Date: Thu, 03 Aug 1995 09:39:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Leonard Balsera <a027280t@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>
Subject: Re: Star Wars Vampires
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I have been out of commission hoere a while due to hurricane paranoia. By 
the way, it wasn't as bad as the news made it sound. Here it is, unattached.


Adol Larynth, Jedi Knight (for Star Wars)
Armand, Eighth Generation, Clan Gangrel (for Vampire)
Landon C. Darkwood (for both....)
a027280t@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us

STAR WARS Vampires

The vampires I have made for Star Wars differ somewhat from any other RPG 
vampires in mechanics, but of course share some traits as well. The only RPG 
systems that carry vamps as far as I know are Vampire (by White Wolf), AD&D, 
GURPS, and Rifts. Well, here are mine. Note that these vampires are based on 
the Human species only, and doesn't bother to deal with alien physiology.


ATTRIBUTES:

A vampire's attributes increase with age. Common to all vampires is superhuman 
Strength and Dexterity. Because of keen senses, a vampire's Perception is 
usually also above human norm. Knowledge and Mechanical aren't increased that 
much in vampires from the outset, but as the vamp ages, these too are increased
 well above mortal standards. Technical isn't affected at all. The table that 
follows shows the attributes for vamps based on age. Note that, because the 
gift is supernatural, a vampire cannot improve Strength like normal characters.
 The vampire can only gain Strength attribute by aging. Also note that where a 
modifier (+1D) is listed, the modifier is added to the base (mortal) attribute.
 Where an absolute is listed (5D), that die code becomes the new attribute.

Vampire Age:
      0-99    100-199    200-299    300-399    400-499    500-999    1000+
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
DEX:  +2D      +2D+2      +3D+1       +4D       +4D+2       +5D       +6D
KNOW: +0D       +1D       +1D+2      +2D+1       +3D       +3D+2      +4D
MECH: +0D       +2        +1D+1       +2D       +2D+2       +3D      +3D+2
PERC:  4D       4D+2       5D+1        6D        6D+2        7D        8D
STR:   5D       5D+2       6D+1        7D        7D+2        8D       8D+2
TECH: +0D       +0D        +0D        +0D        +0D        +0D       +0D
Move:  12        14         16         18         20         22        24

POWERS:

The important thing to remember about vampires is that each one is different. 
What may be deadly to one vampire may be little more than a candle flicker to 
the other. Therefore, while almost all young vampires will exhibit all the 
powers listed below, some may not. Also, as a vampire grows older, it has a 
tendency to develop unusual powers, suited to the individual. Therefore, the 
vampire is not limited to the powers below. Also, vampires seem to possess a 
weak connection to the Dark Side of the Force. This doesn't limit their 
behavior to evil, however, as vampires are no longer living creatures and so do
 not contribute to the Force in any manner. Neither are they able to be turned 
to the Dark Side. In any case, a Jedi will sense one coming a mile away 
(figuratively). Speaking of which, any Force user who becomes a vampire loses 
all Force powers and abilities. 

Immortality: All vampires are immortal. There is no argument to this fact. 
Until destruction, any vampire will always look the same as it did the moment 
it died as a mortal. Destroying a vampire will be discussed later.

Brawling: A vampire in hand to hand combat may use Brawling Parry with no 
penalties to block any attack except from an EDGED melee weapon or energy 
weapon (includes lightsaber). Any blunt melee weapon or other attack can be 
parried by the vampire's bare hands and feet. Also, a vampire using Brawling to
 fight does Str+1D+2 damage, due to their connection to the Dark Side of the 
Force, which causes it to drain a small portion of its opponent's life force 
with every blow. The vampire can consciously control this effect and remove the
 damage bonus if it so desires. Note that this only happens when a vampire is 
brawling, and doesn't affect melee combat.

