D&D 5E 5e Updates: Monstrous Compendium

[dave2008]

Hey dave, do you have a cool Acererak?

Yes! @ChaosKing002 beat me to it.

 

[IloveD&D]

What do you think about converting some pathfinder Monsters for 5e I think that would be great, have you read this DriveThruRPG.com I think It could give you some inspiration

 

[dave2008]

What do you think about converting some pathfinder Monsters for 5e I think that would be great, have you read this DriveThruRPG.com I think It could give you some inspiration

Sure, I often look at the PF versions of monsters I convert. I am not personally familiar with creatures that are exclusive to PF, but I have not issues with converting them.

I had not seen that product - that looks pretty cool. I will check it out when I get a chance.

 

[inthegreylight]

It has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, and it is immune to all nonmagical damage, except the damage it takes from sunlight.

In your vampire lord stats, you refer to the vampire taking damage from sunlight under its Shapechanger feature. Is this vampire lord implied to have the same weaknesses as the vampire in the 5e monster manual? Or is this just a vestige of an earlier version of your vampire lord stats?

Tangentially related: Do you think the 5e vampire spawn stat block needs changes to be an interesting, challenging monster? Or do you think it's fine as it is, since it's generally a vampire lord's underling?

 

[dave2008]

In your vampire lord stats, you refer to the vampire taking damage from sunlight under its Shapechanger feature. Is this vampire lord implied to have the same weaknesses as the vampire in the 5e monster manual? Or is this just a vestige of an earlier version of your vampire lord stats?

It was a vestige - it has been removed now. Thank you for catching that!

Tangentially related: Do you think the 5e vampire spawn stat block needs changes to be an interesting, challenging monster? Or do you think it's fine as it is, since it's generally a vampire lord's underling?

I think it needs some updates. I have also thought about making something between the spawn and "lord." Vampire elder maybe. IIRC 2e vampires had age categories like dragons. I think I may make it something like:

Spawn: CR 5
Elder: 8-10
Lord: CR 13+ Legendary
Monarch: CR 16+ Mythic/Elite

 

[dave2008]

Vampire by Kolokas

Vampire (Spawn) - WIP
Medium Undead (Shapechanger), any evil alignment

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 82 (11d8 + 33; bloodied 41)
Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	18 (+4)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)

Saving Throws Dex +7, Wis +3
Skills Athletics +7, Persuasion +4, Perception +3, Stealth +7
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive perception 13
Languages any language it knew in life
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3

Avoidance. If the vampire is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.

Regeneration. The vampire regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn't in sunlight or running water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn't function at the start of the vampire's next turn.

Spider Climb. The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Vampiric Flaws. The vampire has the following vampire weaknesses: Forbiddance, Harmed by Running Water, Holy Symbol, Stake to the Heart, and Sunlight Hypersensitivity.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The vampire makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) slashing damage. Instead of dealing damage, the vampire can grapple the target (escape DC 14).

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack. +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit. 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the vampire regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Limited Charm. The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within 10 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or be charmed by the vampire for 1 minute.

Each time the vampire or the vampire's companions do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Telekinesis. The vampire chooses one object or creature it can see within 60 feet of it and that weights 500 lbs or less. The vampire can move the target up to 30 feet in any direction it wishes. A creature can make a DC 12 Strength saving throw, preventing the movement on a success.

BONUS ACTIONS
Vampiric Speed. The vampire can use a bonus action to take the Dash, or Disengage actions.

 

[dave2008]

Sorin Markov the lord of Innistrad... and fab hair by Durrrrian

Vampire (Elder) - WIP
Medium Undead (Shapechanger), any evil alignment

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 60; bloodied 63)
Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	19 (+4)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +5, Cha +6
Skills Athletics +9, Persuasion +6, Perception +5, Stealth +8
Damage Resistances cold, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive perception 15
Languages any language it knew in life
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4

Avoidance. If the vampire is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.

Brutal. The vampire deals an extra 5 damage when it hits with a melee weapon attack (included in the attack).

Misty Escape. When it drops to 0 hit points outside its resting place, the vampire transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious, provided that it isn’t in sunlight or running water. If it can’t transform, it is destroyed.

While it has 0 hit points in mist form, it can’t revert to its vampire form, and it must reach its resting place within 1 hour or be destroyed. Once in its resting place, it reverts to its vampire form. It is then paralyzed until it regains at least 1 hit point. After spending 4 hours in its resting place with 0 hit points, it regains 1 hit point.

Reactive. The vampire can take two reactions each round, but only one can be a Bite and only once per turn.

Regeneration. The vampire regains 15 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and isn't in sunlight or running water. If the vampire takes radiant damage or damage from holy water, this trait doesn't function at the start of the vampire's next turn.

