Vampire Template - Relatively Finished

[Clay_More]

Yes, as soon as I get all the modifications added into it. Seems there are alot of them

 

[Clay_More]

Changes made so far.

You should probably include Plants in the types of creatures that can't be drained of blood.

Changed: "The vampire cannot suck blood from any creature of type Elemental, Construct, Undead, Outsider, Ooze or Plant"

You have a level 2 vampire gaining the "Improved reflexes" feat, which does not exist.

Changed: "Feats: All vampires of level 2 gain Improved Initiative"

What if some lesser gifts were more like Psionic feats, where you need a certain number of VP in reserve to get a benefit? For example, if using the Mind Gift, the vampire must have more VP in reserve than the victim has HD.

Changed:
"The Vampire needs to have at least 5 VP in store before he gains the benefit of Greater Alternate Form."
"The Vampire needs to have at least 5 VP in store before it gains the benefit of Lesser Unholy Speed. "
"Should the vampire loose enough VP to bring his store down to 5 or less, he will instantly loose any abilities he might have absorbed, as he looses the capacity to hold on to them."

Perhaps split Unholy Speed into 2 gifts, one that's essentially haste, and a second that grants the extra full round action. An extra full round action every turn is pretty insane (tho it is very Anne Rice-y).

Changed:
"Lesser Unholy Speed
Requirements: Dexterity 20+
A vampire with Lesser Unholy Speed is a terrifying opponent indeed. Able of moving with a speed which is unfathomable by mortal beings, the vampire becomes a hurricane of death. When a vampire has Lesser Unholy Speed, he automatically gains one extra partial action each round as if though he was permanently hasted. The Vampire needs to have at least 5 VP in store before it gains the benefit of Lesser Unholy Speed.

Greater Unholy Speed
Requirements: Lesser Unholy Speed.
Greater Unholy Speed enables the Vampire to move even faster than Lesser Unholy Speed. The Vampire can use his VP to gain extra speed, in times of need. By expending one VP in a round, he gains an extra full round action instead of a partial action. Invoking this gift is a free action, so a vampire can gain an extra full round actions for as many rounds as he has VP. A vampire of vampiric level 8 or above can gain two extra full round actions by expending two VP. A 15 Th. vampiric level vampire can gain three extra actions by expending three VP."


And I corrected any mistakes found so far, mostly typos.
If there are anyone out there that knows how to put together a catchy PDF, I wouldn't mind a little assistance

 

[Clay_More]

Well, it appears that the Template will appear in Chronicles of Terror, so it will probably be brushed up before then. Im glad for the help.

 

[Storminator]

Cool! What's the Chrinicles of Terror, and who puts it out?

PS

 

[Clay_More]

Its a fan-project at The Reprieve. It's gonna be a free PDF, as it appears now. Got a large host of writers and illustrators collaborating.

Main CoT Forum
http://www.thereprieve.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=47

Illustrator Forum
http://www.thereprieve.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=48

 

[Clay_More]

It looks as if though there are actually some pictures that have been set aside for the vampires. They can be found in the Artist section at Reprieve

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Clay_More mate!

Lets start at the beginning...

Basic template for all vampires.
Hit Dice: Increase to d12
Speed: Increases according to vampiric level
AC: Increases according to vampiric level
Attacks: All vampires have Claw attack that they can use with their normal attack bonus.
Damage: Increases according to vampiric level
Special Attacks: Depending on vampiric level
Special Qualities: Depending on vampiric level, all vampires are though undead
Saves: Same as the base creature
Abilities: Increased according to vampiric level. All vampires have 0 constitution though, no matter level.
Skills: Increases according to vampiric level
Feats: All vampires have scent and track; some have additional feats according to their vampiric level.
Spell Resistance: All vampires have a spell resistance equal to 10 + their Vampiric Level.



Vampiric Levels.

Level 1
Level one vampires are also known as Blood Spawn and are little more than ghouls, obeying every command given to them by their masters.

