Logician
2011-11-16, 10:30 PM
In a game of 3.5 I am DMing, two players have expressed interest in becoming vampires. Coincidentally, I had already planned on making vampires a significant part of the plot and setting (ruling class of a underground civilization, being underground has tons of advantages for vamps) so I am more than happy to indulge their interests, and in fact think it would go great for the plot and so forth.
However, as I'm sure many of you are aware, the vampire template is completely unsuitable for player use with its +8LA, especially when the party is ecl 4. Thus, i have decided to create a variant vampire template with a lower LA and better playability at lower levels (I looked into the Half-Vampire template and other home-brews and was unsatisfied).
This is my first attempt at orderly home-brew.
Lesser Vampire (Template)
The Lesser Vampire template may be added to any creature with the following changes.
Special Attacks:
Blood Drain - A Lesser Vampire may only use this ability, biting into the target with his fangs, on a pinned victim, or a helpless/willing victim. When using this ability, the Lesser Vampire may choose to either deal a single point of Con damage per round or 1d4 con. Con damaged this way is added to the Lesser Vampire's Con, however a Lesser Vampire may not gain more Con in such a way then he has hit dice. If a victim is sleeping, the Lesser vampire may make a move silently check against the targets listen check to deal a single point of Con damage, though dealing more than a single point during the targets rest will wake the victim.
Charming Gaze - Any humanoid within 30ft who makes eye contact with a Lesser Vampire must make a will save (DC is Cha based) or be affected as though by the Charm Person spell. If a target resists this effect they will continue to resist is for the rest of the day. This effect is suppressible.
Suggestion - A number of times per day equal to his charisma modifier (though never less than one), a lesser vampire may target anyone currently under the effect of his Charming Gaze with an effect mimicking the Suggestion spell (DC is Cha based).
Special Qualities:
Blood Thirst - Every day that a Lesser Vampire goes without using its Blood Drain ability to drain at least one point of Con he takes two Con damage. This Con damage cannot be restored by any means other than his Blood Drain ability. If a Lesser Vampires Constitution reaches zero by this means, it is destroyed and may not be ressurected except by a wish spell.
Damage Reduction - Lesser Vampires gain DR5/silver or magic.
Fast Healing - A Lesser Vampire regains hit points equal to its charisma modifier every ten minutes. See Eternal for additional effect.
Resistance - A Lesser Vampire has resistance cold 5 and electricity 5.
Daylight Anathema - Lesser Vampires take a -4 penalty to all rolls while in sunlight, and for every round after the first in the sun take 1 point of Con damage as though through Blood Thirst.
Eternal - Lesser Vampires do not die of age. Lesser Vampires will allways come back to life eventually by their fast healing ability unless one of the following occurs. A wooden stake driven through a Lesser Vampires heart or submerging a Lesser Vampires ashes will prevent their fast healing ability from bringing them above 0 hit points. Having its Con brought to 0 by the Blood Thirst or Daylight Anathema qualities will also prevent a Lesser Vampire from regenerating.
Creature of the Night - A Lesser Vampire may, once per day, transform into either a bat, a rat, or a wolf. Also, all nocturnal animals treat a Lesser Vampire as an ally, though this ability does not grant any means by which the Lesser Vampire may communicate with such animals.
Abilities:
+2str, +2dex, +2cha
Skills:
+4hide, +8move silently, +4 diplomacy, +4bluff, +2spot, +2listen.
LA: +2
However, as I'm sure many of you are aware, the vampire template is completely unsuitable for player use with its +8LA, especially when the party is ecl 4. Thus, i have decided to create a variant vampire template with a lower LA and better playability at lower levels (I looked into the Half-Vampire template and other home-brews and was unsatisfied).
This is my first attempt at orderly home-brew.
Lesser Vampire (Template)
The Lesser Vampire template may be added to any creature with the following changes.
Special Attacks:
Blood Drain - A Lesser Vampire may only use this ability, biting into the target with his fangs, on a pinned victim, or a helpless/willing victim. When using this ability, the Lesser Vampire may choose to either deal a single point of Con damage per round or 1d4 con. Con damaged this way is added to the Lesser Vampire's Con, however a Lesser Vampire may not gain more Con in such a way then he has hit dice. If a victim is sleeping, the Lesser vampire may make a move silently check against the targets listen check to deal a single point of Con damage, though dealing more than a single point during the targets rest will wake the victim.
Charming Gaze - Any humanoid within 30ft who makes eye contact with a Lesser Vampire must make a will save (DC is Cha based) or be affected as though by the Charm Person spell. If a target resists this effect they will continue to resist is for the rest of the day. This effect is suppressible.
Suggestion - A number of times per day equal to his charisma modifier (though never less than one), a lesser vampire may target anyone currently under the effect of his Charming Gaze with an effect mimicking the Suggestion spell (DC is Cha based).
Special Qualities:
Blood Thirst - Every day that a Lesser Vampire goes without using its Blood Drain ability to drain at least one point of Con he takes two Con damage. This Con damage cannot be restored by any means other than his Blood Drain ability. If a Lesser Vampires Constitution reaches zero by this means, it is destroyed and may not be ressurected except by a wish spell.
Damage Reduction - Lesser Vampires gain DR5/silver or magic.
Fast Healing - A Lesser Vampire regains hit points equal to its charisma modifier every ten minutes. See Eternal for additional effect.
Resistance - A Lesser Vampire has resistance cold 5 and electricity 5.
Daylight Anathema - Lesser Vampires take a -4 penalty to all rolls while in sunlight, and for every round after the first in the sun take 1 point of Con damage as though through Blood Thirst.
Eternal - Lesser Vampires do not die of age. Lesser Vampires will allways come back to life eventually by their fast healing ability unless one of the following occurs. A wooden stake driven through a Lesser Vampires heart or submerging a Lesser Vampires ashes will prevent their fast healing ability from bringing them above 0 hit points. Having its Con brought to 0 by the Blood Thirst or Daylight Anathema qualities will also prevent a Lesser Vampire from regenerating.
Creature of the Night - A Lesser Vampire may, once per day, transform into either a bat, a rat, or a wolf. Also, all nocturnal animals treat a Lesser Vampire as an ally, though this ability does not grant any means by which the Lesser Vampire may communicate with such animals.
Abilities:
+2str, +2dex, +2cha
Skills:
+4hide, +8move silently, +4 diplomacy, +4bluff, +2spot, +2listen.
LA: +2