vampire (Dungeons & Dragons)

The vampire was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the Dungeons & Dragons game. The vampire as a player character concept was present in Dave Arneson's playtest group for the original version of the rules. It led to the creation of a vampire-hunter, which became the basis of the cleric class.{{cite book |first=David M. |last=Ewalt |author-link=David M. Ewalt |year=2013 |title=Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It |publisher=Scribner |page=69 |isbn=978-1-4516-4052-6}}

Inspired by Gothic fiction, the vampire is a typical denizen of the Ravenloft setting.{{cite book|last=Rangel Jiménez|first=Mauricio|date=2021|title=Lanzando los dados: aproximaciones académicas a los juegos de rol|language=Spanish|publisher=Universidad Iberoamericana|isbn=978-607-417-763-3}}

The vampire was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974),Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson. Dungeons & Dragons (3-Volume Set) (TSR, 1974) where they were described simply as powerful undead. Vampires were further detailed in Supplement I: Greyhawk (1975).Gygax, Gary and Robert Kuntz. Supplement I: Greyhawk (TSR, 1975)

The vampire appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977) where it is described as a chaotic evil, night-prowling creature whose powerful negative force drains life energy from victims.

Dragon #25 (May 1979) details several vampire variants, including the alp, the {{not a typo|anananngel}}, the asanbosam, the bruxsa, the burcolakas, the catacano, the ch'ing-shih, the ekimmu, the krvopijac, the lobishumen, the mulo, the {{not a typo|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.

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the vampire, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977),Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by J. Eric Holmes. Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (TSR, 1977) and Expert Set (1981 & 1983),Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Dave Cook. Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set (TSR, 1981)Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Frank Mentzer. Dungeons & Dragons Set 2: Expert Rules (TSR, 1983) and was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991),Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (TSR, 1991) the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999). This last set also featured the lesser vampire.Slavicsek, Bill. Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game (TSR, 1999)

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),Morris, Graeme, Phil Gallagher and Jim Bambra. Creature Catalogue (TSR, 1986) and the later Creature Catalog (1993).Nephew, John. Creature Catalog (TSR, 1993) The swamp velya was introduced in the module Legacy of Blood (1987).

The nosferatu appeared in the gazetteers of The Grand Duchy of Karameikos (1987) and The Principalities of Glantri (1987), and in the Creature Catalog (1993).

The vampire appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), which also introduced the Eastern vampire.Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989) The standard vampire and the Eastern vampire are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 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 and Mayonaka appear in Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix II (1993). The illithid vampire and Athaekeetha appear 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).Pickens, Jon, ed. Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four. (TSR, 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).Nephew, John, Teeuwynn Woodruff, John Terra, and Skip Williams. Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (TSR, 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 (doppelgänger), the civatateo (mummy), the dubbelsauger (ghoul), the eretica (hag), the fravashi (succubus), the gayal (wraith), the hannya (wight), the {{not a typo|impudulu}} (zombie lord), the jigarkhor (wight), the kuei (skeleton), the lemure (spectre), the {{not a typo|moroli}} (wight), the nelapsi (vampire), the {{not a typo|ohyn}} (goblin), the pelesit (monkey), the {{not a typo|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 vampire appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000) as a template.Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)

The hopping vampire appeared in Oriental Adventures (2001).Wyatt, James. Oriental Adventures (Wizards of the Coast, 2001)

The drider vampire appeared in City of the Spider Queen (2002) for the Forgotten Realms.Wyatt, James. City of the Spider Queen (TSR, 2002)

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).Collins, Andy, and Bruce R. Cordell. Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)

The vampire mind flayer appears in Lords of Madness (2005).Baker, Rich, James Jacobs, and Steve Winter. (Wizards of the Coast, 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).

The vampire appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)

In the supplement Heroes of Shadow (2011), the vampire is presented as a character class.{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20110311| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110314020147/http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20110311| archive-date = 2011-03-14| title = Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Shadow Classes)}} The Vryloka, a race of humanoids with vampiric traits, are also presented.{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20110314| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111230113720/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20110314| archive-date = 2011-12-30| title = Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Shadow Races)}}

Dragon Annual 2009 and Dragon Magazine 371 also had the Vampire Bloodline, a series of feats.

