Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd Review

Like many Ravenloft tabletop adventures, five adventurers are plucked from the realms by the mists to find themselves in Barovia. As usual, Strahd sends one of his minions to invite the newcomers to his castle to enjoy his hospitality, a.k.a. for Strahd to mess with their minds and tempt them.

The characters are:

• Rotrog: An arrogant Orc wizard apprentice
• Kah: A shy Kenku cleric from Waterdeep
• Fielle: A cheerful human artificer from Baldur’s Gate
• Alishai: A moody, hot-tempered Tiefling paladin to Selune
• Chivarion: A good-natured Drow barbarian with a hairless tressym named “Murder” as his pet.

Over the course of the novel, you discover that each one was taken when they were faced with a terrible choice or were poised to take an awful action. That sets the stage for the crux of the novel—which character(s) will succumb to either Strahd’s temptations and/or the malevolent energy of Barovia, embracing their darkest impulses.

Should You Buy It?​

I found Heir to Strahd interesting because while it presented elements of Barovia that Ravenloft players and DMs will be very familiar with, not everything was what I had expected, even though I’ve GM’d Ravenloft adventures. The spirit of Tatyana most notably was presented in a way I did not expect based on the prior information I had read.

I don’t want to explain too much about Tatyana, and how she factors into the plot because it could ruin the mystery of who falls prey to the darkness to become the titular character. I will say that I suspected the doomed character at first, then talked myself out of it, assuming it was a feint to distract from another option. A later character reveal reinforced my original suspicion, but I still thought there might be a twist to go in the another direction. There wasn’t but instead of being unsatisfying, the ending makes me eager for a sequel.

Regardless of how one feels about the mystery and certain aspects of the ending, this Ravenloft novel can be very useful for anyone thinking of DMing an adventure set in Barovia. Dawson, the author of a few Star Wars novels and several fantasy novels, not only sets the tone very well for Barovia but also shows how Strahd could be played by a DM. The audiobook in particular showcased how even a simple conversation with Strahd can be equal parts charming and sinister.

For those who like or prefer audiobooks, the narration by Ellie Gossage was very good. It’s also available in hardcover and ebook editions.

Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd: B+.

 

[Gradine]

I wonder how a woman becomign a vampire is now "demonization of white American males.

Didn't you know? Humans are the "straight white American males" of D&D. Just like how Tieflings are the "horned queers", apparently

 

[Dire Bare]

Didn't you know? Humans are the "straight white American males" of D&D. Just like how Tieflings are the "horned queers", apparently

There is a lot of weird energy in this thread, isn't there.

 

[Gradine]

There is a lot of weird energy in this thread, isn't there.

Just in here?

 

[LazarusKane]

And that';s why having "inherently evil" species is pointless, players don't care and all these roles could be easily taken by humans or other species.

Why should players not care? I would use (for example) Kenkus because they are underused - not all cultists/bandits/kidnappers are humans. And I try to give the species I use a "special knack" so that the player realize the difference.
I don't know if any of these adventures use Kenkus as substitue for the standard species (the human) - and that's absolutely ok - or if any of use them with a deeper agenda.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Didn't you know? Humans are the "straight white American males" of D&D. Just like how Tieflings are the "horned queers", apparently

Someone has really got to reboot the simulation and, for crying out loud, patch it this time.

 

[Azzy]

Someone has really got to reboot the simulation and, for crying out loud, patch it this time.

Wouldn't that be nice.

 

[MuhVerisimilitude]

Trying to bring this thread away from whatever suspiciously culture-war ish tangents we are touching and back to more positive vibes, I've had a closer and longer and harder look at the cover and I STILL think it looks great.

Strahd himself looks like a smug naughty word, and I love it.

The style is distinctly modern, but the way characters are dressed doesn't feel anachronistic like that comic book cover that was posted here a few days ago.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Why should players not care? I would use (for example) Kenkus because they are underused - not all cultists/bandits/kidnappers are humans. And I try to give the species I use a "special knack" so that the player realize the difference.
I don't know if any of these adventures use Kenkus as substitue for the standard species (the human) - and that's absolutely ok - or if any of use them with a deeper agenda.

I mean in a sense, that you don't need designated "evil" race to be evil, players in my experience do not care if they fight Orcs or Goblins or Haflings. Unless you do something to make a group unique and memorable as individual group, it could all be endless army of clones of Larry from Accounting. And in this case that group stands on their own, not defined by their species assigned stereotype, just as any human group would.

 

[Scribe]

Someone has really got to reboot the simulation and, for crying out loud, patch it this time.

"Sorry, best I can do is try and burn it down, and die."

 

[wizard71]

It's mostly in "Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft". As far as I could tell the rules team at WotC were very much on board with these changes; I'd be really surprised if that was why anyone left.

We can speculate but I think it’s telling how they are all heading to the life boats after wrecking as many campaign settings as they could. Spell Jammer was a joke, they totally missed the spirit of Dragon Lance and Ravenloft. Now they exited right before Ebberon hits the stores. The design team has a lot to answer for.