Killing Vampires

[ScorpiusRisk]

I'm rereading a bit of the MM trying to make my houserules on Vampire's seem coherent and I think I'm missing something. Do Vampires not have special conditions on death anymore?

If a Vampire dies does it return to its coffin in RAW or is it dead? I can't seem to find anything that says its still alive but I would have sworn I did see as such.

 

[concerro]

I'm rereading a bit of the MM trying to make my houserules on Vampire's seem coherent and I think I'm missing something. Do Vampires not have special conditions on death anymore?

If a Vampire dies does it return to its coffin in RAW or is it dead? I can't seem to find anything that says its still alive but I would have sworn I did see as such.

Correct. All you have to do is take away their HP.

 

[RangerWickett]

They're more like Dusk 'til Dawn vampires than Count Dracula.

 

[abyssaldeath]

You could always just give your vampires Mist Form as an interrupt or a free action when reduced to 0.

Mist Form (Immediate Interrupt; encounter) Polymorph
When the vampire would be reduced to 0 it becomes insubstantial and gains a fly speed of 12, but cannot make attacks. The vampire lord can remain in mist form for up to 1 hour or end the effect as a minor action.

This way there would still be a chance to out right destroy the Vampire and a chance for the Vampire to survive.

If you really want the Vampire to return to the coffin you could do this.

Indestructible
When a vampire is reduced to 0 hit points, its body and possessions crumble into dust, but it is not destroyed. It reappears (along with its possessions) in 1 days within its coffin, unless the coffin is also found and destroyed.

 

[ScorpiusRisk]

Oh I'm editing the Vampire rules heavily, I just wanted to make sure I understood the RAW correctly.