Spider Climb. The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Vampiric Flaws. The vampire has the following vampire weaknesses: Forbiddance, Harmed by Running Water, Stake to the Heart, and Sunlight Hypersensitivity.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The vampire makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack.

Claws (Vampire form only). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 17 (2d6 + 10) slashing damage and, if the vampire wishes, a medium or smaller target must make a DC 17 strength saving throw or be grappled (escape DC 17).

Bite (Bat or Vampire form only). Melee Weapon Attack. +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit. 13 (1d4 + 11) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) necrotic damage. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the vampire regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.

Charm. The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within 30 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or be charmed by the vampire. The charmed target regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected and it is a willing target for the vampire's bite attack.

Each time the vampire or the vampire's companions do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 8 hours or until the vampire is destroyed or takes a bonus action to end the effect.

Telekinesis. The vampire chooses one object or creature it can see within 60 feet of it and that weights 1,000 lbs or less. The vampire can move the target up to 30 feet in any direction it wishes. A creature can make a DC 14 Strength saving throw, preventing the movement on a success.

Change Shape. If the vampire isn't in sunlight, it can polymorph into a swarm of bats, or a Medium cloud of mist, or back into its true form.

While in bat form, the vampire can't speak, its walking speed is 5 feet, and it has a flying speed of 60 feet. Its statistics, other than its size and speed, are unchanged. Anything it is wearing transforms with it, but nothing it is carrying does. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

While in mist form, the vampire can't take any actions, speak, or manipulate objects. It is weightless, has a flying speed of 30 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile creature's space and stop there. In addition, if air can pass through a space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and it can’t pass through water. It has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, and it is immune to all nonmagical damage.

Children of the Night (1/Short Rest). The vampire magically calls 1d6 swarms of bats or rats (swarm of bats, swarm of rats), provided that the sun isn't up. While outdoors, the vampire can call 2d6 wolves (wolf) instead. The called creatures arrive in 1d4 rounds, acting as allies of the vampire and obeying its spoken commands. The beasts remain for 1 hour, until the vampire dies, or until the vampire dismisses them as a bonus action.

BONUS ACTIONS
Vampiric Speed. The vampire can use a bonus action to take the Dash, or Disengage actions.

REACTIONS
Bite. When a creature ends its turn grappled by the vampire, the vampire can make a bite attack against that creature.

 

[dave2008]

City of a Thousand Steeples by Jason Engle

Vampire (Monarch) - WIP
Elite Medium Undead (Shapechanger), any evil alignment

Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 380 ((20d8 + 100)x2; 190)
Speed 80 ft., climb 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	21 (+5)	21 (+5)	18 (+4)	17 (+3)	20 (+5)

Saving Throws Dex +11, Con +11, Wis +9, Cha+11
Skills Athletics +13, Persuasion +11, Perception +15, Stealth +11
Damage Resistances cold, necrotic, poison, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 240 ft., passive perception 25
Languages any language it knew in life
Challenge 18 (40,000 elite XP) Proficiency Bonus +6

Avoidance. If the vampire is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.

Brutal. The vampire deals an extra 10 damage when it hits with a melee weapon attack (included in the attack).

Legendary Reactions. In addition to its normal reaction, a vampire can spend one legendary action to instead take a reaction. It can only take one reaction or legendary action per turn.

Misty Escape. When it drops to 0 hit points outside its resting place, the vampire transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious, provided that it isn't in sunlight or running water. If it can't transform, it is destroyed.

While it has 0 hit points in mist form, it can't revert to its vampire form, and it must reach its resting place within 4 hours or be destroyed. Once in its resting place, it reverts to its vampire form. It is then paralyzed until it regains at least 1 hit point. After spending 1 hour in its resting place with 0 hit points, it regains 1 hit point.

Regeneration. When the vampire is not in his mist form, it regains 30 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point and he isn't in sunlight. If the vampire takes radiant damage, it only regains 10 hit points at the start of his next turn.

Spider Climb. The vampire can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Undead Marshall. Unless the vampire is incapacitated, it and undead creatures of its choice within 60 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against features that turn undead.

Undead Monarch (EliteTrait, recharges after a Rest). When the vampire is first bloodied, all conditions and effects it is suffering end for it and it can use its Elite Actions.

Undead Resistance. The vampire has advantage on saving throws to resist effects that inflict the incapacitated, paralayzed, petrified, or stunned conditions.

Vampiric Flaws. The vampire has the following vampire weaknesses: Stake to the Heart, and Sunlight Hypersensitivity.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. (Vampire Form Only). The vampire makes two attacks, only one of which can be a bite attack.

