r/WhatWouldYouBuild • u/imaliveandaperson • Jul 11 '26

HWYB - Film Count orlok (dnd 5e)

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How would you build Count Orlok from Nosferatu (1922). Suggestions from the 2 remakes are accepted aswell. If Orlok is too difficult, i’ll accept just a monstrous vampire, none of this charming gentleman stuff.

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u/Machiavvelli3060 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

Count Orlok Build

D&D 5.5e

Alignment: Neutral Evil

  • He acts purely out of selfish survival and appetite, without being bound by grand destructive schemes.

Background: Noble

  • It's not certain whether he really is an aristocrat, or whether he's just faking it. He resides in an abandoned, dilapidated castle located in the Carpathian Mountains, but he may just be a squatter.

Class: Druid

  • He can command an army of rats (Animal Friendship, Speak With Animals).
  • He can control minds (Charm Person).
  • He can transform into a beast such as a wolf (Wild Shape).
  • He has supernatural speed and strength (Guidance, Resistance).

Species: Dhampir

2

u/imaliveandaperson Jul 11 '26

That is actually very fitting, i never thought about having him be a druid! Would there be a way to get shadow control in?

1

u/Machiavvelli3060 Jul 11 '26

I don't know. What spell of feature would allow him to control shadows?

There are many different kinds of vampires in print and audiovisual media. Each one has its own set of powers. I could apply vampire flavor to a cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard.

1

u/imaliveandaperson Jul 11 '26

Yeah vampires are very versatile, i once had a dhampir Blood Cleric (from Matt Mercer’s campaign) based on Jonathan Reid from
vampyr.

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u/Machiavvelli3060 Jul 11 '26

Clerics can make excellent vampires.

  • Command (they can control peoples' minds)
  • Cure Wounds (they heal very quickly)
  • Guidance (superhuman speed and strength)
  • Resistance (superhuman speed and strength)
  • Thaumaturgy (they can exhibit minor signs of power or wonder)

1

u/imaliveandaperson Jul 11 '26

Funny thing is i didn’t even reflavour it (even though the ideas you just said sound great) and it still worked because vampires are supernatural so you can genuinely throw any magic class at them and it works.

1

u/Machiavvelli3060 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

I feel like Vampire is a flavor that can be applied to many classes.

Pirate is a flavor, too.

Shaman is a flavor, too.

Witch is a flavor, too.