stiltskin

unless there are extreme differencies in their habitat (e.g. outer space, hell), please dont call them subraces. i mean, desert dwarves will have the same fantastic physiology as i-dont-know sea dwarves or whatever, will differ only in skill sets/level of proficiency in certain skills, terrain knowledge and maybe culture. If neccessary, just make some backgrounds, like "farm-raised redneck = +2 to proficiency with pitchfork&ho, automatic negative/hostile reaction to anything different/foreign", "autistic=+3 to arithmetics and attention to detail, -10 to social skills", "raised by rabid weasels= +5 outdoorsman, +5 unarmed, -15 personal hygiene", etc. its simpler, neater and more in accordance with common-sense.

actually the good choice in the opressive government example would not be instigation or support of rebelion, but persuading the evil overlord to use more efficient and laid-back system of governing, which controls its people by giving them carrots too, not only the stick-treatment. in feudal setting, few common people give a damn who sits on the throne, as long as you give them the bread and the games (and possibly some health care and chance to rise above their rank to appease the ambitious), while not behaving like a d*ck. iron fist rule calls for immediate heavy investments into secret police, army, etc (to battle possible rebelion, which in the end may not be enough - think of all the roman emperors murdered by praetorians), which could be used to promote industry (earning money for stuff like army to gain more land, secret police to keep nobles in line, research and more industry, in the end still having enough to indulge oneself). why would you want to be anything less than a havelock vetinari, i cannot fathom

in regards to gods, code for paladins/priests, why not make at least some gods mysterious and ineffable like say "Moment of the hidden" from iron council. also, paladins/priests could possibly "purchase" their powers/ additional powers by making sacrifices or performing crucial chores/quests with different reward depending on the outcome (failure means no reward, different ways to approach quest mean diffferent blessing/ability, but hopefully not just +1 to generic skill/ +1 to saving throws/ +5 health, but something more *tangible*)?

not making all of them available in single playthrough would increase replayability value...

how about making enchantments swappable augments (for a price) or long-lasting, but ultimately temporary... big one-of-a-kind relics of destruction should be very few and unmodifiable, at least some should have non-combat utility value, at least imho

how about a milk carton as a pet and maybe broken umbrella?

first, let me say that your concept seems pretty rad. it inspired an idea of my own (drawing on yours), which might stray too far from the concept of a vamp, but i spent too much time writing this, so imma post it anyway XD. if you think it ****ty/useless, then thats fine, if you find some inspiration in it, please take what you want and discard the rest. sorry for tldr my idea: - servants (in a very loose sense) of disease deity, souls of people driven mad by sickness of both mind (not only schizophreniacs, maniacs and the like, but also fanatics, maybe pedos, canibals, etc) and body, possibly even souls infected by "soul sickness/mental depression, sadness". would keep the motif of season, but make it late autumn, early winter, when everything withers, but does not die yet. - do not possess body per se, but they are still affected by some substances of natural world (smoldering charcoal, ashes or embers-symbol of purification, symbols of deities, particularly god of disease, copper/brass objects...), are however immune to most tools of war, thus a stab with regular sword might reduce it to fine mist, it will however reform very quickly back; cannot pass through solid objects, but may dissolve into mist and seep into cracks. may not enter a home without invitation - vampiric habits: they find sustenance in drinking any vital fluids of humanoids (hence, they might drink bile too), furthermore they dont distinguish between fluids of a dead and living body, being forever hungry they happily slurp anything they come across. if attacking human, they prefer lone targets or small groups - their presence in long term may produce some sort of sickness, but the effects should not be immediate, nor fast-acting. however, their direct touch (with skin, clothes offer limited protection, must be discarded or burned afterwards) is lethal. it causes fever and fits of progressively worsening convulsions (similar to malaria, develop within two days), the blood pressure rises and falls randomly (causing whatever symptoms appropriate) and bloodvessels bulge heavily. ends with sepsis. is curable in early stages, later stages progress very quickly to death and possibly require some sort of heavy-duty miracle - which only god of disease may produce - to remove. their touch also produces persistent itching sensation in touched place and small pitch-black swelling (like a medium-sized bruise) - spirits themselves are capable of dispersal into fine mist, possession of large number of simple minded organisms (animals, plants, etc, possibly horribly diseased humanoid idiots-compels them to attack and spread their affliction), limited shapeshifting (to resemble appropriate race) and may pose as strangers wandering around countryside in the guise of people of wandering professions (aged, lone merchants, monks, soldiers, tinkers, musicians, especially wandering beggars, etc - however without any baggage/equipment people of such professions may carry) in evening hours (between 6 and 11 pm-at other times their location is unknown, though some may haunt a place at all times). they may compell any diseased or venomous animals/ sentient poisonous plants to sting/bite/attack in anyone so that they fall sick. any injury/poisoning acquired this way is more difficult to heal. they use their shapeshifting to appear inconspicuous and approach target(s) or lure them away from larger group, mostly using gestures (beckoning). capable of limited speech, mostly murmurs. at secluded location they tend to shapeshift into more terrifying form and sudenly turn around to scare victim and paralyze it with fear. they drink such paralyzed victim through a single wound caused by prolonged touch, which rots/burns away the skin and allows blood/possibly other fluids to flow freely. they do not kill in this way, but leave the victim so it may die of their touch-induced sickness (see above), still leaving enough blood for victim to barely survive the shortened incubation and sickness period (due to prolonged touch, the incubation period is half a day, sickness progresses faster). may return after death to drain dead body of fluids. - if attacked/forced to fight, it will make use of its ability to sick venomous/diseased animals/plants on targets, will attempt to touch whatever uncovered part of body (there is always at least smal part left uncovered anyway) - appearance: when in contact with unwitting victim(s) they resemble slightly odd humanoid covered in appropriate heavy, ragged/rotten, heavily concealing clothing (bandages, shrouds, cloaks, etc all appropriate, but not required), when scaring victim/fighting they assume horrid forms (half-roach half humanoid forms with spider limb appendages/numerous chelicerae, gaping jawless/torn mouths, symptoms of diseases... whatever you can find in the uncanny valley) - purpose: to intimidate people (particularly faithless/offending people) into worshipping/paying respect to god of disease, so that they may stay healthy (like mafia style enforcers); do not appear excessively often PS: what i did not like that much about your concept is the idea of "deity´s personal assassin". why would a god need such a person? it can kill a mortal at will, can it not?any killings can be done by its followers or by proxy... also, i understand that there is sort of "traditional" （or cliche）fixation in movies, dnd and the like that vampires and vampire-like beings have to be corpses. if you are looking for inspiration, why not this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pishacha for instance? blood/flesh/human (or in this case humanoid) "energies" consumption is common to many demons/other supernatural entities. making your vampire a vampire "spirit" (the non-liquid variety ;-D) would in a sense be a little more original, no?