Why don't vampires have a standing army of bodyguards?

[Arravis]

I'm working on introducing a vampire NPC in my campaign, as I look over his abilities a thought hits me. Is there any reason why a vampire wouldn't have a standing army of Dominated humanoids with him? Beyond the attention it might bring (and this depends on locale, etc), is there anything stopping a vampire from doing this?

 

[frankthedm]

Nope, no good reason not to and many good reasons why he should have a lot of commoners at his beck and call. Standing armies... not so much since those take more resource management that a vampire would have patience for and would call the attention of those most mid level vampires would try to avoid.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Mechanically, no- really, the only thing stopping the vampire is the storyteller in question.

Some writers have posited vampires ruling nations or worlds, with their thralls in key positions.

 

[kigmatzomat]

The only good reason is that "Dominated" creatures tend to act funny, enough that a Sense Motive (15) is all it takes to decide "Bob's been brainwashed!"

But that's okay, if your guards are all from out of town (dominate person, not dominate monster) and are never really given an opportunity to be social away from the vamp. After all, that could be their "professional" appearance to make the boss happy.

 

[Shin Okada]

It is somewhat like a necromancer travelling with an army of undead.

An army of dominated human (or other common race) may not look weirder comparing to an army of zombies and skeletons in a town. But still, a bunch of travelling people who never enter big church or some kind of community hall of good aligned organization (often protected by Hallow = Magic Circle against good) may seem strange to the twonfolks.

And more. Undead monsters are created from dead people's body. Usually, you can get enough number of anonymous dead bodies in catacomb, battlefield and such. So their friends and relatives often don't come to claim that undead. Because their relatives are thinking that they are already dead.

But in case of a bunch of dominated humanoids, they are an army of "mysteriously disappeared" people. So, some people may looking for, or actually chasing you to "rescue" one or all of your minions.

If you want Igor, he is not a dominated human. He is more like Death's Chosen prestige class in Libris Mortis

 

[Storme]

The answer to your question is...they do.

NEXT!

 

[s-dub]

Depends

It really depends on A.) how hard you want the encounter to be and B.) whether or not the vampire tends to stay in their lair or roam about. Obviously, the laired vampire will have more reason and opportunity to keep a group of dominated bodyguards/cattle.

 

[the Jester]

Is there any reason why a vampire wouldn't have a standing army of Dominated humanoids with him?

Cuz the dm is soft.

 

[Shin Okada]

Beyond the attention it might bring (and this depends on locale, etc), is there anything stopping a vampire from doing this?

Basically, no. But beware of Protection from/Magic Circle against Alignment and Hallow. PC party may using Magic Circle (very likely, if they know the existence of a vampire) and then all the dominated minions who approach the party become free from vampire's domination. Or, PCs may simply cast Protection from Alignment. Then, they may bring those minions back to a permanently Hallowed site and release them their. 12 days after, they are not dominated anymore.

And usually, it is much easier and beneficial to create an army of spawns (and maybe some other type of undeads who can fight under the sun). And this way satisfies the vampire's thirst, too.

 

[Darklone]

My vampires do that. All the time.