There are few things more classic in a fantasy setting as a vampire or a werewolf. Thankfully, both of these are so ingrained into the culture that they appear in just about everything, and Dungeons and Dragons is no exception. Especially in dark or evil-aligned campaigns, it can be difficult to ignore the siren call of either of these creatures.
However, Dungeons and Dragons generally have some questionable decisions as far as these go in their base settings. This has many players going out of their way to look at different ways to consider building one for their own character.
10 Vampire: Look To Pathfinder
Pathfinder had a field day making multiple different kinds of vampires to include in their Blood of the Night book. From more classic, massively powerful and ugly Nosferatu vampires, to something more elegant and modern, the game is a gold mine for different concepts to consider.
It also has a type of psychic vampire based on more eastern concepts, as well as a kind of vampire created from the souls of children that had been corrupted prior to death by some intense actions. The latter is exceptionally dangerous, as they can jump between bodies in a massive, horrifying game of Guess Who.
9 Werewolf: Check Out Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls franchise loves giving players the option to infect themselves, intentionally or otherwise, with various diseases. Skyrim even gives an entire skill tree for their werewolves, allowing for some interesting combinations of skills.
A good number of players will start every file with either the intent to make themselves either a vampire or a werewolf, so considering how they go about them is definitely worth it. However, their vampires are rather lackluster and basic, so focus attentions more on their werewolves instead.
8 Vampire: Chibi Vampire Has An Interesting Take
In Chibi Vampire, the vampires have a preference in blood types, but not the letters. In that universe, emotions of the victims play an important role in the taste. When a vampire drinks the blood, they effectively remove (or add) a particular emotion from them.
Instead of the simple consume blood to survive, adding the extra layer of preference in such a way is interesting and can lead to some heavy lore behind the motivations of the character.
7 Werewolf: Underworld Makes Them Less Of A Disease
While yes, for the most part, a werewolf has to be bitten and transformed in order to become one, they are treated less as a disease and more of a species within themselves within the Underworld universe. Each way is sickening and difficult to adjust to, but it is never perceived as less than a transformation.
They are considered more along the lines of superhuman instead of a filthy diseased monster, and thus gain abilities while also retaining their previous memories and personalities. Granted, lycans in the series were viewed poorly, but that was mostly due to the point of view resting in that of a vampire’s.
6 Vampire: Go Classic
There is nothing wrong with going to classic horror flicks to pick up a vampire. Go disgusting and build a dangerous vampire based on the iconic Nosferatu, or allow the inner Dracula to emerge and frolic about to lure innocent people to a fate worse than death.
Make a whole character’s entire point trying to lure in unsuspecting victims to sustain themselves while also surrounding themselves with people they find attractive. No shame.
5 Werewolf: Consider Other Animals
Sure, werewolves are the most iconic, but the Monster Manual specifically has an entire section for different kinds of lycanthropes. Though the word itself is slightly misleading, there’s already a precedence to use any carnivorous animal as a werewolf substitute already built into the game.
Some of them aren’t even strictly evil aligned or caused by disease either. It’s already there, ready and waiting, though there might be the requirement of homebrewing some stats if the animal isn’t already listed.
4 Vampire: There’s More Than Blood To Steal
Not really into the bloody aesthetic but still want to do something with a vampire? Have one who sustains themselves off of something else. Many alternative faith traditions consider energy vampires a very real thing, something that feeds off of or steals the energy of another creature.
Create a character who sustains themselves off of different forms of energy. Anything goes. Psychic, magical, elemental. It’s all good options, and can be one intense thought experiment for everyone involved.
3 Werewolf: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Had Something Going
Werewolves are shapeshifters. Take a page from Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and have the transformations involve two completely different personalities, interests, and states of mind. Make it even more complicated by having the humanoid form fight with the inner turmoil on whether or not they really want what the wolf form does.
Essentially two very different characters can be packed into one character. Or even and over the reigns to the Dungeon Master for the transformations to learn later what could possibly have happened while blacked out. The possibilities are endless.
2 Vampire: Look Into Vampire – The Masquerade
Vampire: The Masquerade was initially a tabletop RPG focusing on the night-to-night events for vampires in a more modern setting. The game itself even inspired some of the events in Underworld, making it a good fall back to find ideas for a character.
An interesting detail within the game that can easily be transferred over is that should the character gain enough faith and rise high enough in divine favor, they gain the ability to walk in the sunlight. Take that into consideration if the thought of a clerical vampire sounds more appealing and less insane.
1 Werewolf: Mythology Had It Covered
In traditional folklore, depending on where the stories were, a werewolf was either able to shift into the form of a wolf itself or a half-wolf half-human hybrid during a full moon. Take a little bit from mythology, mix it up with a druid’s Wild Shape spell, and embark on a new quest where the full moon becomes ever more relevant.
In some mythologies, werewolves retain their memories and personalities, as well as having the ability to shift as they please. That leans pretty heavily into druid territory, but it could still work for a race.
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