Vampire LA

[BlackSeed_Vash]

I was wonder what you guys opinion on how much of the +8 LA the Vampires' "Create Spawn" provides. This if for an NPC that has to potentional of becoming a cohort, but as of this moment a reoccurring character. TYVM for you time.

 

[evilbob]

Am I correct in saying your question could be rephrased as: what would a vampire LA be without the create spawn ability?

Or are you asking what the LA would be on giving someone the create spawn ability by itself?

Vampire without create spawn: probably still +7, maybe +6.

Create spawn (as a vampire does) by itself: +2, maybe +3.

 

[Arravis]

Yeah, I'd say a "1" as well. I'd actually like to see a breakdown of the whole thing... how much would it be if a vampire didn't have his gaze Dominate Person ability? Is there a way to calculate that?

 

[Drowbane]

Create Spawn is worth at least 2-3 of the LA. Its so powerful its not even funny. Especially if the vampire in question has a high Cha and takes a dip into "Master Vampire" from Libris Mortis.

My vamp is good for 84 HD in spawn... and each of those have spawn of thier own... it pyramids rather quickly. Just about every worthy foe/encounter I try to make someone my... spawn.

edit: My break down.
* Create Spawn +2
* Dominate for +1
* Children of the Night +.5
* Uber Stats +1
* Blood Drain +.5
* Energy Drain slam +1.5
* everything else (counting the minuses from all the weaknesses) +1.5

 

[evilbob]

Actually, a good point about vampire LA is that it's really hard to quantify: I think the designers really just picked something that "felt" right. Technically, I would say that vampires have much higher than a +8 LA, but their weaknesses knock it back down. I'm sure I've done this before (and on these boards, no less), but I think I'd break it down something like this:

- blood drain: +.5
- children of the night, spider climb: +.5
- dominate: +1.5
- create spawn: +2
- energy drain: +1
- alertnate form, gaseous form: +.5
- DR: +1
- fast healing, including the fact it can't die from HP loss: +2
- resistances, turn resistance: +1
- stat boost +1
- skill boosts, 4 feats: +1

- garlic, mirror, and holy symbol aversion; running water limitation; can't enter unless invited limitation, vulnerability to running water, vulnerability to stake while helpless: -1
- sunlight vulnerability: -3

Some of those are basically "rounded," but I think that's relatively fair.

I agree with Drowbane, though: the permanant and wide-ranging nature of the create spawn ability - not to mention the "pyramid scheme" that it can create - make it an incredibly powerful tool in the hands of a PC. Only the vulnerability to sunlight keeps it from being game-breaking with vampire PCs; without that, you've really got a potential for abuse.