Vampire (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy role-playing game, the vampire is an undead
creature. A humanoid
or monstrous humanoid
can become a vampire, and looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features. A new vampire is created when another vampire drains the life out of a living creature.
(1974), where they were described simply as powerful undead. Vampires were further detailed in Supplement I: Greyhawk (1975).
Dragon
#25 (May 1979) details several vampire variants, including the alp, the anananngel, the asanbosam, the bruxsa, the burcolakas, the catacano, the ch'ing-shih, the ekimmu, the krvopijac, the lobishumen, the mulo, the nosferat, and the vlkodlak. This article was later reprinted in Best of Dragon, Vol. II (1981).
The vampiric lizard man
appeared in the module Tomb of the Lizard King (1982).
The Lankhmar
vampire appeared in the module Swords of Deceit (1986).
Dracula himself was given AD&D statistics in Dragon #126 (October 1987), along with the vrykolaka and great vrykolaka.
(1977), and Expert Set
(1981 & 1983), and was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999). This last set also featured the lesser vampire.
The velya, a relative of the vampire, was introduced in the module War Rafts of Kron (1984), and subsequently appeared in the Creature Catalogue (1986), and the later Creature Catalog (1993). The swamp velya was introduced in the module Legacy of Blood (1987).
The nosferatu appeared in the gazetteers Grand Duchy of Karameikos (1987) and Principalities of Glantri (1987), and in the Creature Catalog (1993).
Variants for the standard vampire and the Eastern vampire in the Spelljammer
campaign setting
were detailed in the supplement Crystal Spheres (1990).
The lidevic appeared in Dragon #158 (June 1990).
The nosferatu vampire for the Ravenloft
setting appeared in the Ravenloft: Realm of Terror
boxed set (1990), and later appeared in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994), and Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium (1999). Several vampire variants appeared in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix (1991), including the dwarf vampire, the elf vampire, the gnome vampire, the halfling vampire, and the kender vampire; these creatures were reprinted in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium I & II (1996). The Eastern vampire (or mayonaka) appeared in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix II (1993). The illithid
vampire (or athaekeetha) also appears in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix II, and later in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium I & II (1996). Thoughts of Darkness (1992), and the Illithiad (1998). The oriental vampire and the drow vampire appeared in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness. The cerebral vampire was introduced in Bleak House: The Death of Rudolph van Richten
(1996), and then appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998).
The vampire of the Mystara
campaign setting was detailed in Night of the Vampire (1994). The velya and swamp velya returned in the Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994). The nosferatu for the Savage Coast setting appeared in the Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996).
Dragon Annual #1 (1996) details several undead variants, including the aswang (ghast), the baobhan sith (doppleganger), the civatateo (mummy), the dubbelsauger (ghoul), the eretica (hag), the fravashi (succubus), the gayal (wraith), the hannya (wight), the impudulu (zombie lord), the jigarkhor (wight), the kuei (skeleton), the lemure (spectre), the moroli (wight), the nelapsi (vampire), the ohyn (goblin), the pelesit (monkey), the qarlak (wight), the ramanga (zombie), the stregoni (vampire), the tlacique (spectre), the ustrel (goblin), the vetala (wraith), the wurdalak (lycanthrope), the xloptuny (wight), the yara-ma-yha-sho (lizard man), and the zmeu (ghost).
Three unique vampires for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting appeared in Dragon #236 (November 1996): Morg; Saed, Beast Chieftain of Veld; and Saestra Karanok.
The hopping vampire appeared in Oriental Adventures (2001).
The drider vampire appeared in City of the Spider Queen
(2002) for the Forgotten Realms.
The moonbane vampire, the persuasive vampire, the psychic vampire, the savage vampire, and the swarmform vampire appeared in Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead (2004).
The vampire mind flayer appears in Lords of Madness
(2005).
The Kasian vampire, the savage vampire, the shadow vampire and the terror vampire appeared in Dragon #348 (October 2006).
Two unique vampires, Black Duke and Red Widow appeared in Monster Manual V (2007).
In the upcoming supplement Heroes of Shadow (2011), the vampire will be presented as a character class
. The Vryloka, a race of undead humanoids with vampiric traits, will also be presented.
, and if its alignment was not evil in life it becomes so in undeath. A vampire retains all the abilities it had in life, plus it gains the ability to drain blood and life energy, and to dominate other creatures with its gaze. A vampire can also command rats, bats, and wolves, or take the form of those creatures.
Some vampires worship the god Kanchelsis
.
Vampire spawn are similar in their habits to vampires, being evil creatures drawn to their graves and coffins. They are much more brutish, stupid and physically stronger than vampires; however, they are more intelligent then the average human. They attack by hammering opponents against walls, punching them, and tearing out their limbs. They can both energy drain, and suck the blood with a bite. Their mere gaze drains the victim of confidence, courage, energy, hope and joy. Vampire spawn have the ability to assume a gaseous form. They can also climb upon walls in the manner of a spider. Vampire spawn are, however, also vulnerable to all normal attacks and spells which repel vampires.
Vampire spawn speak Common. They can be of any evil alignment.