Speed: 40 ft.
AC: Base natural armor improves by +2
Damage with Claw attacks: 1d6/1d6
Special Attacks: None
Special Qualities: None
Abilities: Str +1, Dex +3, Int -6, Wis -6, Cha -6
Skills: No extra skills
Feats: No extra feats

Undead (Intelligent) CR +1
Speed +10ft CR +0.1
NA +2 CR +0.2
Abilities -14 = -1.4
Scent & Track: CR +0.3
Spell Resistance 11: CR +0.1

Total CR/ECL +0.3

Level 2
Speed: 50 ft.
AC: Base natural armor improves by +3
Damage with Claw attacks: 1d8/1d8
Special Attacks: All vampires of level 2 and higher retain the special attacks they had in life and gain additional special attacks as listed below. Saves have a DC of 10 + ½ the vampires HD + the vampire’s Charisma modifier + the vampires vampiric level.
Energy Drain (Ex): Living creatures hit by a vampire’s claw attack suffers 1 negative temporary Strength that is regained after a number of hours equal to the vampires vampiric level + the vampires Charisma modifier.
Blood Drain (Ex): A vampire can suck blood from a living victim with its fang by making a successful grapple check. If it pins the foe, it drains blood, inflicting 1d2 points of permanent Constitution drain each round the pin is maintained.

Special Qualities: All vampires of level 2 and higher retain the special qualities they had in life and gain those listed below. They also gain the undead type.
Damage Reduction (Su): As the vampire grows in age and power, his body strengthens and becomes tougher to harm, giving the creature damage reduction 5/silver
Turn Resistance (Ex): A level 2 vampire has +1 turn resistance.
Vampiric Gifts: A level 2 vampire has 1 lesser vampiric gift
Abilities: Str +1, Dex +3, Cha +2
Skills: All vampires of level 2 receive a +2 racial bonus to Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive and Spot checks. Otherwise, same as in life.
Feats: All vampires of level 2 gain Improved reflexes

Level 1 Template +0.3

Speed +10ft CR +0.1
NA +1 CR +0.1
Strength Drain CR +0.8
Blood Drain CR +1.4
Damage Reduction CR +0.25
Turn Resistance CR +0.05
Skill bonuses CR +0.05
Feats CR +0.2
Ability Scores CR +0.6

Vampiric Gift CR variable

Total CR/ECL +3.85 (not counting Vampiric Gift)

 

[Clay_More]

Edit: Forgot to say Hey to Upper_Krust & Welcome him to the hideous thread of Clay_More's vampires

Hmmmmm, wonder what effective CL adjustment the Gifts will have then. I think they rate higher than Feats, in regards to power. It did though occur to me that the lvl 1 template would be pretty weak, it was made to be weak (I think of puny, horrid little creatures... kind of the Vampire in Blade 1, the one that black lady encountered in the evil guy's lair).
Would a gift be worth +0.5 CR, with a greater gift being worth +0.8 CR perhaps?

So, what did you think of the Template all in all?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Edit: Forgot to say Hey to Upper_Krust & Welcome him to the hideous thread of Clay_More's vampires

Hi Clay_More mate!

Hmmmmm, wonder what effective CL adjustment the Gifts will have then. I think they rate higher than Feats, in regards to power. It did though occur to me that the lvl 1 template would be pretty weak, it was made to be weak (I think of puny, horrid little creatures... kind of the Vampire in Blade 1, the one that black lady encountered in the evil guy's lair).
Would a gift be worth +0.5 CR, with a greater gift being worth +0.8 CR perhaps?

They may have to be rated on a case by case basis. However the gifts look as much as +1 CR; the greater gifts are probably the same but I would mention that they each have a lesser gift as a prerequisite or something.

A relationship akin to feats and epic feats.

So, what did you think of the Template all in all?

Very interesting, but could certainly do with a severe condensing. A table wouldn't hurt things either. I mean Savage Species is able to keep the monster classes down to about a page per monster! Obviously yours would need to be slightly longer to detail the various 'gifts'. But I think adhering to the framework of the Savage Species format would do wonders in this case.

I could really see the idea of gift 'strings' being developed, again like feats. Which would really add flavour to the vampire, the fire vampire springs to mind; perhaps variable energy types. Or a vampire that can energy drain you at a distance or somesuch etc. The possibilities here are endless.

 

[Clay_More]

Hey agains there..

I have been contempating the idea of many additional Vampiric Gifts. And indeed, The Fire Gift (& Inferno Gift) gives inspiration for many additional gifts (cold, electricity, acid etc.). I like the idea of enabling them to use Energy Drain at a distance (Makes me think of Darth Vader and his "death grip" thingy.

I think you are very right about the tables. The template could probably be made to fill 2-3 tables, followed by descriptions. I dont think it could hit 1 page, it as the 15 th. level template fills up 2 pages alone. But far less, reducing it by at least 5 pages. The Minotaur Class I saw in Immortals Thread gave some good ideas.