Vampires are undead humanoid creatures that feed on the blood of the living. They look much as they did in life, often becoming more attractive, though some have a hardened, feral look instead.
Creating a Vampire
“Vampire” is an acquired template that can be added to any living creature with 5 or more Hit Dice (referred to hereafter as the base creature). Most vampires were once humanoids, fey, or monstrous humanoids. A vampire uses the base creature's stats and abilities except as noted here.
Can an animal or other non-human creature become a vampire? The deception says are humanoids, but the template says it can be applied to any living creature. I am running a campaign where the party is a group of undead hunters and was creating a couple of vampires for them to fight and noticed the template says it can be applied to any living creature. This got me thinking about some really strange vampires I could throw at the party. As GM I can of course do what I want, but I try to keep to the rules to be fair to the players.
If an animal can become a vampire is there any reason a character with an animal companion could not turn it to a vampire? I was thinking of having a hunter, or ranger with a wolf companion who were both vampires.
Since you are the GM, you can do whatever you like. Don't feel like you need to be beholden to some restriciton about you humanoid or not. It's purely a flavor restriction, and mechanically it just specifies creature not humanoid. So it can be applied to any living creature.
You do still have to weight the impact of adding the template to non-humanoid creatures to determine its overall challenge versus your party.
But yeah, if you want them to fight vampire dogs or something go for it.
Yeah, go for it. I would like to use a spinosaurus + giant + vampire template for a titanic sized vampiric monstrosity.
Well, take another look at Create Spawn though. A fey vampire can only create spawn from other fey. A humanoid can only create spawn from other humanoids. An animal can only create spawn from other animals, etc. Now, the feat of course is where you get away from that (although they aren't full vampires...) also spells and other such, like Create Undead was what a Nymph Vampire in one of my games used to create a large moat full of vampire mermaids in her lair. Kept other vampires out cause they can't swim, and any pesky hunters that think they are gonna be cool and jump in the water, get a nasty surprise... even nastier when they forget that she's a nymph, which means she can swim.... :D
But, now that you mention that... Maybe she should add a few dolphins to her moat (if I ever run her again)
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If you're a Human with Racial Heritage(Dhampir), then your vamp/dhamp weakness is... nothing at all. So the companion just gains 5 fast healing with no drawback.
No, you'd default to whatever type of dhampire your racial heritage you picked (likely the default via the ARP).
It says Most vampires were once humanoids, fey, or monstrous humanoids. This pretty heavily implies that vampires exist which aren't any of those, they just aren't very common. Besides the fact that the template specifically says it can be applied to any living creature.
I love the ideas of have weird types of vampires... I wonder what a vampiric tarrasque would be like hehehe.
It says Most vampires were once humanoids, fey, or monstrous humanoids. This pretty heavily implies that vampires exist which aren't any of those, they just aren't very common. Besides the fact that the template specifically says it can be applied to any living creature.
I love the ideas of have weird types of vampires... I wonder what a vampiric tarrasque would be like hehehe.
I have been reading that one incorrectly for a long time. <2 thumbs up>
It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.
It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.
As a GM there are some things I would never make into vampires such as oozes and plants.
It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.
How would a vampire tree work? Aren't creatures of the plant type immune to disease?
It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.How would a vampire tree work? Aren't creatures of the plant type immune to disease?
I dont see anything listing it as a disease.
I dont see anything listing it as a disease.It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.How would a vampire tree work? Aren't creatures of the plant type immune to disease?
I'll be damned, you seem to be right.
How do vampires make other vampires then (with the exception of sexual reproduction)?
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@OP: The Vampire template does not have to be applied to humanoids. There is a
So Vampires can come in many shapes and sizes :)
-Nearyn
I dont see anything listing it as a disease.It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.How would a vampire tree work? Aren't creatures of the plant type immune to disease?I'll be damned, you seem to be right.
How do vampires make other vampires then (with the exception of sexual reproduction)?
Vampires create new vampires by killing a creature of the same creature type as the vampire, with their blood drain or energy drain attacks. If slain in one of these two ways, and the vampire shares the dead creature's creature-type the unfortunate fellow rises in 1d4 days as a new vampire. The vampire who murdered the creature can opt to create a vampire-spawn instead of a full-fledged vampire. However vampire-spawn must be humanoid.
-Nearyn
The Golarion-writers, I believe, have not yet divulged info on the origins of vampirism. So as far as I know, it could be anything and having manifested anywhere. There does not necessarily have to have been ONE first vampire for each species, it could just as well have been Urgathoa opening a sort of Pandora's box, if you catch my meaning. Maybe one day there were just x-hundred vampires in the world, and nobody had a clue as to why, or what they were. The possibilities are endless, as long as the devs remain silent. And if I'm wrong, and the origins of vampirism have been clarified by the devs, please give me a link, because I genuine want to know xD
-Nearyn
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It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.As a GM there are some things I would never make into vampires such as oozes and plants.