In the Dungeons & Dragons supplement Libris Mortis
, vampire spawn, along with several other undead creatures became character class
es for player characters.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy role-playing game, the vampire is an undead
Undead (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, undead is a classification of monsters that can be encountered by player characters. Undead creatures are most often once-living creatures, which have been animated by spiritual or supernatural forces....
creature. A humanoid
Humanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, humanoid is a type of creature, or "creature type". Humanoids are any creature shaped generally like a human , of Small or Medium size, with few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities...
or monstrous humanoid
Monstrous humanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
Monstrous humanoids are a "creature type" in the 3rd and 3.5 editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Monstrous humanoids are differentiated from humanoids by their monstrous or animalistic features, and not all are technically "humanoid" in body form...
can become a vampire, and looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features. A new vampire is created when another vampire drains the life out of a living creature.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The vampire was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" setDungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1974), where they were described simply as powerful undead. Vampires were further detailed in Supplement I: Greyhawk (1975).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The vampire appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a chaotic evil, night-prowling creature whose powerful negative force drains life energy from victims.Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#25 (May 1979) details several vampire variants, including the alp, the anananngel, the asanbosam, the bruxsa, the burcolakas, the catacano, the ch'ing-shih, the ekimmu, the krvopijac, the lobishumen, the mulo, the nosferat, and the vlkodlak. This article was later reprinted in Best of Dragon, Vol. II (1981).
The vampiric lizard man
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
appeared in the module Tomb of the Lizard King (1982).
The Lankhmar
Lankhmar
Lankhmar is a fictional city in the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories by Fritz Leiber. It is situated on the world of Nehwon, just west of the Great Salt Marsh and east of the River Hlal, and serves as the home of Leiber's two anti-heroes....
vampire appeared in the module Swords of Deceit (1986).
Dracula himself was given AD&D statistics in Dragon #126 (October 1987), along with the vrykolaka and great vrykolaka.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the vampire, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic SetDungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
(1977), and Expert Set
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
(1981 & 1983), and was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 boxed set)
The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991....
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999). This last set also featured the lesser vampire.
The velya, a relative of the vampire, was introduced in the module War Rafts of Kron (1984), and subsequently appeared in the Creature Catalogue (1986), and the later Creature Catalog (1993). The swamp velya was introduced in the module Legacy of Blood (1987).
The nosferatu appeared in the gazetteers Grand Duchy of Karameikos (1987) and Principalities of Glantri (1987), and in the Creature Catalog (1993).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The vampire appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), which also introduced the Eastern vampire. The standard vampire and the Eastern vampire are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).Variants for the standard vampire and the Eastern vampire in the Spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
were detailed in the supplement Crystal Spheres (1990).
The lidevic appeared in Dragon #158 (June 1990).
The nosferatu vampire for the Ravenloft
Ravenloft
Ravenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
setting appeared in the Ravenloft: Realm of Terror
Ravenloft: Realm of Terror
Ravenloft: Realm of Terror is a boxed set accessory published in 1990 for the Ravenloft campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
boxed set (1990), and later appeared in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness (1994), and Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium (1999). Several vampire variants appeared in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix (1991), including the dwarf vampire, the elf vampire, the gnome vampire, the halfling vampire, and the kender vampire; these creatures were reprinted in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium I & II (1996). The Eastern vampire (or mayonaka) appeared in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix II (1993). The illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
vampire (or athaekeetha) also appears in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix II, and later in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium I & II (1996). Thoughts of Darkness (1992), and the Illithiad (1998). The oriental vampire and the drow vampire appeared in Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness. The cerebral vampire was introduced in Bleak House: The Death of Rudolph van Richten
Bleak House: The Death of Rudolph van Richten
Bleak House: The Death of Rudolph van Richten is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996....
(1996), and then appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998).
The vampire of the Mystara
Mystara
Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.-Development:It...
campaign setting was detailed in Night of the Vampire (1994). The velya and swamp velya returned in the Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994). The nosferatu for the Savage Coast setting appeared in the Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1996).
Dragon Annual #1 (1996) details several undead variants, including the aswang (ghast), the baobhan sith (doppleganger), the civatateo (mummy), the dubbelsauger (ghoul), the eretica (hag), the fravashi (succubus), the gayal (wraith), the hannya (wight), the impudulu (zombie lord), the jigarkhor (wight), the kuei (skeleton), the lemure (spectre), the moroli (wight), the nelapsi (vampire), the ohyn (goblin), the pelesit (monkey), the qarlak (wight), the ramanga (zombie), the stregoni (vampire), the tlacique (spectre), the ustrel (goblin), the vetala (wraith), the wurdalak (lycanthrope), the xloptuny (wight), the yara-ma-yha-sho (lizard man), and the zmeu (ghost).
Three unique vampires for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting appeared in Dragon #236 (November 1996): Morg; Saed, Beast Chieftain of Veld; and Saestra Karanok.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The vampire appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000) as a template.The hopping vampire appeared in Oriental Adventures (2001).
The drider vampire appeared in City of the Spider Queen
City of the Spider Queen
City of the Spider Queen is an adventure module for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:...
