Vampire decapitation...

[prospero63]

Hola. Looking for a rule clarification, hopefully with a reference to a FAQ/errata. In the SRD it says the following:

Slaying a Vampire: Reducing a vampire’s hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn’t always destroy it (see the note on fast healing). However, certain attacks can slay vampires. Exposing any vampire to direct sunlight disorients it: It can take only a single move action or attack action and is destroyed utterly in the next round if it cannot escape. Similarly, immersing a vampire in running water robs it of one-third of its hit points each round until it is destroyed at the end of the third round of immersion. Driving a wooden stake through a vampire’s heart instantly slays the monster. However, it returns to life if the stake is removed, unless the body is destroyed. A popular tactic is to cut off the creature’s head and fill its mouth with holy wafers (or their equivalent).

Now, does the part in bold mean that if you cut off their heads (for example with a vorpal weapon) they don't immediately go gaseous, allowing you to fill the mouth with holy wafers for example? I think it does, but am not sure... and it will probably be really relevant in the near future.

TIA.

 

[dcollins]

I read that as being a part of the "driving a wooden stake" process. That is: you stake a vampire, it is now inactive. Destroying the body thereafter is satisfied by cutting off the head and filling it with holy wafers.

 

[LightPhoenix]

[old joke]

Just remember that he can still cast spells after his head is chopped off.

[/old joke]

 

[Alzrius]

Now, does the part in bold mean that if you cut off their heads (for example with a vorpal weapon) they don't immediately go gaseous, allowing you to fill the mouth with holy wafers for example? I think it does, but am not sure... and it will probably be really relevant in the near future.

From the SRD's section on Magic weapons, specifically the entry for Vorpal weapons:

Others, such as golems and undead creatures other than vampires, are not affected by the loss of their heads.

The implication is that vampires are "affected" by the loss of their heads. I'm interpreting this to mean that the vampire dies...but I suppose one could say that "affected" means they instantly go gaseous.

 

[shilsen]

I read that as being a part of the "driving a wooden stake" process. That is: you stake a vampire, it is now inactive. Destroying the body thereafter is satisfied by cutting off the head and filling it with holy wafers.

That's how I see it too.

 

[Quasimodo]

Disposing of vampires 101:stake the heart, fill the mouth with holy wafers, decapitate then burn head and body, seperately. Be sure to scatter the ashes, preferably at sea or into a river - just in case.

Filling the mouth with holy wafers and cutting off the head should not be enough, what if someone puts the head back and takes out the wafers


Seriously, place the wafers in the mouth first, then cut off the head. Criteria for destroying vamp fullilled the instant head comes off... how can any of the vamps powers, ie gaseous form, activate now?.... it's destroyed before power can activate to save it.

 

[Piratecat]

Clearly, the best way to kill the vampire is to masquerade as its dentist. Then when you have it leaning back in the chair with its mouth open, you tell it you're putting in gauze - but in go those holy wafers, out comes the much-sharper-than-necessary dental tools, and snikkedy-snak! Off comes the head.

Hey, that disguise skill has to be useful for something.

 

[Quasimodo]

Clearly, the best way to kill the vampire is to masquerade as its dentist.

All those late night junkie, I mean junk food, snacks take their toll
Vamps with dentures?

 

[prospero63]

I read that as being a part of the "driving a wooden stake" process. That is: you stake a vampire, it is now inactive. Destroying the body thereafter is satisfied by cutting off the head and filling it with holy wafers.

I hear you, but contextually that doesn't seem correct. The stake part finishes with destroying the body. The next sentence talks about cutting off the head and filling the mouth with holy wafers. That doesn't destroy the body. Contextually that last sentence seems to me to fit into the heading of how to slay a vampire:

1) Sunlight for two rounds
2) Immersing it in running water for 3 rounds
3) Drive a wooden stake through its heart
4) Beheading and filling the mouth with holy wafers

Of note is the use of the word "destroyed" in the context of both sunlight and water, but not with beheading.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I'm going to make sure that my BBG Vampire Mage has Teleport memorized. That one move or attack action is all he needs to teleport to safety.

Mua-Ha-Ha-Ha!!!!

In 2E I'd have it cast Trollish Fortitude before an encounter. Go ahead, stake stuff and behead... the Vampire could just get up and reattach his head provided that his Trollish Fortitude spell was still running and one of his minions could remove the stake.

That was an awesome spell... <<sighs>>