampires simply don't go on a killing spree when near people.
It wouldn't be so much of a killing spree... they only need about 1/3 of a person's Con per day to survive.

Granted, the person bitten may be a bit upset, and might form a mob...

I also set up the rules so they could feed off of animals. Some vampires may consider this crude, but picture a vampire that had some cattle (or access to them), and would go and drain 1 point off of four animals nightly. The fur/hair should cover the bite marks, and a 1 point Con damage won't give any visible sign of distress. In this way, a vampire could live indefiniately off of the same 4 creatures.

I suppose they could also capture 4 slaves and imprisson them in a hidden place as well...
True Cavalier
10-13-06, 03:21 PM Any noble vampire would rather feed on humans though...

The thing is, if you need to hunt for humans every night, or hibernate instead, then you don't have much time for plotting your evil deeds. :D

That said, I like the slaves idea. But for my vampires, I'd do it like this; you need to feed at least once every week, but when a vampire starts drinking someone's blood, it can't stop easily, therefore the victim is dead if nothing interferes.

Less farming, more hunting.
RobbyPants
10-16-06, 09:16 AM I see your point. I guess it depends on the flavor of the game you want...

Part of the reason I went the way I did was a line from Interview with a Vampire, where LeStat (sp?) said something to the effect of:
"In Paris you had to be cunning and careful, but here, all a vampire needs is a pair of fangs."
I don't remember the exact wording, but the idea was that in a relatively unorganized area, a vampire is much more free to do as he pleases, whereas in a well established city, he can't just go running amock, biting whomever he pleases.

That's the background on my reasoning.
strenoth
10-16-06, 09:41 AM of course, if your borrow the addictive-pleasure bite idea from VtM, then you have a noble vampire with a house full of blood-dolls, living humans who are the vampire's cattle as well as acting like nromal household servants.
RobbyPants
10-16-06, 11:19 AM of course, if your borrow the addictive-pleasure bite idea from VtM, then you have a noble vampire with a house full of blood-dolls, living humans who are the vampire's cattle as well as acting like nromal household servants.
VtM :Vampire the Masquerade?

Never looked into that game, but the idea is interesting...

Perhaps once they have enough hit dice/levels, the vampire can gain some sort of charm or compulsion ability delivered through its bite. I'll have to think about it more before I commit to it.
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella
10-18-06, 09:55 PM I did a re-make of the vampire here somewhere...

eh, can't find it; when I do, i'll give you a link.
RobbyPants
10-22-06, 07:58 PM I did a re-make of the vampire here somewhere...
Similar to what I did, or something entirely different?
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella
10-22-06, 10:21 PM Actualy, I did 2. The first one I based off the Legecy of Kain games, the second one was a total overhaul.

...still can't find them!! I know I posted the first one; if you for my posts you'll find it.
RobbyPants
11-02-06, 10:28 AM Still no link, huh? Oh well...
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella
11-03-06, 05:44 PM got 'em! ZIP files:

http://bowdown2q.tripod.com/dnd/lordqdnd.html

:D
RobbyPants
11-17-06, 03:02 PM Interesting.

I like the clan idea you used, to make many different sub-types of vampires. The ability mods you listed for them; are those in addition to the standard vampire mods? I noticed that some of them were just penalties.

I've debated having normal water harm them as well, like you did. The insta-kill for immersion is pretty drastic, but I guess that gives them a reason to be mindful of their surroundings! :eek:

The hemophelea disease passed by the bite is a nice touch too.

Thanks for the post and links! :D
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella
11-18-06, 07:04 PM For the LoK files, you use the base Vampire template I provided, AND a clan template. I'm not sure if I put in Level Adjustments. It's something like +5 for vampire, and each clan has its own.

