So I find the actual act of biting someone's neck somewhat tame. There's no struggle, there's no drama. You have your character bite an NPC's neck, there's a short animation, and it's over.

My new mandatory vampirism rule is: an assault must also be committed just after the biting of the neck is done! I'm calling it "the EradiKation rule. Yea, kinda lame, but it works in a way because some NPCs will attack and others will just flee. I imagine if a vamp ever tried to bite ME, I wouldn't just lay there asleep. I would be scared out of my mind!

Any other ideas? I"m really (obviously) starting to get into the vampire tonite.

I play some of the vampire dreams or make up my own.

My character Aravi gets vampire dreams and when she goes to sleep I switch to another save file and play the dream that she experiences.

I actually have one recorded on the current page in my http://chorrol.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4695&pid=132969&st=440 over in another forum.

Renee ~ try switching out to hand to hand for your assault. Might make it feel more primal to you?

Vampire clans? Actually have the Cyrodilic be like lore. Manipulative and deceitful nobles/politicians.

Yea yea see there ya go. Thanks for this, I'm gonna try this or something like this for sure.

Another idea I'm playing out is Kate doesn't have to eat anymore. I'm going by the Anne Rice model of vamps who are supernatural undead beings, and they therefore no longer need to eat food, although kate has to occasionally drink a health potion. :shrug:

I pulled out my old D&D Monster Manual (circa 1977 ! ) and found that vamps can

..Charm other NPCs

..Drain health

...summon wolves and bats (I'll have to substitute Command Creture here)

..turn into a "gaseous form" (I'll have to substitute Invisibility in Oblivion)

..turn into a bat (occasional fast travel seems realistic here, although Kate has to be unencumbered by any clothes, weapons, or items for her to use this power )

follow a Chaotic Evil lifestyle, but Kate already was an evil character before becoming a vamp.

goodness, I'm such a geek. :D