In the PRD it states: "Vampires cannot enter a private home or dwelling unless invited in by someone with the authority to do so."
My question is what is considered a private home or dwelling? Is a inn a private dwelling, is a business a private dwelling, or is a temple a private dwelling?
Sure, but only after they've been rented. :)
I disagree about the rooms in a 'Public House'... (Inn)...
How about a private club (gentlemens club, gambling establishment etc) where a member of the staff is currently living? Not a home per se...
Despite having used Vampires in my game a fair amount, I was not aware of this limitation on them. Neato.
What about a bear cave? A bear dwells there and others are not welcome. I'd say no vamps.
An Inn is not a private home, but the Innkeeper's suite behind the kitchen is. A business is also not a private home, but again the shopkeepers apartment on the second floor is. A Temple is not, but the cloister might be?
I would say that a rented room is not a private home, unless you live there permanently. i.e.: you are a traveler and rent the room for the night then no, but if you have been renting the room for a month and expect to do so in the foreseeable future I would say yes.
The Cloister is Hallowed ground, so a Vampire may not be able to enter it anyways. If she can, she can move through the halls and common areas, but not the individual cells or apartments.
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I like the Dresden universe take on this. There are some "barriers" stronger than others. A multi-generational home will have a strong barrier. A room rented for the night a weak one.
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I would say that a rented room is not a private home, unless you live there permanently. i.e.: you are a traveler and rent the room for the night then no, but if you have been renting the room for a month and expect to do so in the foreseeable future I would say yes.
If there were various strengths of 'home' - I'd agree with you and it'd be an extremely weak barrier. That's discussed in The Dresden Files.
However - in Pathfinder it's an All or Nothing rule - and it becomes a question of where do you draw the line? It becomes too subjective for my taste - so I'd just rule that -yes- it works. (The vamp can always just burn the inn down.)
Edit: Mention of Dresden Files ninja'd.
I would say that a rented room is not a private home, unless you live there permanently. i.e.: you are a traveler and rent the room for the night then no, but if you have been renting the room for a month and expect to do so in the foreseeable future I would say yes.If there were various strengths of 'home' - I'd agree with you and it'd be an extremely weak barrier. That's discussed in The Dresden Files.
However - in Pathfinder it's an All or Nothing rule - and it becomes a question of where do you draw the line? It becomes too subjective for my taste - so I'd just rule that -yes- it works. (The vamp can always just burn the inn down.)
Edit: Mention of Dresden Files ninja'd.
Though I love the Dresden idea, you'd need to make a new chart for it. As it stands, you are correct. It's all or nothing. It'll be DM' discretion. I think the litmus test mentioned earlier is the best way to go.
"A litmus test: if you can, in accordance with common courtesy, enter a building without asking permission/being invited, it isn't a private dwelling."
Yeah but the person that has a room in the inn doesn't own it. (Lawyer in me talking) I'd say its up to the GM.So if a vampire wants to come in - he just dominates a local lord or magistrate and gets them to sign a writ to confiscate your home? Then he's free to enter?
Depends on if there's a squatters rights clause anywhere.
The US Being Human had a bit about what happens when the ownership of a building changes...and therefore the invitation is rescinded.
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Depends on if there's a squatters rights clause anywhere.Yeah but the person that has a room in the inn doesn't own it. (Lawyer in me talking) I'd say its up to the GM.So if a vampire wants to come in - he just dominates a local lord or magistrate and gets them to sign a writ to confiscate your home? Then he's free to enter?
That would have to do with if there was an owner who wanted to kick out squatters. I don't believe it'd have anything to do with confiscation.
That's not really relevant in combat, so just do whatever is best for your story / adventure.
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Something to consider: an invitation need not be formal or explicit.
If someone asks you if you would carry their parcels into the home, that's an invitation. If someone asks you to take a look at something inside the house (for possible repairs), that's an invitation. Basically if a person makes a request that would require you to enter the home, it's also an invitation.
Also nothing stopping the vampire from using their dominate gaze to get an invitation.
**KNOCK KNOCK**
"Who the hell are you?"
"Aren't you going to invite me inside?" *DOMINATE*
"Yes. Please come inside."
Also nothing stopping the vampire from using their dominate gaze to get an invitation.
**KNOCK KNOCK**
"Who the hell are you?"
"Aren't you going to invite me inside?" *DOMINATE*
"Yes. Please come inside."
This. The invitation weakness is a minor inconvenience at best.
That PC later bought his own home... which he then had fireproofed. They do learn!
Lo these many years ago, during the storied days of AD&D, I was playing in a Ravenloft campaign when Count VonZarovich himself comes to visit the lowly player characters at the place where they had taken refuge in town.
I had taken the opportunity to spend some gold that was burning a hole in my pouch by buying some villager's house at an outrageous markup so very few questions would be asked. When the lightning flashed and the door burst open to reveal the Count smiling at us, everyone started to freak out about how there was no way this encounter was fair and that we were all going to die. I strode confidently to the door and barred the way with sword in one hand and holy symbol in the other and told the loathsome beast to begone.
He laughed, pronounced me brave AND stupid and started to enter the room. If I recall correctly, I actually said "You shall not pass!" That's when he slammed up against the threshold like it was an invisible glass wall. (I still imagine that with great fondness.)
Funny Thing is that this would not work with Strahd, because in Ravenloft his connection to the land is so strong that every home is technically his. Got really funny in the first Ravenloft book. The much older elven vampire could not enter a home, but the much younger Strahd had no problem with it.
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I've actually seen some theories on how to weaponize this.
One person I've discussed it with, actually proposed rapidly erecting a building /around/ a vampire's mausoleum or resting place while keeping said mausoleum or resting place notably separate from the new dwelling, thus perpetually trapping the vampire within.
One particular lunatic insisted on taking the vampire's coffin, opening the top and propping it up against someone's front door as a means to keep the vampire trapped in his coffin.
Because who wouldn't want to live in a home with an angry vampire, who gets loose the moment you're late with the rent?
I always wondered if there was a connection between the need to be invited into a home, and the use of a stake to pin a vampire, since a stake is often used to mark property boundaries.
I'm probably thinking too far into it.
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Because who wouldn't want to live in a home with an angry vampire, who gets loose the moment you're late with the rent?
Well, you don't tell them that.
*thinks a moment*
*starts to write a plot encounter*
I've actually seen some theories on how to weaponize this.
One person I've discussed it with, actually proposed rapidly erecting a building /around/ a vampire's mausoleum or resting place while keeping said mausoleum or resting place notably separate from the new dwelling, thus perpetually trapping the vampire within.
One particular lunatic insisted on taking the vampire's coffin, opening the top and propping it up against someone's front door as a means to keep the vampire trapped in his coffin.
Seems silly if you found the mausoleum just knock it down and help him greet the sun. Really it seem like you aren't weaponizing the weaknesses so much as using them to troll a vampire,
Yeah. Finding a vampire sleeping in its tomb and not killing it is like finding a lich's phyactery and mounting it in a giant mousetrap instead of smashing it.
Scenario:
A magical house is animated.
The party moves in, and the house doesn't mind.
Vampires come a-knockin one day, and the party stupidly invites them in.
The house does nothing.
Can they enter?
Can the house grant people permission to enter itself? If yes, then yes. I imagine so.
If you're going to super fast build a house around a vampire's coffin to trap them (Lyre of building would do it in time), why not set up a running creek around the coffin? Can't cross running water either.
A running creek covered in beaver dams, with animated beavers.