The vampire appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2014) along with the spellcaster and warrior vampire variants.{{Cite book|title=Monster Manual|publisher=Wizards of the Coast |editor1=Mike Mearls |editor2=Jeremy Crawford |editor3=Christopher Perkins |editor4=Chris Sims |editor5=Rodney Thompson |editor6=Peter Lee|year=2014|isbn=978-0-7869-6561-8|edition=5th|location=Renton, WA|language=en|oclc=884396605}}

The jiangshi appears in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft (2021), along with the dhampir, which is considered a lineage that can replace a character's race.{{Cite book|title=Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft|date=2021|publisher= Wizards of the Coast|isbn=978-0-7869-6725-4|location=Renton, WA|oclc=1238191930}}

A vampire could be of any type of evil alignment, and if its alignment was not evil in life, it becomes so in undeath. A vampire retains all the abilities it had in life, and 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. They also become superhumanly strong, can heal quickly or even regenerate, and can turn into a gaseous form.

Some vampires worship the god Kanchelsis.

{{Infobox fictional race

| name = Vampire Spawn

| first =

| based_on =

| type = Undead

| alignment = Any Evil

}}

In the Dungeons & Dragons game, the vampire spawn are undead creatures created when a vampire slays a mortal 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. A vampire spawn is controlled by the vampire who created them. A vampire spawn can become a normal vampire by drinking the blood of the vampire who originally turned them into a vampire spawn.

Vampire spawn are similar in their habits to vampires, being evil creatures drawn to their graves and coffins. They are less intelligent and, while still strong, are physically weaker than vampires. They cannot turn into a bat, dire bat, wolf, or dire wolf and they cannot summon rats, bats or wolves. Vampire spawn are unable to create spawn of their own. 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 classes for player characters.

• 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.

• Hopping Vampire – Arises when a body is buried improperly or in an inauspicious location.
• Penanggalan – 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.

• Strahd von Zarovich originally of the I6:Ravenloft adventure module and later made part of the Ravenloft Campaign Setting.
• Union of Eclipses – 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 Lolth, he resides in a Nightmare World trapped in the Demonweb Pits.
• Drelnza – The vampire daughter of the archmage Iggwilv, she was trapped in stasis as the guardian of the main treasure in The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth.
• Kas the Bloody-Handed⁣ – The vampire lieutenant serving Vecna the lich, whom he would eventually betray and try to kill.

Rob Bricken of io9 identified the vampire as one of "The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters".{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-12-most-obnoxious-dungeons-dragons-monsters-1628502769|title=The 12 Most Obnoxious Dungeons & Dragons Monsters|publisher=io9|date=2014-08-29|author=Rob Bricken|access-date=27 August 2018}} Detlef Wienecke-Janz and James Lovitt considered the vampire a typical monster of the Bram Stoker-inspired horror-setting of Ravenloft,{{cite book |editor1-first= Detlef |editor1-last= Wienecke-Janz |year=2002 |title=Lexikon der Zauberwelten – Gandalf & Co. |publisher=Wissen Media Verlag |isbn=3-577-13505-0 |page=12}}{{cite book|author-first=James|author-last=Lovitt|editor1-first=S. T.|editor1-last=Joshi|date=2014|title=Encyclopedia of the Vampire|publisher=Greenwood|chapter=Role-Playing Games|pages=256–257|isbn=978-0-313-37833-1}} while Backstab reviewer Philippe Tessier considered it a "classic of D&D".{{cite magazine|last=Tessier|first=Philippe|date=November 2000|title=Baldur's Gate II|department=Review|language=fr|magazine=Backstab|number=24|pages=90–91}}

The vampire is fully detailed in Paizo Publishing's book Classic Horrors Revisited (2009), on pages 46–51.Jacobs, James, Rob McCreary, and F. Wesley Schneider. Classic Horrors Revisited (Paizo, 2009)

{{reflist|2}}

• Collins, Andy, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams. ''Draconomicon (Wizards of the Coast, 2003).
• Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
• Terrazino, Joseph R. "Bazaar of the Bizarre: Vampire Slayer's Toolbox." Dragon #288 (Paizo, 2001).

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Category:Dungeons & Dragons creatures from folklore and mythology

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Category:Fictional vampires

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