D20 Vampire anyone?

[BLACKDIRGE]

I for one would love to see this. I really dig the dark atmosphere and detailed backstory that Vampire offers but i find the rule mechanics a bit lacking. Now I know it is highly unlikely that White Wolf is going to recreate their top seller with someone else's rules, especially since they are doing the Sword & Sorcery thing. So how would one convert Vampire to D20?

Some basics I've come up with:

Everyone would start out as the same class (human) like CoC and then add the vampire template. The vampire template could be used as is with a few modifications for clan.

Skills could be based on clan and disiplines could be feat chains.

Just some basic ideas. I would love some more input, since i am seriously considering doing this, especially when D20 modern comes out.

Thanks

Dirge

 

[Zappo]

Noone does it because it's too much work for something that you wouldn't be able to distribute (copyrights). The two systems are very different - while that doesn't mean it's impossible, it means that you can't import anything from the storyteller system. You've got to do all the mechanics from scratch, and take care to keep the flavor. It is a lot of work if you're going to do it well. It isn't worth it.

That, and certain WoD fanatics would stalk you and murder you if you tried.

BTW, the D&D vampire template can't work. WoD vampires don't have all those special abilities by default, don't get stat boosts, don't deal permanent damage when feeding, and don't regenerate unless they use their very limited blood reserve. Basically, they suck in comparison.

 

[JPL]

Not exactly what you're proposing... but just yesterday, I was discussing a possible campaign with a buddy.

d20 Modern for rules, Victorian Age: Vampire and Masque of the Red Death for setting, and a big stack of old Tomb of Dracula and Lee/Cushing movies for reference.

In the 1890s, a team of intrepid vampire hunters travel the globe, stalking mankind's eternal enemies...

This would work best with a group who had never played V: TM --- they could discover the truth about the clans and vampire politics and powers a little at a time.

My clever idea...everyone figures out which foreign accent they enjoy doing the most, and that's the nationality of their hunter. I think we're going to use a Mimbari accent to play a Croatian...

 

[maddman75]

I'd got for it in a heartbeat. For one thing, I don't like dice pools, and the system doesn't have enough granularity. Second, the chance of getting my group to play something other than D&D is slim to none. Getting them to play something non d20 would never happen.

However I do like the setting and concept for the game. I keep hearing rumors that WW is going to do this, but haven't ever seen anything firm.

 

[roytheodd]

Nooooooooooooo!!!!

 

[bondetamp]

Blasfemy!!

 

[bondetamp]

What do you mean that wasn't helpful?

My advice would be:

Read the Vampire books, get a feeling for what you like about it, what powers you like etc, and remake it. Don't look at the disciplines. They were made for a completely different system, and you'll only end up in mediocrity by trying to port them.

 

[bondetamp]

Or, alternatively (I'm really tired right now, so forgive me for contradicting myself) you could make each discipline a class.

The Toreador template has the enraptured anti-feat, but also have some art stuff as automatic class skills and perhaps even an inherent bonus in those skills. The Toreadors also have Auspex, Celerity, Presence and Toreador as favoured classes.

All the discipline-classes go from level one through five, but there are advanced disciplines as prestige classes.

The Toreador class, decevingly named like the Toreador template gives the Toreador skills, feats etc, so that there is a choice involved whether he or she should take a discipline for that level, or try to get some more skill points.

The Toreador can also decide to get a level in Ventrue, for the financial contacts, and perhaps a level in Brujah for the cool leather jacket you automatically get, but none of those are favoured, so he, or she, needs to watch the levels closely, lest they take a hit to the xp-earning.

And throw the current level system, with only twenty levels out the window. You'll need at least four times as many, but, perhaps, with level ups four times as often.

Perhaps that was more helpful.

I'd still consider it blasfemy,though, and I'd rather run some Adventure! heroes through the Scarred Lands.

 

[Corinth]

I'd so buy a copy of D20 Vampire.

 

[bondetamp]

BLASFEMER!!