Ditto. Though I have to admit the idea of a vampiric gelatinous cube is rather amusing in some ways. It can turn into a jello-jiggler bat, regrows quickly due to fast healing, goes pop in the sunlight, has wolves and rats that bring it food or drive food towards it, may occasionally dominate something into protecting it, luring others to it so it can feed, or simply into giving it a hug, and would be hilarious wandering around in a mirror-maze (since it's hard to see anyway and casts no reflections).
It's save DCs and Hp would be doo-doo though. Gel cube vampires would have 10 HP at CR 6 and a dominate of DC 9. They do have DR 10/magic silver though, which helps a bit. Their most frightening bit is probably the constant spider climb since it means they could hang on a ceiling until something came within 60 ft. of them and they decided to drop down onto it.
It's probably also fairly difficult to actually kill one on a permanent basis since decapitating the cube is probably a joke, even if you can manage to stake one. You might need to whack it repeatedly with a disruption weapon to finally destroy it for good.
I may do this now. >_>
The Golarion-writers, I believe, have not yet divulged info on the origins of vampirism. So as far as I know, it could be anything and having manifested anywhere. There does not necessarily have to have been ONE first vampire for each species, it could just as well have been Urgathoa opening a sort of Pandora's box, if you catch my meaning. Maybe one day there were just x-hundred vampires in the world, and nobody had a clue as to why, or what they were. The possibilities are endless, as long as the devs remain silent. And if I'm wrong, and the origins of vampirism have been clarified by the devs, please give me a link, because I genuine want to know xD
-Nearyn
Given Urgathoa's mixture of hedonism and undeath, vampirism may have been a gift or blessing of the goddess, and to create new vampires is essentially the vampire sharing their gift with the next mortal and freeing them from the chains of mortality.
I have a vampire PC (using an extremely toned down version of the vampire template, 'cause I think the vampire template is a bit bonkers :P) that worships Urgathoa. She's actually the sort of person you'd probably love to be best friends with.
I have a vampire PC (using an extremely toned down version of the vampire template, 'cause I think the vampire template is a bit bonkers :P) that worships Urgathoa. She's actually the sort of person you'd probably love to be best friends with.
Given my well-documented weakness for unnaturally alluring predators (casts glance at GF), as well as the affably evil trope, I'm gonna guess you're prolly right.
Just realized my mind defaulted to the assumption that your Urgathoa-worshipping vampire-character was evil. Interesting.
Also "bonkers" is a strange way to spell "delicious" :P
-Nearyn
Vampirism doesn't necessarily require a sire/dame...
The first vampire, Zura is an abyssal lord who actually became a vampire in the afterlife. She died a mortal, went to the abyss, spontaneously rose as a vampire succubus, and ascended to demigoddess status from there.
Ruithvein the Blood Emperor, the third vampire, rules and serves as an infernal duke in Hell. How he became a vampire is undisclosed.
The second vampire is conspicuously absent, I believe.
In this post James Jacobs says Urgathoa was the first or second vampire, Zura was also the first or second vampire, and Ruithvein the Blood Emperor is correctly called the third vampire.
In my own vampire rich campaign I have vampires that were formally humanoid, fey, outsider and magical beast. I have a hierarchy where vampires closer to the source of vampirism can create vampires of different types, but its really just there to shoehorn my creations into the campaign.
I wouldn't have animal vampires, as I don't think they would be intelligence enough to resist the blood thirst.
I dont see anything listing it as a disease.It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.How would a vampire tree work? Aren't creatures of the plant type immune to disease?I'll be damned, you seem to be right.
How do vampires make other vampires then (with the exception of sexual reproduction)?
They just do so like shadows, wraith, and other undead do. They kill you a certain way you become an involuntary member of the club. :)
In this post James Jacobs says Urgathoa was the first or second vampire, Zura was also the first or second vampire, and Ruithvein the Blood Emperor is correctly called the third vampire.
In my own vampire rich campaign I have vampires that were formally humanoid, fey, outsider and magical beast. I have a hierarchy where vampires closer to the source of vampirism can create vampires of different types, but its really just there to shoehorn my creations into the campaign.
I wouldn't have animal vampires, as I don't think they would be intelligence enough to resist the blood thirst.
Wait, what?
And now that I'm looking at the Gods & Magic artwork for Urgathoa... Yep, there's the fangs.
