Good idea? Bad idea?
Your thoughts.
Your thoughts.
Space Vampires.
- Thread starter Blue Ghost
- Start date
I personally shudder at the thought, though I of course don't speak for anyone else.
The first thing that popped into my mind was the image of the 'space vampire' from the tv series "Buck Rogers". :nonono:
That aside, I could see some sort of psionic 'vampire' as an option, a being which drains a victim's PSI score (whether a trained psion or not, though perhaps an untrained victim would be easier to acquire power from).
An old idea...
Perhaps instead of drinking the blood as a food source, the blood is necessary for the vampires' reproductive cycle.
When a vampire bites and 'drinks' the blood, it also injects stuff that subtly changes the victim's hormones/metabolism. This might give the victim enhanced senses of stregth, etc. but also causes the victim's body to emit extremely powerful pheromones that attract vampires of the opposite sex that bit him.
when the opposite mate of the first vampire bites and drinks the blood of the victim, the changed hormones affect the second vampire mate allowing ovulation or whatever.
In essence, vampires use others as a vector for passing on reproductive signals to its mate's body to signal ovulation or other reproductive functions.
How about the vampires use its victims as a vector for passing on genetic information to another vampire for mating.
And how about if the suitability of the victim is important in that this vampire mating 'steals' some of the victim's genetic information, therefore the more fit you are, the more likely you are to become a victim. And the more fit the offspring of the vampiric mating.
oh...the victim usually dies during this whole mating process, either by having his blood drained be the recipient vampire, or by the hormonal changes burning the victim's body out unless a cure is found.
Perhaps instead of drinking the blood as a food source, the blood is necessary for the vampires' reproductive cycle.
When a vampire bites and 'drinks' the blood, it also injects stuff that subtly changes the victim's hormones/metabolism. This might give the victim enhanced senses of stregth, etc. but also causes the victim's body to emit extremely powerful pheromones that attract vampires of the opposite sex that bit him.
when the opposite mate of the first vampire bites and drinks the blood of the victim, the changed hormones affect the second vampire mate allowing ovulation or whatever.
In essence, vampires use others as a vector for passing on reproductive signals to its mate's body to signal ovulation or other reproductive functions.
How about the vampires use its victims as a vector for passing on genetic information to another vampire for mating.
And how about if the suitability of the victim is important in that this vampire mating 'steals' some of the victim's genetic information, therefore the more fit you are, the more likely you are to become a victim. And the more fit the offspring of the vampiric mating.
oh...the victim usually dies during this whole mating process, either by having his blood drained be the recipient vampire, or by the hormonal changes burning the victim's body out unless a cure is found.
Lycanorukke
SOC-13
What sort of 'vampires' though?
1) The cape and bad accent type?
2) The sparkly emo kid?
3) A virus which turns you into 2?
4) The cloud which eats Red Shirts from Trek?
5) A blob of goo which attaches and drinks?
6) A plant with spikes causing bleeding and nourishing the plants roots?
7) ET version of vampire bats?
1) The cape and bad accent type?
2) The sparkly emo kid?
3) A virus which turns you into 2?
4) The cloud which eats Red Shirts from Trek?
5) A blob of goo which attaches and drinks?
6) A plant with spikes causing bleeding and nourishing the plants roots?
7) ET version of vampire bats?
Interesting. I don't know what made me post this idea. It just sort of popped in there. It might have been related to Aramis' comments on the "Is Alien Scary" thread, and his other comments about "Life Force". I haven't seen that movie in ages.
Aliens that suck your life energy? I think that's an adventure waiting to happen.
Aliens that suck your life energy? I think that's an adventure waiting to happen.
ISTR, in the Buck Rogers tv show, the vampire in question used, of all things, the claws on his hand to 'puncture' the female colonel's (Deering?) neck. No blood was drawn, etc. This image triggered the thought...
So do I, though having a mechanic for the concept isn't bad - someone might want it.
The psionic vampire works for me, though I would add that it can also go after any sapient, organic being and would go after its INT score (if you're using the CT animals it would adjust the fight/flight mods in a fashion determined by the GM).
leo knight
SOC-12
First thought was "Lifeforce", especially the hot vampire babe who walks around nekkid. Our local movie critic wrote, "If you're going to have your life essence sucked from your body, this is the vampire you want to do it." Amen.
Second thought was an old B-movie, "Queen of Blood":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_Blood
You can watch it at YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz5J49lrJis
Enjoy!
Second thought was an old B-movie, "Queen of Blood":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_Blood
You can watch it at YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz5J49lrJis
Enjoy!
leo knight
SOC-12
Oh, right. Good idea? I think it depends on your group. If like my usual group, "the only physics I know is Ex-Lax", Lost in Space understanding of science, then heck yeah, space vampires! with capes! and Wilma Deering in spandex! and too many exclamation points!
IIRC, "Ringworld" had vampires. They looked beautiful, and used pheremones to lull their victims. If Larry Niven approves, why not?
IIRC, "Ringworld" had vampires. They looked beautiful, and used pheremones to lull their victims. If Larry Niven approves, why not?
I was going to say, just don't make them angsty teeny-boppers who aren't monsters, they're just misunderstood.
