I'm working on a campaign that I'll fill out here based on chapters. 4 Chapters (or 5?) structured levels 1-5 to 16-20 or so-forth. The idea is that a couple were turned into Vampires and suddenly found themselves freed from their creator; they devised a plan to take over the local castle and eventually the whole town. The countryside and town in total has about 10,000 people. I estimate Vampires would need blood from about 300 people to feed per month (just my own rules after reading 2e and a few other sources); so the town is strategic to them to start a Vampire dynasty.
The hook is that I've worked on a Vampire build that is close to the rules books; plays on their natural strengths (grapple and bite), and utilizes magical items by the end of the campaign to get Vampires that are at least a CR of 17. Through tactics, allies and strategy, the Vampire couple will be challenging for high level parties. The female Vampire, the male's lover, will be a level 3 cleric which can cast Ceremony; hence the Unholy Wedding. Every 7 days she casts Ceremony on her lover and a female townsperson that gives the male Vampire a +2 to AC. After the spell wears off he lets his lover drain the life from the charmed woman to reset the spell as a widower.
The climax of the campaign is when a highborn is captured and the party is finally given 7 days to resolve the campaign.
The male Vampire is an Eldritch Knight; a fighter of 3rd level who has taken a few cantrips and spells which I'll have in the stat block. Together the Vampire couple's power grows over the town and locale as the players level higher.
There will be intrigue and politics, as the Campaign will provide opportunities for the players to turn other true vampires on the Vampire couple; through persuasion and the like; as the couple is very jealous of their true vampire allies that they create, and use force to coerce them rather than loyalty; the vampires all being rather young and not fully trusting each other.
I've already worked out the male Vampire's stat block rather well, rolled for his hp; have his DCs, etc. His emphasis is make a successful grapple to let Vampire spawn and other allies to feed on the grappled target. The Vampires are very well aware of their weaknesses so won't hesitate to make successful attacks then retreat to reheal. Through out the campaign there will be attempts by the Vampires to charm and turn players; which will be added to their retinue from then on.
The Vampires might also secretly charm a player in their sleep (waking them, then attempting a charm, if successful the DM does not tell them what's happened). In this case a Vampire may engage the other party members, having made the charmed player forget (so the DM does not explain what saving throw they failed), then only find themselves compelled to fight on behalf of the Vampires against their own party members.
Reserved for intro and concepts:
I'm working on a campaign that I'll fill out here based on chapters. 4 Chapters (or 5?) structured levels 1-5 to 16-20 or so-forth. The idea is that a couple were turned into Vampires and suddenly found themselves freed from their creator; they devised a plan to take over the local castle and eventually the whole town. The countryside and town in total has about 10,000 people. I estimate Vampires would need blood from about 300 people to feed per month (just my own rules after reading 2e and a few other sources); so the town is strategic to them to start a Vampire dynasty.
The hook is that I've worked on a Vampire build that is close to the rules books; plays on their natural strengths (grapple and bite), and utilizes magical items by the end of the campaign to get Vampires that are at least a CR of 17. Through tactics, allies and strategy, the Vampire couple will be challenging for high level parties. The female Vampire, the male's lover, will be a level 3 cleric which can cast Ceremony; hence the Unholy Wedding. Every 7 days she casts Ceremony on her lover and a female townsperson that gives the male Vampire a +2 to AC. After the spell wears off he lets his lover drain the life from the charmed woman to reset the spell as a widower.
The climax of the campaign is when a highborn is captured and the party is finally given 7 days to resolve the campaign.
The male Vampire is an Eldritch Knight; a fighter of 3rd level who has taken a few cantrips and spells which I'll have in the stat block. Together the Vampire couple's power grows over the town and locale as the players level higher.
There will be intrigue and politics, as the Campaign will provide opportunities for the players to turn other true vampires on the Vampire couple; through persuasion and the like; as the couple is very jealous of their true vampire allies that they create, and use force to coerce them rather than loyalty; the vampires all being rather young and not fully trusting each other.
I've already worked out the male Vampire's stat block rather well, rolled for his hp; have his DCs, etc. His emphasis is make a successful grapple to let Vampire spawn and other allies to feed on the grappled target. The Vampires are very well aware of their weaknesses so won't hesitate to make successful attacks then retreat to reheal. Through out the campaign there will be attempts by the Vampires to charm and turn players; which will be added to their retinue from then on.
The Vampires might also secretly charm a player in their sleep (waking them, then attempting a charm, if successful the DM does not tell them what's happened). In this case a Vampire may engage the other party members, having made the charmed player forget (so the DM does not explain what saving throw they failed), then only find themselves compelled to fight on behalf of the Vampires against their own party members.
I'll continue to add to this campaign story....
Reserved for Stat Block and Campaign Chapters.
Reserved for Stat Block and Campaign Chapters.