Do I mix horror in?
I'm a Ravenloft DM, first and foremost. What do you think?
Man vs Nature-Definately. Nothing makes a PC feel all alone than horrible weather. Your +22 vorpal wounding lightning burst sonic scream fire burst life draining icery Long sword won't do crap against a pouring thunderstorm with 100MPH winds, where the axle to the carriage has broken, and the driver, who knows the way to town, and how to get back to the mansion the rest of your party is in, was thrown clear, and lies dead of a broken neck in a muddy ditch. Hehehehhehee.
Man vs Man-The serial rapist/ritual sacrificer is stalking the city. The noise behind you, is it him, or a rat? There is the sound of a low chuckle, and a sudden breeze blows out your candle, leaving you alone, in the dark, dressed only in your night clothing. The hairs stir on the back of your neck. Is it him? Has he come to rape and kill you in the name of whatever demonic forces he worships?
Man vs Monster-The creature bursts through the cottage door. Mismatched limbs are crudely stitched onto a torso criss-crossed with thread into a bizarre pattern that draws at the eyes. The face, full of madness and cruelty, is made up of at least a dozen pieces, and the mismatched eyes stare at you with malevolent hatred. With an inarticulate roar of rage, the huge, corded muscles on the cobbled together arms bulge, and you know at last you have found the Mangler of Stravich Road.
Man vs the Unknown-The small, huddled body of the child lay curled at your feet. It had been dark, and it's face twisted with a feral hunger, not even resembling the small, innocent face that looks up at you with total surprise from the dirty cobbles of the alley. The twisted club is revealed as a tattered doll with a lopsided smile that leers at you with knowledge of what you have done.
Buy why did the infant attack you? Why did it leap from where it was feasting on the flesh of the dog that lies dead a mere 3 or four paces from you?
And was that a child's giggle behind you, or wind chimes?
Man vs Himself-The hideously grinning face of the demon dissolves, and the spiked tongue that was tearing at your arms is revealed to be your comrades nails, that relax as unconsiousness claims him. He is beginning to froth at the mouth, and your forearms ache from the grip you hold on your friends throat.....
I love it all, and so do my players. Some times we do the splatterhouse bit, ala Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees, but mostly we stick to the gothic, subtle stuff.
It's more fun.