I'm at work and bored so take this post with tongue firmly planted in cheek. That said, I do believe this is a pretty cool way to have PC Vamp powers.

Instead of the Necro/Becoming route you'd have it be like in Vamp lore - It all starts with the Turning (getting bit and/or drinking the blood of a vampire).

The Turning would be a quasi-induction type thing thus making this a quasi-race/cabal like orcs except that only certain races would be susceptible to vampirism (I'd think humans, elves, drow, maybe arials)

All Vamps would be descended from a vampiric bloodline thus the rationale behind the first in-game turning would be a vamp-god 'turning' a mortal character into a vamp as the 'first' PC vamp (of their specific bloodline) and that player then continuing to 'induct' (i.e. turn) other players.

I thought about this part and I'd suggest that 'turning' be done voluntarily or involuntarily ( like in vamp lore) with the caveat that there be NUMEROUS means to halt a turning for those people who have been bitten. Meaning in short that if a person ends up a vamp it is ultimately because they wanted to be one and not because they got ####ed over by another player. I'd think this means that 'turning' unlike real inductions isn't like a lightswitch but is a process that can be halted within a certain timeframe (and im sure there would be a need to insure that a vamp PC can only attempt a 'turning' once every great while to minimize any potential 'griefing' factors.

The second part of this idea is that any class of the races susceptible to vampirism can be turned and that class impacts the vampiric abilities you would get after being turned. Mages would have more 'magic' based vampiric abilites and Melee classes would have more 'Physical' type vampiric abilities.

With that all out of the way one of the main things I'd suggest to make a vamp feel like a vamp is the issue of their classic weaknesses. Here are my suggestions:

1. Bloodlust - This happens when a Vamp is fully turned (after the waiting period for a PC to negate the effects of being bitten is up) It is basically bloodthirst stripped of all the positives. A vamp will attack anyone near them when bloodlust takes hold until they FEED (more on this in a bit). As a vamp grows in power/experience they can go longer periods without descending into this uncontrollable bloodlust. If the vamp manages to feed on a regular basis they may completely stave off bloodlust. I'd suggest some sort of meter or warning sign so PC vamps know when they are getting close to losing control. I'd also suggest that feeding from other PCs be the only means to slate bloodlust.

2. Sunlight - It would be incredibly bad to have vamps explode during the day but I'd suggest an 'immolate' type effect whenever a vamp is out during the day unless they are indoors, underground, or in a cave. I'd suggest the longer the vamp stays out during the daytime the more damage this does over time. So skilled vamps could feasibly operate in daylight for short periods but even the most skilled would be hesitant to prolong any daylight engagements.

I'd further suggest that the longer a vamp has gone without feeding the stronger the effect daylight has on them, potentially adding more negative effects.

3. Holy Objects - I'm thinkign extra-damage is done to vamps if the weapon being used is blessed.

Now for powers...

Base Powers (all vamps)

Turn - As explained above, attempts to infect a PC and turn them into a vamp. Can only be attempted once in a great while. I'm thinking this can only be used to start combat, and if successful knocks out the target. (reason for this is in my head I don't see a Vamp trying to turn someone while they are fighting them, I like the 'classic' turning vs the 'rabies' version these days meaning the Vamp has you under their control for a short time vs. you got bit and a few days later you have a thirst for blood. That is zombie not vamp to me. Also this allows for a willing person to try until it works while also allowing for that involuntary attempt.

Feed - I thought about this and when you think about it, when a vamp feeds its usually eaither a willing participant or its a finishing move. So I figure this is something that only works on two occassions, as a combat starter on a PC who is at perfect health or a combat finisher on a PC who is at writhing and there is a small chance that the Feeding will instantly kill them (like disembowel). For a 'willing' participant i'd add a command like 'succomb' that stops combat while they are being fed on. I'd imagine that 'feeding' creates a few rounds of lag for the vamp so its not something you'd want to take chances with. But as mentioned above there is a built-in need to feed.

Burrow: Like 'Dig' a vamp in the correct type of environment can 'dig' itself a shelter away from sunlight and remain undetected on 'where'.





Mage-type Vamps:

Mistform - Like passdoor/control translucense wrapped into one.

Charm: Like 'mind-control' using magic, can order pc to perform certain actions when successful.

Melee-type Vamps:

Claws: Can use claws to inflict bare-handed damage w/chance to poison/plague or bleed.

Mesmerizing gaze: Works like that bard song that makes you miss attacks. Target becomes highly distracted by the gaze of the vamp and has a hard time landing skills.

Obviously there would be more powers but this is a short list of ideas in that direction.


Just a thought! I was REALLY bored :P

The idea of bringing the 'Charm' spell back makes me cringe. The amount of griefing that would be done is mindboggling. But you seemed to put a lot of thought into it so I at least wanted to say thanks for posting. A decent read whilst at work.

NT

muaha

In all honesty, Twilight soured both vampires AND werewolves at the EXACT same time for me :P