Classic: Blood Types

You see, Doctor, there are as many species of vampire as there are beasts of prey. Their methods and their motive for attack can vary in a hundred different ways. (...) Some can only be destroyed by hanging or decapitation, or fire or water, or by other means. - Grost, Captain Kronos, Vampire HunterBrandon's Cult Movie Reviews: CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER
Classic: Blood Types (1995) is a classic GURPS reference book that lists the name of 78 different types of vampires from actual mythology and describes 35 vampires (or vampire like) beings from both mythology and fiction under 23 listings. Theresa Bane's 2010 Encyclopedia Of Vampire Mythology has been used update GURPS Blood Types.There is an online version of Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology on en-academic.
==What is a Vampire?==
The very term "vampire" comes from a specific Slavic states vampire, the Vampir which has a variant known as the Penanggalen. This happy little piece of nightmare fuel was a flying head with all its guts underneath.
Throw in the similarly spelled and pronounced exactly the same way Vampiir which killed not by drinking blood but by laying on top of is victim and stealing the very breath of its victims eventually causing death by suffocation and had no physical body and you see the problem.
As Theresa Bane points out in her book Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology "Most interesting, there is not a pre-existing or commonly accepted idea, let alone a singular, all-encompassing definition that clearly says what a vampire is, specifically." Here are the counter examples she gives:
*Not all vampires are undead: Bruja of Spain.
*Not all vampires are Evil: Talamaur of Australian lore; they are also not undead
*Not all vampires survive on blood: Algul of Arabic lore and Japan's Gaki.
*Not all vampires are nocturnal: many "species" of vampire in the Greek isles which are deadliest at high noon.
*Only one "species" of vampire doesn't cast a reflection: The Zemu from the Moldavia region of Romania
Even in fiction mot all vampires require a stake to be driven into its heart to be destroyed: In the actual novel Dracula is destroyed by Jonathan Harker beheading him as Quincey P. Morris stabbed in the heart with a bowie knife.
"What, then, do all these different species of vampires, from all around the world, have in common? The answer is simple: basic human fear. No matter when or where, how it hunts or what it hunts, the vampire attacks that which man considers most precious. The reason that there is no single definition of a vampire is because each culture of people, from their various time periods and from their various locations, has feared different things. The vampire has become man’s fear manifest; as man has evolved, so too has the vampire. What is culturally important to one people is not necessarily so to another."Bane, Theresa (2010) Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology pg 2-3
As for becoming a vampire the list had other methods besides being bit by another vampire:
*Committing suicide
*Being murdered
*Being a murderer
*Being a witch in life, they die and come back as vampires.
*Being a werewolf in life
*Being the 7th son of a 7th son.
*Being a redhead
=="Glossary of Foreign Vampires" from Classic: Blood Types==
"Where possible, foreign terms have been given a literal translation. Creatures marked with an asterisk have been described in detail in Chapter 5." Creatures in bold have been cross-referenced information from the Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology and those underlined appeared as a variant in R.P. Smith's "Varieties of Vampires" Dragon #25 (May 1979)R.P. Smith's "Varieties of Vampires" Dragon #25 (May 1979) "found several different types of vampires from classical legends around the world, and arranged them in D&D format." All on one page they were (in order): Asanbosam (Africa), Burcolakas (Greece), Catacano (Crete, Rhodes), Lobishumen (Brazil), Ekimmu (Assyria), Blautsauger (Bosnia-Herzagovinia), Mulo (Serbia), Alp (Saxony), Anananngel (Philippines), Krvopijac (Bulgaria), Ch’ing-Shih (China), Vlkodlak (Serbia), Bruxsa (Portugal), Nosferat (Rumania). Conversations use Magery (Innate Magic -40%) per Racial Innate rule GURPS Thaumatology so vampires with Magery don't turn into full blown mages.
:*: Vampires with actual stats and are listed on this wiki. 
:†: Vampire is not always undead
==Conversion Note==
All the vampires in Classic: Blood Types with magical powers used what amounts to the As Racially Innate Spells option in 4e. To prevent them from being full Magery 0 mages, unless stated otherwise, Magery 0 is given the Racial Innate spells only limitation (-40%) which due to a rule change in GURPS Thaumatology makes Magery 0 [3].
