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So, I've been working on a more player-character friendly version of the vampire template for a few months now, and I think its at a point where I can show it off to people. I am quite pleased with the work, so if you want to check it out and/or use it, its here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6eO3FehHmGnSlZ0V2lqdFFXSWM
There are a few blank pages at the end because I intend to add more sample NPCs.
Interesting work. I might use this sometimes. I like that you replaced the immunities - I don't think PCs have any business getting immunities that easily.
But is there a level adjustment on this for PCs?
Yeah, currently its +1 CR for levels 1-10 and +2 for 11-20. And thank you very much.
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Gave it a read.
I would suggest rewording some of the sections to have more absolute and definite language and avoid "should" or "should not" and replace it with "can" and "cannot." After all, no GM wants a player armed with something that says "should channel negative energy" when the player is trying to get the GM to okay a cleric vampire build that still channels all that positive energy. Yes, the ultimate decision rests with the GM, but the majority of those reading it will be players or new GMs. Providing absolute language (at least involving mechanics) is a simple kindness.
Also, make sure to avoid any spelking or grammar mistooks, as those can be very embarrassing. For example, in the Universal Vampire Rules section when you are talking about disease, you state "In addition, they are immune to disease, but can still contact and spread certain blood-bourne diseases through feeding, as if they were a 3st level Antipaladin." Fixing little things like "blood-borne" and "3rd" will help it look more professional to the casual reader.
Mechanically, the weaknesses section is leaving me a lot confused. I understand you are trying to emulate certain myths about vampires and to give them mechanics but the sun being positive energy (why not fire damage that overcomes any sort of natural resistance or immunity the vampire might have, but lets them use magical resistance or immunity to negate it?) and losing hit points when hungry (look at how normal characters deal with hunger) just doesn't sit well mechanically. At least, not with previously established Pathfinder mechanics.
The stake through the heart thing is also more complicated than I think it has to be. With the Blood Pool, since the limit of the pool is based on Constitution the DC for abilities that are powered by the pool should also be based on Constitution. I can't think of a single Pathfinder class feature where number of times per day and save DC were set by two different ability scores.
The castes I can't really comment on because they would require a better understanding of how adding the abilities throughout the levels would affect game play. Playtesting is the only way to figure that one out. Reflavoring mythic with "elder" is a pretty nice concept and I am sure you can do a lot with that for a truly powerful and awe-inspiring vampire character or villain.
I hope these comments have helped and I hope you keep refining and playtesting your designs.
PAz
Thank you Paz, I really appreciate you taking a look at my work and your input on it.
I completely agree about the wording thing, and I do believe I've fixed it since you've mentioned. As far as the grammar goes, sadly the program I'm using doesn't have a great spelling/grammar checker. I do try and make what I write as concise and as correct as humanly possible, but I do make mistakes. If I get to a point where I am slating this for some sort of real release, I will be certain to have a few of my friends who are newspaper editors comb through it for mistakes. :)
Fire was an obvious first choice for sun damage, but after some thought into the matter, I think that Positive Energy is the right choice. First, because sunlight doesn't harm humans, there is clearly something metaphysical going on there. With the sun being the source of all life on real-world earth, it isn't hard to imagine that fantasy world suns are manifestations of the positive energy plane. Secondly, I very specifically did not want the vampires to have any access to resistance to sunlight damage until gaining mythic tiers. Changing the current hunger rules to maybe the starvation or thirst rules may not be a bad idea. I will evaluate with some play testing.
You are correct, having abilities that the times per day is biased on one ability score but the DC on something else is a bit different than usual. We did this because we didn't want to have -all- vampires having to have a high con score. I also think it is thematically appropriate for a character with a higher con score to be able to hold more blood points, while the wizard is actually better at using his blood abilities. I may however change the blood points to a static number per level.
Again, thank you very much for looking it over. I'm constantly updating it (I just doubled the amount of feats offered earlier today) so feel free to check back on occasion.