CURSE OF STRAHD'S Foreword By Tracy Hickman

The foreword in Curse of Strahd was written by original Ravenloft designer Tracy Hickman. And here it is! Tracy and Laura Hickman wrote I6: Ravenloft 35 years ago, and played a consultant role in this latest revival of the classic adventure, which was written by WotC's Chris Perkins.

 

[SirGalrim]

Woah. Those last sentences gave me shivers! Wish I could play this adventure.

 

[MechaPilot]

I like that they are returning to the idea that monsters are monstrous, even if they also happen to be tragic (and possibly even sexy).

 

[wedgeski]

Tracy discusses this very thing with the WotC guys in one of the recent podcasts, a great listen.

 

[Xavian Starsider]

Woah. Those last sentences gave me shivers! Wish I could play this adventure.

Why can't you?

 

[shager]

His focus on the monster being a monster and not misunderstood, and how that relates to real life abuse, is weighty subject matter indeed. I can imagine a more business-like editor nixing the inclusion of such subject matter into a game book, so kudos to the D&D team for allowing that viewpoint to be discussed by the creator of the material. His thoughts definitely have merit.

I read Dragonlance for years before I realized that Tracy Hickman and his wife were the true parents of my beloved Ravenloft setting. Talk about two influential people in the golden days of D&D.

 

[Davies]

Which is ironic, given the background of the primary offender when it comes to that particular revitalized myth.

 

[Benji]

Totally got a text from my store today to say it's gonna be available friday. Very Excited.

 

[Ath-kethin]

Apparently written in May of last year. That's a pretty long development period.

Edit: or at least, it gives us an idea of the development time frame for the adventures.

 

[Henry]

Every time I read Ravenloft, I find it ironic that it's co-written by the same Tracy Hickman who was the author of the "kick-down-the-door" Playstyle Dragon Magazine article and the friendly feud with Monte Cook on that subject...

http://hackslashmaster.blogspot.com/2013/10/on-ancient-conflict.html


...because "Kick down the door" in Ravenloft (and the Desert of Desolation!) can sometimes get you killed.