Converting monsters from Imagine Magazine

Let's skip the HD advancement, but I could definitely see gaining class levels.

In fact, do we want to change any of this from the bottom of the standard vampire template?

Environment: Any, usually same as base creature.
Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (3–5), or troupe (1–2 plus 2–5 vampire spawn).
Treasure: Double standard.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +8.

I'm thinking that treasure will probably be larger after that amount of time...maybe triple standard by prince level?

LA may change as the templates progress.

Org could probably change, too, as they probably attract larger groups of followers as they age.
 

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LA probably goes up a couple each time, with the biggest jump at vampire -> vampire lord. I'll have to get Savage Species one of these days, so I'll let you calculate that.

Let's bump to triple standard by princeling. They've been around a while by then anyway.

Organization should definitely evolve. I'd expect (speaking in generalities) that they'd get more and more jealous of their power as time goes on, so there won't be so many of each kind. Here's a table of my suggestions.

Lord: Solitary, pair, gang (3–5), or troupe (1–2 plus 2–5 vampires and/or vampire spawn)
Arch-Lord: Solitary, pair, gang (1-2 plus 1-2 vampire lords), or troupe (1-2 plus 2-3 vampire lords plus 4-10 vampires and vampire spawn)
Princeling: Solitary, gang (1 plus 2-4 vampire lords or arch-lords), or troupe (1 plus 2-4 vampire lords or arch-lords plus 6-10 vampires)
Prince: Solitary, gang (1 plus 1-3 vampire princelings), or troupe (1 plus 2-4 vampire princelings plus 4-8 vampire lords or arch-lords plus 10-16 vampires)
Arch-Prince: Solitary, gang (1 plus 2-4 vampire princelings or princes), or troupe (1 plus 3-6 vampire princelings or princes plus 8-12 vampire lords or arch-lords plus 10-30 vampires)
 


Think so. Let's start with the 5th level human fighter vampire sample from the MM and just advance it through the templates. Maybe add 2 or 3 levels of fighter each time? That's not a lot in 999 years, but I don't want to add epic on top of this.
 

Here's the base MM vampire after adding two levels of fighter...

Vampire, 7th-Level Human Fighter
Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid)
Hit Dice: 7d12 (45 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
AC: 23 (+3 Dex, +6 natural, +4 masterwork chain shirt), touch 13, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+13
Attack: Slam +13 melee (1d6+9 plus energy drain) or +1 spiked chain +15 melee (2d4+12) or masterwork shortbow +11 ranged (1d6/x3)
Full Attack: Slam +13 melee (1d6+9 plus energy drain) or +1 spiked chain +15 melee (2d4+12) or masterwork shortbow +11 ranged (1d6/x3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with spiked chain)
Special Attacks: Blood drain, children of the night, create spawn, dominate, energy drain,
Special Qualities: Alternate form, damage reduction 10/silver and magic, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 5, gaseous form, resistance to cold 10 and electricity 10, spider climb, undead traits, vampire weaknesses
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +5
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 17, Con -, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +9, Climb +12, Hide +10, Listen +17, Move Silently +10, Ride +12, Search +9, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17
Feats: Alertness (B), Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes (B), Dodge (B), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Improved Initiative (B), Lightning Reflexes (B), Mobility, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Weapon Specialization (spiked chain), 1 more fighter bonus feat, 1 more feat
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 9
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Always evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +8

And now adding the vampire lord template...

Vampire Lord, 7th-Level Human Fighter
Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid)
Hit Dice: 7d12 (45 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
AC: 23 (+3 Dex, +6 natural, +4 masterwork chain shirt), touch 13, flat-footed 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +7/+14
Attack: Slam +14 melee (1d6+10 plus energy drain) or +1 spiked chain +16 melee (2d4+13) or masterwork shortbow +11 ranged (1d6/x3)
Full Attack: Slam +14 melee (1d6+10 plus energy drain) or +1 spiked chain +16 melee (2d4+13) or masterwork shortbow +11 ranged (1d6/x3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with spiked chain)
Special Attacks: Blood drain, children of the night, create spawn, dominate, energy drain, infectious breath, maddening countenance, rapid blood drain, spell-like abilities, stench
Special Qualities: Alternate form, damage reduction 10/silver and magic, darkvision 60 ft., fast healing 6, gaseous form, lifesense, resistance to cold 10 and electricity 10, spider climb, supernatural scent, undead traits, unnatural aura, vampire weaknesses
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +5
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 17, Con -, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 14
Skills: Bluff +10, Climb +13, Hide +10, Listen +17, Move Silently +10, Ride +12, Search +9, Sense Motive +11, Spot +17
Feats: Alertness (B), Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes (B), Dodge (B), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Improved Initiative (B), Lightning Reflexes (B), Mobility, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Weapon Specialization (spiked chain), 1 more fighter bonus feat, 1 more feat
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (3–5), or troupe (1–2 plus 2–5 vampires and/or vampire spawn)
Challenge Rating: 11
Treasure: Double standard
Alignment: Always evil (any)
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +11

Alternate Form (Su): A greater vampire can assume the shape of a bat, dire bat, wolf, or dire wolf as a swift action. While in its alternate form, the vampire loses its natural slam attack and dominate ability, but it gains the natural weapons and extraordinary special attacks of its new form. It can remain in that form until it assumes another or until the next sunrise. (If the base creature is not terrestrial, this power might allow other forms.)