Charm: Most vampires can charm a mortal by looking into his/her eyes. This has 
a similar effect on the victim as the Force power Affect Mind, but only in 
context with the person's reaction to the vampire. For example, a vampire 
cannot cause people to hallucinate with this ability, or to perceive their 
surroundings differently. However, the vampire could convince someone that it 
is a friend and that the victim should react accordingly. A vampire cannot conv
ince someone to do something obviously suicidal (jumping off a cliff). He could
 convince the victim that a suicidal act (allowing the vamp to drink from you) 
is actually safe, though. As a vampire gets older, they gain the ability to 
charm by voice (at 400 years of age), and eventually by will (1000 years of 
age). Any Willpower or Knowledge roll made to resist a vampire's charms is at a
 +10 difficulty for gaze charm, +15 for voice charm, and +20 for charm at 
will.
A vampire that can charm at will must know the exact location of the victim 
before charming, so it can't, for example, extend its charm behind a door to 
get whatever is there unless the vampire knew for a fact that someone was right
 behind the door. Charm is limited in range to 15 meters.

Climbing: Vampires get a +20 bonus to any Climbing/jumping skill roll when 
trying to climb any surface.

Regeneration and Healing: Vampires can be injured by any weapon. However, they 
can regenerate wound levels quickly. The table is below. Note that vampires do 
not benefit from normal medical healing, like medpacs and bacta, or from Force 
healing, like Transfer Force. In fact, use of Transfer Force on a vampire will 
Mortally Wound it.

Vampire Age      # Rounds        Levels Healed     
-----------      --------        -------------
0-99 yrs.           2                  1
100-199 yrs.        2                  1
200-299 yrs.        2                  2
300-399 yrs.        2                  2
400-499 yrs.        1                  2
500-999 yrs.        1                  3
1000+ yrs.          1                  4

A vampire cannot regenerate damage from fire this way. Wounds from fire heal at
 the same pace as mortals' wounds do, from the chart in the rulebook. A vamp 
must heal fire wounds naturally. The exception to this is a 1000 year old 
vampire. Those vamps can regenerate any wound. You can't kill a vampire with 
normal wounds. Destroying vamps will be discussed later.

Shapechanging: None of my Star Wars vampires can shapechange. The exception to 
this is when a vampire reduced beyond Mortally Wounded level, in which it turns
 into a mist-like form. This gaseous vampire must immediately float to a place 
of shelter. Note that these vamps are not limited to a sanctuary, or coffins. 
Therefore, they could shelter anywhere.

Flight: Most vampires can fly at will. Their flight Move is equal to their 
normal Move. They have a flight ceiling of low orbit, and cannot move into 
space. 

Animal Control: SW vampires cannot control animals. No argument. Older ones may
 develop the ability somehow, but young, "normal" vamps can't.


WEAKNESSES:

Vampires and the Force: As I stated, vampires do not influence the Force. 
However, they do seem to have a small link to the Dark Side. Therefore, any 
Jedi powers that are made to defend against the effects of the Dark Side are 
useful against vampire powers. A Jedi, for example, can use Control skill to 
defend against a vampire's charm gaze. Any Jedi power meant to heal damage 
actually has negative effects on vampires. Accelerate Another's Healing, for 
example, temporarily suspends a vampire's regenerative ability for a period of 
time.  

Mirrors and Holy Symbols: Falsehood. Plain and simple. Vampires can see their 
own reflections. 

Invitations into homes and other sanctified places: Falsehood. Plain and 
simple. A vampire can go anywhere it pleases at any time.


DESTROYING A VAMPIRE:

The only sure way to destroy a vampire is to burn it to a cinder and scatter 
the ashes. If the ashes aren't scattered all over the place, the vampire will 
reform in about a month, albeit VERY disfigured and VERY mad. Decapitation is 
not a pernament solution either. If a vampire's head is put in very close 
proximity to the neck, the vampire will regenerate that damage as well. If the 
head is burnt to a cinder, the vampire will regenerate a new one. Burning the 
stub of the neck, like Hercules and the Hydra, will prevent the head from 
growing back until the vampire heals the burn naturally. Then the head will 
grow back. A stake through the heart induces paralysis, but will not kill. 
Indeed, if the vampire succeeds in a Heroic Willpower roll, it can move a few 
centimeters while staked. It may take a year and several Character Points to 
get the stake out, but the vampire has the time. Besides, if someone else pulls
 the stake out, the vampire is fine. Running water has no effect on a vampire. 