===A and B===
* Adze* [138] (Africa; Ghana and Togo)
* Algul, Aluga (Arabia): “Horse leech” listed under Aigul
* Alp (Germany, Slavonia)The Alps - Sleep Paralysis & Night Terrors - Extra Mythology
* Aswang†* [varies] (Philippines)
* Baital, Baitala*† [356+] (India)
* Bebarlang* [varies] (Philippines)
* Boabhan-Sith (Scottish); spelled Baobham Sith
* Bhuta (India): Generic vampire term
* Blutsauger (Germany): “Blood sucker”
* Bruxsa*† [85] (Portugal)
===C and D===
* Callicantzaro* [165] (Greece)
* Ch'iang Shich* [306]/[varies] (China)
* Chordewa* [Astral Vampire; varies] (Bengal)
* Churel (India)
* Civateteo* [487] (Pre-Columbian Mexico)
* Danag (Philippines)
* Dearg-dul (Celtic Ireland): “Blood sucker”; variant of Dearg-Due
* Dubbelsuger, Dopplesauger (Germany, Slavic states): “Double sucker”: variant of Doppelsauger
===E to J===
* Empusa (Ancient Greece); under Empouse
* Erestun, Eretica, Eretik (Russia)
* Gaki* [380] (Japan)
* Ghul*† [340]/[0] (Arabic)
* Givach (Prussia): Listed under Gierach
* Hannya*† [Ghul; varies] (Japan)
* Hsi-hsue-kuei (China): “Blood sucking demon”; listed under varient spelling of Hsi-Hsue-Kue
* Jaracacas* [Lamia; 522] (Brazil); under "Jaracas"
===K===
* Kasha (Japan)
* Katakahana (Crete): variant spelling of Katakhana
* Kephn*† [Penanggalen; 227] (Burma)
* Kosac (Croatia)
* Kozlak (Dalmatia)
* Krvoijac (Bulgaria)
* Kukuthi (Albania): Variant of Kukudhi
===L===
* Lamia* [522] (Ancient Greece)
* Lampir (Bosnia)
* Langsoir/Langsuir* [Civateteo; varient] (Malaysia)
* Larvae (Roman): plural of Larva
* Leanhaun-Sidhe (Ireland): variation of Leanhaum-Shee
* Liderc nadaly (Hungary)
* Lilitu* [461] (Babylonia)
* Lobishomen (Brazil)
* Loogaroo*† [10+] (West Indies)
* Lugat (Albania)
* Lupi Manari (Croatia)
===M and N===
* Mormo* [Lamia; varies]
* Moroii*†, Muroni (Romania): Listed under Living Vampire in Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology
* Motetz Dam (Hebrew): “Blood sucker”
* Mullo (Gypsy)
* Nachzehrer (German)
* Nelapsi (Slovakia)
* Neuntoter (Germany) “Nine Killer”
* Nosferatu* [241/43] (Romania): actual word is Nosferat
===O and P===
* Obayifo* [Loogaroo, varies] (West Africa; Ashanti)
* Penanggalen*† [227] (Malay)
* Pijavica (Slovenia, N.W. Yugoslavia)
* Pontianak* [Penanggalen or Ustrel varient] (Malaysia)
* Priculics (Romania)
===S and T===
* Sampiro (Albania)
* Sanguisuga (Roman Empire): “Blood sucking”
* Strigoii (Romania): listed as a variant of Cel-Rau
* Strix* [85] (Roman Empire): listed under Sheerree as Strix Nocturna
* Succubus* [425+/378 (Europe)
* Talamaur (Australian isles)
* Tlaciques*† [Loogaroo varient] (Mexico; Nahuatl)
* Tenatz (Montenegro)
* Tenjac (Croatia)
* Tympanios* [Vyrolakos, varient] (Greece): varient spelling "Tympaniaois" listed under Vyrkolakas
===U to Z===
* Ubour, Upior, Upyr, Upi (Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia); Variation: Upier
* Ustrel* [165] (Bulgaria)
* Vampir [421], Vampiir, Vampyras*, Wampir, Wamphyr (Slavic states)
* Varcolaci (Romania): listed under Priculics
* Vere-Imaja (Latvia)
* Veripard (Latvia, Estonia, Russia)
* Vetal, Vetala (India): crosslisted with Baital
* Viesczy, Vjiesce, (Slavic; Russia, Poland)
* Volkodlak, Vukodlak (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia): Originally meant “Werewolf". Also listed under Volkolak
* Vyrolakos* [325] (Balkan; Albania, Greece)
==Vampires detailed in GURPS Blood Types==
Below is a quick summery of those 23 vampires (or vampire like beings) with their alternative equivalents in other countries listed.
:*: Active in daylight
:†: Vampire is not always undead
*Adze*: supernatural entity vampire from central Africa mainly Ghana and Togo.
*Alien*†: otherworldly vampire-may or may not be supernatural in nature.
*Astral*†: mortal vampire (sorcerer) found around the world. Some examples are Bebarlang of Southeast Asia and Philippines and the Chordewa of Bangal hill tribes.
*Baital*: supernatural entity vampire from India.
*Ch'iang Shich: Undead vampire from China. Must be burned completely to be destroyed and can put their essence to an object requiring it to be destroyed.
