seeking advice: playing a Vampire Druid?

[xois]

Hello Everyone
I currently play 2 characters in a game of Pathfinder: a gnome sorcerer and a half-elf druid. At our last game, my Druid was killed and brought back as a vampire. The GM has given me the choice of continuing to play that character (with my gnome) or just playing my gnome.

Can anyone give me advice on how to play a vampire druid? My animal companion died in this battle to, so I don't have that complication...And the vampire who turned me is in our party for the moment as an NPC.

Should I be very protective of the vampire who made me? Do I get an undead type animal companion (like rat or bat)? How should I relate to my god (Kossuth, god of fire), what about my spells...do I tweak those to be more in light with being undead. My alignment was CN, so I don't think that has to change.

Thanks a lot!

 

[frankthedm]

...And the vampire who turned me is in our party for the moment as an NPC.

Well, I'm hoping that the GM is running a non standard campaign or at least a non standard vampire, otherwise you may be SOL.

Should I be very protective of the vampire who made me?

You make it sound like you have a choice in the matter...

Create Spawn (Su):...
This vampire is under the command of the vampire that created it, and remains enslaved until its master's destruction.

How should I relate to my god (Kossuth, god of fire), what about my spells...do I tweak those to be more in light with being undead.

IMHO the portfolio Kossuth would apply in this situation is "purification through fire". Literally. He'd want you to self immolate, taking your sire with if possible.

You should ask your Game Master if you even HAVE your spells anymore since to at least some GMs, existing as an undead creature violates the whole Revering Nature clause that keeps one from being an Ex-Druid.

Ex-Druids
A druid who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid loses all spells and druid abilities (including her animal companion, but not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a druid until she atones (see the atonement spell description).

My alignment was CN, so I don't think that has to change.

Oh But it does.
AL: Any evil.

Because you have been turned undead, even if you are destroyed, you can no longer benefit from the Raise Dead or Reincarnate spells. You will need a Resurrection spell to have life returned to you.

 

[xois]

hi Frankthedm-

thanks a lot for the information. I appreciate the response.

Jennifer

 

[Wycen]

frankthedm has lots of good info, but you probably really need to hash those details out with your DM. Consider, if you want to play your vampire, is your sire going to force you to do evil things? Can you play that? Do you want to? Assuming your gnome was adventuring with the druid, will your gnome trust a blood thirsty undead creature?

I'd work out the story mechanics before worrying about the game mechanics.

 

[Salthorae]

Also consider that your gnome PC might be an un-resistible tasty morsel to a newly turned vampire who hasn't learned to control the thirst yet

No rules for that, but most vampire fiction I've seen has new vampires suffering uncontrolled blood hunger in the beginnings of the undeath!

 

[Herobizkit]

It really is the DM's call. I'm a nice DM who believes in the Rule of Cool, so if *I* were running the show, here's what I do:

a) Yeah, you're a thrall of the NPC who made you. That's a shame. BUT, is your new master going to be a complete and utter prick, or actually work with you? If the former, your new task is to destroy your master. If the latter, well... do what you gotta do.

b) Being Undead, like many things in fantasy, is a temporary state of being.

c) Being Undead does not mean that you no longer revere nature. It DOES mean that you no longer belong in it, but that's story fluff for you to play with. There's a whole sect of druids (Defilers - might be an Eberron thing but I don't remember) dedicated to destorying Nature and they still get their powers. Druids can also be evil.

d) Just because you're Undead doesn't mean your alignment changes to Evil. But, you WILL still DETECT as evil for NPCs who care about such things.

e) Regarding Kossuth: "Expect to be tested and rise to the challenge no matter what difficulty and pain it brings." Also, Druids don't get powers from God/desses so there is no in-game penalty to you for being Undead.

f) Also, yeah, Resurrection is your only choice for coming back. Or Reincarnation.

 

[frankthedm]

f) Also, yeah, Resurrection is your only choice for coming back. Or Reincarnation.

Reincarnate {spell] does not work.

A creature that has been turned into an undead creature or killed by a death effect can’t be returned to life by this spell. Constructs, elementals, outsiders, and undead creatures can’t be reincarnated. The spell cannot bring back a creature who has died of old age.

 

[BriarMonkey]

I'd agree that this is something that needs to be worked out with the DM. And, depending on how the DM handles things, that vampire NPC may "teach" the new vampire how things work - in other words, be the proxy by which the DM shows you what changed (which could be some neat role playing).

While if you are absolutely by the book, as a typical PC, you are hosed. Again though, it depends on your DM (and whether the book is a guide or a steadfast rule). Myself, the way I run intelligent undead who can create spawn, is that they have control of the way they create those spawn. For instance, they may create the typical "spawn", which tend to be used more for protection or as toys; or they can create a free willed spawn, which while the creator still maintains a connection (as in they can always find their creations, regardless of when or where) to their spawn, the spawn is free-willed. These are used more for companions or to carry on the species.

You will have to contend with things such as light, which will impact travel and adventuring. You will have to contend with the stereotypes of evil. And you will have to contend with undeath (such as the the differences with positive and negative energies).

And, while I don't think you have anything to worry about with regards to diety or nature (nature carries on in the dark, just as in the light), society and your own party may be very different.

So yeah, talk to your DM.

 

[Mr.E_Danger]

Like everyone has said, talking to your DM is the first and most important step.

After that, I don't see why you shouldn't be able to play a vampire druid. there are plenty of parasites in nature, and while vampires are undead, their animal counterparts are just blood suckers. If you once saw the beauty in the growth and abundant life of nature, maybe this change makes you see the beauty in the other half of the coin. namely the natural part of nature's cycle, decay and death. You don't need to love death and decay, but you now simply understand that you cannot have one without the other. I know in Fourth Edition D and D, there was a paragon path called Blightbeast, which was chalk full of flavor and would correspond pretty well to being changed to a vampire druid.

As far as animal companions/nature bond, you still have some options. Talk to your DM about the domains, maybe he would be open to you choosing something not on the list, like Darkness, Night, or undead. Otherwise a sub set of the Plant domain is decay. (not sure what level you are). As far as animal companions, there are a lot to choose from. You can ask your DM to allow a bat companion or a vermin type (leeches, spiders, etc...).

Sometimes the most amount of fun comes from something unexpected. Have fun!

 

[Argyle King]

NE is a viable alignment for a druid, yes?