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 (Indian folklore, dark rainforests), Valachan (hunting PCs for sport), Lamordia (mad science)
• NPCs include Esmerelda de’Avenir, Weathermay-Foxgrove twins, traveling detective Alanik Ray.
• Large section on setting safe boundaries.
• Dark Gifts are character traits with a cost.
• College of Spirits (bard storytellers who manipulate spirits of folklore) and Undead Patron (warlock) subclasses.
• Dhampir, Reborn, and Hexblood lineages.
• Cultural consultants used.
• Fresh take on Vistani.
• 40 pages of monsters. Also nautical monsters in Sea of Sorrows.
• 20 page adventure called The House of Lament - haunted house, spirits, seances.

​

D&D 5E - Full Wraparound Cover Art For Ravenloft

We've seen the cover already, but here's a look at the full wraparound art by Anna Podedworna. https://www.enworld.org/threads/updated-with-cover-the-d-d-book-is-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft.678411/ https://www.enworld.org/threads/heres-the-ravenloft-alternate-cover.678414/...

www.enworld.org

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 - [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...

www.enworld.org

 

[dave2008]

I must say all of these thread where people rant about the changes to lore make me happy that the only lore I ever put any in stock in was in the 1e MM, MM2, & Deities and Demigods. I've basically ignored anything since and just use what I like (4e Dawn War & Primordials for example).

 

[Bedrockgames]

They may have been part of the original adventure, but they weren't in the actual setting materials, which were pretty seriously written. I would not have been a Ravenloft fan if they were (I don't have that kind of sense of humor).

I agree with this. The module was important for a number of reasons. But the Black Box took that and established something new, which became the foundation of the line. And it took a very serious tone with it.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Apparently, Ravenloft was the most boring setting TSR every published and anyone who liked it before now was a dumbass with poor taste

This is the issue many of us have with the way the setting is being rolled out

 

[dave2008]

No, what I am saying is we are talking about changes to the line. And I said the changes don't seem to be made for the old fans.

I was just wondering: what changes could be made for the old fans? I mean, don't the old fans like the old content?

 

[Rikka66]

I just am intrigued that so many people who for so long have been critical of the old content, don't see how many of the changes, much fo the tone, seems insulting or dismissive to those of us who loved the setting when it came out.

That's taking it personal, which I would recommend not doing. I could never watch something like Gotham, which makes massive, sometimes in my view detrimental changes to Batman lore, but I don't take it as an personal slight I get what they're doing, it's just not for me. They made changes that fit their vision of the product, and I'm sure in some cases ones they even thought were improvements. But unless there's statements from the creators dogging the comics and their fans there isn't a need to feel insulted.

Fans dedicated to old meta of Ravenloft have every right to feel disappointed in the new version, even a bit upset. They can disagree when the devs suggest these domains were updated because the old versions were lacking in some way (though I don't think you'd find anyone who argue that all of the old domains were smash hits that didn't need to be changed or cut. Agreement on which would be the tricky part.)

 

[Voadam]

That explains a lot about the side of the conversation I can't see.

Bedrock says he is a different guy. He publishes one book by rpgpundit (the mythic Inda OSR game Arrows of Indra), but also stuff by other people, and mostly his own stuff.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I was just wondering: what changes could be made for the old fans? I mean, don't the old fans like the old content?

Of course they could make changes that old fans would be fine with. And I understand, they are going to balance and try to bring in a new generation. I am not expecting the black box revised or something. But I think when you start with the attitude that the old stuff was boring, that 'old tropes' should be replaced with high fantasy, when you shift the focus away from the core premise of classic horror (the core premise, not just some superficial aspect), to multi-genre horror, but then at the same time, you seem on the fence about horror, and you then remove classic tropes, completely re-write classic domains and characters (like taking the classic egyptian mummy stuff out of Har'akir) and when you act like old fans who don't like the change are just bad people, then you are definitely going to lose those old fans. Basically don't crap on the old material, don't crap on the old fans for liking the old material.

 

[overgeeked]

The Mindtaker Mists section, talked about at the 4:05 mark. That’s World of Tales from the Crypt. Wild. Sounds fun.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Bedrock says he is a different guy. He publishes one book by rpgpundit (the mythic Inda OSR game Arrows of Indra), but also stuff by other people, and mostly his own stuff.

I am a different guy. I did publish Pundit's book, I consider him a friend. But @overgeeked, should at least get who I am right, not say I am someone I am not. And at least report on the authorship of the games on my website accurately.

 

[Remathilis]

(like taking the classic egyptian mummy stuff out of Har'akir).

Oh for the love of Pete...

They AREN'T getting rid of the Egyptian theming of Har'Akir. Anhktepot is called Pharaoh. Their are pyramids and deserts. Ankyb still wears funeral wrappings. What they have done is removed the overt Egypt references (like Osiris and the Egyptian gods) and made Anky more proactive as a living God of his realm rather than a sleeping treasure vault guardian.

They wanted to tell a story different from The Mummy where a bunch of foreigners go into a pyramid and awaken a sleeping evil trope. They wanted natives to have reason to adventure there and goals other than tomb raiding. Much like how Theros is "Greek inspired" but not adventures in Greek Myth, Har'Akir is Egyptian inspired.

Listen on it here:
Hope that clears things up. because I'd really like to stop these I'Cath whispers...