Sunlight: "Contrary to popular belief, the vampire, like any other night 
creature, can move about by day. But it is not his natural time, and his powers
 are weak." -Bram Stoker's Dracula

Need I say more? In game terms, a vampire in the daytime cannot use any of its 
powers except charm, without modifiers to resistance. Furthermore, a vampire 
does normal Str damage when brawling in the day. Direct exposure by sunlight, 
while distasteful, does NOT harm SW vampires.


FEEDING HABITS AND EFFECTS: 

A young vampire must feed enough each evening to reduce at least one victim (of
 the same race) to Mortally Wounded level. Of course, draining one person for 
one level and another for two will accomplish the same, or any combination of 
three wound levels thereof. Fangs only do Str damage, but the vampire causes 4D
 damage each round of draining. Note that a vampire can drain more slowly if it
 wishes, doing less damage. Conversely, it can drain faster, up to 7D damage a 
round. Older vampires do not need as much blood, but crave much more. So, while
 a 300-year-old vamp can survive on less blood than a 100-year-old, the 
300-year-old vamp has a bigger "appetite."

If a vampire doesn't feed sufficiently one day (night), it is reduced in power 
to the age level below it. So, if the 300-year-old vamp from above were to not 
feed one day, all of its attributes, Move, and other powers would go to the 
"200-299" category until it feeds enough again. A vampire regains an age 
category per night of sufficient feeding. Below the 0-99 category, a vampire 
loses all attribute bonuses and its move goes down to 10 after one day of 
starvation. After that, the vampire dies. This one of the only ways to truly 
kill a vampire.

There are some vampires who actually drain Force Points from people. These same
 vampires can cause a temporary drop in someone's Force skills. I will not 
cover these vampires in this work, and any such explorations are the province 
of the GM and/or whoever first makes them up.


SLEEP: 

Most vamps sleep during the day, but can sleep at any time. Some vampires who 
have befriended mortals sleep at night and accept their weakness by day just to
 travel with their human companions. These are the same vamps who keep chilled 
blood in the freezer.


MAKING NEW VAMPIRES: 

The only way to make a new vampire is to drain someone past Mortally Wounded 
level and then give them vampire blood. The victim rises after a day with all 
the powers and abilities of a vampire in the "0-99" category.

There are rumors of some vampires who can pass on the potency of age in their 
blood. The tales say that vampires created by one of these creatures rises with
 the same age advantages as the one who made them. The thought of a vampire 
that has only been undead one day being as powerful as a vampire that has been 
around for millennia is too horrid to dwell upon.


MISCELLANEOUS:

Force Points and Vampires: Vampires start with a set number of Force Points 
each day. These Force Points can be spent just like normal ones, but are only 
regained after a full eight hours' sleep. Vampires can gain Dark Side Points, 
but can't be turned to the Dark Side. However, imagine a Jedi's reaction to a 
1000-year-old vamp with 40 or so DSPs. Note that vamps gain and spend Character
 Points exactly like mortals do.

Vampire Age     # of FPs
-----------     --------   
0-99 yrs.           2
100-199 yrs.        3
200-299 yrs.        4
300-399 yrs.        5
400-499 yrs.        6
500-999 yrs.        7
1000+ yrs.          8

PCs and Vampires: I don't recommend making a player character a vampire, unless
 you are in an advanced campaign or are geared to this sort of thing. These 
vamps could kick most PCs' butts from here to the Outer Rim and back a few 
times. But, like I said, if your campaign is geared to this (epic Jedi Master 
campaign), go ahead. They are fun to play.


AUTHOR'S FINAL WORDS:

Enjoy this. Feel free to dump any of these rules you don't like. I would like 
to hear comments on whether or not I forgot something. And, if you use any of 
this material in a campaign, please tell me about it. Again, enjoy.