There is also Masque of the Red Death - it is considered to be a "domain", and actually has Frankenstein and Dracula in it. There's even a version available on DM's Guild for 5E.
The crossovers will continue until morale improves.
If Cosmic horror is okay in Ravenloft, then why not available names such as Cthulhu or Azathoth? WotC could create their own character for this, but if everyone knows it’s essentially Cthulhu in disguise, is that effort worth it? Strahd became Strahd the well known vampire lord loved by D&D fans everywhere through years of effort and folks constantly taking up I6 Ravenloft. Meanwhile, Cthulhu is right there. Free to use. Everyone already knows him.
I’m unfamiliar with that, but it sounds like something I wouldn’t like
Exactly
Was Vecna fully a god at that point? I didn’t think he got promoted from demigod to full-on god until 4e.
Ackahullay...
Because those names mean things, and what they mean is not easily compatible with Ravenloft. Cthulhu lives in the Atlantic Ocean, on actual factual Earth. Him being trapped in a misty demiplane in the shadowfell is just not correct. Azathoth is the blind idiot god who unwittingly created the universe and the only reason it’s safe from him is because it’s beyond his notice. The existence of that character in D&D implies a lot about the setting that is incompatible with other established facts about its universe. One or both things have to change to a point of no longer being themselves to be forced together.
Right, and while he is obviously inspired by Dracula, there are a lot of details that could not have worked if he had actually been the Brahm Stoker character. It is a good thing that he was made an original character because it gave the writers the freedom to take him in his own direction, and the setting is better for that.
But what they know about him is not that he lives in Ravenloft. They’re going to have to make significant changes to him to fit him into the setting anyway, so why not make this altered version his own character, not beholden to the audience’s expectations of Cthulhu?
It was a side project. See my comment above.
No. He was started as a demigod. In the events of Die Venca, Die, he uses the various body parts to gain enough power to break free of the Dark Powers and manifest in Sigil over the objections of the Lady of Pain. She resets the universe and creates 3rd edition. Venca becomes a full god at that point.
Beginning? It feels like 1979 all over again to me! I really missed that 1st edition wacky crossover spirit. After that D&D started taking itself far too seriously.
(Dungeons & Dragons)
Rulebook featuring "high magic" options, including a host of new spells.
(Dungeons & Dragons)
Rulebook featuring "high magic" options, including a host of new spells.
