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[Urist Mchateselves]

Why do gods grant superhuman capabilities to those whom desecrate their sacred domains? Obviously feeding on the blood of the living and being ostracized/hunted down by everyone you know is a curse, but why give a multitude of really good perks alongside that? Shouldn’t becoming a vampire be a blessing given by demons or “evil” gods to their most nefarious and loyal followers rather than a curse? A curse should instead be crippling you for life, turning you into a cockroach or something horrible like that.

[eerr]

Is it fun to play dwarf fortress as a cockroach?

[A_Curious_Cat]

Is it fun to play dwarf fortress as a cockroach?

Have you tried it?

[Whisperling]

There's precedent in mythology. Medusa, for one.

Gods aren't always totally rational actors. In any case, they're cursing someone to become monstrous, and any good monster needs to be inhumanly dangerous.

[Egan_BW]

Vampires are a bit of an odd one, since they're generally depicted as being both a lot more powerful than a normal human, AND are able to blend in with people. Have you really been cursed with hideous monsterdom if you live in a giant mansion with three dozen mind controlled servants?

[Urist Mchateselves]

Vampires are a bit of an odd one, since they're generally depicted as being both a lot more powerful than a normal human, AND are able to blend in with people. Have you really been cursed with hideous monsterdom if you live in a giant mansion with three dozen mind controlled servants?

My point exactly. Take werebeasts for example. Yes, they’re incredibly powerful, but there is very little upside to actually becoming a werebeast (apart from the monthly full body regeneration, but that’s more of an issue with the transformation system than an intended feature). Sure, Medusa was incredibly dangerous, but being so hideously ugly that you transform anyone that gazes upon into stone does far more harm to you than good. Both are still powerful monsters that can drive interesting narratives and interactions, but they’re still a curse, unlike vampirism, where you just get straight up transformed into a demigod at the cost of needing to drink blood.

[Shonai_Dweller]

I take it you haven't tried annoying the Gods at their shrines and been turned into a pigeon yet?

[Eric Blank]

DF vampires are missing a lot of the elements of traditional vampires right now. There's no concept of holy symbols or substances, non-trespassing, being forced to sleep on their "native soil," sunlight vulnerability or inability to cross running water. Consuming blood isnt exactly compulsive for the player, either. There's a whole list of other things from old tales. A lot of it will have to wait for the myth and magic updates frameworks to make those sorts of things possible.

[A_Curious_Cat]

@eerr, here’s the wiki page for Roach Men.  The article says they sometimes join civilizations, so if your lucky, you might be able to play as one while also being a member of a civilization.  Otherwise, you’ll just have to play as an intelligent wilderness creature!