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.

 

[jgsugden]

Kalakeri?

Apparently a Jungle Setting.

Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft: preview of the new D&D manual | Pop Culture - Aroged

Wizards of the Coast unveiled the title of the next Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition What will be Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, which is a supplement completely dedicated to Ravenloft and to horror storytelling in its many facets. We had the privilege of participating in theprint preview of...

www.aroged.com

I'm guessing it might be Acererak's Domain, tied to the Tomb of Annihilation Adventure Path. Perhaps.

 

[Professor Murder]

So already seeing some radical reimagining. I'm down. Eager to see more.

 

[R_J_K75]

Sure, it all depends on how much you get invested in your character, or if there is a penalty for death. I tend to run horror as one-shots if I do them. So if your character dies, well that is it - your getting snacks for everyone else the rest night JK, I actually have them join my on the DM side and it helps me ratchet up the danger on the remaining PCs. If it gets to be more DMs than PCs, well the group is usually doomed. I find it adds some tension for the players to see the threat visibly increase with the addition of more monsters - I mean DMs.

Its not that I'm uninvensted in my characters (then again I havent played one in close to 20 years) to me its a game and I dont take it overly serious. If my character dies or has something bad happen its not that big of a deal. I get the horror one shots. To me thats the only way they work, anything more than that becomes boring and lacks variety. And it does take player buy in which sometimes is hard to get if they just want to hang out and roll dice for a few hours. Im sure there is value in this book but I wouldnt run a Ravenloft campaign these days.

 

[Professor Murder]

If you read the description, they're adding entirely new Domains as well as old ones.

 

[R_J_K75]

If you read the description, they're adding entirely new Domains as well as old ones.

30 domains in a 256 page book seems like alot, probably too many imo.

 

[embee]

A more robust Sanity system would be nice for running in this setting. Even calling its treatment in DMG "short shrift" is being generous.

 

[Hatmatter]

Its not that I'm uninvensted in my characters (then again I havent played one in close to 20 years) to me its a game and I dont take it overly serious. If my character dies or has something bad happen its not that big of a deal. I get the horror one shots. To me thats the only way they work, anything more than that becomes boring and lacks variety. And it does take player buy in which sometimes is hard to get if they just want to hang out and roll dice for a few hours. Im sure there is value in this book but I wouldnt run a Ravenloft campaign these days.

I think your cool, RJ, keep it up. Speaking for myself, I have played with, and even sought out, players who suspend their disbelief and exhibit the ability to vicariously inhabit their characters. Therefore, in both table-top and live action role-playing games, I have played with people who have wept, freaked out, been terrified, been enraged, and so forth in the midst of role-playing. One of the nice things about role-playing games is that there is ample berth for many different styles that can generate fun for different folks.

 

[iltharanos]

So already seeing some radical reimagining. I'm down. Eager to see more.

The fact that it's a jungle setting isn't radical reimagining. Older editions of Ravenloft had at least one "jungle" setting: Sri Raji. Sri Raji was Indian-inspired, which judging from Kalakeri, might be something similar.

 

[Reynard]

from D&D beyond
Pre-order Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft on D&D Beyond to unlock exclusive bonuses: character sheet cosmetics and special horror-themed digital dice to roll on the game log
FACE YOUR FEARS
Terror stalks the nightmare realms of Ravenloft. No one knows this better than monster scholar Rudolph Van Richten. To arm a new generation against the creatures of the night, Van Richten--along with other heroes of Ravenloft like Ezmerelda d’Avenir and the Weathermay-Foxgrove Twins--shares his correspondence and case files in this tome of eerie tales and chilling truths about the Lands of the Mists.
Discover the mysteries of Ravenloft, mist-shrouded lands where infamous Darklords lurk among ageless vampires, zombie hordes, cosmic terrors, and worse. Then make your choice. Will you create your own Domains of Dread, settings to host endless terrifying adventures? Or will you join the ranks of haunted heroes who embrace macabre lineages, dual-edged Dark Gifts, haunted subclasses, and other forbidden powers? The mists of Ravenloft are rising. Overcome your dread or forever be its prisoner!
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft contains macabre resources for fifth edition players and Dungeon Masters alike:
For Players:

• 2 new subclasses, the College of Spirits for bards and the Undead pact for warlocks for use in our D&D Beyond Character Builder
• New character lineages, including dhampir, hexblood, and reborn, which provide altered abilities and traits to your character
• Dark Gifts for characters that flesh out your place among the Domains of Dread in your D&D Beyond character sheet
• New backgrounds and trinkets themed specifically for a horror setting

For Dungeon Masters:

• Everything a Dungeon Master needs to craft a horror-themed campaign for Dungeons & Dragons, including rules and advice for building custom domains and Darklords using established horror tropes--or create your own sinister blend
• More than 30 new and familiar Domains of Dread beyond Barovia like Lamordia, Dementlieu, Kalakeri and Falkovnia, appearing for the first time in fifth edition
• A brand-new haunted adventure sure to add thrills and chills
• A horrific assortment of creatures and monsters like carrionettes, vampiric mind flayers, and other nightmares to terrify your players with the D&D Beyond Encounter Builder
• Unleash a treasure trove of new story hooks, character options, and campaign customization to bring one of the most exciting D&D settings to life!

Get these other spooky essentials:

• Curse of Strahd
• Ghosts of Saltmarsh
• Volo's Guide to Monsters
• Monster Manual

---

This purchase unlocks the contents of this adventure for use with D&D Beyond, including the book in digital format in the game compendium and access options from the book in the searchable listings, encounter builder, character builder, and digital sheet.
D&D Beyond

This looks like a paint job rather than a focused modification of the rules to make horror possible in 5E. That's not unexpected, but mildly disappointing anyway.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

shrugs When you write a single-word question, don't be surprised when someone gives an obvious answer.