D&D 4E Book of Vile Darkness: What do you want in it?

[Knightfall]

So, WotC has announced a new BoVD that will come out at the same time as the new DVD movie of the same name. The book will be tied to the movie but that doesn't mean it will be completely about the movie's storyline.

I'm sure it will include stats for the movie's characters, monsters, and magic, but what else will it have? It's too early to know for sure but I suspect it will have some crunch.

But what do we, as D&D fans, want in the book? What parts of the original 3e BoVD should be updated and included in the new BoVD?

What do you want in the 4e Book of Vile Darkness?

Cheers!

KF

WotC Forum Thread: BOVD is more than movie tie in

IMDb: Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness (2011)

 

[Knightfall]

Here's my first thought...

'Vile' as a new power source.

 

[Mithreinmaethor]

Here's my first thought...

'Vile' as a new power source.

This book doesnt sound like it will hold any interest for me. The 3.X book I didnt own because it held no interest for me. So unless there is a ton of stuff for DM's for NPC's and monsters etc this will also not be a purchase for me.

 

[delericho]

First up, I have to be honest and say there is roughly a 0% chance of me buying this book, regardless of content.

However, I really hope they don't go down the same line as the 3e BoVD. Basically, I felt that that one tried too hard to be 'mature' and 'edgy', and came across as something a teenager might have come up with - going for gore and shock in place of actual adult content.

I would much rather they went for a genuinely more mature approach, taking a real, serious look at genuine evil (as opposed to the four-colour Eeeeevil we tend to get in D&D). So, sure, address drugs, and evil cults, and demon worship, and slavery and... but look at the real motivations for these things, look at genuine corruption, the peril of good intentions without good actions, pride going before a fall, the ends justifying the means, or even "it's for the greater good" (while sacrificing the lesser good). And so on.

Buckets of blood, and torture porn, and boobs, and swearing may get you an NC-17 rating, but by themselves they don't actually make you mature.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

"Evil" that doesn't largely consist of "sex that would make my mom uncomfortable hearing about." There was other stuff in there, but lordy, there was a lot of "and here's scaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaary sex!"

 

[The Little Raven]

What do you want in the 4e Book of Vile Darkness?

An author who can tackle the subject in a far more mature manner than Monte Cook is all I ask.

 

[Knightfall]

Hmm, it seems that the 3e BoVD isn't beloved by all. Heh.

I've rarely seen people post about how much they dislike it -- usually it has been the other way around.

I guess it just proves that people are different and what one person really likes, another person dislikes (or hates).

Anyway, here's my next question...

Which of these 3e BoVD prestige classes should be turned into 4e paragon paths (or themes)?

Cancer Mage
Demonologist
Diabolist
Disciple of Asmodeus, Baalzebul, etc.
Lifedrinker
Mortal Hunter
Soul Eater
Thrall of Demogorgon, Graz'zt, etc.
Ur-Priest
Vermin Lord
Warrior of Darkness

 

[Knightfall]

An author who can tackle the subject in a far more mature manner than Monte Cook is all I ask.

Who would you choose?

 

[Knightfall]

Should the book have new options for races and classes? And if so, what should those races and classes be?

Necromancer, maybe?

For races, I don't know what classic D&D race could be considered truly evil. I'm assuming people don't like the two races introduced in the 3e BoVD.

 

[Greg K]

Demons
Demogorgon, Juiblex, Orcus, Yeenoghu, Lolth, Baphomet, Fraz-Urb'luu, Graz'zt, Kostchtchie, Pazuzu, Zuggtmoy, Dagon

the quasit,

Sub Demon: manes
Demi Demon: alu-demon
Semi Demon: cambion
Minor Demons: bar-lgura, the chasme, dretch, rutterkin
Lesser Demon: succubus

the type I demon (vrock), the type II demon (hezrou), the type III demon (glabrezu), the type IV demon (nalfeshnee, etc.), the type V demon (marilith, etc.), the type VI demon (balor)

Major Demon: gorristro,

Devils
Bel, Dispater, Mammon, Belial, Geryon, Moloch, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, Asmodeus, Glasya, Lady Fierna, Levistus, the Hag Countess, Amon, Bael, Bitru, Hutijin, and Titivilus,
the imp, the lemure,
Least Devils: nupperibo, the spined devil,
Lesser Devils: barbed devil, the bone devil, the eryines, black abishai, blue abishai, green abishai, red abishai, and white abishai, the bearded devil
Greater Devils: the horned devil (malebranche), the ice devil, the pit fiend, Styx devil