Killing Vampires [Archive] - Wizards Community

Killing Vampires [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
dodger1972rp
02-16-08, 01:40 AM So from a player's point of view killing a vampire seems pretty impossible. You knock it to 0 hp and it zooms off immune to anything you do in gaseous form. Unless you can find its coffin really quick, within the hour, its likely going to be fresh as daisies the next time you run into it. Has there ever been anything published that might be helpful in killing vampires, for example;

a) rules on staking them while their up and moving about
b) ways to kill them while their still gaseous
c) weapons or spell that will kill them on the first pass

Anyone got any ideas?
pigknight
02-16-08, 01:42 AM Here's a thought, "kill" 'em next to their coffin and then stake 'em.
Thubby
02-16-08, 02:09 AM a) follow cloud back to coffin
b) wall spell (force, stone, w/e) gas away from coffin, they die from that.
c) any way to paralyze them, stake the paralyzed undead.
d) grapple followed by transport spell to sunny area.
e) planeshift/gate to positive EN plane
f) burn coffin, slay vampire (in no particular order)
monai75
02-16-08, 02:33 AM what about control undead cast by a caster of significant power or specialization? Then force the vampire to hold still, and then have whoever stake the bastard!
kelvinaw273
02-16-08, 03:04 AM How do you kill vampires? With great difficulty.

The only thing that can really get them in one shot is a Vorpal blade - decapitation is incapacitating for most creatures with a clearly defined head and body.
Sinfire Titan
02-16-08, 03:54 AM If you can afford it (or are an Archivist with DMM [Persist]), you can hit them with a Persistent Dawnburst (CM) and screw their healing process. Then you just follow the glow back to where they are hiding the coffin, drag it into the open, or dunk it in a river.
DrMorganes
02-16-08, 12:08 PM The point here, of course, is that you need to work smarter - not harder - to kill a vampire. Folklore and recent modern retellings of the vampire myth still have them as crafty manipulators that are difficult to kill.

Finding (and destroying) the coffin should be your first goal. As noted, combat near the coffin is a good idea - but crafty vamps will have more than one. Immobilizing the vampire is your best bet. Force Cage is a perfect - if expensive - option, but Hold Monster or a successful Turning can work as well.

Grappling a vampire is never a good idea. Their slam attack can be used in a grapple (2 negative levels to you and +10 temporary HP to them per hit!), and if they pin you they'll use their Blood Drain ability (1d4 CON damage) to make short work of you. Couple both of those with their increased STR (+6, by the way) ability to assume gaseous form AT WILL and you're in a world of hurt.
High Octane
02-16-08, 02:49 PM A failed save on a telekinesis save and a subsequent toss out a window into broad daylight.
dodger1972rp
02-16-08, 03:03 PM a) follow cloud back to coffin
b) wall spell (force, stone, w/e) gas away from coffin, they die from that.
c) any way to paralyze them, stake the paralyzed undead.
d) grapple followed by transport spell to sunny area.
e) planeshift/gate to positive EN plane
f) burn coffin, slay vampire (in no particular order)

a) Playing in Ravenloft and with all the mist its pretty much impossible to follow a cloud.
b)not sure about wall spells, will look into that.
c)Only way I can find to paralyze one is Halt Undead. If that were to work then we could stake and behead which would equal dead vampire.
d) grapple vampire=bad
e) above my pay grade
f) if we can find the coffin we have no problems.
dodger1972rp
02-16-08, 03:05 PM How do you kill vampires? With great difficulty.

The only thing that can really get them in one shot is a Vorpal blade - decapitation is incapacitating for most creatures with a clearly defined head and body.

I'm not sure if decapitating a vampire before you stake it would kill it. You might only turn it into a cloud.
Sinfire Titan
02-16-08, 04:24 PM a) Playing in Ravenloft and with all the mist its pretty much impossible to follow a cloud.
b)not sure about wall spells, will look into that.
c)Only way I can find to paralyze one is Halt Undead. If that were to work then we could stake and behead which would equal dead vampire.
d) grapple vampire=bad
e) above my pay grade
f) if we can find the coffin we have no problems.

