D&D 5E (2024) Did Vampires just become more of a problem?

[Not a Decepticon]

I just realized some strange implication that arises from change of creature types in 2024 and 2025 books.

Namely, in 2024 D&D Gnolls are reclassified as Fiends and Lizardfolk as Elementals.

We had a Vampire Gnoll in Incewind Dale: Rime of the Frost Maiden and we had Vampire Lizardfolk in classic I2: Tomb of the Lizard King.

Vampires were previously limited to being able to spread Vampirism only to humanoids, with the closest we had to an exception - Bloodkiss Beholder from 4e, a mutant that an infected Beholder turns into - being in 5e replaced by functionally identical creature from older editions, with no connection to Vampires - Death Kiss. Considering this retcon, it now suggest they are also capable of spreading vampirism to fiends and elementals.

Does that effectively mean that Vampires have now much wider range of creatures that could become their spawn or even full-fledged Vampires? Does it mean a Vampire Chain Devil or Vampire Hezrou could be a new villain? Do we need to make templates for GM's to apply to turn any creature int oa vampire?

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Clearly not all gnolls are fiends, just the extra fiendish ones. The gnolls who have jobs and naughty word like Eberron are humanoid enough to be turned.

 

[Distracted DM]

Previous editions had vampiric non-humanoids. Vampiric dragons for example, and they worked a little differently than humanoid vampires. I think they're in the Draconomicon.

Through extenuating circumstances one of my games ended up with a vampire being brought back as a fiend.. though she isn't in the devil hierarchy (again, weird circumstances), I guess in her case id apply a devil template to her.

 

[Remathilis]

I'm using the Elder Scrolls argument: different strains of vampirism affect different types of creatures.

 

[Remathilis]

"Also: vampires were always a problem." - Van Richten

 

[Nikosandros]

Clearly not all gnolls are fiends, just the extra fiendish ones. The gnolls who have jobs and naughty word like Eberron are humanoid enough to be turned.

#NotAllGnolls

 

[TwoSix]

"One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach; all the damn vampires." -The Lost Boys

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Huge Vampiric Fire Elemental?

Presumably, you have to have blood to become a vampire?

 

[aco175]

Vampire Jelly Cube. I picture it reaching out to or drawing in a victim and biting them with a dissolving corpse head already in it. Might not be big on planning though.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

In my homemade setting almost all the vampire gnolls were terminated when the halflings from the Happy Valley asked help to the Rose of Guadalupe.

Don't worry too much about the canon. If it is your homemade world then you are totally free. If you want vampire gnolls are possible, but they aren't true undead but more like a mutation style lady Dimitrescu (Resident Evil Village) and her adopted daughters Bela, Daniella and Cassandra.

If you want the gnolls aren't true fiends but "fiendtouched humanoids". There aren't monster templates in 5e (althought I miss them).