D&D 5E [Updated with cover!] The D&D Book Is.... Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft!

Yesterday's hints that a new D&D book would be announced today have born fruit -- we now have a product description and a title! It's a Ravenloft setting book, with tools and new rules for horror-themed games, and new horror-themed character options. I'll update this post with a product image as soon as one is revealed -- the official announcement allegedly comes today!

D&D 5E - Here's the Ravenloft Alternate Cover!

As usual, there is an alternate hobby-store exclusive cover for the upcoming Ravenloft book. Here's a look at it! And here's the full wraparound art. https://www.enworld.org/threads/updated-with-cover-the-d-d-book-is-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft.678411/...

www.enworld.org

D&D 5E - Everything We Know About The Ravenloft Book

Here is a list of everything we know so far about the upcoming Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. Art by Paul Scott Canavan May 18th, 256 pages 30 domains (with 30 villainous darklords) Barovia (Strahd), Dementlieu (twisted fairly tales), Lamordia (flesh golem), Falkovnia (zombies), Kalakeri...

www.enworld.org

Here’s some info on Dr. Rudolph Van Richten! He's a vampire hunter (he appeared in Curse of Strahd, and he's been around in the Ravenloft setting for decades) and is basically Van Helsing to Strahd's Dracula. His name appears on a whole pile of 2nd Edition D&D sourcebooks, all titled "Van Richten's Guide to.... Vampires/Ghosts/Werebeasts, etc."

The Ravenloft setting, of course, features a bunch of 'domains' other than Barovia itself, each ruled by its own Dark Lord. Strahd rules Barovia, but even other signature D&D villains like Lord Soth and Vecna have been placed in Ravenloft ruling dread domains of their own, along with an assortment of other domain rulers.

The Mist Beckons

The image below is not of the upcoming book, but of one of the many D&D 2nd Edition Van Richten's Guides.

 

[Marc_C]

Disappointed. I have no interest in Ravenloft. Didn't buy the adventure book and the campaign I played in folded before the end of Curse of Strahd.

If they keep following this pattern, I'm hoping for a Greyhawk setting book to go with Ghost of Saltmarsh.

 

[NotQuiteANoble]

Ive just finished playing the first two Bio-shock games remastered and started the third (yes nostalgia alert, but somehow I missed them before).

Rapture could easily be a domain of dread, and New Columbia is definitely one!

In fact the structures and way information is revealed, is very Ravenloft.

The Upside Down from Stranger Things could either be the Far Realm or a demiplane of dread to me

 

[Aldarc]

Unless....

Dracula was written in the future and then Bram Stoker (or someone acting on his behalf) time-traveled back to the 19th Century and published Dracula then.

It's like how the Beatles' songs won't be written for another several hundred years but then Sir George Martin will travel via a rift in the spacetime continuum back to the 1960's to record them.

Nah, Jules Verne really did invent a time machine, traveled to the late 20th century, only had time to pick up a quick guidebook and shared it with his buddy Bram (who was looking for ideas) when he got back.

What if I told you that Nintendo in Japan predates the publication of both Bram Stoker's Dracula and H.G. Wells's The Time Machine?

 

[iltharanos]

Really? Despite Van Richten travelling only to Barovia, and a guide to Ravenloft shouldn't really include other demiplanes, you could feasibly make you own demiplane of dread. And have a really cool horror campaign. Also, a common misconception I've found is that Shadowfell inhabitants directly confront people. Strahd's best weapon is fear after all, and there's nothing like inspiring fear in seasoned heroes

Van Richten travelling only to Barovia is true only so far as 5e lore. In prior editions he travelled to multiple domains in Ravenloft. Pre-5e lore made it very common for people to travel to other demiplanes of dread (i.e. other domains in Ravenloft). If they're drawing on that older lore then they really should include other demiplanes of dread in a guide to Ravenloft.

 

[Minigiant]

Hopefully we will get some good monster and lycantropy rules.

This news makes me sad about what happened to Bloodlines 2.

 

[embee]

What if I told you that Nintendo in Japan predates the publication of both Bram Stoker's Dracula and H.G. Wells's The Time Machine?

I'd believe you. It was a card company.

 

[Dausuul]

Really? Despite Van Richten travelling only to Barovia, and a guide to Ravenloft shouldn't really include other demiplanes, you could feasibly make you own demiplane of dread. And have a really cool horror campaign. Also, a common misconception I've found is that Shadowfell inhabitants directly confront people. Strahd's best weapon is fear after all, and there's nothing like inspiring fear in seasoned heroes

This assumes somebody wants to run a horror campaign in the first place. I don't think I have ever played in a group where I would even consider trying to run a horror game.

I'll probably buy this for the player options and the bestiary, though.

 

[R_J_K75]

I'd also wait to find out what the Amazon price is. Because Amazon isn't going to be selling it for $50. Probably $35.

I usually pre-order books from Amazon as they become available to do so as somewhere between pre-order and release they usually drop to $29.99 USD. You can always cancel before it ships which again is usually the Friday before its Tuesday release, at least here in the States.

 

[Zardnaar]

Not really my thing but will get it anyway.

1. I'll get it for free.
2. Encourage them to make further legacy settings.

RL also hasn't been done for a while so much as I like say Darksun why not?

 

[dave2008]

Yeah, that stuff just never really inspired me. I'm not saying it's bad, and I'll probably still buy it, but it will probably be a purchase for completionism's sake rather than because I honestly feel I'll use much of it.

I tend to agree with you. The reasons I might but it are:

• More monsters
• Horror rules. I don't really do horror in my fantasy, but the rules might be interesting
• Domains of Dread. I never really read about them in previous editions, so I have some interesting in finding out about the different domains now.