As I said, use the spell Dawnburst. A CL 5th wand of it will provide a good trail to follow. Multiple wands will make him easier to detect, and screw he over so far into the negatives it won't even be funny. You just aim at the general area of the vampire's mist, and blam, he glows in the dark.
eamon
02-16-08, 04:41 PM Since their gaseous form only works against hit point damage, disintegrate should work fine. Of course, that's a high level spell and a vampire can make the fortitude save, but still.

Use locate object on the coffin if it might be nearby.

When the vampire turns gaseous after defeat, do so yourself as well, and follow him (perhaps with the aid of detect evil, which you must cast before turning into gas yourself?)
Nephlite
02-16-08, 08:40 PM I'm not sure if decapitating a vampire before you stake it would kill it. You might only turn it into a cloud.

No, it says decapitating a vampire kills it.

It even restates this in the Wu jen spell Decapitationg Scarf.
pigknight
02-17-08, 01:49 AM Vampires are rather hard to kill, and like liches and most mmorpg enemies they can actually be used to grind, or kill enemies to gain xp to level. But your not the kind of player that would think of doing that are you?
dodger1972rp
02-17-08, 01:57 AM No, it says decapitating a vampire kills it.

It even restates this in the Wu jen spell Decapitationg Scarf.

No it doesn't, it states that decapitation is a common means of "destroying the body" after staking.
zeratulcraft
02-17-08, 02:46 AM From the vampire's point of view;

Why would you ever have a coffin accessible by anyone but you? You can turn into gas at will yeah, so I'd have my coffin through a series of pinhole sized tunnels. The room itself would have one of those spells that stops people teleporting in, or maybe just a illusion to mess with scry + teleport.

What kind of self respecting vampire would go through a standard door to get to their place of rest and ultimate vulnerability?

EDIT : I realise this contributes nothing, so maybe I'll just fade back in the wallpaper...
Eldritch_Id
02-17-08, 03:30 AM ...in Ravenloft...Now look at the title of the thread. Now read the whole thing together. Pray. Pray hard. :P

Kidding aside, that's tough. Especially if the DM is using the new d20 rules for Ravenloft. I agree with the respectful DrMorganes in that you'll have to outwit the vampire to kill it. Garlic or a holy symbol to prevent the grapple. Silvered arrows, holy water, and fire for distant attack. A simple protection from evil stops the vampire from dominating any party members. The vampire will be forced to gaseous form or to flee (if it's smart). Let's hope it doesn't attempt to flee in physical form. If so, the hunt will become much more difficult, but not impossible (you'll just have to find a way to keep up with a creature that can run indefinitely and may very well be faster than you - if your DM is using the 3.5 Ravenloft rules for mature vampires).

Now that you've theoretically reduced the creature to a puffy, harmless cloud:a) Playing in Ravenloft and with all the mist its pretty much impossible to follow a cloud.DMG, pg.294, under the heading Gaseous Form; this is a DC 15 Spot check, actually. Or a DC 20 if the thing attempts to hide in the mist. Poor spot check? I recommend a nifty extended faerie fire spell to make sure you keep track of your quarry (for the spell's duration, at least). Follow the vampire back to it's lair and make good use of the stake. Next step, cut off the head, stuff the mouth with garlic and holy wafers and place it in a mirrored chest engraved with holy symbols and submerged in holy water. Finally, throw the body (with stake still firmly in place) in the deepest lake you can find, at an hour after first light, if you can help it.

Good hunting and we'll hope for your character's soul!
Neo_Leviathan
02-17-08, 03:53 AM Heres a fun and amusing way of doing things:

Form the SRD (Emphasis mine)

Part 1:
Vampires are also unable to cross running water, although they can be carried over it while resting in their coffins or aboard a ship.

Part 2
Decanter of Endless Water: If the stopper is removed from this ordinary-looking flask and a command word spoken, an amount of fresh or salt water pours out. Separate command words determine the type as well as the volume and velocity.
• “Stream” pours out 1 gallon per round.
• “Fountain” produces a 5-foot-long stream at 5 gallons per round.
• “Geyser” produces a 20-foot-long, 1-foot-wide stream at 30 gallons per round.
The geyser effect causes considerable back pressure, requiring the holder to make a DC 12 Strength check to avoid being knocked down. The force of the geyser deals 1d4 points of damage but can only affect one target per round. The command word must be spoken to stop it.

