New Semi Class Suggestion

Since vampires aren't able to become Dead Stalkers, how about a similar charisma-based class (as PnP vampire powers are based off of charisma) specifically for vampires? Call it True Vampire, or Vampire Lord or something like that; a similar theme of immunities and powers could allow for a more or less balanced way to bring Aenean PC vampires closer to Monster Manual vampires (especially if you focus on powers like shapeshifting and Children of the Night, with a few immunities like mind-affecting and ability drain, and then leave the high-end undead immunities to be covered by Ascension).

I like this. Have just started a vmapire myself and not sure what semi-class to take.

Yeah, I think this idea is boss, too! Bring on the vamp class!

I like it (and Zoey does too)!

I knew I was going to be spending some time in a waiting room today, so I took some notes from the forums and grabbed my trusty 3.0 Monster Manual and tried to figure out how I saw the semi-class working (based mostly off of how Dead Stalker works). I tried to put it together so as to dovetail with Ascension bonuses; both to help cover some of the high-end undead immunities, and also because, after 90 levels with a 25% xp penalty, it really is an ancient character like a vampire should be .

I don't know if everything I've come up with is doable, but maybe it could work as a starting point

True Vampire
Semi-Class

Prerequisits:
Character Level 10+
Vampire
Feat: Ascended

Benefits:

Level 1:
Power Points: Charisma modifier x 4
Natural AC +2
Alternate Form (2 Points) - Polymorph into a bat, wolf, or mist

Level 2:
Power Points: Charisma modifier x 6
Immunity - Immune to level and ability draining.
Regeneration +2

Level 3:
Power Points: Charisma modifier x 8
Natural AC +4
Create Spawn (5 Points) - Use on selected humanoid or monstrous remains (instead of sacrificing them) to create a vampire (type/ class based on Hit Die of remains) under your control.

Level 4:
Power Points: Charisma modifier x 10
Regeneration +4
Immunity - Immune to Mind-Affecting
Dominate Monster (10 Points) - As spell, DC = (True Vampire level x 3) + Charisma Modifier

Level 5:
Power Points: Charisma modifier x 12
Natural AC +6
Damn the Dawn (25 Points) - Tolerate sunlight for 2 hours per level (10 hours)

Sounds good... if only for that Level 5 "bonus ability"... ... Damn the Dawn indeed !!! ... ...

RustyDios wrote:Sounds good... if only for that Level 5 "bonus ability"... ... Damn the Dawn indeed !!! ... ...

actually, I think I stole that line from you lol

See, my only objection to that is that it practically takes the only major penalty aside from the healing restriction away. Perhaps we might tone it down a bit and take the damage and cut it to 1/4 of normal (i.e. 1/16 of HP rather than 1/4)

Granted that I'd love to have immunity to sun damage too, but it takes away one of the major penalties and that's not quite fittinf I think.

I agree to a certain extent, though I think it would be more appropriate to cut the duration down to 5 hours rather than allowing for reduced damage. I tried to come up with something that was on par with the Dead Stalkers' Disruption Wave, but also to take into account the investment necessary to meet the proposed requirements of the semi-class (effectively just over 2.08 million xp due to the vampire's experience penalty).

I went with a 10 hour duration mostly to try to make the ability useful even if the pc vampire in question wasn't charisma-based.

evilkittenofdoom wrote:See, my only objection to that is that it practically takes the only major penalty aside from the healing restriction away. Perhaps we might tone it down a bit and take the damage and cut it to 1/4 of normal (i.e. 1/16 of HP rather than 1/4)

Granted that I'd love to have immunity to sun damage too, but it takes away one of the major penalties and that's not quite fittinf I think.

I agree to a point; toleration but not Immunity. Sun spells should still do major damage, no regeneration during daylight hours, and maybe allow a cloak to be used as basic needed cover, much like one is used for weather conditions for anyone now. Etc.

But the point of this ability is to allow a vampire to walk about during the day without being identified as well as injured via the burning effect, which is very evident currently.

I feel ascended vamps should (and as of one of 's previous posts, they will) be able to muster a temporary defense against sunlight.

No Semiclass needed.

If the True Vamp semiclass were added, and required one to be an ascended vamp to qualify, I see absolutely no reason why taking the semiclass in lieu of other semiclass options should not provide for a non-combat benefit like long term daylight immunity. Its powerful... but its not *that* damn powerful... and the vamp in question had to go for more than 80 levels without it. It hardly removes the sunlight penalty completely... by gaining such an ability so late in life, its really just a nice perk.

daveyeisley wrote:... by gaining such an ability so late in life, its really just a nice perk.

That's kind of how I looked at the Damn the Dawn ability when I first put it down, I think; even without an ascended sunlight resistance, if you've made it that far, you've probably figured out a way to get around the sun.

Ultimately, the reason that I suggested the semi-class is that I feel the penalties of playing a vampire outweigh the benefits. I thought the mechanic of the semi-class would be a good way to "work for the rest of the template", and making it an Ascended-only semi-class meant you really had to work for it (kind of like Jedi characters back when Star Wars Galaxies was still cool). I based it on the Dead Stalker both because PnP vamps have charisma-based abilities, and because Dead Stalkers are specifically denied to vampires, so I saw it as another possible balance point. I left out stat bonuses, natural attacks, and a few other things that either seemed difficult to implement or could be covered by Ascension bonuses and items, and went for a few good vampiric abilities and RP coolness (because having a few vampire spawn probably isn't that helpful, but I still think it would be neat ) . Between the time it would take to develop the character and the representative powers I singled out, I think a PC would really get the feeling of playing a full vampire.