You probably will want one vampire that exercises soft power, not hard power--i.e. their power comes not from physical strength but from their ability to woo others to do their bidding. That would give you the opportunity to have something a little more political instead of yet another boss fight. The party would have to break the vampire's control over human politics and their own followers. You can find a few examples in shows True Blood (unwatchable as most of it is) or anything else in the more romantic side of vampirism... or you could just make your own--should be easy enough.
That would perfectly describe Lenore from Netflix’s Castlevania. But the OP already listed one other like that, Lady Neferata.
Have to vote Lestat and any of those other Vampires from Anne Rices books. After Lestat absorbed some of the power of the Vampire Queen he charged the sun and came away with little more than a tan. That is not hyperbole, I can back it up with the book you'll find it in, the Tale of the Body Thief. Anne Rice's vampires started out powerful but at least somewhat reasonable. Later books turned them into gods, so honestly I'm not sure they should even count.
Edit: Didn't the OP specifically say not to reference Anime Vampires? Why do people keep using them?
I think there were some "ancients" in the 40 Days of Night comics, who got irked at the punk upstart younger vampires risking public exposure and cracked down on the upstarts. Movie was meh, but the comics mythology has some interesting lore for a vampire society intersecting with the modern era (some conspiracy even put one on a space shuttle, basically to see what would happen).
Still would go with Caine from World of Darkness, and White Wolf wasn't to my memory the first vampire thinkers who made that association. Think about it, half of the proverbial 2nd generation of humanity (albeit just two dudes) gets cursed with vampirism for conflict that stemmed from sibling rivalry and efforts to impress a fickle divinity, that's some species long bad blood there.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
I see this thread kinda ran away 😂. Amidst suggestions of actors and puppets and *shudders* twilight characters, there have been a fair number of interesting suggestions.
On note: Cain from WoD (assuming the lore to be correct) is up there with the Sacred Ancestor when it comes to vamps I DON'T want my players fighting. 😂. Nice suggestion though IamSposta for the Rosario + Vampire suggestion, despite it being an anime I give you credit for being someone cultured enough to remember the series, you have my upvote for that one.
As for a lot of "Live action" vamp characters... I kind of feel they don't quite measure up to the hype of other fictional vamps. Kudos to the Count Orlok suggestion though, definitely gonna keep that one in mind.
I know there's some crazy vampires with god like abilities in world of darkness. The Antediluvians are basically vampire gods and the original children of Cain, though they can be killed. https://owod.fandom.com/wiki/Antediluvian
…Nice suggestion though IamSposta for the Rosario + Vampire suggestion, despite it being an anime I give you credit for being someone cultured enough to remember the series, you have my upvote for that one.
…Kudos to the Count Orlok suggestion though, definitely gonna keep that one in mind.
Boris Dragosani from the Necroscope books if you're looking for a body-horror Vampire.
Thanks for the knowledge burst, I was trying to remember the books I read long ago and it was Necroscope.
I also think there is a lot of variance in what some would call a vampire, ie do they just have to drink blood, what abilities do they have, what can they not do and why can they not do them, ect?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
That would perfectly describe Lenore from Netflix’s Castlevania. But the OP already listed one other like that, Lady Neferata.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Oh, you absolutely cannot forget Count Orlok!!
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Have to vote Lestat and any of those other Vampires from Anne Rices books. After Lestat absorbed some of the power of the Vampire Queen he charged the sun and came away with little more than a tan. That is not hyperbole, I can back it up with the book you'll find it in, the Tale of the Body Thief. Anne Rice's vampires started out powerful but at least somewhat reasonable. Later books turned them into gods, so honestly I'm not sure they should even count.
Edit: Didn't the OP specifically say not to reference Anime Vampires? Why do people keep using them?
Aaliyah
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
EDWARD CULLEN!
There I said it.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Bite your tongue outta your head. 😜
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I think there were some "ancients" in the 40 Days of Night comics, who got irked at the punk upstart younger vampires risking public exposure and cracked down on the upstarts. Movie was meh, but the comics mythology has some interesting lore for a vampire society intersecting with the modern era (some conspiracy even put one on a space shuttle, basically to see what would happen).
Still would go with Caine from World of Darkness, and White Wolf wasn't to my memory the first vampire thinkers who made that association. Think about it, half of the proverbial 2nd generation of humanity (albeit just two dudes) gets cursed with vampirism for conflict that stemmed from sibling rivalry and efforts to impress a fickle divinity, that's some species long bad blood there.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
There is also Dr. Michael Morbius.
Count von Count.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
True, he might count higher than Count Chocula.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Laszlo Cravensworth
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Litany Against Fear, Frank Herbert
I'd say that he counts far higher than any other vampire, ah ah ah.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I'm going with this guy.
Countess Bathory
I see this thread kinda ran away 😂. Amidst suggestions of actors and puppets and *shudders* twilight characters, there have been a fair number of interesting suggestions.
On note: Cain from WoD (assuming the lore to be correct) is up there with the Sacred Ancestor when it comes to vamps I DON'T want my players fighting. 😂. Nice suggestion though IamSposta for the Rosario + Vampire suggestion, despite it being an anime I give you credit for being someone cultured enough to remember the series, you have my upvote for that one.
As for a lot of "Live action" vamp characters... I kind of feel they don't quite measure up to the hype of other fictional vamps. Kudos to the Count Orlok suggestion though, definitely gonna keep that one in mind.
I know there's some crazy vampires with god like abilities in world of darkness. The Antediluvians are basically vampire gods and the original children of Cain, though they can be killed. https://owod.fandom.com/wiki/Antediluvian
Also Lamae Bal from the Elder Scrolls was the first vampire so she's got to be one of the strongest in that universe right? https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Lamae_Bal
Happy to help. 😉
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
The Volturi from Twilight are really powerful.
I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
Boris Dragosani from the Necroscope books if you're looking for a body-horror Vampire.
Thanks for the knowledge burst, I was trying to remember the books I read long ago and it was Necroscope.
I also think there is a lot of variance in what some would call a vampire, ie do they just have to drink blood, what abilities do they have, what can they not do and why can they not do them, ect?