Infections Breath (Su): Once per minute, a greater vampire can breath a 30-foot cone of noxious vapor. Creatures within the area must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or be inflicted with mindfire (or another disease of the DM's choice) and be nauseated for 1d4 rounds. The breath weapon lingers for 24 hours thereafter, and any creature entering its area must make a Fortitude save. A creature who successfully saves is immune to the effects of this greater vampire's infectious breath for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Lifesense (Su): A greater vampire continually detects the presence of living creatures within 15 feet. This functions similarly to a detect undead spell, except that it detects living creatures instead of undead, and the greater vampire is never stunned if a living creature has more than twice its Hit Dice. Lifesense is always active.

Madenning Countenance (Su): A humanoid within 60 feet with 1 Hit Die or less that views a greater vampire's true form must attempt a DC 15 Will save. Failure indicates the creature's mind is shattered, leaving it permanently insane (as the insanity spell). A creature that makes the save is immune to that particular greater vampire's maddening countenance for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting ability. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Rapid Blood Drain (Ex): A greater vampire can rapidly suck blood from a living victim with its fangs by making a successful grapple check. If it pins the foe, it drains blood, dealing 1d4 points of Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution drain each round the pin is maintained. On each such successful attack, the greater vampire gains 5 temporary hit points.

Additionally, the victim must make a Fortitude save or be dazed for 1 round. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Spell-Like Abilities: At will--hold portal, knock; 5/day--deep slumber. Caster level 7th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Stench (Ex): The stink of death and corruption surrounding these creatures is overwhelming. Living creatures within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or be sickened for 1d6+4 minutes. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same vampire’s stench for 24 hours. A delay poison or neutralize poison spell removes the effect from a sickened creature. Creatures with immunity to poison are unaffected, and creatures resistant to poison receive their normal bonus on their saving throws. In addition, the stench spoils food and water, along with magical liquids (such as potions) that fail a 15 Will save. This ability does not affect holy water. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Supernatural Scent (Su): A greater vampire can notice the presence of creatures within 180 feet. This ability allows the vampire instantly to determine race, gender, and the presence of armor and weapons. If the greater vampire concentrates for a round, it can detect magic auras with its supernatural scent (as the first round of the detect magic spell) and alignment auras (as the first round of detect chaos, evil, good, and law spells).

Unnatural Aura (Su): Animals, whether wild or domesticated, can sense the unnatural presence of a greater vampire at a distance of 15 feet. They will not willingly approach nearer than that and panic if forced to do so; they remain panicked as long as they are within that range. A character may calm a panicked animal with a DC 15 Handle Animal check if the animal is trained. However, even a trained animal panics if brought within 10 feet. The check DC is Charisma-based.
 
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Also, I believe we discussed this at one point, but we probably ought to improve Cha by +2 for each template since they have so many Cha-based special abilities.
 

Yeah, we did mention Cha at some point above, but I don't think we did that. I agree completely.

Sample looks good sofar, I think.
 

Updated all the templates to include the +2 Cha bump, and updated the sample guy above for the additional Cha.

I think all we need is 1 more fighter bonus feat and 1 more general feat, and any changes to gear we wish to make. I'd recommend adding a +1 bonus or its equivalency to its spiked chain, chain shirt, and bow with each new template.
 
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Should the (B) for bonus be on Weapon Spec rather than Lightning Ref?

Spring Attack (B) and Ability Focus (Infectious Breath)?

Let's go +1 bow, +1 shock spiked chain, cloak of resistance +1 (rather than improving the chain, as it costs the same amount).
 

Lightning Reflexes is a bonus feat granted by the standard vampire template. In fact, it looks like they only denoted bonus feats granted by the template, not the fighter class, so I suppose we can follow their lead.

Let's not go with Ability Focus (Infectious Breath), assuming that the template was acquired after the class levels (and thus after the time to take a feat). Too bad he's not smart enough to take Combat Expertise. Maybe we can raise Int with the next sample, and take it, paving the way for Whirlwind Attack down the road?

Can Power Attack be used with a spiked chain?

Good suggestion on the cloak. When you say "rather than the chain", I assume you mean the chain shirt rather than the spiked chain?
 

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