Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LiaTheQuite 04-07-06, 01:19 AM	So my lvl5 druid has been turned into a vampire. This is really great stat boost, but does this affect my druid class in any way?
Wilds 04-07-06, 01:25 AM	You are your own worst enemy? Either going to be a fallen druid, or take some serious twist in how your character sees nature
LiaTheQuite 04-07-06, 01:29 AM	Would I be exiled from druidness? loss all my abilities just like a paladin becoming evil? Well at least I now have the right to say my charecter can pwn urs.
timetraveler13 04-07-06, 02:12 AM	yeah you would probably be kicked out of the druid order and lose all your powers/abilites. Nature hates the undead.
JadeSpider9643 04-07-06, 02:21 AM	You won't lose your druid abilities unless as a vampire you cease to revere nature, change to a prohibited alignment (as a vampire your only option will be Neutral Evil), or start wearing metal armor.
JadeSpider9643 04-07-06, 02:24 AM	on a side note though, becoming a vampire will probably wreck havock with your Wild shape ability. Wild shape mechanics give me a headache...mabye someone more proficient can figure it out.
goldjas 04-07-06, 02:35 AM	I'd suggest trying to remove it as soon as possible, being a vampire is nothing but suck for a druid (besides the +2 wis, but meh, otherwise you just get a bunch of crap that you lose the second you wildshape...), not only that, but RP wise a Druid would etheir kill himself, fall, or dedicate his (un)life to being turned back to a normal druid anyway.
Yak of Darkness 04-07-06, 03:21 AM	Not sure where this whole "falling druid" idea comes from. Now, granted, it's unlikely that druidic types would be unlikely to initiate undead as new members, but if you're already a druid, you can only lose your druidicyness (new word!) by (as JadeSpider9643 said): Ceasing to revere nature Changing to a prohibited alignment Teaching Druidic to a non-druid And I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the Vampire template that says you have to do any of that. So you're neutral evil. You didn't start any new foreign language classes at the Greyhawk Community College. What's left? Reverence for nature. You're evil. But so are plenty of other druids. And you still love your forest (albeit mostly just at night nowadays ;) ). And all manner of people keep invading that space. Some tear the trees down en masse to make room for their profane settlements. Some steal the fruits of your forest for lumber they take far, far away. And some are just passing through, but upsetting the natural balance nonetheless. They all deserve punishment. And they all have to sleep sometime. And you've been gifted with this amazing increase in power, along with an eternal unlife. You even, point of interest, gain another ability that lets you call the creatures of the wild to aid you. And while these wretches who've raped your land are sleeping easy, you stalk through their camps, entering any dwelling you can (using dominate to get people to let you in elsewhere). You slay the butchers of your domain, turning some into spawn to aid your crusade, eating others to maintain your own health, and leaving the rest of the bloody bodies out as warnings to the other unnatural interlopers out there to keep off of your damn lawn. But they just don't listen. They even start hiring people to see what's causing these deaths; they'll most likely try to kill you if they find you. But that's okay. You'll deal with them, and any others that come after them. Anyone unwanted who steps foot in your forest is going to know nature's wrath. You love your forest, after all. One of plenty of different ways to make a vampire druid work. It's unorthodox, but so is sitting around a table, rolling dice, and pretending to kill dragons. Once you get past that hurdle, and undead guardian of nature should be a snap.