For the other one, so far it's just my new base and a HD-based ritual.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RobbyPants 10-13-06, 10:52 AM	I came up with some rules a while ago for a modified vampire template (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=708607). The first bit is the typical template info, but the ending section is a more clarified set of rules for things like feeding and hybrenating. Let me know what you think, and if you'd ever consider using them.
True Cavalier 10-13-06, 11:09 AM	Good idea, but I think your vampires are a little over-hungry "for me". 4 Con a day and 2 Str after the second day is a little too harsh for my image of a vampire; such a creature would not be able to stand close to civilization a lot, because either everyone living around it would be dead within a month, or it would have to look for animals to feed on. If I remember correctly, Libris Mortis has rules for undead hunger. Edit: I skipped quickly to the last part. Now I noticed some other things, too; I like the Leap of the Clouds idea. And the variation of abilities depending on hit dice is interesting, too, though wouldn't it modify the Level Adjustment accordingly?
RobbyPants 10-13-06, 11:38 AM	Edit: I skipped quickly to the last part. Now I noticed some other things, too; I like the Leap of the Clouds idea. And the variation of abilities depending on hit dice is interesting, too, though wouldn't it modify the Level Adjustment accordingly? Yeah... I've had a hard time figuring that one out. It's not too far off from the half-fiend's increasing spell-like ablilities and static LA, but my vampires have a lot more changing than that. The feeding thing is still kind of iffy. I picked the 4 Con for 2 reasons: It seemed like a convinient number, given their 1d4 Con damage per bite. If you figure an average human having a Con of 10, it would take 3 days to drain him, even with him healing 1 point per night. This was more of a flavor thing taken from Brahm Stoker's Dracula. You're right though, unless he's clever as heck, he'll have to lie low a lot, or at least by very sneaky to keep from getting caught. The rules for hybrenation allow him to let time pass without starving, but then they can't go out and socialize...
True Cavalier 10-13-06, 01:43 PM	I dug up my copy of Libris Mortis, well, that too handles it on a "per day" basis for vampires. I don't know... I would do it per week or something, but that's for my campaign setting where vampires simply don't go on a killing spree when near people. I suppose per day does suit the vampire-as-monster idea, I just don't like it.
RobbyPants 10-13-06, 02:38 PM	I don't know... I would do it per week or something, but that's for my campaign setting where vampires simply don't go on a killing spree when near people. It wouldn't be so much of a killing spree... they only need about 1/3 of a person's Con per day to survive. Granted, the person bitten may be a bit upset, and might form a mob... I also set up the rules so they could feed off of animals. Some vampires may consider this crude, but picture a vampire that had some cattle (or access to them), and would go and drain 1 point off of four animals nightly. The fur/hair should cover the bite marks, and a 1 point Con damage won't give any visible sign of distress. In this way, a vampire could live indefiniately off of the same 4 creatures. I suppose they could also capture 4 slaves and imprisson them in a hidden place as well...
True Cavalier 10-13-06, 03:21 PM	Any noble vampire would rather feed on humans though... The thing is, if you need to hunt for humans every night, or hibernate instead, then you don't have much time for plotting your evil deeds. :D That said, I like the slaves idea. But for my vampires, I'd do it like this; you need to feed at least once every week, but when a vampire starts drinking someone's blood, it can't stop easily, therefore the victim is dead if nothing interferes. Less farming, more hunting.
RobbyPants 10-16-06, 09:16 AM	I see your point. I guess it depends on the flavor of the game you want... Part of the reason I went the way I did was a line from Interview with a Vampire, where LeStat (sp?) said something to the effect of: "In Paris you had to be cunning and careful, but here, all a vampire needs is a pair of fangs." I don't remember the exact wording, but the idea was that in a relatively unorganized area, a vampire is much more free to do as he pleases, whereas in a well established city, he can't just go running amock, biting whomever he pleases. That's the background on my reasoning.
strenoth 10-16-06, 09:41 AM	of course, if your borrow the addictive-pleasure bite idea from VtM, then you have a noble vampire with a house full of blood-dolls, living humans who are the vampire's cattle as well as acting like nromal household servants.
RobbyPants 10-16-06, 11:19 AM	of course, if your borrow the addictive-pleasure bite idea from VtM, then you have a noble vampire with a house full of blood-dolls, living humans who are the vampire's cattle as well as acting like nromal household servants. VtM :Vampire the Masquerade? Never looked into that game, but the idea is interesting... Perhaps once they have enough hit dice/levels, the vampire can gain some sort of charm or compulsion ability delivered through its bite. I'll have to think about it more before I commit to it.
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella 10-18-06, 09:55 PM	I did a re-make of the vampire here somewhere... eh, can't find it; when I do, i'll give you a link.
RobbyPants 10-22-06, 07:58 PM	I did a re-make of the vampire here somewhere... Similar to what I did, or something entirely different?
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella 10-22-06, 10:21 PM	Actualy, I did 2. The first one I based off the Legecy of Kain games, the second one was a total overhaul. ...still can't find them!! I know I posted the first one; if you for my posts you'll find it.
RobbyPants 11-02-06, 10:28 AM	Still no link, huh? Oh well...
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella 11-03-06, 05:44 PM	got 'em! ZIP files: http://bowdown2q.tripod.com/dnd/lordqdnd.html :D
RobbyPants 11-17-06, 03:02 PM	Interesting. I like the clan idea you used, to make many different sub-types of vampires. The ability mods you listed for them; are those in addition to the standard vampire mods? I noticed that some of them were just penalties. I've debated having normal water harm them as well, like you did. The insta-kill for immersion is pretty drastic, but I guess that gives them a reason to be mindful of their surroundings! :eek: The hemophelea disease passed by the bite is a nice touch too. Thanks for the post and links! :D
Iabes_Q_c_a_Mahorella 11-18-06, 07:04 PM	For the LoK files, you use the base Vampire template I provided, AND a clan template. I'm not sure if I put in Level Adjustments. It's something like +5 for vampire, and each clan has its own. For the other one, so far it's just my new base and a HD-based ritual.