D&D 5E Barovia's world

[Tyranthraxus]

There is no reason why the Prime Plan where Barovia was ripped from would have the same levels of horror. Strahd and his realm were ripped from their place (or were they? Remember the Dark Powers are able to REPLICATE someones homeland even down to providing them with people. They are actually creating stuff not simply taking it from a prime and bringing it there). There may still be a Castle Ravenloft in a prime plane and a Barovia we dont know about.

And the people would never know. THe Dark powers choose exactly what knowledge that people have of their environment

It could be from 'Once upon a time, there were no mists and you could travel from Barovia to Hickbert in a couple of days'

to

'Me family has always lived in Barovia. THe Lord has always lived in his castle and the mists have been there since.. forever' (even if Barovia was only 'made' weeks past).'

Barovia could easily be from many Low Magic Fantasy settings (Greyhawk comes to mind).

 

[Sunseeker]

There is no reason why the Prime Plan where Barovia was ripped from would have the same levels of horror.

Indeed Barovia could be quite the outlier, if we were to reference the original Dracula, Dracula's hometown was quite simple in comparison to the rest of Europe, where much of the traditional superstition had already been stomped out, especially in larger cities and was almost non-existent in wealthy and educated circles.

Indeed a "world" of horror would likely NOT be that horrific, as horror would be such a common thing, the people would be used to it. That's what makes horror so horrific, is that you are not expecting it. You're not prepared for it. It's one of the reasons getting sucked into the Mists is so scary, you came out here planning to do X and now you're trapped in an unknown land under constant attack from unknown creatures that you don't know how to fight.

Which sadly puts Ravenloft and the greater D&D concept at odds. D&D is a fantasy game filled with fantasy tropes that characters typically are prepared for. Ravenloft is scary because, if you approach it much like in the original Dracula, coming there with the intentions of doing simple trading, preparing yourself for another job completely unrelated to vampires and werewolves and horror, you figure out how to deal or you die, or some other horrific fate.

 

[Mouseferatu]

To me, barovia's original world would be far more interesting than Ravenloft, mainly because it should have some of the same levels of horror theme, but without the Deus ex that the mists represent.

I don't see why it would. One, the written material (for instance, Strahd's history in I, Strahd) doesn't suggest it. Two, the entire reason the Mists took him was because his behavior was so hideously evil; hardly seems likely if he was just another example, or even a slightly more extreme example, of what was going on around him. (And heck, it was the same powers that drew him and Barovia into the demiplane, at least by implication, as transformed him into a vampire in the first place. It's not like he was already some undead horror who was then snatched away.)

I'm sure the world would have some horrific aspects to it, but no more so than Oerth, Eberron, or, well, Earth.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Edit: Sorry for the double-post. I blame the Dark Powers.

 

[Guest 6801328]

I would trade my left arm for an entire campaign world of Gothic horror.

 

[Guest 6801328]

That's what makes horror so horrific, is that you are not expecting it.

I hear that was one of the strengths of the Spanish Inquisition as well.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Sorry double post. Been seeing a number of those lately...bug?

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I think more sources of the beasts, people and places are unknown than known. So the and Azalan are some of the few definitely known, from Dragon Lance and Greyhawk. Most of the others are vague.

 

[77IM]

I am envisioning a world which, by the year 735, is filled with Progress and Science and Civilization. Fey creatures, like elves, dwarves, goblins, and trolls, are rarely seen anymore, having retreated to the Lands of Fairy. You have to go on an expedition to a distant jungle or mountain peak to see a real dragon or chimera or giant. Practitioners of the Art are viewed as eccentric and mostly keep to themselves, hiring out their services to bored, wealthy nobles who are intrigued by the occult. Everything Makes Sense.

...Except for some odd peasant superstitions in remote border regions. Like the legend of the lost valley of Barovia in the Bartok mountains, forever cursed by the Dark Powers. The Vistani tell that tale sometimes, and claim to know the way into the valley, but no-one of good breeding listens to scoundrels like them. By the way, I have an important shipment travelling by caravan in that region very soon, and I could use the services of a group of sturdy adventurers like yourselves to escort it and make sure it crosses the Bartok mountains safely...

 

[Staffan]

I hear that was one of the strengths of the Spanish Inquisition as well.

Not really, no.
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