ideas for a vampire enemy

[the Jester]

How are you going to stop the party from fighting him?

It's sometimes difficult to avoid a tpk when the party attacks the big bad guy they aren't ready for against your expectations, so just be careful!

 

[Gundark]

depends on what you what him to be like? His class could represent how he is. I think a nasty one would be a rogue/assasin. After he tries his death attack (the DC should be high) he can energy drain the survivors . The template for the vampire lord is found here http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/mm/mm20021018a you'll have to do some small tweaking to bring it up to 3.5 (assuming your using 3.5).

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Personally I like the idea of either a Vampiric Sorcerer or a Vampiric Blackguard. Both benefit from a high Charisma which is something I think every Primary Villain should have. If you really want them to hate the guy I've got a couple ideas.

1) Have the Vampire beat them to a pulp, destroy their equipment, and then leave after expressing his disdain for their meager skills. Nothing gets to a player more than an NPC who wounds their ego. Make it so that the Vampire just seems to be toying with them.

2) This is sneaky and it has been done to me. Let's say that there is a magic item that the Vampire wants. First, he uses an Alter Self spell to meet the party as an old harmless man who informs them of the vampire lord's quest to recover the item. To help the charade have some of the vampire's lackeys attack the old man (vampire in disguise) just to have the PC's come to the rescue. The item is already held by another powerful monster so the PC's are all psyched up to go get the item. The old man (vampire) tells them that he has a friend at some local church who will send the item far away, beyond the vampire's reach. After fighting the other monster and his own lackeys the PC's return the item to the old man. Just as the old man takes it he steps back and cancels the Alter Self. He laughs at them and tells them that they have been most helpful "tools" and he'll be following their career with interest. At that point he turns into mist and floats away.

Both situations will hurt their pride which is the best way to make them want some payback later on.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

How are you going to stop the party from fighting him?

It's sometimes difficult to avoid a tpk when the party attacks the big bad guy they aren't ready for against your expectations, so just be careful!

Simple, the Vampire can turn into mist any time he "tires" of the PC's company.

 

[LGodamus]

Since they are low level the vamp could just stand there making fun of them , and cajoling them on how weak they are , and would never have a chance against his might, all the while allowing his DR to absorb their attacks...nothing gets PCs fired up and wanting to kill someone as being made fun of and being ignored then whenever he is ready he could dominate a fighter have him fight his buddies and gaseous form away , letting them deal with his new "friend"

 

[Epametheus]

Blackguard, sorcerer, or wizard (or even cleric) would all be good classes for the vamp.

If he REALLY outclasses them, just single-out and blood-drain a single PC in the party while the rest of the party is there -- reducing one of them to a few meager points of Con while the party uselessly tries to stop the vampire would certianly drive the point home.

Dominating everyone but the old man's son and having the dominated characters beat the son senseless would also do it.

Expending a couple feats so that he has Improved Grapple would definitely help with the blood-drain bit.

 

[Sejs]

Let me put in another vote for Sorcerer.

Quickened Dominate gaze, followed by an Otiluke's Resilient Sphere on himself and his mentally-controlled friend. Then blood drain the puppet. If they do successfully dispel the sphere, then just send the friend out to full out attack the casters, paying no heed to their own defense and down several points of con. If they die in the attempt... meh. No great loss.

 

[Jolly Giant]

May I suggest Sorcerer 6/Rogue 3/Arcane Trickster X? That build should give him plenty of value for his CHA...

 

[Nifft]

Ooo, another dirty combo: Sorcerer / Blackguard / Eldrich Knight

A Shadow Dancer level or three can be quite good.

I still say Rogue levels are devastating -- they grant Evasion, and the major draw-back (low HP) is negated by the Vampire template.

-- N