Vampires in legend are blood-feeding undead who prey upon humans for survival. They are either bestial monsters, or conniving masterminds, but they always hunger for fresh blood, and will stop at nothing to get it.
In reality, they're cursed humans who hunger for the blood of their own kind. The desire for blood often drives them to villainy; it's a rare vampire that can take their mind off of their ever-burning hunger and turn it to more constructive pursuits. If they exist, though, they're likely to reside somewhere far away from wider society.
Vampires need the blood of sapient beings to survive, but can get by on other red beverages for short amounts of time. They are also very weak to silver. Other than that, many of the various legends of vampires dictate many abilities and weaknesses that only manifest in certain bloodlines, or under certain conditions. Every vampire has a Maker, and they are the one who defines an individual's limits and invests in them power.
Playing a Vampire:Click here to browse through Advantages. When you have found one you like, come back to this page and click "Add Ability" above.
You can choose as many as you like, provided you can afford them. If the advantage you choose has a variable point cost or features to select, please specify by clicking "Update" on the top right corner of the card.
A score of 10 in any attribute is free, and represents the human average. Higher scores cost points: 10 points to raise ST or HT by one level, 20 points to raise DX or IQ by one level. Similarly, scores lower than 10 have a negative cost: -10 points per level for ST or HT, -20 points per level for DX or IQ. (Remember – negative point values mean you get those points back to spend on something else!
Most characters have attributes in the 1-20 range, and most normal humans have scores in the 8-12 range. Scores above 20 are possible but typically reserved for godlike beings – ask the GM before buying such a value. The exception is ST, which can range significantly beyond 20 even for nor-mal humans. At the other end of the scale, a score of 0 is defined in special cases, but 1 is the minimum score for a human. No one may have a negative score.
For those new to GURPS, a "level" in something typically means to increase it by 1. For instance, for 20 points, you can buy 2 levels of Strength, which gives you a Strength score of 12.
Please use a "note" to tell us how many points you would like to spend on each of the four basic attributes. Even if you're leaving them all at 10, please leave a note so that we know you didn't miss a step.
“Secondary characteristics” are quantities that depend directly on your attributes. You can raise or lower these scores by adjusting your attributes. You can modify some of them directly: start with the value calculated from your attributes and spend the required points to adjust it away from that base level. This does not affect the related attribute scores. Your character sheet will handle this for you, but if you want to learn how they are calculated, it's detailed below.
Fatigue Points represent your body’s “energy supply.” By default, you have FP equal to your HT. For instance, HT 10 gives 10 FP. You can increase FP at the cost of 3 points per FP, or reduce FP for -3 points per FP, up to three times, excluding FP you gain from templates. Also, while HT is usually limited to 20, there is no such limit on FP.
You burn FP gradually during strenuous activity. Disease, heat, hunger, missed sleep, and the like can also sap FP. You can deliberately “spend” FP to fuel extra effort (seep. 356) and supernatural powers (e.g., magic spells). As well, some attacks cause FP damage instead of or in addition to HP damage. If you lose enough FP, you will slow down or fall unconscious – and if you lose too many, you risk death from overexertion! Lost FP do not reduce HT, despite being based on HT. Fatigue is often compared to some multiple of your FP; e.g., “2xFP” or “FP/2.” Where this is the case, use your basic FP score in the formula, not your current FP total.
The following mechanic is a houserule; it's different from what you would find in the sourcebooks.
Many mental disadvantages do not affect you constantly – you may attempt to control your urges. The “default” self-control number is 12: you must roll 12 or less on 3d to avoid giving in to your problem. You can increase or decrease it for 4 or -4 points, respectively. Note that high Will helps you make Fright Checks and resist supernatural emotion control, but it does not improve self-control rolls – not even for disadvantages with effects identical to these things. Mental disadvantages represent an aspect of your personality that you cannot simply will(or reason) away. This is part of what makes them disadvantages!
In circumstances that are likely to trigger your problems, you may opt to roll 3d against your self-control number to see whether your disadvantage actually affects you. If you roll less than or equal to this number, you resist your disadvantage – this time. Otherwise, you suffer the listed effects. This is called a self-control roll. Like all success rolls, self-control rolls are subject to modifiers. You may also roll for self-control any time you feel it makes sense for your situation, and rolling is never required; you can opt to give in if you feel it's what your character would do. The purpose of the roll is to help you when you aren't sure how you want to play it.
Please use a "note" to tell us how many points you would like to spend on some or all of these items. Even if you're leaving them all at 10, please leave a note so that we know you didn't miss a step.
