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.

 

[dave2008]

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From this article; The Mist Has Lifted Around D&D's New Sourcebook: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft

That image 2nd from the bottom looks fairly pseudo-modern. I guess these images are the different types of horror they are talking about. Definitely not all "Gothic Horror"

 

[Professor Murder]

I'd be happy for some expansion on firearms also, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Speculation: The look of fear on the tiefling reads as a PC to me,

NPC allies - twins apparently, according to the article.

But I would be surprised to find any race restrictions in this version.

 

[Kurotowa]

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

I don't expect them to be deep dives. The nations of Khorvaire in the Eberron book got 1-2 pages each, and 60 pages of Domains sounds fairly substantial.

 

[R_J_K75]

I don't expect them to be deep dives. The nations of Khorvaire in the Eberron book got 1-2 pages each, and 60 pages of Domains sounds fairly substantial.

I dont recall how many were in 1E/2E, is this quite a few more?

 

[robus]

Quite surprised that they didn’t use this as a pivot to an Innistrad setting book.

 

[Hatmatter]

I dont recall how many were in 1E/2E, is this quite a few more?

There were 29 or 30 covered in 36 pages in the original campaign setting, which was 2nd edition.

 

[Hatmatter]

Quite surprised that they didn’t use this as a pivot to an Innistrad setting book.

I remember there were some predictions last year that Innistrad might be covered as one of the new campaign settings; it made sense. But, speaking for myself, I am glad that they are first covering the traditional D&D setting before doing Innistrad. But, I would love to see Innistrad down the line.

 

[Reynard]

Hard to tell at this point IMO, but the 5e standard is to have as minimal rules modification as possible. So I wouldn't expect a bunch of new rules or radical departures. But you never now.

To be honest, the more I read about the content the more interested I've become. I was initially a maybe leaning to likely just buying the monsters on D&D Beyond; now I am a probable to buying the book and get the monsters on D&D beyond

I was just hoping that 5E was far enough along in its life cycle that we were going to start seeing some 2E style rules overhauls to get the flavor right for the subgenre, and Ravenloft being both different in tone and assumed era than standard D&D, was a prime candidate. I wasn't expecting an AiME level overhaul (though that would be cool, too) but a concerted effort to show just what D&D can do with a few substantive tweaks.

Basically I want a 5E that can actually do Deborah Anne Woll's "Relics and Rarities" stories and world justice.

 

[R_J_K75]

There were 29 or 30 covered in 36 pages in the original campaign setting, which was 2nd edition.

I forgot they did two boxed sets and a hardback in 2E for campaign settings.