Vampires! or, Templates Are For Weenies

[Craer]

Alright, so I've been by chance lately seeing a lot of vampire movies, reading this and that, and I've come to the conclusion that the current vampire template in the MM is simply not an accurate representation of what seems to be the most common consensus on just how a vampire gains power. In most sources of inspiration, vampires not only can do the blood drinking and shapeshifting bit, but gain all sorts of other neat powers. Spellcasting, teleportation, mass ghoul/undead control, the whole nine yards. This isn't represented by the template at all, rather, the template indicates that once a vampire is created, he or she has a certain plateau of power and never loses or gains any.

What I think might work better is a dynamic monster, like the Dragon. By dynamic, I mean applying an Age Category system like that of the Dragons in the Monster Manual. Unfortunatly I'm full of ideas but lacking in technical expertise. Basically, I'm looking for a way to accurately represent such characters as Alucard from the anime "Hellsing", Lord Dracula, that guy from "Vampire Hunter: D" 2, or Lestat from Interview With the Vampire without simply slapping the vampire template onto an epic NPC.

In addition to creating a very useful monster, it would also provide a way for players to play a vampire growing in power.

Does anyone think they might want to work on this with me? Has anyone tried something like this on their own?

-Craer

 

[ichabod]

I'd just make an Elder Vampire prestige class. It would get augmentations to current abilities, and whatever other abilities you wish to add. Be sure to design it to take into account epic rules, so that it can scale up past 10th level well. Perhaps instead of them getting teleportation at third and rebuke undead at sixth, say they get a bonus ability every three levels, and include a list they can choose from.

 

[ristan]

You might want to check out the Blood Drinker Prestige Class in the BoVD or Dragon #288. It is for Vampires and allows them to accumulate points in a Blood Pool that allows increased combat and spell power. You can use blood points to apply metamagic feats without raising the level of the spell slot used.

Has some cool ideas in it that could help.

 

[The Proconsul]

If you don't plan a campaign that prominently features vampires, I'd simply give them some sorcerer levels.

 

[Oni]

The way I see it you really have 3 options for what you want to do. You can give them powers as they age, ala the Ravenloft setting. You could give them increased powers based on their HD ala the Half-Celest/Fiendish Templates. Or you could go with some sort of PrC. For the last I have a PrC I made for Dhampirs but I do not think that it would take much to adapt it to being a full fledged vampire. I'll attach it in case you want to give it a look.

 

[Kerrick]

Crimson Feasts is a big book on vampires that covers things like this. There are nearly a dozen templates, each with different abilities, including the master vamprie (who gets many of the cool stuff you see in the movies), and a feat that grants normal vampires the ability to gain those powers also. There are also rules for aging vampires and when they gain new powers, and each template has tables like those in the old Ravenloft books. It will be coming soon, as soon as we get the art for it.

 

[Clay_More]

Have you even seen my Vampire Template? Its 15 different templates according to age / generation, it has special vampiric gifts that are selectable, has new abilities etc?

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41702

I have a PDF thats gonna be ready in a day or two...

 

[Kryndal Levik]

Van Richten's Guide to Vampires (Ravenloft 2ed) was set up just this way, with different skill levels (and vampires increasing in power as they "aged"). I've been putting off converting it, but I'll probably do so in the near future (that is, if Clay_More doesn't beat me to it... ).

 

[Azaar]

Sword & Sorcery's 3E Ravenloft campaign setting deals somewhat with aging vampires and greater powers. IIRC, in Ravenloft vampires have the ability to rebuke/command undead, but it's something that a vampire gets as they age.

Btw, Clay_More, I just downloaded and printed out a copy of your Vampire template here at the library I'm accessing the 'Net from. Just glancing over it, I can say only one thing so far...

I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! I'm scum! I suck!

Hehe, now that I've gotten my Wayne's World quote out of my system... looks great.

Now, to try and find a decent Necromancer class...

 

[Clay_More]

Thanks alot Azaar. I am hoping that I will have access to a PDF pretty soon, then ill post it under House Rules as well. I am putting all the stats into tables, to make it easier accesible. Seems like people like it though, 126 downloads

Always nice when people love your work.

I can understand that you are looking for a Necromancer Class. I think that being a specialist Wizard (Necromancy) is a little bland. Even the specialised Wizard doesn't gain half the Necromancy spells that the cleric does... Create Undead and Create Greater Undead are both off limits, which are two essential spells for Necromancers, IMO.