Your opinions on the Become Vampire device?

[Order227]

For those that have tried it or played, what do you think? Honestly, I'm usually not into vampire/werewolf/horror lore, but in a superhero theme it has this dynamic like, "I'm not a monster...I just got bit by a radioactive bat/wolf! Yeah, that's it."

For those that haven't noticed it, here's a description from the C-Store.

A toggle device that temporarily but completely transforms the player (both costume and powers) into a Vampire.

Vampire Features

Combo Powers: Ranged and Melee attacks based on form.

Beast Form: Transform into the Beast Bat and rip your enemies apart.

Bat Flight: Morph into a cloud of bats and fly through the night sky.

The device has unlimited charges. Cannot be activated in PVP zones. Gains additional powers as you level up. While this device is active, you cannot use other devices.

Your thoughts? Or better yet, your experiences?

[Certified]

In general I like the idea of these devices and was tempted to pick up the Void Horror device for one of my characters. With the Vampire device I wish there was some way to work with existing costumes but I realize that's not feasible.

[Greywind]

Ran into someone last night that was using the various devices to effectively play a metamorph.

[Order227]

Very fortunately, I got my hands on the actual Become Vampire Device. One of my friends said it best, it looks like the focus of the Becoming devices is really the cool factor, which this device has oodles of.

The build itself is very, very healing oriented with Life Drain, Resurgence, and Regeneration, but has very low DPS. It may help with PvE if equipped on a squish build, but I doubt it'll help you win any PvP.

So what is good? The Beast Form turns you into a Bloodgouger-like vampire ogre, while the Bat Flight is quite nicely done, actually. It does a convey a sense of mystique. I'd say this device is a fun RP tool.

Also, ever wonder what a female Bloodgouger looks like?

[input.jack]

My only two complaints with it are (a) you cant custom-craft your avatar. All male vampires look alike; all female vampires look alike. (b) You cant use any other Device while youre using Become Vampire. Which makes completing some of your missions simply impossible, if you WANT to play AS the vampire.

Other than that, its aces!

[Lord Liaden]

Vampires have gone through decades of pop-culture pasteurization, becoming repentant, angsty, reformed, sexy, and of course, sparkly. The concept of the vampire has lost much of the automatic connotation of horror and evil that it once had in the public consciousness. At the same time, behaviors that would once have been widely viewed as vile and disgusting in a protagonist, such as brutally torturing and murdering one's opponents, are now simply considered proof of being a "bad@$$," which is apparently an applaudable feature.

OTOH the super-hero genre has a long tradition of true heroes who appear to be "monsters" either traditional or unique -- sometimes misunderstood, sometimes publicly accepted. I would imagine any superhero community resembling those of mainstream comics would be inclined to judge an individual based on conduct rather than background.

[Order227]

I think you guys really pinpointed the limitation of the Vampire device. RP-wise, it's very much the leather trenchcoat cliche. To make it fit with your character, you have to build around that stereotype look & feel.

Gameplay-wise, I believe it is the most useful Become Device (except for maybe the Black Talon, which I've yet to get). Reason is, it is so FOCUSSED on defense and healing that it really does complement, say, Archetypes.

Basically, it combines a build that has CON as a Superstat with 4 healing abilities: Regeneration, Lifedrain, Ebon Void, then Resurgence. It is so specialised that it actually has a place on my characters.

Currently using it on an Inferno, a fragile damage dealer. Despite its simplicity, or perhaps precisely because of it, it's an excellent combination. I built a RP based on day/night or sun/darkness as a result.