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Astarion is one of the most loved vampires in Dungeons & Dragons, especially after capturing the hearts of players in Baldur’s Gate 3. Naturally, he introduces more diverse options for vampire-related gameplay in one of the biggest role-playing games. This includes plenty of new choices for players and NPCs to explore different aspects of vampire lore.
You can go on adventures featuring Astarion himself, with the “Astarion’s Book of Hungers” offering a wealth of content for your D&D campaigns. Whether you want to include Astarion or just add vampire elements into your game, there are multiple ways to do so, both for player characters and NPCs.
Vampire Character Backgrounds
Sometimes, players want to start their story as a vampire, requiring a fitting backstory. These backgrounds help weave a narrative about what happened to your character before or during the campaign. Instead of being bitten during play, these options allow for quick integration of vampire themes into a character’s history.
Some backgrounds even allow dealing with vampires without turning into one. They are compatible with the 2024 Player’s Handbook, providing all the necessary details to get your vampire story started.
| Background | Description |
|---|---|
| Carouser | Although not exclusively about vampires, this background sets you in a city where you’ve encountered vampires. It emphasizes social interaction, giving skill proficiencies in Deception and Persuasion. |
| Vampire Devotee | You’ve supplied blood to vampires out of charm or willingness. Something happened that turned you from a blood bag into a survivor. It grants proficiency in Persuasion and Stealth. |
| Vampire Survivor | You survived a vampire attack but weren’t turned. Now, you’re vigilant against such creatures, possessing the Vampire Hunter feat. Proficiencies include Insight and Religion. |
Dhamphir Traits
The Dhamphir is a vampire-related race introduced in Astarion’s Book of Hungers, inspired by content from Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. It offers options to build a Dhamphir character, with access to unique racial traits.
While most content aligns with previous sources, the book provides new features such as:
- Drain: Heal hit points equal to the piercing damage dealt.
- Trace of Undeath: Resistance to necrotic damage.
- Strengthen: Gain a bonus to attack rolls or ability checks for one minute, based on piercing damage inflicted.
These traits can be chosen during character creation to deepen your vampire-themed character.
Feats
Astarion’s Book of Hungers introduces vampire-themed feats, with options suitable for character development, whether you’re embracing vampiric powers or fighting against them. There are 16 feats in total, including three epic boons for high-level characters.
These feats, chosen at character creation based on your background, help further customize your vampire or vampire hunter. Some notable options include:
- Vampiric Bite & Spider Climb: Existing abilities from other sources.
- Drain: Heal for damage dealt.
- Trace of Undeath: Resistance to necrotic damage.
- Strengthen: Boost attack or check rolls temporarily.
- Love Bites: Charm a creature after melee damage.
- Putrefy: Poison a creature with necrotic damage.
- Rebuke: Cause prone condition with radiant damage.
- Vampire Touched: Always prepared to cast Spider Climb and another spell.
- Treacherous Allure: Always have Charm Person prepared, with advantage against charmed creatures.
Epic Boon Feats
For high-level characters, there are epic boons that can make you the ultimate vampire or vampire hunter, granted at level 19. These special boons include:
- Boon of Blazing Dawn: Immunity to radiant damage, with radiant weapon damage and light emission.
- Boon of Looming Shadows: Bonus dodge action and increased weapon reach.
- Boon of Misty Step: Survive fatal hits by dropping to one hit point and casting Gaseous Form on yourself.
These powerful options let characters fully embrace or combat their vampiric nature.
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