Grab a couple of decanters, and use them to box the Vamp in ghostbusters-style, and push it towards a daylight area, a running stream, etc etc.
Heck, a specially-altered Iron-Maiden with wooden spikes would be an amusing way to do it.
kelvinaw273
02-17-08, 11:44 AM Ravenloft?

If it's Straad, you need to find the Sunsword or be tough as hell. If it isn't it will still be tougher than a normal vampire, Ravenloft is like that. Forget sunlight as there hardly ever is any. Holy items are rare, so you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way ... decapitation or immersion.
Anansi
02-17-08, 04:37 PM When you say "Ravenloft" are you referring to the actual campaign setting, or the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft adventure? If it's the latter, than the advice in this thread so far is pretty solid. If it's the former, you've got a lot more work to do.

Namely, you'll have to research the vampire you're hunting as extensively as possible. This is due to all the different varieties of vampire in the Ravenloft setting (each with their own set of powers and weaknesses), as well as age-related powers and potential salient abilities or weaknesses the vampire may possess. Also, blood seeker garlic (Van Richten's Arsenal) is a must have for the serious vampire hunter in the Demiplane of Dread, though it may be somewhat difficult to come by. Also make sure that your character finds an in-game copy of Van Richten's Guide to Vampires which, at the very least, should give you bonuses on various skill checks used to figure out more about the vampire.

Happy hunting!
kelvinaw273
02-18-08, 03:51 AM Yes, Ravenloft campaign setting is dangerous - but decapitation is still very effective against most things. Research is your friend, though - and lots of it!
Vintar
02-18-08, 10:09 AM You can grapple the vamp - just have one character be an orc barbarian/reaping mauler. Also - have everyone buff him and aid another to boost his AC until he can pin the vamp. Frankly - in Ravenloft, building your group around this strategy wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
Olween
02-18-08, 11:46 AM From the vampire's point of view;
Why would you ever have a coffin accessible by anyone but you? You can turn into gas at will yeah, so I'd have my coffin through a series of pinhole sized tunnels. The room itself would have one of those spells that stops people teleporting in, or maybe just a illusion to mess with scry + teleport.
What kind of self respecting vampire would go through a standard door to get to their place of rest and ultimate vulnerability?
EDIT : I realise this contributes nothing, so maybe I'll just fade back in the wallpaper...

That makes sense; but I think you are underestimating a big factor (and a DM's trump card to help his players out)... the vampire's utter arrogance.
Why would he goes through such a tiresome measures to protect himself from puny mortals? Let them come, being such a powerful undead, he will defeat them easily and it will just mean that he won't have to travel to get a meal. Home delivery as it were!
It seems to me like an acceptable RP reason the foolish behaviours and lake of forethought that might be required to make the challenge possible to overcome...
dodger1972rp
02-18-08, 12:15 PM That makes sense; but I think you are underestimating a big factor (and a DM's trump card to help his players out)... the vampire's utter arrogance.
Why would he goes through such a tiresome measures to protect himself from puny mortals? Let them come, being such a powerful undead, he will defeat them easily and it will just mean that he won't have to travel to get a meal. Home delivery as it were!
It seems to me like an acceptable RP reason the foolish behaviours and lake of forethought that might be required to make the challenge possible to overcome...
Plus how would you get your coffin in such a place. In real life wouldn't it be safer to sleep in a bank vault? Why don't we? Its expensive and inconveinent. Me and my wife could sleep in shifts to with one of standing vigil but we don't. It's how DM's might think but not really reasonable psychology for anything but the most paranoid of vampires.
Lincoln Hills
02-18-08, 03:06 PM Wall of stone can be shaped as a hemisphere, and automatically "fuses" with existing stone in the area. Once the vampire is reduced to 0 hp and becomes gaseous, clap a wall of stone over it like a teacup over a marble. Since the vampire cannot become solid again in order to attempt to penetrate the wall with weapons, etc., it's there until its time runs out and it dies. (Warning: not all dungeons have air-tight floors - avoid this "solution" if the floor consists of moldering cobblestones, loose tile, or timbers.)
Anansi
02-18-08, 03:13 PM Wall of stone can be shaped as a hemisphere, and automatically "fuses" with existing stone in the area. Once the vampire is reduced to 0 hp and becomes gaseous, clap a wall of stone over it like a teacup over a marble. Since the vampire cannot become solid again in order to attempt to penetrate the wall with weapons, etc., it's there until its time runs out and it dies. (Warning: not all dungeons have air-tight floors - avoid this "solution" if the floor consists of moldering cobblestones, loose tile, or timbers.)
Actually, in theory this technique could be used to great effect if the coffin was made out of stone, though stone shape might be a better tactic. In essence, you seal the coffin shut so that the vampire cannot get inside. If you're a real jerk, wait until the vampire is inside before sealing it.
Vintar
02-18-08, 03:56 PM Actually if you sealed him in his coffin - he could eventually get out. It would take a while - but stone only has a hardness of 8. Using only his slam he could get out of there eventually (except maybe a halfling vamp) - and that is assuming he doesn't have an adamantine dagger on him.
Drackthor
02-20-08, 04:38 AM To kill Count Van Helsing, you'd be wise to enlist the aid of Professor Dracula.
Mindolin
02-20-08, 10:19 AM Decanter of Endless Water works, it's one of the ways to kill Strahd in the old Castle Ravenloft solo D&D book. Not really choose your own adventure because you had to roll dice to see which you went to. I'ld also suggest a cleric or wizard, who will eventually learn the sun spells, such as Sunburst, which could kill the vampire outright, without reducing hp to 0. Don't go with Disinitegration, it deals HP damage, which would cause the vampire to turn into mist. Hey, if all else fails, see if you can inject liquid garlic into your blood. I know that it seems odd, but heck, so does the Owlbear, and it's around. That might be an idea, see if you can create a spell, much like Bless Water, but for blood. That way, you can damage the vampire when it tries to drain your blood. It will prevent the vampire from trying that again, once it realizes that you all have horrible tasting blood.
changing-winds11
02-20-08, 09:25 PM To kill Count Van Helsing, you'd be wise to enlist the aid of Professor Dracula.