AngelDust Anderson 04-07-06, 04:27 AM	Not sure where this whole "falling druid" idea comes from. Now, granted, it's unlikely that druidic types would be unlikely to initiate undead as new members, but if you're already a druid, you can only lose your druidicyness (new word!) by (as JadeSpider9643 said): Ceasing to revere nature Changing to a prohibited alignment Teaching Druidic to a non-druid And I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the Vampire template that says you have to do any of that. So you're neutral evil. You didn't start any new foreign language classes at the Greyhawk Community College. What's left? Reverence for nature. You're evil. But so are plenty of other druids. And you still love your forest (albeit mostly just at night nowadays ;) ). And all manner of people keep invading that space. Some tear the trees down en masse to make room for their profane settlements. Some steal the fruits of your forest for lumber they take far, far away. And some are just passing through, but upsetting the natural balance nonetheless. They all deserve punishment. And they all have to sleep sometime. And you've been gifted with this amazing increase in power, along with an eternal unlife. You even, point of interest, gain another ability that lets you call the creatures of the wild to aid you. And while these wretches who've raped your land are sleeping easy, you stalk through their camps, entering any dwelling you can (using dominate to get people to let you in elsewhere). You slay the butchers of your domain, turning some into spawn to aid your crusade, eating others to maintain your own health, and leaving the rest of the bloody bodies out as warnings to the other unnatural interlopers out there to keep off of your damn lawn. But they just don't listen. They even start hiring people to see what's causing these deaths; they'll most likely try to kill you if they find you. But that's okay. You'll deal with them, and any others that come after them. Anyone unwanted who steps foot in your forest is going to know nature's wrath. You love your forest, after all. One of plenty of different ways to make a vampire druid work. It's unorthodox, but so is sitting around a table, rolling dice, and pretending to kill dragons. Once you get past that hurdle, and undead guardian of nature should be a snap. That is a great description of a vampire Druid! Great character idea! -Anderson
Yak of Darkness 04-07-06, 04:31 AM	That is a great description of a vampire Druid! Great character idea! -AndersonMuch thanks. :)
green_yawgmoth 04-07-06, 10:27 AM	Or you could become a blighter (PrC from MotW/CD). Druid : blighter :: paladin : blackguard. You could seek to destroy the nature that has so unfairly spurned you by causing you to become one of the undead you once fought against. http://www.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Arandar 04-07-06, 10:39 AM	I didn't believe a Vampire had to be evil but they, like any other PC, could be of any alignment. Yes, they have a tendency to drink blood but it says nowhere it has to be human(oid) blood, nor that they have to drain everyone and everything they meet and thereby killing them. Villain's Lorebook (Forgotten Realms) had the Vampiric Fighter/Wizard named Jander Sunstar (I believe. Memory is a little scetchy at best). He is CN (CG), dislikes undead as much as the next good aligned undead-slayer. He has his own garden (but due to a curse upon his family ("black hand" I believe it's called) any plant/tree he touches without wearing gloves dies rather quickly (nothing happens while he's wearing a glove). My GM once had a Human (turned Vampire) Paladin/Hunter of the Dead. Good aligned, kept his Paladin and just hunted Undead for a living. I know Vampires state "Alignment: always evil (any)". But looking at the Glossary it says: Always: It is possible for individuals to change alignment, but such individuals are either unique or rare exceptions. Therefore, depending on how you play your Druid should and would not lose any of his/her qualities. Of course the Gods might shun you and dislike you, as you will be an abomination in their eyes, but "Mother Nature" needs not have a God to grant you spells (so nothing changes the spellcasting department). I do agree however, you would probably spend most of your afterlife trying to return to before-vampiric form.
JulesCARV 04-07-06, 05:27 PM	You could get the Corrupted Wildshape (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20041001a) feat. Hmmm... I wonder if Natural Spell allows you to cast spells while using your vampiric alternate form as a (dire) wolf or bat.
Doopliss 04-07-06, 07:15 PM	Well, first thing's first there's a scenario that's common enough to merit mention: If you don't get buried, you're not a Vampire. It's a pretty common mistake. Assuming someone did bury you, (And if it's a party member, bite them. They deserve it. ;) ) just pray that your party finished off the schmoe that bit you. (If he's staked but not properly finished, make every effort to destroy the body before someone removes the stake) If he's still animate, you're in trouble. He'll have a telepathic link with you, knowledge of your every thought and emotion, and the ability to order you to do anything. Even moreso, you'll like it and will willingly make every effort to return to his side. Want to resurrect? Now you don't. Managed to avoid evil alignment through some DM magic? Not anymore. Not terribly fun... Worst of all, is your master will want more true vampires under his (direct or indirect) control, and you likely have three or four friends that fit the bill perfectly. 5 HD, humanoid, in the company of a vampire, and they sleep at night. This might be unavoidable even if you're free willed, but if your master's animate the best you can hope for is them managing to stake you quickly before your DM (Rightfully enough) claims dominance until the party is on the same side. Vampires are great team players, just not with the living. On a less depressing note, you should be fine if you manage free will. (Provided the party are willing to accomodate you. Invitations, Adventuring by night, etc.) Enemy corpses (Always in good supply for adventurers. ;) ) make a good blood supply, and at your level there should be a decent number of 5 HD humanoids to fight against and build your own servant-base. Order them to feed off and bury 5 HD humanoids whenever possible, give it a year, and you'll have at least 20 high CR folks under your control (Again, direct or indirect), not including Vampire Spawn. Vampire weaknesses look like more of an impediment than they are, but they can still be a pain. Shrink Object will help you carry your coffin, Dominating Gaze can get you into most buildings, party members can take down mirrors and garlic, and Animal forms can get you through civilized areas without incedent. As for your druid powers, devotion to your master comes before nature. Still, this shouldn't be a problem unless your master orders you to teach him druidic for some reason. ;) Wow, this has been vampire month on the Wizards.community...