Ah, Vampirella. I used to buy a few of the comics she was in. I knew several people back then who had to read every issue.
I think the mental vampire would be more plausible. A small blob or insect that lives on mental energy. Common to several planets, and in a region of space based on it getting aboard ships.
I read a short story several years ago, I think it was in Asimov's, about a small worm that took over people. The only way they could get rid of it was to eat garlic laced pizza. Garlic was forbidden aboard starships, due to the smell getting in all of the ship's spaces. Two sergeants, one of them a cook, loved garlic on their pepparoni pizza. Since they had smuggled some garlic aboard ship, that saved the starship and civilization. After that, everyone anywhere near, or on, a starship must eat garlic or be vaporized.
The story ending with the starship they were on, and mention of a number of others doing the same thing, of going out to nearby solar systems and forcing them to eat garlic, or be destroyed.
I think the mental vampire would be more plausible. A small blob or insect that lives on mental energy. Common to several planets, and in a region of space based on it getting aboard ships.
I read a short story several years ago, I think it was in Asimov's, about a small worm that took over people. The only way they could get rid of it was to eat garlic laced pizza. Garlic was forbidden aboard starships, due to the smell getting in all of the ship's spaces. Two sergeants, one of them a cook, loved garlic on their pepparoni pizza. Since they had smuggled some garlic aboard ship, that saved the starship and civilization. After that, everyone anywhere near, or on, a starship must eat garlic or be vaporized.
The story ending with the starship they were on, and mention of a number of others doing the same thing, of going out to nearby solar systems and forcing them to eat garlic, or be destroyed.
As long as the vampire is not supernatural, I don't see why not. Shape-shifting from a 180 pound form to a 5 pound is something I Would consider supernatural as well as "infecting" a victim of another species to procreate.
The psychic vampire of some form or another has a long tradition in science fiction. It's a good concept.
The psychic vampire of some form or another has a long tradition in science fiction. It's a good concept.
psionic vampire must be somewhere in fanazines.
I remember a movie where astronauts are trying to escape a red planet that is trying to kill them. Literally, the planet is grabbing at the astronauts with tendrils and stuff, and the astronauts have to hack at them with axes to escape.
I wish I could remember it's name ... was that that "Vampire Planet" movie? "Angry Red Planet"? "Planet of Blood"?
It was made in the 1960s, and I think it's a Japanese film of some kind.
I wish I could remember it's name ... was that that "Vampire Planet" movie? "Angry Red Planet"? "Planet of Blood"?
It was made in the 1960s, and I think it's a Japanese film of some kind.
That would be "Angry Red Planet". The entire planet was against the astronauts and reading their minds to find ways to chase them off. The rat/bat/spider monster is a classic!
Speaking of vampires in space...why couldn't they be actual bloodsuckers? They don't have to be numerous, but maybe once they reach the "carniculture" level of technology they could increase their population and move out to the stars maybe? Artificial blood....good for everyday feeding but the real thing is required for reproduction, a growing youngster, or for those who can afford the real thing and its superior taste, ala' Daybreakers?
They don't have to be supernatural or like traditional vampires. Bloodsucking as a survival strategy is very efficient in the animal kingdom - ask any parasite.
Speaking of vampires in space...why couldn't they be actual bloodsuckers? They don't have to be numerous, but maybe once they reach the "carniculture" level of technology they could increase their population and move out to the stars maybe? Artificial blood....good for everyday feeding but the real thing is required for reproduction, a growing youngster, or for those who can afford the real thing and its superior taste, ala' Daybreakers?
They don't have to be supernatural or like traditional vampires. Bloodsucking as a survival strategy is very efficient in the animal kingdom - ask any parasite.
Much obliged Saberdog. Good to see you again. I truly mean that.
I always saw the ending section of the film, but never the bulk of it. I always came in when the astronauts were fighting to escape, and then they make it (a few don't), and then the movie ends.
Space Vampires; "Deaths' Angel", a 70's classic Star Trek novel had one of the ambassadors as being such a person; a race of vampires who had learned to cultivate benignly the animals they relied on for their blood thirst. Not a terribly good book, I'm afraid, but the idea was there.
You bring up a good point about space vamps not needing to be the evil bloodsuckers of lore, but it is kind of fun to imagine them as such, and makes for great drama, as per leo knight's reflection on his own gaming group; i.e. they like the "I vant to suck yer-vlood!" kind...with capes
I'm sure there's shades of grey in there too.
I challenge you to write up an adventure with these guys.
I always saw the ending section of the film, but never the bulk of it. I always came in when the astronauts were fighting to escape, and then they make it (a few don't), and then the movie ends.
Space Vampires; "Deaths' Angel", a 70's classic Star Trek novel had one of the ambassadors as being such a person; a race of vampires who had learned to cultivate benignly the animals they relied on for their blood thirst. Not a terribly good book, I'm afraid, but the idea was there.
You bring up a good point about space vamps not needing to be the evil bloodsuckers of lore, but it is kind of fun to imagine them as such, and makes for great drama, as per leo knight's reflection on his own gaming group; i.e. they like the "I vant to suck yer-vlood!" kind...with capes
I'm sure there's shades of grey in there too.
I challenge you to write up an adventure with these guys.