......Brilliant! ;)
squingynaut
02-21-08, 12:27 AM I'm in a similar situation of needing to kill a vampire. Basically, one of our party members became a vampire and we need to get rid of him. Our problem is that his coffin will be totally unreachable to us right now. His master is a Vampiric Great Blue Wyrm and his coffin is with her. With an 8th level party, we don't stand much chance of getting to it. I think we can beat him well enough that he'll try and run away, but once he hits his Gaseous Form button, I don't know what we're going to be able to do to finish him off. A scroll of Antimagic Field might do it, but a spellcaster will have to use it and won't be able to get close enough and grapple him to get him staked. We're just at kind of a loss at the moment. Any more ideas?
Drackthor
02-21-08, 03:57 AM I'm in a similar situation of needing to kill a vampire. Basically, one of our party members became a vampire and we need to get rid of him. Our problem is that his coffin will be totally unreachable to us right now. His master is a Vampiric Great Blue Wyrm and his coffin is with her. With an 8th level party, we don't stand much chance of getting to it. I think we can beat him well enough that he'll try and run away, but once he hits his Gaseous Form button, I don't know what we're going to be able to do to finish him off. A scroll of Antimagic Field might do it, but a spellcaster will have to use it and won't be able to get close enough and grapple him to get him staked. We're just at kind of a loss at the moment. Any more ideas?

Knock him unconscious, tie him up good and hard, then chill till sunrise.
Mindolin
02-21-08, 10:40 AM He's a vampire. He's immune to nonlethal damage, and thus cannot be knocked unconcious.
Jaim
02-21-08, 11:50 AM A Wall of Stone spell can be shaped to reliably trap the vampire once it has been forced into gaseous form. It won't be able to reach it's coffin and is destroyed within hours. Force Cage works as well but Wall of Stone is a level 5 wizard/cleric spell and more easily available.

Edit: Nevermind, someone mentioned that already, i should read the thread before posting :D
Legdiwena
02-21-08, 06:31 PM Liberal applications of daylight and sunburst. Is there any way to plane shift a hostile target?
Drackthor
02-21-08, 07:51 PM He's a vampire. He's immune to nonlethal damage, and thus cannot be knocked unconcious.