Arandar 04-07-06, 08:54 PM	On a less depressing note, you should be fine if you manage free will. (Provided the party are willing to accomodate you. Invitations, Adventuring by night, etc.) Enemy corpses (Always in good supply for adventurers. ;) ) make a good blood supply, and at your level there should be a decent number of 5 HD humanoids to fight against and build your own servant-base. Invitations? Only if he wants to enter personal homes. Taverns and other public buildings can be entered without problems. If Taverns are considered "private" buildings then only one working at the establishment is considered authorised (and might not even be all of them who are. Might only be the Innkeeper in some places) to invite the vampire inside. It's not hard staying 5ft away from mirrors in most homes. Lots of ways to get past the vampiric flaws.
Doopliss 04-07-06, 09:44 PM	Invitations? Only if he wants to enter personal homes. Taverns and other public buildings can be entered without problems.I was mainly referring to adventure sites, a Lich's tower and the like.
kelvinaw273 04-08-06, 03:40 AM	Call me tainted by White Wolf, but if you judge that a vampire has a connection to nature still, then maybe a twisted and evil druid is not too bad. But I would judge that all undead are completely sevred from the world of the living in an empathic sense, and a druid in such a case would probably go completely insane or else kill themselves. This does not mean that they would lose all their powers, but they would become very twisted and warped. I think there is a raveger class in the Complete Divine that sums up an insane and twisted druid, I would rate a vampire druid as automatically qualifying!
Arandar 04-08-06, 07:14 AM	I was mainly referring to adventure sites, a Lich's tower and the like. Then problem there is only the Lich has the authority to invite the adventurers inside, so that wouldn't change much.
runestar 04-08-06, 09:24 AM	Also note that with the new wildshape errata, an undead druid can wildshape just fine without any restrictions/limitations, without the need for additional feats or features. Although he will probably still scare other animals away with his undead aura. :)
Doopliss 04-08-06, 10:50 AM	Then problem there is only the Lich has the authority to invite the adventurers inside, so that wouldn't change much.That's why the vampiric flaws can be a pain. Half the dungeons are completely off-limits. ;)
Priest_of_Shaundakul 04-08-06, 11:57 AM	You can houserule all you want, but shouldn't your druid look to RID himself of the vampirism? In either event, I don't see a being abhorred by nature being embraced by it.
runestar 04-08-06, 12:14 PM	Hey, druids can already wildshape into beholders...can undead be that far behind. Plus, there are precedents: there is an elven lich druid statted out in champions of ruin. :)
green_yawgmoth 04-08-06, 12:57 PM	I think there is a raveger class in the Complete Divine that sums up an insane and twisted druid, I would rate a vampire druid as automatically qualifying!Yeah, the blighter. Ravager's a CW barbarian PrC, iirc. ;) I had a vampire blighter once; it was fun. Gave festering hate (BoVD disease) to an entire metropolis with a single casting of Epidemic. :devil: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Zombayz1 04-08-06, 02:27 PM	Umm.... Just pointing this out but your wildshape wouldn't work, and your animal companion would probably leave you. PS Wildshape wouldn't work because polymorph (the spell wildshape is based on) does not affect undead.
Witch 04-08-06, 04:51 PM	PS Wildshape wouldn't work because polymorph (the spell wildshape is based on) does not affect undead. *cough* Also note that with the new wildshape errata, an undead druid can wildshape just fine without any restrictions/limitations, without the need for additional feats or features. Although he will probably still scare other animals away with his undead aura. :)
lastcurse 04-08-06, 05:10 PM	Now, granted, it's unlikely that druidic types would be unlikely to initiate undead as new members, but if you're already a druid, you can only lose your druidicyness (new word!) by (as JadeSpider9643 said): Ceasing to revere nature Changing to a prohibited alignment Teaching Druidic to a non-druid And I'm pretty sure there's nothing in the Vampire template that says you have to do any of that. Actually, teaching druidic to a non-druid just gets you tossed out of the club, you don't lose your powers. But, as long as you still revere nature and go to NE or other acceptable alignment, you are in good shape. The loss of the CON stat will hurt your hp, and sunlight being deadly is pretty bad too. Dissolving in running water and a phobia or holy symbols and garlic are pretty bad too. So, while you are OK on the druid front, you may not want to celebrate yet.
Yak of Darkness 04-08-06, 05:23 PM	Actually, teaching druidic to a non-druid just gets you tossed out of the club, you don't lose your powers.A druid who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid loses all spells and druid abilities (including her animal companion, but not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a druid until she atones (see the atonement spell description). ;)
General_Ridley 04-08-06, 06:17 PM	You could use this as a way to eternally protect the woodlands you love. As for wildshaping, you really can't use it again it until you take Undead Wildshape (Libris Mortis).