If Zura's the first vampire, then she actually beat Urgathoa to being the first undead.
But Urgathoa's the genuine goddess, and probably the first actual vampire then.
In which case, the root of vampirism is a goddess who kinda broke an aspect of the universe by becoming undead. If she feels something's "earned" the right to right to become a vampire, then it's probably going to become a vampire.
From her perspective, she's doing the recipient a favor.
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I have a vampire PC (using an extremely toned down version of the vampire template, 'cause I think the vampire template is a bit bonkers :P) that worships Urgathoa. She's actually the sort of person you'd probably love to be best friends with.Given my well-documented weakness for unnaturally alluring predators (casts glance at GF), as well as the affably evil trope, I'm gonna guess you're prolly right.
Just realized my mind defaulted to the assumption that your Urgathoa-worshipping vampire-character was evil. Interesting.
Also "bonkers" is a strange way to spell "delicious" :P
-Nearyn
She was actually Neutral-aligned. She was a vampire who was staked on a pike by a random soldier during the invasion of Ustalav by the armies led by Imeodae when Tar Baphon was the ruler of Ustalav. She was never "finished off" (presumably because the guy who impaled her probably took an arrow to the face or something) and was left there in the keep that she died in. A very, very long time later, the pike she was stabbed with wasted away enough that she revived as vampires do, only to find herself in a strange new world where Ustalav is a pile of dung, the invading general worshipped as a goddess, and Tar Baphon imprisoned.
Now she's exploring a world she's never known. She's mixed with a sense of both wonder and dismay as those she knew and cared about have long since died or moved on, though she retains some glimmer of hope that she might find someone she knows who's survived until the modern time as well.
She dresses with a number of out-dated Ustlavic noble trimmings, and a poet shirt. Despite her feminine wiles she's always been more fond of pants and a stylish overcoat than a dress, is a competent fencer, and enjoys horseback riding. She typically wears a wide-brimmed had kind of like those from the old Three Muskateers movies when she's traveling but takes it off when in a sociable setting.
She considers herself a noblewoman and acts accordingly. She is typically polite to others and can be rather formal, such awaiting an invitation to enter a house (mind you, the template she uses does not require this of her, it is merely old custom), or defending the honor of a young man or maiden, or engage in formal duels. She has a bit of an ego as a result and views the living as peasants whose overall position is in service to their noble-cast who govern them (which is a fancy way of saying "I'm a vampire b****, what are you?").
Though she doesn't typically stick her neck out for others she is also not heartless and is devoted believer in Urgathoa as a sort of liberator. And why wouldn't you, really? Urgathoa had the independence to tell an ashen witch to go screw herself and her judgments, took her ball and went home, and set the precedent for everyone after that to have an afterlife of their choosing, not tied to planar politics, where you wouldn't be stripped of your mind and body (because petitioner status is stupid). Urgathoa emphasizes the happiness of the individual and appreciation of what is good in life and unlife.
Alina (the vampire in question) has displayed this tradition with a combination of contempt for Pharasmites (whom she views as religious extremist terrorists) and an avid love of cooking. And man, few things make her happier than preparing a feast and the festivities thereafter. When she met the party, they had all wandered into a town that had been massacred by some bad guys. Alina, having arrived during the night (naturally) had spent most of that night burying bodies, but lamented that she needed rest as an excuse to spend the daylight hours inside the town's inn. To the party's surprise, while she was in there she prepared a great feast for them all. When they asked why she went through all the trouble, she explained it was important to honor their passing through celebration of their lives, their deaths, and appreciation for the life that those here still had.
The party found this ritual peculiar but benevolent at least, not realizing at the time that feasting was a common practice of Urgathoan devotees, though the cleric traveling with the group was made somewhat nervous by the strange woman. Still, when they were attacked by badguys, she did help to drive them off, so he owed her the benefit of the doubt at least.
Alina's house, the Draclau family (named not after Dracula but after Cardinal Draclau, an NPC from Final Fantasy Tactics whose name I always liked; which I believe is pronounced more like a combination of "dragon" and "claw") has a tradition as healers, and she is as well. She uses ancient magics developed by her house to manipulate life energies based on the nature of how vampires heal and sustain themselves (in game terms, she's a soulthief vitalist). Her house lived in symbiosis with their peasants during their rule. Though the peasantry feared the vampires they were also the greatest source of protection that the peasantry had from threats of monsters and beasts and many a villager had made their way to their keep in the middle of the night to beg their lords to save the life of a fevered child or loved one, bartering in favors and blood.
