4e Ravenloft - Dragon 368

[Shroomy]

So, according to Randy Buehler, "October will also see the Domains of Dread return to D&D, with the long-time Ravenloft concept being folded into the core now." Now, this is some big news. Let the speculation begin.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Awesome news indeed. Ravenloft deserves to be core!

 

[Sonny]

So, according to Randy Buehler, "October will also see the Domains of Dread return to D&D, with the long-time Ravenloft concept being folded into the core now." Now, this is some big news. Let the speculation begin.

I'm surprised no one's commented on it before. During the Daily Gen Con rundowns at Wizards site, it was mentioned. But people didn't even seem to notice it at the time.

Either way, I hope the new Manual of the Planes covers it, along with some new info on Sigil.

I just wonder how different it will be, or if they'll even keep the origins of some of the Dark Lords the same. Like Soth* for example: would they have him from Krynn, or tie him into the default setting, making him perhaps the first person to become a Death Knight.





*I can't recall if Soth was taken out of the third edition due to licensing issues, or if he escaped during the second edition for story reasons.

 

[Silverblade The Ench]

Think Soth, iirc, repented of his evil and was redeemed, thus leaving Ravenloft?

Like Dark Sun, rather they ignored much of the later stuff and stuck to original, as the later stuff just made it messy as hell :/

 

[Sonny]

Think Soth, iirc, repented of his evil and was redeemed, thus leaving Ravenloft?

Like Dark Sun, rather they ignored much of the later stuff and stuck to original, as the later stuff just made it messy as hell :/

If they ignore the later stuff, I hope they bring back Van Ritchen. I know he's a Van Helsing ripoff, but I always liked him. Plus, his original picture in the Black Box Set reminded me of Roddy McDowell in Fright Night.

 

[Leatherhead]

If they ignore the later stuff, I hope they bring back Van Ritchen. I know he's a Van Helsing ripoff, but I always liked him. Plus, his original picture in the Black Box Set reminded me of Roddy McDowell in Fright Night.

I still read his monster hunter books.

 

[vagabundo]

The domains of dread would float around in the Astral Sea now?

The archipelago of dread... Dun Dun Dunnnnnnn...

 

[WhatGravitas]

The domains of dread would float around in the Astral Sea now?

The archipelago of dread... Dun Dun Dunnnnnnn...

I reckon it's rather something deep within the Shadowfell, like a sublayer of it.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Green Knight]

Nah, it wouldn't fit in the Shadowfell for numerous reasons. For one, the Shadowfell is a reflection of a specific world. Faerun has its Shadowfell reflection, Krynn has its Shadowfell reflection, etc. Ravenloft isn't a reflection of any world. There're lands torn or copied from other worlds on it, but it isn't a copy of any one world. Second, it's a whole lot easier to get out of the Shadowfell than it is to get out of Ravenloft. Last but not least, it's a demiplane (which still exist in 4E), and as such, would probably be situated in the Astral Sea. Besides, it'd be nice to have Ravenloft with its own Shadowfell and Feywild reflections.

As for this news, personally I'm sweating bullets at the thought of making it "core". They went to the trouble of keeping demiplanes in 4E, so hopefully they'll keep it as one. One which is insanely difficult to get out of. And hopefully they won't feel the need to force everything in core into Ravenloft. Namely, Dragonborn, Dragons, planar travel, etc. Those're pretty big defining characteristics of Ravenloft, and I'd hate to see it lose them.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

I actually think the only things they'll bring into core are Castle Ravenloft, Strahd, Van Richten, Barovia, and a few other elements. Barovia will be a region in PoLand, like the Nentir Vale. The entirety of the Ravenloft Campaign Setting probably won't be put into core.