Help me build an optimized Vampire

[taldanrebel2187]

TL;DR: I need a full martial class to throw a vampire template on. He should be 6 levels of some full BAB class. I'm giving him PC-level wealth in addition to the vampiric template and weapons specifically meant to slaughter good.

Long story short, I'm running a 1-shot. Ustalav noble hires 4 adventurers, vampire hunters, to track down his kidnapped daughter. He believes a corrupt vampire lord, LeMort, has taken her and plans to turn her. The PCs must find LeMort and stop him before it's too late.

The plot twist is that the nobleman is actually a vampire-worshiping human. Chaotic Neutral, and totally insane. The daughter was sacrificed, brutally raped and eaten long ago.

Personality:

LeMort is a calculating, deliberately evil vampire lord. He's unnaturally intelligent, ruthless, cruel, petty, vain, aloof and has a few compunctions. He only hunts people that challenge him. He prefers the hunt to the embrace. He has a rotten habit of underestimating his prey and playing with his food.

He uses the corrupt barony of the surrounding prefectures to obtain his quarry. That said, he specifically has them attract vampire hunters and he tracks them, breaks their moral spirit and ultimately brutally kills them.

Any ideas?

[Deadmanwalking]

Wait...is the villain an actual vampire or not? Your post is utterly unclear on this rather important issue.

If they are a vampire, I recommend Antipaladin. They make utterly terrifying vampires with unreasonable saves and HP due to high Charisma, are a full-BAB martial class, and have Smite Good to boot. Given a conductive weapon, they can also do really unreasonable damage. This also matches the personality suggested pretty much perfectly.

As a side note...CN and raping, killing and eating someone? These things do not go together...

[taldanrebel2187]

I might drop 2 Antipaladin / 4 ranger. Dat favored enemy and favored terrain...

Vampire is LE. Corrupt noble is insane CN. Figure for weapons he'll either throw down on an Amulet of Mighty Fists or some Unholy Conductive weapon. I do like the stupidly high saves of Antipaladin..

The BBEG is an actual vampire. He enjoys stalking and killing his prey and slowly torturing good-aligned hunters to death, particularly Paladins. Plan to have him harass the party with undead minions and size up their tactics. They'll employ guerilla tactics and ultimately he'll try to split them. Burn the wizard's spell book at night. Force the Paladin to commit evil acts. Dominate the Druid and force it to kill its animal companion and eat it.

Stuff like that ^_^

[thorin001]

Just, for the love of all things unholy, do not allow this vampire to sparkle!

[CraziFuzzy]

permanent Glitterdust effect?

[Rerednaw]

I think I would point out there may be a very good chance that the hunters, being experienced in dealing with mind-warping foes are going to easily identify their potential patron's state of mind.

[Ashe]

I second Anti-Paladin, just make it LE worshiper of Asmodeus or something. I would do 5 levels getting the companion and awesome saves and 1 level of Swashbuckler. With the combat relexes feet of the vampire and the high Cha giving a good bit of Panache it can perry many of the attacks from the party. This will let it survive better as a Single bad guy.

[taldanrebel2187]

Single bad guy? As if. He's got his own castle / abandoned fortress which has gargoyles, wights, murder holes with wooden staked traps and blood drains (dat irony...), a pair of murdeorus constructs as door-men and a black skeleton in an easily seen "hidden door".

His real coffin is buried deep underground, with an obvious fake above ground. His "real" (another fake) coffin is in a slightly more hidden area: See black skeleton above. He has some protective penumbra potions as well.

The idiot PCs will think they found the real coffin, not once but twice.... Dominate the Fighter, retreat behind murder holes and traps. Dominate the Druid into slitting its animal companions throat. Rinse and repeat. Mwahahahaha... Hm, maybe I am an evil DM.

[Imbicatus]

Do you have access to the ACG Playtest doc? Warpriest is a good full BAB replacement for Anti-paladin if you don't want to have a LE Anti-palaldin.

