Neonchameleon
Legend
(bolding, mine)
OK! I know this might not be the thread for it...but I've thought this for so long, I have to say it SOMEwhere...
VAMPIRE IS NOT A CLASS!!!!
Vampirism is a DISEASE! An affliction! A curse! ANYONE can be...become...be turned into...a vampire!
It's not something you do (a class) it's something you are or become in the course of play (preferably avoid becoming at all costs!)
If you see your class as how you approach the world (and I do) then class is a good way of approaching the classical vampire assuming someone wants to play one. And the vampire-as-PC actually predates the cleric-as-PC (with the first cleric PC being a specialised vampire hunter to deal with the troublesome vampire PC - and that's why they get to turn undead).
If you get turned into a vampire and otherwise approach the world using your old abilities, this should be feats or a template or a race. If you are an old vampire who approaches the world by casting spells then vampire is a race.
If what you want is someone out of the Hammer House of Horror who uses strength and speed, with a hypnotic gaze, and who turns into a bat, a wolf, or mist, and this is your primary non-basic means of interaction then this should be a class. As you level up what you concentrate on improving is your vampiric abilities. And that makes it a class.
And trust me, the Hammer House of Horror Vampire is an absolute blast to play for a little while. It does not, however, fit every campaign (and is routinely on my ban list when planning campaigns in 4e).