In the DMG there is a really useful table for taking any humanoid monster and adapting them to be a different race. For instance, if you want to make a commoner a dragonborn, you just use the commoner statblock and then add +2 STR, +1 CHA, and give it a breath weapon. I think this is a very useful bit of information to have, but it's limited. It does include Zombie, but it doesn't include Werewolf, Vampire, or any other potential (still humanoid) conversion you might want to make. I've worked out a conversion I'm happy with for werewolves, but does anyone have anything similar for vampires?
That's a good place to start, I suppose, but... there is a pretty big difference in the CR for a commoner versus a Vampire Spawn. Now obviously I think any change into a vampire is likely to result in a bit of a change in CR but if you look at the other NPC statblock conversions I referenced in the DMG you aren't looking at a huge change in difficulty, just in race. Plus, changing the stats themselves isn't going to cover it, though the other parts are straightforward enough that I can do that easily enough on my own. For example, a vampire would also gain darkvision, damage resistances, vampire weaknesses, etc...
I may just have to work it all out on my own until I'm satisfied with it, but on the off chance someone has already done this... I'd love to see it.
In the DMG there is a really useful table for taking any humanoid monster and adapting them to be a different race. For instance, if you want to make a commoner a dragonborn, you just use the commoner statblock and then add +2 STR, +1 CHA, and give it a breath weapon. I think this is a very useful bit of information to have, but it's limited. It does include Zombie, but it doesn't include Werewolf, Vampire, or any other potential (still humanoid) conversion you might want to make. I've worked out a conversion I'm happy with for werewolves, but does anyone have anything similar for vampires?
Homebrew Human Traits Feedback Requested
I would assume Str+6, Dex+6, Con+6, Cha+2 (the difference between a Vampire Spawn and a Commoner).
That's a good place to start, I suppose, but... there is a pretty big difference in the CR for a commoner versus a Vampire Spawn. Now obviously I think any change into a vampire is likely to result in a bit of a change in CR but if you look at the other NPC statblock conversions I referenced in the DMG you aren't looking at a huge change in difficulty, just in race. Plus, changing the stats themselves isn't going to cover it, though the other parts are straightforward enough that I can do that easily enough on my own. For example, a vampire would also gain darkvision, damage resistances, vampire weaknesses, etc...
I may just have to work it all out on my own until I'm satisfied with it, but on the off chance someone has already done this... I'd love to see it.
Homebrew Human Traits Feedback Requested
The Monster Manual has a sidebar in the Vampire section for handling PC vampires. There's no reason you couldn't apply the same rules to an NPC.
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That is a fair point and I don't know why I didn't think of that. Good call!
Homebrew Human Traits Feedback Requested