Ah, right.
dodger1972rp
02-21-08, 10:13 PM Some really great ideas on here but does anyone have any strategies for killing a vampire with access to only 3rd level spells or below? Sunburst is cool but it's a bit above our pay grade right now.
pigknight
02-22-08, 12:24 AM Fireball, lighnting bolt, cure serious wounds, ect.
Legdiwena
02-22-08, 12:28 PM Holy water, consecrate, hallow, stakes, lots of LUCK

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dodger1972rp 02-16-08, 01:40 AM	So from a player's point of view killing a vampire seems pretty impossible. You knock it to 0 hp and it zooms off immune to anything you do in gaseous form. Unless you can find its coffin really quick, within the hour, its likely going to be fresh as daisies the next time you run into it. Has there ever been anything published that might be helpful in killing vampires, for example; a) rules on staking them while their up and moving about b) ways to kill them while their still gaseous c) weapons or spell that will kill them on the first pass Anyone got any ideas?
pigknight 02-16-08, 01:42 AM	Here's a thought, "kill" 'em next to their coffin and then stake 'em.
Thubby 02-16-08, 02:09 AM	a) follow cloud back to coffin b) wall spell (force, stone, w/e) gas away from coffin, they die from that. c) any way to paralyze them, stake the paralyzed undead. d) grapple followed by transport spell to sunny area. e) planeshift/gate to positive EN plane f) burn coffin, slay vampire (in no particular order)
monai75 02-16-08, 02:33 AM	what about control undead cast by a caster of significant power or specialization? Then force the vampire to hold still, and then have whoever stake the bastard!
kelvinaw273 02-16-08, 03:04 AM	How do you kill vampires? With great difficulty. The only thing that can really get them in one shot is a Vorpal blade - decapitation is incapacitating for most creatures with a clearly defined head and body.
Sinfire Titan 02-16-08, 03:54 AM	If you can afford it (or are an Archivist with DMM [Persist]), you can hit them with a Persistent Dawnburst (CM) and screw their healing process. Then you just follow the glow back to where they are hiding the coffin, drag it into the open, or dunk it in a river.
DrMorganes 02-16-08, 12:08 PM	The point here, of course, is that you need to work smarter - not harder - to kill a vampire. Folklore and recent modern retellings of the vampire myth still have them as crafty manipulators that are difficult to kill. Finding (and destroying) the coffin should be your first goal. As noted, combat near the coffin is a good idea - but crafty vamps will have more than one. Immobilizing the vampire is your best bet. Force Cage is a perfect - if expensive - option, but Hold Monster or a successful Turning can work as well. Grappling a vampire is never a good idea. Their slam attack can be used in a grapple (2 negative levels to you and +10 temporary HP to them per hit!), and if they pin you they'll use their Blood Drain ability (1d4 CON damage) to make short work of you. Couple both of those with their increased STR (+6, by the way) ability to assume gaseous form AT WILL and you're in a world of hurt.
High Octane 02-16-08, 02:49 PM	A failed save on a telekinesis save and a subsequent toss out a window into broad daylight.
dodger1972rp 02-16-08, 03:03 PM	a) follow cloud back to coffin b) wall spell (force, stone, w/e) gas away from coffin, they die from that. c) any way to paralyze them, stake the paralyzed undead. d) grapple followed by transport spell to sunny area. e) planeshift/gate to positive EN plane f) burn coffin, slay vampire (in no particular order) a) Playing in Ravenloft and with all the mist its pretty much impossible to follow a cloud. b)not sure about wall spells, will look into that. c)Only way I can find to paralyze one is Halt Undead. If that were to work then we could stake and behead which would equal dead vampire. d) grapple vampire=bad e) above my pay grade f) if we can find the coffin we have no problems.
dodger1972rp 02-16-08, 03:05 PM	How do you kill vampires? With great difficulty. The only thing that can really get them in one shot is a Vorpal blade - decapitation is incapacitating for most creatures with a clearly defined head and body. I'm not sure if decapitating a vampire before you stake it would kill it. You might only turn it into a cloud.
Sinfire Titan 02-16-08, 04:24 PM	a) Playing in Ravenloft and with all the mist its pretty much impossible to follow a cloud. b)not sure about wall spells, will look into that. c)Only way I can find to paralyze one is Halt Undead. If that were to work then we could stake and behead which would equal dead vampire. d) grapple vampire=bad e) above my pay grade f) if we can find the coffin we have no problems. As I said, use the spell Dawnburst. A CL 5th wand of it will provide a good trail to follow. Multiple wands will make him easier to detect, and screw he over so far into the negatives it won't even be funny. You just aim at the general area of the vampire's mist, and blam, he glows in the dark.
