Innsmouth added as new Ravenloft Domain of Dread, bringing Lovecraft to D&D

occam · 2026-04-15T23:35:41+0100

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
For a guy calling himself "occam," this is a pretty weak argument.

D&D has had off-brand mythos stuff in it since the AD&D days, the kuo-toa and Blibdoolpoolp, the Elder Elemental Eye, Tharizdun, mind flayers, aboleth, the yuan-ti and more. And that stuff is beloved.

And yeah, Ravenloft has been better off historically when they made new stuff inspired by classic horror tropes, but designed to work well with the D&D system of the moment.

I think you missed the point. If you want non-Mythos cosmic horror in Ravenloft... it's already there. But if you want Cthulhu, then just use Cthulhu, don't try to disguise it. (Remember that the examples of supposed D&D originality I was responding to were Count Strahd von Zarovich and Victor Mordenheim.)

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-04-15T23:52:15+0100

Voadam said:
Since Kara Tur became part of the Forgotten Realms in later 1e they are part of the Realms. You can also see them in the 2e Kara Tur Monstrous compendium appendix.

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I was a bit surprised not to see them in 3e's Oriental Adventures or the Epic Level Handbook.

I feel like they did reappear in the WotC era, but can't remember where. You're right that those two books are the most obvious choices.

wicked cool · 2026-04-15T23:52:58+0100

If you’re not interested just don’t buy it. For me if they actually flesh out the town etc then it’s a day 1 buy for me. It already sounds better than 1/2 the poop they had published 2-4 years ago and the new direction is positive.

Remathilis · 2026-04-16T01:31:35+0100

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
I feel like they did reappear in the WotC era, but can't remember where. You're right that those two books are the most obvious choices.

Apparently they were in BECMI, but nothing I found in 3e...

tetrasodium · 2026-04-16T02:21:12+0100

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
I feel like they did reappear in the WotC era, but can't remember where. You're right that those two books are the most obvious choices.

If you are looking for 3.x Godzilla with the serial numbers filed off id look in the dragon book. Think it was called races of dragon or similar. If it's not there outright that book has the relevant breath weapon feats and such

Henadic Theologian · 2026-04-16T03:15:21+0100

Weiley31 said:
Just play it straight: keep the New England town looking EXACTLY the same as it would in HP Lovecraft. The pcs should stick out like a sore thumb. Make it one big weird-off where the party or Innsmouth's fishy hybrids don't know whose stranger.

Would you have the town retain its American history?

Anyways this Innsmouth Domain is bigger then just the town of Innsmouth, and it includes lovecraftian creatures other then Deep Ones & Cthulu.

I think this is inspired by Lovecraftian horror, creatures, and settings, but with a D&D twist to all of it. So I don't expect reference to the United States of America or New England themselves, but just towns and cities.

Like I don't think there will be a bus route.