D&D 5E (2024) Ravenloft: The Horrors Within preorder page lists the book's contents

Parmandur · 2026-04-14T19:11:53+0100

GarrettKP said:
I just think the Mist Walker Dark Gift is too powerful to be an “origin” feat. But we will see sooner than later now.

I mean...is it though? Misty Step and a Setting dependent plot device, and one heck of a weird curse?

I honestly expect these will be re-engineered to some fair extent, but I wouldn't describe Mist Walker as "powerful" as such.

Paul Farquhar · 2026-04-14T19:18:58+0100

Parmandur said:
I mean...is it though? Misty Step and a Setting dependent plot device, and one heck of a weird curse?

I honestly expect these will be re-engineered to some fair extent, but I wouldn't describe Mist Walker as "powerful" as such.

Agree. If anything it's a bit weak, since navigating the mists ability is so very situational. Plot devices really don't have a value independent of the plot. In my experience* the curse is pretty meaningless too, since PCs don't stay in one place long enough for it to kick in. The curse could just be cut if it's not a Dark Gift. Misty Step (or equivalent) isn’t hard to get.

*My players acquired this via a cursed magic item, the Amber Compass.

maceochaid · 2026-04-14T21:50:59+0100

While I really like the Tarokka deck's 70's artwork, but it feels too anachronistic to a medieval setting. I would have preferred more of a Visconti style deck. For now I'll keep using the b&w deck that came out with the Curse of Strahd.

Paul Farquhar · 2026-04-14T21:59:11+0100

maceochaid said:
it feels too anachronistic to a medieval setting

Ravenloft is even less medieval than standard D&D! I would have gone for a Victorian art style.

Remathilis · 2026-04-14T22:02:35+0100

maceochaid said:
While I really like the Tarokka deck's 70's artwork, but it feels too anachronistic to a medieval setting. I would have preferred more of a Visconti style deck. For now I'll keep using the b&w deck that came out with the Curse of Strahd.

I would argue Ravenloft really isn't all the medieval. Several Domains have technology that is far more advanced and many domains have a aesthetic far closer to Victorian than medieval. Victorian suits and dresses, seances and spiritualism, sanitariums and doctors, etc. That goes back to at least 2e and got steadily more prominent.

Paul Farquhar · 2026-04-14T22:07:12+0100

Remathilis said:
I would argue Ravenloft really isn't all the medieval. Several Domains have technology that is far more advanced and many domains have an aesthetic far closer to Victorian than medieval. Victorian suits and dresses, seances and spiritualism, sanitariums and doctors, etc. That goes back to at least 2e and got steadily more prominent.

Strahd wears a wing collar - a decidedly Victorian fashion - in the cover of the original module.

Stormonu · 2026-04-14T23:36:56+0100

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
Wow. So, cool idea for a monster, but absolutely no on that name.

Curious why no on the name - because it refers to a real-world group?

Vampire has had Brujah as bloodline since forever, I think they're derived from the same.

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-04-14T23:45:31+0100

Stormonu said:
Curious why no on the name - because it refers to a real-world group?

Vampire has had Brujah as bloodline since forever, I think they're derived from the same.

Because you can find actual Latinas practicing traditional folk medicine in many cities today, in the US and elsewhere, who call themselves "brujas." Saying that they're monstrous is all sorts of problematic.

Using the word for something extremely different -- Lost Boys-style vampires -- is a different matter.

TravDoc42 · 2026-04-15T00:42:05+0100

I'm willing to bet that this art is for the Relentless Killers, actually!

Parmandur · 2026-04-15T00:42:07+0100

Paul Farquhar said:
Agree. If anything it's a bit weak, since navigating the mists ability is so very situational. Plot devices really don't have a value independent of the plot. In my experience* the curse is pretty meaningless too, since PCs don't stay in one place long enough for it to kick in. The curse could just be cut if it's not a Dark Gift. Misty Step (or equivalent) isn’t hard to get.

*My players acquired this via a cursed magic item, the Amber Compass.

Yeah, I wonder if these Dark Gifts will keep the curse aspect for the flavor?