eamon 02-16-08, 04:41 PM	Since their gaseous form only works against hit point damage, disintegrate should work fine. Of course, that's a high level spell and a vampire can make the fortitude save, but still. Use locate object on the coffin if it might be nearby. When the vampire turns gaseous after defeat, do so yourself as well, and follow him (perhaps with the aid of detect evil, which you must cast before turning into gas yourself?)
Nephlite 02-16-08, 08:40 PM	I'm not sure if decapitating a vampire before you stake it would kill it. You might only turn it into a cloud. No, it says decapitating a vampire kills it. It even restates this in the Wu jen spell Decapitationg Scarf.
pigknight 02-17-08, 01:49 AM	Vampires are rather hard to kill, and like liches and most mmorpg enemies they can actually be used to grind, or kill enemies to gain xp to level. But your not the kind of player that would think of doing that are you?
dodger1972rp 02-17-08, 01:57 AM	No, it says decapitating a vampire kills it. It even restates this in the Wu jen spell Decapitationg Scarf. No it doesn't, it states that decapitation is a common means of "destroying the body" after staking.
zeratulcraft 02-17-08, 02:46 AM	From the vampire's point of view; Why would you ever have a coffin accessible by anyone but you? You can turn into gas at will yeah, so I'd have my coffin through a series of pinhole sized tunnels. The room itself would have one of those spells that stops people teleporting in, or maybe just a illusion to mess with scry + teleport. What kind of self respecting vampire would go through a standard door to get to their place of rest and ultimate vulnerability? EDIT : I realise this contributes nothing, so maybe I'll just fade back in the wallpaper...
Eldritch_Id 02-17-08, 03:30 AM	...in Ravenloft...Now look at the title of the thread. Now read the whole thing together. Pray. Pray hard. :P Kidding aside, that's tough. Especially if the DM is using the new d20 rules for Ravenloft. I agree with the respectful DrMorganes in that you'll have to outwit the vampire to kill it. Garlic or a holy symbol to prevent the grapple. Silvered arrows, holy water, and fire for distant attack. A simple protection from evil stops the vampire from dominating any party members. The vampire will be forced to gaseous form or to flee (if it's smart). Let's hope it doesn't attempt to flee in physical form. If so, the hunt will become much more difficult, but not impossible (you'll just have to find a way to keep up with a creature that can run indefinitely and may very well be faster than you - if your DM is using the 3.5 Ravenloft rules for mature vampires). Now that you've theoretically reduced the creature to a puffy, harmless cloud:a) Playing in Ravenloft and with all the mist its pretty much impossible to follow a cloud.DMG, pg.294, under the heading Gaseous Form; this is a DC 15 Spot check, actually. Or a DC 20 if the thing attempts to hide in the mist. Poor spot check? I recommend a nifty extended faerie fire spell to make sure you keep track of your quarry (for the spell's duration, at least). Follow the vampire back to it's lair and make good use of the stake. Next step, cut off the head, stuff the mouth with garlic and holy wafers and place it in a mirrored chest engraved with holy symbols and submerged in holy water. Finally, throw the body (with stake still firmly in place) in the deepest lake you can find, at an hour after first light, if you can help it. Good hunting and we'll hope for your character's soul!
Neo_Leviathan 02-17-08, 03:53 AM	Heres a fun and amusing way of doing things: Form the SRD (Emphasis mine) Part 1: Vampires are also unable to cross running water, although they can be carried over it while resting in their coffins or aboard a ship. Part 2 Decanter of Endless Water: If the stopper is removed from this ordinary-looking flask and a command word spoken, an amount of fresh or salt water pours out. Separate command words determine the type as well as the volume and velocity. • “Stream” pours out 1 gallon per round. • “Fountain” produces a 5-foot-long stream at 5 gallons per round. • “Geyser” produces a 20-foot-long, 1-foot-wide stream at 30 gallons per round. The geyser effect causes considerable back pressure, requiring the holder to make a DC 12 Strength check to avoid being knocked down. The force of the geyser deals 1d4 points of damage but can only affect one target per round. The command word must be spoken to stop it. Grab a couple of decanters, and use them to box the Vamp in ghostbusters-style, and push it towards a daylight area, a running stream, etc etc. Heck, a specially-altered Iron-Maiden with wooden spikes would be an amusing way to do it.