(2002) for the Forgotten Realms.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The vampire appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), along with the elite vampire.The moonbane vampire, the persuasive vampire, the psychic vampire, the savage vampire, and the swarmform vampire appeared in Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead (2004).
The vampire mind flayer appears in Lords of Madness
Lords of Madness
Lords of Madness is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:It includes new content for aberrations including new aberration monsters and monsters related to them, and information on how to hunt aberrations.-What Is an...
(2005).
The Kasian vampire, the savage vampire, the shadow vampire and the terror vampire appeared in Dragon #348 (October 2006).
Two unique vampires, Black Duke and Red Widow appeared in Monster Manual V (2007).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The vampire appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).In the upcoming supplement Heroes of Shadow (2011), the vampire will be presented as a character class
Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)
A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...
. The Vryloka, a race of undead humanoids with vampiric traits, will also be presented.
Description
A vampire can be of any evil alignmentAlignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
, and if its alignment was not evil in life it becomes so in undeath. A vampire retains all the abilities it had in life, plus it gains the ability to drain blood and life energy, and to dominate other creatures with its gaze. A vampire can also command rats, bats, and wolves, or take the form of those creatures.
Some vampires worship the god Kanchelsis
Kanchelsis
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Kanchelsis is a deity of blood, debauchery, magic, and vampirism...
.
Vampire Spawn
In the Dungeons and Dragons game, the vampire spawn are undead creatures created when a vampire slays a mortal in a way other than with its bite. Vampire spawn look much the way they did in life (they are usually humanoids), except with hardened features and a predatory look. They also have greyer skin.Vampire spawn are similar in their habits to vampires, being evil creatures drawn to their graves and coffins. They are much more brutish, stupid and physically stronger than vampires; however, they are more intelligent then the average human. They attack by hammering opponents against walls, punching them, and tearing out their limbs. They can both energy drain, and suck the blood with a bite. Their mere gaze drains the victim of confidence, courage, energy, hope and joy. Vampire spawn have the ability to assume a gaseous form. They can also climb upon walls in the manner of a spider. Vampire spawn are, however, also vulnerable to all normal attacks and spells which repel vampires.
Vampire spawn speak Common. They can be of any evil alignment.
In the Dungeons & Dragons supplement Libris Mortis
Libris Mortis
Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead is a book which is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game...
, vampire spawn, along with several other undead creatures became character class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
es for player characters.
Variant Vampires
- Moonbane Vampire - a vampire vulnerable to the light of the full moon.
- Monstrous Vampire - a non-humanoid vampire.
- Persuasive Vampire - uses the power of its speech to sway opinions of listeners.
- Psychic Vampire - drains a victim's mental strength rather than physical health.
- Savage Vampire - rely on brute force and hunt in packs.
- Swarmform Vampire - can assume the form of a swarm of creatures.
- Vampiric Dragon - vampiric dragon forever anchored to its hoard, much like a normal vampire craves its coffin. It can overcome this weakness through the use of magical trinkets, such as chokers, wrist bands and other pieces of jewelry that contains their entire horde. Most notable of these was Brimstone the Smoke drake's great diamond choker which allowed him to travel any length from his lair whenever he wanted so long as it was at night.
Vampires in Oriental Adventures
- Hopping Vampire - Arises when a body is buried improperly or in an inauspicious location.
- Pennaggolan - A floating head, with entrails and intestines hanging down from the neck, which it can wrap around throats and limbs to squeeze the life out of its victims before feeding on their blood.
Notable Vampires
- Strahd von Zarovich of the RavenloftRavenloftRavenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
Campaign SettingCampaign settingA campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
.
- Union of EclipsesUnion of EclipsesThe Union of Eclipses is a shadowy, world-spanning cabal of vampires and other undead spellcasters in the fictional Dungeons and Dragons universe...
- A powerful and influential cabal of vampires whose dominion spans multiple worlds of the Material Plane.
- Vlad Tolenkov - A sometimes consort to and advisor of LolthLolthLolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...
, he resides in a Nightmare World trapped in the Demonweb PitsDemonweb PitsDemonweb Pits, in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, is the 66th layer of the chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence known as the Infinite Layers of the Abyss...
.
Additional reading
- Collins, Andy, James WyattJames Wyatt (game designer)James Wyatt is a game designer and a former United Methodist minister. He works for Wizards of the Coast, where he has designed several award-winning supplements and adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
, and Skip WilliamsSkip WilliamsRalph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry...
. DraconomiconDraconomiconThe Draconomicon is an optional sourcebook for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game material focusing on dragons. Different versions of the Draconomicon have been printed for different editions of Dungeons & Dragons...
(Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2003). - Jacobs, James, Erik MonaErik Mona-Career:Erik Mona served as the editor-in-chief of Dragon magazine since 2004 and Dungeon magazine from 2004 to 2006; at the time, both magazines were published by Paizo Publishing, until the license through Wizards of the Coast expired in September 2007...
, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the AbyssFiendish Codex I: Hordes of the AbyssFiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...
(Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2006). - Terrazino, Joseph R. "Bazaar of the Bizarre: Vampire Slayer's Toolbox." Dragon #288 (Paizo, 2001).