What type of vampire do you like most? Do you want them to be mindless killing machines, monsters that can think but can’t exactly pass as human, or something perfectly capable of blending in with humanity? Or should there be stages? Would they become mindless killing machines after they’ve drank too much blood? Or when they haven’t had enough?
For example, in Priest they’re completely mindless, mostly just animals. Yet in 30 Days of Night they’re human-shaped but don’t hide or blend in with humans (or even speak human languages). And… I couldn’t think of a good example of an aristocratic vampire so I went with Interview with the Vampire. I know there are lots of other aristocratic vampires but couldn’t think of a good example of one that can blend in perfectly well with humans.
Sometimes vampires can change their type, too. Like in Daybreakers, where vampires are mostly human but going too long without blood essentially turns them feral and they lose all sense of humanity. In that movie, feeding on yourself even accelerates the decline. But then there are other stories (can’t remember a good example right now) where the longer you live as a vampire the more you slowly lose pieces of yourself and your humanity. And then there are still other stories where a vampire can mostly pass for human except when they get caught up in a bloodlust and temporarily lose all control.
So which form of vampire do you think is best? I don’t really have an answer to this, I just like thinking about all the various forms and stages of vampires there can be. And all are valid. There’s no wrong way to do vampires… except maybe Twilight. (Ha, I just wanted to make a joke there.)
Here’s my head canon.
A vampire’s strength and intelligence is dependent on three factors. The power of the sire, and the amount of blood consumed when they turn give them their start, and existing a long time increases their power.
If you have a newly turned vampire bite someone and then share blood, you’ll have two weak vampires, each little better than a zombie.
If a weak, newly turned vampire turns someone, but the new vampire has a dozen people to feast on, the second vampire will be stronger than the sire, but still not be very powerful. They will retain their original intelligence and be able to make long term plans. No shape changing or strong hypnotic powers.
If an old master turns a human the new vampire will be intelligent. If the only blood they get is the master’s, they won’t be very strong. They will be able to follow complex orders and make plans, but will always be a thrall to the master.
If an old master turns a human and provides them with a big meal they will be almost as strong as the master. Smart, independent, and able to shapechange and control humans.
So, a weak vampire could sire someone and the new vampire would be stronger than the master if they had a few dozen people to dine on.
That’s quite thorough. Have you seen these rules used (or at least, not actively broken) in any vampire media? Or does this only exist in your head? I could see Vampire: The Masquerade reaching this level of detail but I don’t know its rules.
Thanks. I was just playing around with the idea. Honestly, I could have gone way further down the rabbit hole.