You are assumed to be able to read and write in the common language. In order to know any more languages, spend points as follows:
Broken: You can recognize important words and understand simple sentences if they are spoken slowly. You have -3 when using skills that depend on language, such as Fast-Talk, Public Speaking, Research, Speed-Reading, Teaching, and Writing. This doubles to -6 for artistic skills that rely on the beauty of the language (Poetry, Singing, etc.). In stressful situations – e.g., encounters involving combat or reaction rolls – you must roll against IQ to understand or make yourself understood in the language. On a failure, you convey no information, but you may try again. Critical failure means you convey the wrong information! For hurried speech, bad phone connections, etc., this roll is at -2 to -8! 2 points/language.
Accented: You can communicate clearly, even under stress. However, your speech and writing are idiosyncratic, and it is obvious that this is not your native language. You have -1when using skills that depend on language, doubled to -2 for artistic skills. You receive no reaction penalty from native speakers, but you will be unable to pass for a native (this can be a major problem for would-be spies!). 4points/language.
Native: You have full mastery of the language, including idioms. You can think in the language. You have no penalty to use skills that depend on language. You start with one language at this level for free. If you buy Native comprehension in a foreign tongue, you can pass for a native speaker. 6points/language.
You have a Wealth stat. It starts at 6. This number represents your ability to buy "cool" things, but other than that, you can have any items that make sense. For more information, see Wealth.
Most characters will leave these values alone, but if you'd like to spend any points here, please use a "note" to indicate how many.
Click here to browse Disadvantages. When you have found one you like, come back to this page and click "Add Ability" above.
Your character can start with up to -50 of negative points, including Disadvantages and any negative adjustments you want to make to your stats. If a Disadvantage you choose has a variable point cost or features to select, please specify by clicking "Update" on the top right corner of the card.
A “quirk” is a minor feature that sets you aside from others. It has a negative point value, but it is not necessarily a disadvantage. Sometimes, we don't have a feel for a character's personality until we do a scene or two with them. As such, feel free to leave up to 3 of your quirks blank, but be sure to fill them in very soon once you get started.
You may take up to five quirks at -1 point apiece . . . and if you do, you will have five more points to spend. These do not count against your disadvantage limit! Quirks are just personality traits; the player is promising to add a bit of personality to the character, and in exchange, the character gets a few points.
Use the "update" button to list what your (up to) 5 quirks are. View the full text for more information. Quirk
Every time a backstory connection is made between you and someone else, you gain a character point. You can initiate two connections, but there is no limit to how many people can initiate connections with you.
Use the "Note" of this ability to specify who initiated Backstory connections with you.
Every time a backstory connection is made between you and someone else, you gain a character point. You can initiate two connections, but there is no limit to how many people can initiate connections with you.
Use the "Note" of this ability to specify who you initiated Backstory connections with. If someone you've connected with leaves the game, you can make a new one with someone else, in which case, you gain another point.
For each skill chosen, please use the "Update" button to indicate how many points you would like to spend. This will be 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, etc. points.
You can detect a blood, even when it is shielded from the five human senses. This requires one second of concentration, after which the GM will secretly make a Sense roll for you (see Sense Rolls, p. 358). The range modifiers from the Size and Speed/Range Table (p. 550) apply. You may buy a special Acute Sense (p. 35) to improve the roll, thereby increasing your effective range.
On a success, the GM tells you the direction to the nearest significant source of blood, and give you a clue as to the quantity present. On a failure, you sense nothing. Detect also includes the ability to analyze what you detect. This requires an IQ roll; the better the roll, the more precise the details. For instance, you could tell human blood from animal blood on a successful IQ roll, and might learn details – such as whether the blood is in a living being or in a container, and the health of the source – on a critical success.
If someone is bleeding nearby, the GM might also roll for this sense to trigger passively.
You have disturbing features that mark you as a vampire. You can pass for a normal mortal to casual observers, but closer inspection reveals that you are not quite right. This might give away your secret to the trained eye.
No Body Heat: You are cool to the touch. -1 on reaction rolls made by those who touch you, shake your hand, kiss you, etc.; +1 on all rolls to deduce your secret. You can gain warmth temporarily, and nullify this drawback, by feeding.
No Reflection in silver mirrors: You do not show up in silver mirrors. Some people will assume that you have no soul! -2 on reaction rolls made by those who notice; +2 on all rolls to deduce your secret.
Pallor: You look like a corpse, with bloodless skin, sunken eyes, etc. -2 on reaction rolls made by anyone who can see you without makeup in good light; +2 on all rolls to deduce your secret. You can gain the flush of life temporarily, and nullify this drawback, by feeding.
Vulnerability. You take extra damage from silver. Whenever an attack made with a silver weapon hits you, the GM applies a special wounding multiplier of x2 to the damage that penetrates your DR. Regular wounding multipliers (for cutting, impaling, etc.) further multiply the damage.
Revulsion. When you make contact with silver, you must immediately make a HT roll. On a failure, you are at -5 to all skills and attributes for the next 10 minutes. If you ingest it, you are at -5 to attributes and -10 to all skills and Sense rolls for 10 minutes.