Exsanguinate feat (Horror Adventures) has restrictions that rule out most vampires. How is it best used?

[Wolf Munroe]

I wanted to give my human vampire witch NPC the exsanguinate feat. I realized, as I was re-reading the feat, that it requires both the blood drain and grab universal monster abilities.

Vampires use their blood drain while grappling, but the vampire template doesn't grant the grab universal monster ability. They have to initiate grapples the old-fashioned way, with AoOs or with feats to prevent them.

So, if it's not for vampires, what creatures best benefit from the Exsanguinate feat? I guess any creature with the grab ability that gains the vampire template, but what about creatures that already have both? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

[Dasrak]

Star Vampire immediately came to mind. I'm sure there are others, but you are right that it seems odd that most vampires cannot qualify.

[Feros]

Blood Hags qualify. I actually think this is a mistake and that Improved Grapple was likely the intended pre-req.

[blahpers]

I mean, it's your NPC. You could just give it the feat. (Edit: I'm assuming you're the GM rather than a PC looking for a cohort or something.)

[Feros]

Then again—with further research—it may be solely intended as a select monster feat. Other monsters for which this applies:

Cuero
Belier Devil
Faceless Stalker
Gaki
Ghorazagh
Gibbering Mouther
Manananggal
Mandragora
Myrmecoleon
Penanggalen
Peuchen
Ramidreju
Rast
Sabosan
Slithering Tracker
Spawn of Yog-Sothoth
Vukodlak
Giant and Dire Weasels
Xenopterid

[Wolf Munroe]

Thanks for this list, Feros.

I can definitely see Exsanguinate being scary on some (all?) of those. Still disappointed that it doesn't work for vampires but penanggalen, manananggal, and vukodlak all look more appealing suddenly.

[Ravingdork]

The dire weasel and penanggalen are particularly nasty with that feat for their CR.

Imagine a CR 3 penanngalen warrior dealing 8 con damage to a PC! Or a CR 3 dire weasel dealing 10 Con damage!

[Keep Calm and Carrion]

If your NPC vampire witch is 12th level, you could make her a Gingerbread Witch, gaining the Grab and Swallow Whole abilities.

Remind me to make an 8th level Tetori monk vampire sometime. Yikes!

[ryric]

The giant weasel animal companion gets both grab and blood drain.

[Cavall]

According to FAQ, white haired witch gets grab.

That's level 1.

Maybe that's a good way to go?

[ShroudedInLight]

ryric wrote:

The giant weasel animal companion gets both grab and blood drain.

Works, but only does 2 points of blood drain instead of the 10 of an actual Dire Weasel. Would be fun, stripping 1 HP per Level on Pin...but not quite as fun as 2-10 Con damage.