Quote:

Burn the wizard's spell book at night. Force the Paladin to commit evil acts. Dominate the Druid and force it to kill its animal companion and eat it.

This kind of thing is not fun for players, and will make people not want to play in your games.

[Imbicatus]

taldanrebel2187 wrote:

Dominate the Fighter, retreat behind murder holes and traps. Dominate the Druid into slitting its animal companions throat. Rinse and repeat. Mwahahahaha... Hm, maybe I am an evil DM.

Re-read the Dominate Person rules. it does not allow that.

Quote:

Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new saving throw with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out.

[Methabroax]

I have a couple of thoughts. "brutally raping" the daughter is really unnecessary, and in groups i've played in it's way over the line. Very inappropriate.

Burning the spell book, making the paladin fall, what are you going for as DM? If you want to have the party fail, they will fail. You set up the scenario. You win. Yay? Are you deliberately setting up a scenario where your players don't enjoy themselves? Are you trying to create a game where they pick the characters they want and then you take it away? I'm not being antagonistic, these are questions you need to ask yourself in setting up this one shot.

[CWheezy]

Imbicatus wrote:

taldanrebel2187 wrote:

Dominate the Fighter, retreat behind murder holes and traps. Dominate the Druid into slitting its animal companions throat. Rinse and repeat. Mwahahahaha... Hm, maybe I am an evil DM.

Re-read the Dominate Person rules. it does not allow that.

Quote:

Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new saving throw with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out.

those orders are not self destructive. Besides, you only get one shot at the 2nd saving throw, after that might as well make a new character.

[CWheezy]

Oh, here is an example antipaladin LeMort!

Lemort:

LeMort CR 7
XP 3,200
Human Vampire Antipaladin 6
CE Medium undead (humanoid, human)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +17
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 28, touch 16, flat-footed 23 (+6 armor, +4 Dex, +6 natural, +1 deflection, +1 dodge)
hp 88 (6d10+48); fast healing 5
Fort +17, Ref +14, Will +12; +4 bonus vs. channeled energy
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4; DR 10/magic, 10/silver; Immune undead traits; Resist cold 10, electricity 10
Weakness vampire weaknesses
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 conductive glaive +11/+6 (1d10+16/×3) and
slam +5 (1d4+5)
Ranged masterwork composite longbow +11/+6 (1d8+4/×3)
Special Attacks channel negative energy 5/day (DC 19, 3d6), blood drain, children of the night, create spawn, dominate (DC 21), energy drain (2 levels, DC 19), smite good
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th; concentration +12)
At will—detect good
Antipaladin Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +9):
1st—bane (DC 17), murderous command (DC 17), protection from good
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 22, Dex 18, Con —, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 23
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 28
Feats Ability Focus (dominate), Alertness, Channel Smite, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Extra Lay on Hands, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Toughness
Skills Acrobatics +6, Bluff +20, Disguise +11, Intimidate +11, Perception +17, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +6, Stealth +20; Racial Modifiers +8 Bluff, +8 Perception, +8 Sense Motive, +8 Stealth
Languages Common, Dark Folk
SQ aura of cowardice, aura of evil, change shape, channel negative energy, cruelties (cruelty [sickened], cruelty [staggered]), fiendish boons (fiendish boon [weapon]), gaseous form, shadowless, spider climb, touch of corruption, unholy resilience
Combat Gear wand of inflict light wounds (50 charges); Other Gear mithral breastplate, +1 conductive glaive, masterwork composite longbow, ring of protection +1
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Antipaladin Channel Negative Energy 3d6 (5/day) (DC 19) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Aura of Cowardice (Su) Enemies within 10 ft. are not Immune to fear and take -4 to saves vs. fear effects.
Aura of Evil (Ex) The antipaladin has an Aura of Evil with power equal to her class level.
Blood Drain (Ex) Suck blood for 1d4 CON dam when pin foe and gain 5 Hp.
Change Shape (dire bat or wolf, beast shape II) (Su) You can change your form.
Channel Negative Energy (Su) You can channel negative energy to heal the undead and injure the living.
Channel Resistance +4 +4 bonus to save vs. Channel Energy.
Channel Smite Channel energy can be delivered through a Smite attack.
Children of the Night (1/day) (Su) Call forth rats, bats or wolves as a standard action.
Combat Reflexes (5 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.
Create Spawn (Ex) Opponents killed by Energy Drain rise 1d4 days after burial.
Cruelty (Sickened) (6 rds) (DC 19) (Su) When you use your Touch of Corruption ability, you may also make your target sickened for 1r/Antipaladin level

