Logistics of staking a vampire?

[brcarl]

I've done a few searches (here and elsewhere), so I apologize if this has already been clarified somewhere and I missed it:

What are the d20 3.5e logistics for staking a vampire through the heart with a wooden stake? The (obvious?) assumption here is that the vampire is awake.

At first I was thinking critical hit (threat) only, but that seems a bit too severe (assuming that the threat range on an improvised weapon like a wooden stake is just 20).

The other end of the spectrum is something like -8 to hit: -4 for a "called shot" and -4 for an improvised weapon. But that seems too easy, especially for a higher level PC.

I would prefer an "official" answer but can't seem to find one. As such I'm happy to take suggestions, especially if they've been play-tested!

advaTHANKSnce!

 

[Vorput]

I've pondered this in my head before too... and arrived at the need to roll a 20- and confirm, probably with the -8 to hit.

Extreme? Yes... but this is essentially a one hit kill. Moreoever, any vampire seeing you coming at him with a wooden stake is going to do EVERYTHING in his power to protect his chest from that stake hitting... thus why I see the critical as being needed.

If you don't do something like this, it's too easy for the fighter to throw stakes as almost a passing thought and take out vampires like it's nothing. I may also require a minimum of 5 points of damage dealt to symbolize the stake being driven deep enough to hit the heart.

Thankfully, such a situation hasn't come up... and my party has yet to use stakes against vampires while they're awake.

I'll be curious on other people's responses to this though...

Vorp

 

[smootrk]

I think you would be better off making the stake some sort of exotic weapon that vampire hunters use. Then they could attack with it for minimal or no damage with a normal hit, but a confirmed crit would indeed 'stake' the vamp. I would give the crit range a boost like [19-20/x2 or special (for vamps)]. Making it an official weapon, sets precedent for Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, etc. all to make an effective vampire hunter.

All these functions are probably of limited use to most characters, as most characters would not devote so many feats to such a pursuit, but if a Vampire Hunting PRC is formulated, these could be bonus feats for the class quite easily. I would probably give Rangers a choice for these feats as a combat style master chain, if their chosen enemy was undead; similar thinking process for a specialized Paladin character concept... but all these ideas are extrapolations and houserules to fit your idea.

 

[Vorput]

I think you would be better off making the stake some sort of exotic weapon that vampire hunters use. Then they could attack with it for minimal or no damage with a normal hit, but a confirmed crit would indeed 'stake' the vamp. I would give the crit range a boost like [19-20/x2 or special (for vamps)]. Making it an official weapon, sets precedent for Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, etc. all to make an effective vampire hunter.

All these functions are probably of limited use to most characters, as most characters would not devote so many feats to such a pursuit, but if a Vampire Hunting PRC is formulated, these could be bonus feats for the class quite easily. I would probably give Rangers a choice for these feats as a combat style master chain, if their chosen enemy was undead; similar thinking process for a specialized Paladin character concept... but all these ideas are extrapolations and houserules to fit your idea.

Ooo... ::takes notes::

 

[Brother MacLaren]

Make it similar to a coup de grace, a full-round action for which the vampire must be pinned or helpless (normally a pinned character isn't helpless, but here I'd allow it). Since it requires a great deal of force to push a large stake through a humanoid's ribcage and then through its heart, staking would requires two hands, one to hold the stake and one to pound it with a hammer.

Make it difficult, visual, gruesome, and memorable.

 

[Wolfwood2]

I've done a few searches (here and elsewhere), so I apologize if this has already been clarified somewhere and I missed it:

What are the d20 3.5e logistics for staking a vampire through the heart with a wooden stake? The (obvious?) assumption here is that the vampire is awake.

Not obvious to me.

The traditional idea is that you find a vampire in its coffin during the day and stake it while asleep. I wouldn't think of staking as something you'd do in combat.

In combat, you beat a vampire down until it has to retreat to its coffin and stake it there.

I mean, it's like what are the logistics for sticking a sword through soemone's heart in regular D&D combat? It's assumed you're trying to do that everytime you make an attack roll, and you succeed when you get them down to -10 HP.

 

[Sejs]

Make it similar to a coup de grace, a full-round action for which the vampire must be pinned or helpless (normally a pinned character isn't helpless, but here I'd allow it). Since it requires a great deal of force to push a large stake through a humanoid's ribcage and then through its heart, staking would requires two hands, one to hold the stake and one to pound it with a hammer.

Make it difficult, visual, gruesome, and memorable.

Yup, that's what I'd do too.

Vampire coup de grace.

 

[smootrk]

I guess it would depend on your views for the fight... traditional Dracula in the coffin staking, or the Buffy/Tarantino style vampire fight.

Me personally, I like the action-packed style of fights vs. vampires over the b&w movie style, but that is all just personal opinion.

 

[Demoquin]

My DM treated a sleeping vampire as a coup de grace. I think he gave her a listen check but it would do no good as it was around noon time in an attick with a window open if i failed my attempt

Now i am no longer afraid of vampires as i staked the one that i slept with a week prior

 

[frankthedm]

I guess it would depend on your views for the fight... traditional Dracula in the coffin staking, or the Buffy/Tarantino style vampire fight.

Me personally, I like the action-packed style of fights vs. vampires over the b&w movie style, but that is all just personal opinion.

Whatever 'combat manuever' puts the stake into a vampire's heart can be used the put a stake into anybody's heart. The pseudo-CDG works closes to the normal combat rules.

As i happens, I allow a type of 'called shot".

Choose how you want to cripple or kill the target and take a -4 to hit. If the damage of the attack reduces the victim to 0 or fewer HP, you achieve the desired effect.