4e Ravenloft - Dragon 368

[Eridanis]

IrdaRanger, Little Raven - let go of each others' throats before you both get vacations. Thank you.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

2. A full Domains of Dread would not fit in a Dragon Mag; what are they cutting out?

Again, I'm pretty sure they aren't going to put every single country from the Ravenloft Campaign Setting into the 4e default world. I'm certain that all they will do is make Castle Ravenloft a locale in the 4e world. This is similar to what they did with Sigil - they didn't bring in every aspect of Planescape into the 4e cosmology, just that one (really cool) piece.

It'll be like reprinting the original module for 4e. We'll probably get the map of Castle Ravenloft in Dungeon and information about Barovia, Strahd, and all the rest in Dragon. Barovia will become a piece of PoLand, like Arkhosia, Nerath, or Bael Turath. It'll be closely tied with the Shadowfell. We won't see a psuedo-French nation, we won't see Darkon, and we won't see many other things from the RCS (at least, not yet).

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I've never quite understood the hate leveled at tieflings. I like them personally, and I am as far away from emo and goth as you can be. Likewise, my friends and acquaintances who are goths tend to dislike them, so I'd say that if WotC included them to pander to that crowd, they didn't do the best job of it. More likely Tieflings, like Dragonborn, were included to have a "monster race" among the core. People like that sort of thing. Supposedly, anyway.

Oh yes, and 4e Ravenloft. Yay! Not generally my cup o' tea, but plenty of lovely ideas to steal.

 

[EATherrian]

I've never quite understood the hate leveled at tieflings. I like them personally, and I am as far away from emo and goth as you can be. Likewise, my friends and acquaintances who are goths tend to dislike them, so I'd say that if WotC included them to pander to that crowd, they didn't do the best job of it. More likely Tieflings, like Dragonborn, were included to have a "monster race" among the core. People like that sort of thing. Supposedly, anyway.

Oh yes, and 4e Ravenloft. Yay! Not generally my cup o' tea, but plenty of lovely ideas to steal.

I personally feel that as they are presenting them now, not the original Planescape presentation, that there is a bit of a D'rizztification going on with them. I see it and don't at the same time. I see more of a Draenei analog than a goth/emo think but that's just me. Also I've never really liked "monster" races. These are fantasy worlds and good and evil are tangible forces here. There's no reason to allow real world morality there. All orcs are evil, all lamasu are good, some races are free to choose. Therefore I generally used the now much-aligned Tolkein line-up. I am trying to piece the Tieflings and Dragonborn into a new campaign world, so I'm not stuck on my preconceptions.

As to Ravenloft, it was always one of my favorite worlds, and it scares me whenever they revamp or fix something that I love; it rarely improves it.

 

[Irda Ranger]

Again, I'm pretty sure they aren't going to put every single country from the Ravenloft Campaign Setting into the 4e default world. I'm certain that all they will do is make Castle Ravenloft a locale in the 4e world.

You may be right, but it'd be a bummer. And as for the Domains of Dread, I guess we'll leave off the 's' for 'Savings.'

Barovia will become a piece of PoLand

I had to read that three times before I could grok why you thought Barovia was in the bit based on Poland. I'm not-smart like that occasionally.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

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.

This is my guess as well. Castle Ravenloft, like Castle Greyhawk, is now fair game for every setting, and I bet we see both as super-modules before too long.

That said, it's certainly possible to go much more ambitious than Expedition/Ravenloft and include lots of the other good stuff from other domains, like Azalin.

 

[The Little Raven]

This is my guess as well. Castle Ravenloft, like Castle Greyhawk, is now fair game for every setting, and I bet we see both as super-modules before too long.

That said, it's certainly possible to go much more ambitious than Expedition/Ravenloft and include lots of the other good stuff from other domains, like Azalin.

It's also possible that they make "Domains of Dread" a regular column in Dragon, and over time tackle more and more of the setting.

 

[I'm A Banana]

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.

DING DING DING DING DING.

Someone's tiefling warlock and someone's dragonborn paladin and someone's eladrin ninjarogue will be able to tackle the castle and kill Strahd.

For most people, this will be a good thing.

For some purists who don't like the idea of monsterous dealers with the devil running around in Barovia's "A little like Transylvania!" town, it will cause momentary outrage.

Wheee!

 

[Nahat Anoj]

YI had to read that three times before I could grok why you thought Barovia was in the bit based on Poland. I'm not-smart like that occasionally.

Sorry, I use that spelling of the D&D world occasionally and forget it's not necessarily standard usage.

I often wish they would give the world of D&D an actual name.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

I REALY REALY hope Ravenloft gets its own setting book again. I almost missed it for 3rd ed. I found the books at a garage sale of all places and scooped them up faster than time itself would allow.

I want to see/play/DM ravenloft in 4th so much I almost considered doing the work myself converting the old material (Including Soth). But Laziness prevailed! Now that they're hinting that they're doing SOMTHING with the setting, I'll just wait and see what they do.

Here's hoping they realize Ravenloft will make them money, and they'll publish it!