You may only apply a single Cruelty ability to each use of Touch of Corruption, chosen when used.
Cruelty (Staggered) (3 rds) (DC 19) (Su) When you use your touch of corruption ability, you may also make your target staggered for 1 rd per 2 Antipaladin levels

You may only apply a single Cruelty ability to each use of touch of corruption, chosen when used.
Damage Reduction (10/magic) You have Damage Reduction against all except Magic attacks.
Damage Reduction (10/silver) You have Damage Reduction against all except Silver attacks.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Detect Good (At will) (Sp) You can use Detect Good at will (as the spell).
Dominate (DC 21) (Su) As a standard action, can use dominate person on foe in 30 ft.
Energy Drain (2 levels) (DC 19) (Ex) Foes hit by the listed attack take neg levels, gain 5 temp hp for each drained.
Energy Resistance, Cold (10) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (10) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Fast Healing 5 (Ex) Heal damage every round unless you are killed.
Fiendish Boon (Weapon +1) (6 minutes) (1/day) (Sp) You can enhance your weapon for 1 minute per level one or more times per day.
Gaseous Form (At will) (Su) Can assume gaseous form, except with 20 ft speed and perfect maneuverability.
Immunity to Disease You are immune to diseases.
Power Attack -2/+4 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Shadowless (Ex) A vampire casts no shadows and shows no reflection in a mirror.
Smite Good (2/day) (Su) +6 to hit, +6 to damage, +6 deflection bonus to AC when used.
Spider Climb (Ex) A vampire can climb sheer surfaces as though under the effects of a spider climb spell.
Touch of Corruption (3d6) (11/day) (Su) You can inflict 3d6 damage, 11/day
Undead Traits Undead have many immunities and use Cha in place of a Con for all effects.
Unholy Resilience (Su) You gain your Charisma Bonus as a bonus to all saving throws.
Vampire Weaknesses (Ex) Certain items or actions can ward off a vampire, while others destroy it.
Wand of inflict light wounds (50 charges) Add this item to create a wand of a chosen spell.

So he is pretty powerful! Also with his conductive weapon AND channel smite, he can do up to 6d6 extra negative energy damage per swing and add sickened or staggered, which is pretty nasty!

Also when he smites good, he does huge damage, haha. These stats are with power attack on btw

[The Purity of Violence]

CWheezy,

Wealth by level doesn't allow a 6th level character a +2 weapon.

Anyway conductive doesn't work with an vampire's energy drain because the energy drain isn't a touch attack.

The vampire can't have Ability Focus (dominate) because it hasn't gained a feat since it became a vampire.

[CWheezy]

The Purity of Violence wrote:

CWheezy,

Wealth by level doesn't allow a 6th level character a +2 weapon.

Anyway conductive doesn't work with an vampire's energy drain because the energy drain isn't a touch attack.

The vampire can't have Ability Focus (dominate) because it hasn't gained a feat since it became a vampire.

16k gold, seems fine to me!

I know it doesn't work with energy drain? It is for corruptive touch.

The ability focus thing is true, I would probably just change it to corruptive touch(staggered)

[Damir]

CWheezy wrote:

The Purity of Violence wrote:

CWheezy,

Wealth by level doesn't allow a 6th level character a +2 weapon.

Anyway conductive doesn't work with an vampire's energy drain because the energy drain isn't a touch attack.

The vampire can't have Ability Focus (dominate) because it hasn't gained a feat since it became a vampire.

