Vampire Medusa? Any 3.5 articles about them (wotc or otherwise)?

[gooddragon1]

I was watching the Percy Jackson movie and thought, what if a 3.5 medusa (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/medusa.htm) had the vampire template (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/vampire.htm) applied to it. Wouldn't show up in mirrors. Are there any articles by wotc on this or anything else article-y with flavor? My Google-fu isn't showing up anything relating to it.

[Buddy76]

The only thing that I can think of is this article on variant medusas, from the Elite Opponents series:

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/eo/20060324a

It has a ghostly medusa in it but, sadly, no vampire one.

[Thurbane]

Galaisha Fiendish Medusa Shadowdancer/Blackguard Vampire (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fc/20011124)

Nest of Corruption - Episode One: Introduction to Intrigue (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ch/20010910a) references "a vampiric medusa named Kalivilya", but as far as I can tell, there was no episode two, and she didn't get statted out.

[Crake]

Since gaze attacks to not reflect in mirrors, and you can avert your gaze without needing reflective surfaces, what mechanical result would you expect to come out through all this? My table actually recently played a game where one of the vampire PCs turned a medusa into his vampire cohort, and this discussion never really came up for that very reason. Lacking a reflection just doesn't really do much for a medusa.

[gooddragon1]

Galaisha Fiendish Medusa Shadowdancer/Blackguard Vampire (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fc/20011124)

Nest of Corruption - Episode One: Introduction to Intrigue (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ch/20010910a) references "a vampiric medusa named Kalivilya", but as far as I can tell, there was no episode two, and she didn't get statted out.

The blackguard medusa vampire article is just what I was looking for.


Since gaze attacks to not reflect in mirrors, and you can avert your gaze without needing reflective surfaces, what mechanical result would you expect to come out through all this? My table actually recently played a game where one of the vampire PCs turned a medusa into his vampire cohort, and this discussion never really came up for that very reason. Lacking a reflection just doesn't really do much for a medusa.

I know that mechanically it doesn't matter as much, but fluff wise it seems mirrors are the go to in movies to defeat them. Imagine one that didn't show up in mirrors.

[Crake]

The blackguard medusa vampire article is just what I was looking for.



I know that mechanically it doesn't matter as much, but fluff wise it seems mirrors are the go to in movies to defeat them. Imagine one that didn't show up in mirrors.

If I remember my movies properly, at least in one of the movies, i think the one where medusa was played by uma thurman, she wasn't turned to stone by her own reflection, but instead fascinated by it, distracting her for long enough for the protagonist to behead her. In that circumstance, the lack of reflection (and then the recoiling from the mirror due to being a vampire) would have actually prevented that kill, so I guess it still holds some merit. I suppose it would also double up the vampire's standard action gaze attack with her new vampire dominate, certainly a dangerous foe.

I don't think the medusa's been historically (i use that term loosely here :smalltongue:) turned to stone by her own reflection.

[Necroticplague]

I don't think the medusa's been historically (i use that term loosely here :smalltongue:) turned to stone by her own reflection.

But I believe that, mythologically, a classic way to fight without looking was to use the reflection off a shield. No mechanical help, because doing so it it mechanically identical to just, say, trying to stare at her feet while fighting her, but an interesting fluff note.

[dysprosium]

Nest of Corruption - Episode One: Introduction to Intrigue (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ch/20010910a) references "a vampiric medusa named Kalivilya", but as far as I can tell, there was no episode two, and she didn't get statted out.

On the left hand side of the page you can find the other three parts of the Nest of Corruption cliffhanger adventure. Kalivilya is statted out in Episode 4.

Thank you Thurbane for linking these articles. I have been looking for them off and on for some time now.

[Thurbane]

I don't think the medusa's been historically (i use that term loosely here :smalltongue:) turned to stone by her own reflection.

I think the Medusa in Clash of the Titans (1981) was turned to stone by her relfection (from memory, haven't see it since I was a kid - should get around to re-watching it), though that's not exactly a historical source.


On the left hand side of the page you can find the other three parts of the Nest of Corruption cliffhanger adventure. Kalivilya is statted out in Episode 4.

Thank you Thurbane for linking these articles. I have been looking for them off and on for some time now.

Glad I could be of help. And thanks for letting me know about the other articles! :smallsmile:

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Vampire itself says it can be applied to any humanoid or monstrous humanoid, so just because they haven't printed any doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done. There are plenty of Monstrous Humanoids that make fantastic vampires, like Harpies (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?246708-Appropriate-challenges-for-an-E6-party#3) for a mysterious opponent, or Dopplegangers for elusive predators, or a Minotaur or Blackscale Lizardfolk (MM3) for a physically strong opponent. Keep in mind that you'll need to add class levels before applying Vampire if the base creature has four or fewer HD.