kelvinaw273 02-17-08, 11:44 AM	Ravenloft? If it's Straad, you need to find the Sunsword or be tough as hell. If it isn't it will still be tougher than a normal vampire, Ravenloft is like that. Forget sunlight as there hardly ever is any. Holy items are rare, so you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way ... decapitation or immersion.
Anansi 02-17-08, 04:37 PM	When you say "Ravenloft" are you referring to the actual campaign setting, or the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft adventure? If it's the latter, than the advice in this thread so far is pretty solid. If it's the former, you've got a lot more work to do. Namely, you'll have to research the vampire you're hunting as extensively as possible. This is due to all the different varieties of vampire in the Ravenloft setting (each with their own set of powers and weaknesses), as well as age-related powers and potential salient abilities or weaknesses the vampire may possess. Also, blood seeker garlic (Van Richten's Arsenal) is a must have for the serious vampire hunter in the Demiplane of Dread, though it may be somewhat difficult to come by. Also make sure that your character finds an in-game copy of Van Richten's Guide to Vampires which, at the very least, should give you bonuses on various skill checks used to figure out more about the vampire. Happy hunting!
kelvinaw273 02-18-08, 03:51 AM	Yes, Ravenloft campaign setting is dangerous - but decapitation is still very effective against most things. Research is your friend, though - and lots of it!
Vintar 02-18-08, 10:09 AM	You can grapple the vamp - just have one character be an orc barbarian/reaping mauler. Also - have everyone buff him and aid another to boost his AC until he can pin the vamp. Frankly - in Ravenloft, building your group around this strategy wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
Olween 02-18-08, 11:46 AM	From the vampire's point of view; Why would you ever have a coffin accessible by anyone but you? You can turn into gas at will yeah, so I'd have my coffin through a series of pinhole sized tunnels. The room itself would have one of those spells that stops people teleporting in, or maybe just a illusion to mess with scry + teleport. What kind of self respecting vampire would go through a standard door to get to their place of rest and ultimate vulnerability? EDIT : I realise this contributes nothing, so maybe I'll just fade back in the wallpaper... That makes sense; but I think you are underestimating a big factor (and a DM's trump card to help his players out)... the vampire's utter arrogance. Why would he goes through such a tiresome measures to protect himself from puny mortals? Let them come, being such a powerful undead, he will defeat them easily and it will just mean that he won't have to travel to get a meal. Home delivery as it were! It seems to me like an acceptable RP reason the foolish behaviours and lake of forethought that might be required to make the challenge possible to overcome...
dodger1972rp 02-18-08, 12:15 PM	That makes sense; but I think you are underestimating a big factor (and a DM's trump card to help his players out)... the vampire's utter arrogance. Why would he goes through such a tiresome measures to protect himself from puny mortals? Let them come, being such a powerful undead, he will defeat them easily and it will just mean that he won't have to travel to get a meal. Home delivery as it were! It seems to me like an acceptable RP reason the foolish behaviours and lake of forethought that might be required to make the challenge possible to overcome... Plus how would you get your coffin in such a place. In real life wouldn't it be safer to sleep in a bank vault? Why don't we? Its expensive and inconveinent. Me and my wife could sleep in shifts to with one of standing vigil but we don't. It's how DM's might think but not really reasonable psychology for anything but the most paranoid of vampires.
Lincoln Hills 02-18-08, 03:06 PM	Wall of stone can be shaped as a hemisphere, and automatically "fuses" with existing stone in the area. Once the vampire is reduced to 0 hp and becomes gaseous, clap a wall of stone over it like a teacup over a marble. Since the vampire cannot become solid again in order to attempt to penetrate the wall with weapons, etc., it's there until its time runs out and it dies. (Warning: not all dungeons have air-tight floors - avoid this "solution" if the floor consists of moldering cobblestones, loose tile, or timbers.)