16k gold, seems fine to me!

I know it doesn't work with energy drain? It is for corruptive touch.

The ability focus thing is true, I would probably just change it to corruptive touch(staggered)

12k at most, unless he's being given PC wealth (which is +1 to CR, so he'd be CR 8). Probably closer to 6k (if it's not high fantasy) or even 4k (if it's not fast experience progression). That's not enough for a +2 weapon.

[CWheezy]

You should probably read the op before posting!

[Damir]

CWheezy wrote:

You should probably read the op before posting!

The point is that he should be CR 8, which was probably why Purity of Violence made that argument (although with 16k, it could also be a disagreement over spending half of the NPC's wealth on one item, now that I think of it).

[CWheezy]

Cr is just a number. That monster is much tougher than cr 8. He is disagreeing on the spending but those are not hard rules

[The Purity of Violence]

CWheezy,

Opps, you're right about the corruptive touch, the light bulb went on minutes after I posted, but I had gone to bed.

While the Wealth by level rules are quidelines, a +2 weapon is more than 50% of 16,000. Its tossing any form of balance out the window and the recommendations are there for a reason.

I didn't mention CR because as you say its meaningless in this case unless you assign it by Monster Stats by CR.

[taldanrebel2187]

Few thoughts. Jacobs himself says in CR notes.... Most villains of PFS modules are given PC wealth. If they're BBEG material. Check Dalsine from the Dalsine affair...

More thoughts: This guy was a nobleman in life. Nobles are richer than PCs. If they weren't, many quests wouldn't get done. Secondly, anti-Paladins get Divine Bond. Weapon +1 is good at that level. Lets him throw Keen on his weapon. From there it's easy enough to buy a +3 magic weapon.

Conductive, the way I read it, only allows one touch ability to be used. Arguing that a Vampire's energy drain isn't melee touch...

We're reaching, gentlemen. This is the quibbling stuff that made me quit PFS altogether. If a slam doesn't count as "touching" something all I have to say is LOL

In any case, even if his energy drain doesn't work through Conductive, Channel Smite will. Touch of Corruption DEFINITELY will work, as the entry even mentions Paladin's lay on hands ability. After reading Channel Smite, it doesn't even need Conductive to just flat out work that way anyways.

[CWheezy]

Quote:

A conductive weapon is able to channel the energy of a spell-like or supernatural ability that relies on a melee or ranged touch attack to hit its target (such as from a cleric's domain granted power, sorcerer's bloodline power, oracle's mystery revelation, or wizard's arcane school power).

Vampire drain needs a slam(Or other natural attack), melee touch doesn't work. Melee touch attack is a type of attack. Anyway I don't think anyone is arguing how conductive works?

[wraithstrike]

The Purity of Violence wrote:

CWheezy,

Wealth by level doesn't allow a 6th level character a +2 weapon.

Anyway conductive doesn't work with an vampire's energy drain because the energy drain isn't a touch attack.

The vampire can't have Ability Focus (dominate) because it hasn't gained a feat since it became a vampire.

He could retrain a feat, but that would eat into the wealth of the character per RAW.

[Gregory Connolly]

Back on topic, I don't think that making an optimized Vampire Anti-Paladin would be a good encounter for 4 PCs from an action economy standpoint. The idea of trying to make one opponent who can basically take out 1 character per round while being almost immune to the parties magic might sound fun in theory, but in practice this fight is gonna be very quick and unsatisfying. Either the players are gonna get lucky and land something winning on him quick or at least some of them are going to die horribly. If they die they are unsatisfied, if they win in round one you are unsatisfied.

I would instead make 2 opponents with different weaknesses. Perhaps a Human Cleric of Lamashtu for the insane noble and a Vampire Ranger (or Warpriest) of Asmodeus for the manipulator?

[Mordo the Spaz - Forum Troll]

Make BBEG ratfolk Anti-Paladin. When PCs arrive hides as "Igor" to thrall human Sorcerer in gothic garb.