D&D 5E Which Ravenloft setting book?

knasser

First Post
Hi,

I've started running 5e. Long ago, I once had the very lovely AD&D 2nd edition boxed set of Raven Loft (I think there was only one boxed set. If not, then the first one with all the card-stock portraits of dark lords, etc.). I no longer have it, I would like to re-add Ravenloft to my campaign so I'm looking for a big collection of background for it. Close to the original stuff I guess as I don't know how Ravenloft changed after all that Grand Conjunction and Vecna stuff. But if it's still basically the same after that then that's all good too. :)

Looking on DM's Guild there are several products from different editions that just seem to be Ravenloft background. (The rules parts don't really mean anything to me as I only want the lore). I don't know which of these is considered best or would provide the richest background material. Or if I've missed one. Any comments from owners of these would be welcome! :)

http://www.dmsguild.com/product/2478/Ravenloft-30?it=1
http://www.dmsguild.com/product/17525/Ravenloft-Domains-of-Dread-2e?it=1
http://www.dmsguild.com/product/28838/Ravenloft-Campaign-Setting-Revised-Boxed-Set-2e?it=1
 

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Ath-kethin

Elder Thing
I'd go for Domains of Dread. It had a ton of lore about all the domains, their darklords, and their interactions. For my money, the best Ravenloft setting book ever. It's all in there.
 

knasser

First Post
They still do not have the original Ravenloft: Realm of Terror, which is the one that I once had, and might be the one you are thinking of.

Yes. That is the one I once had, but they seem not to have it and it's possible one of the others would work just as well. I read a comment in another thread that the S&S (Ravenloft 3.0) one was a bit different in tone from the others. More D&D-ish for whatever that means.
 

Ath-kethin

Elder Thing
The 3.5 Ravenloft Duneon Master's Guide is excellent as it goes. But keep in mind the fundamental differences in approach from both TSR-era to WotC-era D&D, and simple economics. Domains of Dread is about 50 pages longer, has a smaller typeface, and just generally has more in it.

The 3.5 book is at least officially licensed, so it can use normally off-limits terms like "Illithid" (though of course it can't have Lord Soth, since that character is subject to a different array of licensing headaches).

I'd still recommend Domains of Dread over it. More bang for your buck and fewer degrees of separation from the origin point.
 

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