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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brother MacLaren" data-source="post: 3970509" data-attributes="member: 15999">There are some references to "iron stakes," such as used to mark boundaries of plots of land.  But the issue as I see it is this:1) If the fundamental property that makes the stake effective is its wooden-ness, then you have players thinking that arrows with the heads removed will be more effective against vampires than arrows with the heads on.  Any piece of wood is used, any stick is considered a stake.2) If the fundamental property is its physical form (sharp, fairly thick, and capable of really destroying the heart), then an iron spike would work or even a large knife, but an arrow might not be massive enough.3) If the fundamental property is its symbolism (a stake is used to anchor things to the ground, which is where dead bodies should stay), then iron spikes or tent pegs would likewise be effective, but the knife wouldn't.Most D&D players I know think that 1) should be the reason that stakes work.  Bram Stoker suggests that it's 2) in his novel, and personally that's what I'd go with in the next game I run.  I think 3) is an interesting concept, though I don't see much support for it.</blockquote>