*Civateteo*: an undead vampire of Mesoamerica (listed under Cihuateteo). Another variant of this from the same region is the Langsoir.
*Gaki*: supernatural vampire-like being from Japan-may be either animated corpse or otherworldly spirit.
*Ghul*†: Mortal vampire (flesh eater) from Arabian folktales. Hannya is the Japanese equivalent.
*Gothic Vampire*: undead vampire made famous by Dracula and most of the movie variants inspired by the work.
*Half-Vampire*†: Mortal vampire that is usually a servant or slave to the Gothic type. The Dhampir of Gypsy mythology is the half-Vampire offspring of a human and vampire.
*High-Tech*†: Mortal vampire created via super science.
*HumanListed under Living Vampire in Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology*†: Mortal Vampire who feels the need to drink another's blood. Moroii (Romania) are human vampires with supernatural powers and destined to rise as undead when they die.
*Succubus*: supernatural vampire-like entity that drains life via sexual contact rather than blood
*Lamia*: undead/supernatural entity from ancient Greece. (Word is 5th-century Vulgate's translation of Lilith) Other names are Empusae and Mormo. The Jaracacas is the Brazilian equivalent.
*Lilitu*: supernatural entity vampire from ancient Mesopotamia. Name and nature has connection to Adam's first wife (Lilith)Bane, Theresa (2010) Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology McFarland pg 95
*Loogaroo*†: Mortal vampire (soul pact) of Haiti. Obayifo (Africa) is from the Ashanti people and the Tlalicque is from pre-Columbian Mexico. Generally female.
*Modern: Updated version of Gothic vampire type.
*Nosferatu (word): Nonexistent wordNosferatu: Origin and Definitions that supposedly means undead in Romanian. In the context of GURPS Blood Types it is the vampire seen in the film Nosferatu. Called Nosferat in "Varieties of Vampires" and Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology.
*PenanggalenWhile technically the Penanggalen as a living witch can be active in daylight she doesn't appear to have any vampire powers.†: Female mortal vampire (soul pact) of Malay Peninsula. Male counterpart in Berma is the Kephn. Can only feed at night. The Anananngel (Philippines) is another variant.
*Strix†: Mortal vampire (witch) of ancient Rome. Variants are the Aswang (Philippines) and Bruxsa (Portugal)
*Ustrel: Undead child vampire of Poland. If not properly destroyed can rise again as another type. Variants are the Callicantzaros (Greece) and Pontiannak (Malaysia)
*Vampir: Traditional undead European vampire of the Slavic nations. Usually attacks in astral form and is more likely to be a peasant than noble. Ka (Egypt) is a rough equivalent to the Vampir's astral form.
*Vyrolakos*: Traditional undead European vampire of the Balkan nations. Usually attacks physically and in the legend would often take human mates and have families. Tympanios is a precursor variant that was less insane and did not depend on blood.
==Vampire Magic==
Magic was done per the Classic equivalent of 4e's Fixed Magic system but several of the actual 4e versions (such as Nosferatu and Gothic Vampire) go with the GURPS Update suggested Advantage with limitations and enhancements route.
== Bibliography ==
GURPS Blood Types uses a host of sources but here are the more scholarly ones:
* Barber, Paul (1988) Vampires, Burial and Death (Yale University Press)
* Bunson, Matthew (1993) The Vampire Encyclopedia (Crown Publications)
* Frayling, Christopher (1991) Vampyres: Lord Byron to Count Dracula (Faber and Faber, Ltd)
* Haining, Peter (1977) The Dracula Scrapbook (Bramhall House)
* McNally, Raymond T. and Florescu, Radu (1972) In Search of Dracula (N.Y. Graphic Society)
* Melton, J. Gordon (1994) The Vampire Book (Visible Ink Press)
* Summers, Montague (1928) The Vampire, His Kith and Kin (Routledge and Keegan Paul)
* Summers, Montague (1929) The Vampire in Europe (Routledge and Keegan Paul)
* Twitchell, James B, (1975) The Living Dead: The Vampire in Romantic Literature (Duke University Press)
* Wolf, Leonard (ed.) (1995) The Essential Dracula (Plume)
== Additional Material ==
* Bane, Theresa (2010) Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology McFarland ISBN 9780786444526.
*Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology at en-academic.com; digital version of Theresa Bane's book.
* The Vampedia's page on GURPS Blood Types consolidates some of this information.
*The VERY Messed Up Origins™ of Vampires | Folklore Explained
* thematically disparate vampires as part of a "undead ruling the living" campaign with a link to the discussion thread. "The idea was that true vampires should be very rare and extremely high-powered."
* GURPS Update
== Notes ==
* In classic Sterile was a [-3] Disadvantage and yet none of the vampires in this work have it 
== References ==
Category:Classic
Category:Genre Books
Category:Lists
Category:1995
Category:Hubs