Anansi 02-18-08, 03:13 PM	Wall of stone can be shaped as a hemisphere, and automatically "fuses" with existing stone in the area. Once the vampire is reduced to 0 hp and becomes gaseous, clap a wall of stone over it like a teacup over a marble. Since the vampire cannot become solid again in order to attempt to penetrate the wall with weapons, etc., it's there until its time runs out and it dies. (Warning: not all dungeons have air-tight floors - avoid this "solution" if the floor consists of moldering cobblestones, loose tile, or timbers.) Actually, in theory this technique could be used to great effect if the coffin was made out of stone, though stone shape might be a better tactic. In essence, you seal the coffin shut so that the vampire cannot get inside. If you're a real jerk, wait until the vampire is inside before sealing it.
Vintar 02-18-08, 03:56 PM	Actually if you sealed him in his coffin - he could eventually get out. It would take a while - but stone only has a hardness of 8. Using only his slam he could get out of there eventually (except maybe a halfling vamp) - and that is assuming he doesn't have an adamantine dagger on him.
Drackthor 02-20-08, 04:38 AM	To kill Count Van Helsing, you'd be wise to enlist the aid of Professor Dracula.
Mindolin 02-20-08, 10:19 AM	Decanter of Endless Water works, it's one of the ways to kill Strahd in the old Castle Ravenloft solo D&D book. Not really choose your own adventure because you had to roll dice to see which you went to. I'ld also suggest a cleric or wizard, who will eventually learn the sun spells, such as Sunburst, which could kill the vampire outright, without reducing hp to 0. Don't go with Disinitegration, it deals HP damage, which would cause the vampire to turn into mist. Hey, if all else fails, see if you can inject liquid garlic into your blood. I know that it seems odd, but heck, so does the Owlbear, and it's around. That might be an idea, see if you can create a spell, much like Bless Water, but for blood. That way, you can damage the vampire when it tries to drain your blood. It will prevent the vampire from trying that again, once it realizes that you all have horrible tasting blood.
changing-winds11 02-20-08, 09:25 PM	To kill Count Van Helsing, you'd be wise to enlist the aid of Professor Dracula. ......Brilliant! ;)
squingynaut 02-21-08, 12:27 AM	I'm in a similar situation of needing to kill a vampire. Basically, one of our party members became a vampire and we need to get rid of him. Our problem is that his coffin will be totally unreachable to us right now. His master is a Vampiric Great Blue Wyrm and his coffin is with her. With an 8th level party, we don't stand much chance of getting to it. I think we can beat him well enough that he'll try and run away, but once he hits his Gaseous Form button, I don't know what we're going to be able to do to finish him off. A scroll of Antimagic Field might do it, but a spellcaster will have to use it and won't be able to get close enough and grapple him to get him staked. We're just at kind of a loss at the moment. Any more ideas?
Drackthor 02-21-08, 03:57 AM	I'm in a similar situation of needing to kill a vampire. Basically, one of our party members became a vampire and we need to get rid of him. Our problem is that his coffin will be totally unreachable to us right now. His master is a Vampiric Great Blue Wyrm and his coffin is with her. With an 8th level party, we don't stand much chance of getting to it. I think we can beat him well enough that he'll try and run away, but once he hits his Gaseous Form button, I don't know what we're going to be able to do to finish him off. A scroll of Antimagic Field might do it, but a spellcaster will have to use it and won't be able to get close enough and grapple him to get him staked. We're just at kind of a loss at the moment. Any more ideas? Knock him unconscious, tie him up good and hard, then chill till sunrise.
Mindolin 02-21-08, 10:40 AM	He's a vampire. He's immune to nonlethal damage, and thus cannot be knocked unconcious.
Jaim 02-21-08, 11:50 AM	A Wall of Stone spell can be shaped to reliably trap the vampire once it has been forced into gaseous form. It won't be able to reach it's coffin and is destroyed within hours. Force Cage works as well but Wall of Stone is a level 5 wizard/cleric spell and more easily available. Edit: Nevermind, someone mentioned that already, i should read the thread before posting :D
Legdiwena 02-21-08, 06:31 PM	Liberal applications of daylight and sunburst. Is there any way to plane shift a hostile target?
Drackthor 02-21-08, 07:51 PM	He's a vampire. He's immune to nonlethal damage, and thus cannot be knocked unconcious. Ah, right.
dodger1972rp 02-21-08, 10:13 PM	Some really great ideas on here but does anyone have any strategies for killing a vampire with access to only 3rd level spells or below? Sunburst is cool but it's a bit above our pay grade right now.
pigknight 02-22-08, 12:24 AM	Fireball, lighnting bolt, cure serious wounds, ect.
Legdiwena 02-22-08, 12:28 PM	Holy water, consecrate, hallow, stakes, lots of LUCK