Unarmed Strike (Vampire Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 24 (2d6 + 17) bludgeoning damage and if the target is a Large or smaller creature it must make a DC 21 strength saving throw or be grappled, knocked prone, or pushed 20 feet, the vampire's choice. Alternately, instead of dealing damage, the vampire can grapple the target (escape DC 21).

Bite. (Bat or Vampire Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack:+10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one willing creature, or a creature that is grappled by the vampire, incapacitated, or restrained. Hit: 23 (2d4 + 17) piercing damage plus 21 (6d6) necrotic damage and must make a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion. The target's hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the vampire regains hit points equal to that amount. The hit point reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. A humanoid slain in this way and then buried in the ground rises the following night as a vampire spawn under the vampire's control.

Charm. The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within 60 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target must succeed on a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or be charmed by the vampire. The charmed target regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected and it is a willing target for the vampire's bite attack.

Each time the vampire or the vampire's companions do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours or until the vampire is destroyed or takes a bonus action to end the effect.

Telekinesis. The vampire chooses one object or creature it can see within 120 feet of it and that weights 10,000 lbs or less. The vampire can move the target up to 90 feet in any direction it wishes. A creature can make a DC 19 Strength saving throw, preventing the movement on a success.

If during this forced movement the target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage for every 10 feet it was moved. If the target is moved at another creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take the same damage and be knocked prone.

Change Shape. If the vampire isn't in sunlight, it can polymorph into a swarm of bats, or a Medium cloud of mist, or back into its true form.

While in bat form, the vampire can't speak, its walking speed is 5 feet, and it has a flying speed of 90 feet. Its statistics, other than its size and speed, are unchanged. Anything it is wearing transforms with it, but nothing it is carrying does. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

While in mist form, the vampire can't take any actions, speak, or manipulate objects. It is weightless, has a flying speed of 60 feet, can hover, and can enter a hostile creature's space and stop there. In addition, if air can pass through a space, the mist can do so without squeezing, and it can’t pass through water. It has advantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution saving throws, and it is immune to all nonmagical damage.

Children of the Night (1/Short Rest). The vampire magically calls 2d6 swarms of bats or rats (swarm of bats, swarm of rats), provided that the sun isn't up. While outdoors, the vampire can call 4d6 wolves (wolf) instead. The called creatures arrive in 1 round, acting as allies of the vampire and obeying its spoken commands. The beasts remain for 4 hours, until the vampire dies, or until the vampire dismisses them as a bonus action.

BONUS ACTIONS
Lord of Shadows. If the vampire is in dim light or darker, it can take the Hide action.

Undead Speed. The vampire lord can use a bonus action to take the Dash or Disengage actions.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The vampire can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. If the vampire has unspent legendary actions at the end of the round, it may spend and immediately use any remaining legendary actions. The vampire regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Move. The vampire moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Unarmed Strike. The vampire makes one unarmed strike attack.
Unstoppable. The vampire removes one condition or effect it is suffering. It can do so if it has at least 1 hit point, even while unconscious or incapacitated.
Bite (Costs 2 Actions). The vampire makes one bite attack.
Dominate (Cost 2 Actions). The vampire commands one creature it has charmed. The creature must use its reaction to move up to its speed and make an attack or cast a spell with a target of one creature. The vampire choses the action and the target.

ELITE ACTIONS
If the vampire’s elite trait is active, he can use the options below as legendary actions for 1 hour after using Undead Monarch.

Telekinetic Crush (Costs 2 Actions). The vampire selects one creature it can see within 120 feet of it. The creature must make a DC 19 Strength saving throw, taking 35 (6d10) bludgeoning damage and being restrained on a failed save. The target remains restrained as long as the vampire maintains concentration and is within 120 feet of the target. On each of its turns the target can spend an action to attempt a DC 19 Strength (Athletics) check, ending the condition on a success.
Shadow Strike (Costs 3 Actions). The vampire transforms into its mist form and moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks. It can manifest a claw and make one Unarmed Strike attack against each creature it moves past. At the end of this movement it transforms back into is vampire form.

 

[Faolyn]

I think it needs some updates. I have also thought about making something between the spawn and "lord." Vampire elder maybe. IIRC 2e vampires had age categories like dragons. I think I may make it something like:

Spawn: CR 5
Elder: 8-10
Lord: CR 13+ Legendary
Monarch: CR 16+ Mythic/Elite

That was a Ravenloft thing, but I'm all for it being used generally. Ravenloft vampires also got additional extra abilities, and the older they were, the more traits they got.

 

[dave2008]

That was a Ravenloft thing, but I'm all for it being used generally. Ravenloft vampires also got additional extra abilities, and the older they were, the more traits they got.

Yep, I am going to make 4 age groups: add the vampire, elder, and monarch and then rework my vampire lord a bit to have progressively stronger vampire options.