This symbiotic mindset is one Alina embraces. She is a lover moreso than a fighter, preferring to feed through her charms (natural and supernatural), walking among humans as one of their own. She doesn't kill anyone when sating her lust and gluttony (and she is both lusty and gluttonous) because it's just damn wasteful. She bestows vampiric boons to those she finds worthy of her attentions.
The party has a young dhampir summoner who is on the run from some guys who spent a while experimenting on her like a lab rat, leaving her unable to speak (some experiment they did damaged her vocal cords). While the other members of their group treat the dhampir a bit like a poor leper child for being so unfortunate for being tainted by a vampire parent and having difficulty interacting with her due to her inability to speak, Alina is the complete opposite. Since Alina is still passing as human (yay Disguise) she has opted to travel with the young dhampir as a sort of mentor. Alina is disgusted by everyone trying to make the young dhampir reject her noble heritage and bastard or not she has the blood of a noblewoman. As a result, Alina has taken the dhampir under her wing and revealed that she is a vampire (it's not like the mute dhampir is going to tell anyone about it) and has begun teaching her the art of being a noblewoman in secret such as how to feed, how to behave, and to embrace herself for all she is. She mixes in parables and teachings of Urgathoa in as well.
"To deny yourself is to deny life, and in doing so you will be as a soulless corpse whether alive or dead,"
"Love yourself, then when you give yourself to another, they will recognize the value of that gift,"
"They (humanity) are peasants, but remember that you and they need each other more than either of you will ever know, so be firm and authoritative but treat them with the respect they are due,"
"May Urgathoa pave the path to our own chosen destinies, and should we be bound by fate, may we at least spit in the ashen b&$##'s eye before she passes her judgments of hypocrisy,"
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Very good stuff
My like for this character is officially confirmed. I like the spin on Ustalav and how its transformation has touched her as a person, making her hold onto what she has, while still having to adjust for the times that have passed. It's a great spin, and suits an eternal character really well.
Do remind me to prod you for an invite to one of your campaigns, one day. Concepts such as this, is something I wish to experience firsthand.
-Nearyn
One word: Bunnicula.Also, get out of my closet. That's creepy.
Yeah, okay, didn't see that.
And no. I like it here. You have a nice comic book collection.
WHATAREYOUDOING!? YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THEIR PROTECTIVE SLEEVES!
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Very good stuffMy like for this character is officially confirmed. I like the spin on Ustalav and how its transformation has touched her as a person, making her hold onto what she has, while still having to adjust for the times that have passed. It's a great spin, and suits an eternal character really well.
-Nearyn
Imagine her surprise to find out that half the party was worshiping the invader of her homeland as a goddess. She also has a lot of possessions that existed before the "decline of Ustalav", including carrying old currency (which still is worth something due to it being material based), and sometimes makes remarks about places that don't exist anymore (since Ustalav has been divided into new counties).
Fortunately she's more interesting in observing than trying to obtain some sort of hollow vengeance.
Do remind me to prod you for an invite to one of your campaigns, one day. Concepts such as this, is something I wish to experience firsthand.
Will do, but lately I've been finding so little time to game that I can scarcely keep up what I've already got going. Hopefully my schedule will get less nutty in the near future.
Will do, but lately I've been finding so little time to game that I can scarcely keep up what I've already got going. Hopefully my schedule will get less nutty in the near future.
I can both relate and empathise. They either need to put more hours in a day, or invent the cure for sleep. And honestly, we've been hampered by that condition for millenia now, one would think they'd get to work, dealing with it :P
-Nearyn
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The Golarion-writers, I believe, have not yet divulged info on the origins of vampirism. {. . .}
Doesn't this page about Strigoi count? It references Blood of the Night.
I always thought it would be funny to turn loose a vampire goat.
You should try a vampire cow. The only way to defeat it would be to steak it.
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I always thought it would be funny to turn loose a vampire goat.You should try a vampire cow. The only way to defeat it would be to steak it.
*slowclap, progressively escalating to wild applause*
They just do so like shadows, wraith, and other undead do. They kill you a certain way you become an involuntary member of the club. :)I dont see anything listing it as a disease.It is abit weird having vampire elementals and vampire trees though.How would a vampire tree work? Aren't creatures of the plant type immune to disease?I'll be damned, you seem to be right.
How do vampires make other vampires then (with the exception of sexual reproduction)?
I thought they were like werewolves this whole time.
I really want to do a werepire now.
He's a werewolf that was turned by a vampire and is a full vampire, but only in his transformed state. The human part of him is completely unaffected.
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I always thought it would be funny to turn loose a vampire goat.You should try a vampire cow. The only way to defeat it would be to steak it.
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do when I see something like this. I can't even bring myself to smirk a little. So I'll let an expert handle the duties.
