I don't use the standard vampire. On Dragon Earth vampires belong to a class of being known as the unliving. The unliving being those who live through some extraordinary means. In the case of vampires through the ingestion of the blood of a sophont. Kobolds, humans, and the like.
Vampires are very strong, agile, and smart by and large. They also tend to dress conservatively, in a manner that lets them blend in. Any vampire who survives for any great length of time learns the value of blending in.
No shape-changing. Unless it was gained at birth (natural talent or therianthropy) or through training (druidical education, wizard spell). At the same time, they take no especial harm from the sun. Matter of fact, most vampires get tanned because it messes with people's expectations of them.
Finally, most vampires don't hunt. Especially the older ones. It all has to do with how blood is obtained.
Blood taken from an unwilling subject is not as potent as blood taken from a willing donor. And blood donated for money is not as puissant as that donated by one doing it for no reason other than charity. The most powerful is blood donated by a very spiritual person.
If the source is unwilling it takes a quart or two to keep the vampire alive for a day. If donated for money a pint will suffice for the same period. Freely given blood will endow the vampire with liFe at the rate of one ounce for a full week. If the blood comes from one who is accounted holy that ounce will suffice for a full month.
Blessing the blood (with the obvious exception of that taken from one unwilling) doubles duration.
(It is said that blood from a genuine saint or bhoddisvata can cure vampirism, restoring the drinker to true life.)
Yes, blood is sold at the store. Since it has uses in fields such as thaumaturgy, religious rites, and such most anybody can buy it. Price can vary according to brand, with generic blood being the cheapest, and Vatican Brand blood (yes, that Vatican) going for a hefty price. (But since Vatican Brand blood lasts two months per ounce, many vampires consider it cheap for what they get. Rumor has it some batches have cured vampirism.)
The effects of going without blood are... ...distressing.
In short, vampires are a lot like ordinary people, but require a special 'supplement'. With that supplement they can live ordinary lives, and the vast majority do.
There's more to be said about them, but that can wait for later.
