D&D 5E Everything We Know About The Ravenloft Book

Here is a list of everything we know so far about the upcoming Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft.

Art by Paul Scott Canavan​

• May 18th, 256 pages
• 30 domains (with 30 villainous darklords)
• Barovia (Strahd), Dementlieu (twisted fairly tales), Lamordia (flesh golem), Falkovnia (zombies), Kalakeri (Indian folklore, dark rainforests), Valachan (hunting PCs for sport), Lamordia (mad science)
• NPCs include Esmerelda de’Avenir, Weathermay-Foxgrove twins, traveling detective Alanik Ray.
• Large section on setting safe boundaries.
• Dark Gifts are character traits with a cost.
• College of Spirits (bard storytellers who manipulate spirits of folklore) and Undead Patron (warlock) subclasses.
• Dhampir, Reborn, and Hexblood lineages.
• Cultural consultants used.
• Fresh take on Vistani.
• 40 pages of monsters. Also nautical monsters in Sea of Sorrows.
• 20 page adventure called The House of Lament - haunted house, spirits, seances.

​

D&D 5E - Full Wraparound Cover Art For Ravenloft

We've seen the cover already, but here's a look at the full wraparound art by Anna Podedworna. https://www.enworld.org/threads/updated-with-cover-the-d-d-book-is-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft.678411/ https://www.enworld.org/threads/heres-the-ravenloft-alternate-cover.678414/...

www.enworld.org

D&D 5E - Here's the Ravenloft Alternate Cover!

As usual, there is an alternate hobby-store exclusive cover for the upcoming Ravenloft book. Here's a look at it! And here's the full wraparound art. https://www.enworld.org/threads/updated-with-cover-the-d-d-book-is-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft.678411/...

www.enworld.org

D&D 5E - [Updated with cover!] The D&D Book Is.... Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft!

Yesterday's hints that a new D&D book would be announced today have born fruit -- we now have a product description and a title! It's a Ravenloft setting book, with tools and new rules for horror-themed games, and new horror-themed character options. I'll update this post with a product image as...

www.enworld.org

 

[Kurotowa]

A few screengrabs

Well well well. This is interesting. The Dhampir Bite gets reined in a little where the empowered version only counts piercing damage. That's good, no Smite funny business. But I believe the Tasha's version of Ranger Favored Foe would still count, since it adds a die of damage to the attack's own. On the other hand, I don't think Swarmkeeper Ranger would work. Even though it adds piercing damage, it's damage from the swarm and not the bite, so that's out.

Also, whatever the Dark Gift is with the Death Touch package, it's a lot more substantial than the shadow one that got officially previewed. That ability set is the sort of thing you could try to build a character around. I thought they'd be limited to mostly flavor level impact, but now I'm really eager to see what the full set is like.

 

[overgeeked]

Any info on the stress and fear mechanics in that review?

 

[Bedrockgames]

I will say incorporating a ouija board is a pretty cool idea if they are going that direction. I would be very curious how well that works out at the table

 

[Remathilis]

Any info on the stress and fear mechanics in that review?

The video only covered the PC chapter. More to come I guess.

 

[Remathilis]

I will say incorporating a ouija board is a pretty cool idea if they are going that direction. I would be very curious how well that works out at the table

So it just dawned on me that Ouija is owned by Hasbro and if their isn't a Ravenloft-themed Ouija board by year's end they missed a golden opportunity.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Well well well. This is interesting. The Dhampir Bite gets reined in a little where the empowered version only counts piercing damage. That's good, no Smite funny business. But I believe the Tasha's version of Ranger Favored Foe would still count, since it adds a die of damage to the attack's own. On the other hand, I don't think Swarmkeeper Ranger would work. Even though it adds piercing damage, it's damage from the swarm and not the bite, so that's out.

Hunter's Mark should stack with it, too (but Favored Foe would deal more piercing damage on one attack once it gets to 1d8). The Piercer feat would work with this, too (as does Martial Arts). So, if you can stack piercer's critical hit benefit with level 14 Favored Foe on a critical bite attack (with 1d6 damage from Martial Arts as a Monk 6/Ranger 14 and a 20 for CON), that would be 2d6+3d8+5 damage. On average, that's 25.5 piercing damage, or a maximum of 41, which can then be regained in hit points or added to your next ability check or attack roll.

Not broken for a level 20 build, especially because of how MAD this build would have to be and how poorly it compares to the UA version (for a good reason), but certainly useful when you need to succeed on an attack roll or ability check.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

At least they got rid of the dual creature types, because being both undead and humanoid leads to too many complications.

 

[Kurotowa]

Not broken for a level 20 build, especially because of how MAD this build would have to be and how poorly it compares to the UA version (for a good reason), but certainly useful when you need to succeed on an attack roll or ability check.

Rather than going all-in on the Bite as your main attack gimmick, I'm more looking at ways it can fill a good supporting role. Maybe you put it in a grappling build with that death touch Dark Gift and use the ability bonus to help win the grapple checks. Maybe you use the new Thrown Weapon fighting style and have the bite as your back up melee option. Maybe you don't use it offensively, but work a deal for other PCs to donate some HP so you can beat crucial skill checks. (Hmm. Melee attacks on Paralyzed or Unconscious targets are auto-crits, so can a willing bite target voluntarily be auto-crit to boost your empowered bite result?)

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Dragon Talk | Official D&D Podcast | Dungeons & Dragons

Each week, the D&D team sits down with celebrities and personalities from across gaming and pop culture to discuss the world's greatest roleplaying game.

dnd.wizards.com

New Lore You Should Know, this time on Tepest.

• The domain worships a power called "The Mother." They devote sacrifices and rituals to her in a "Tithing."
• What they sacrifice to is up to the DM (there is no set creature in the book).
• There are few children, and the ones that do remain are all Hexbloods.
• Lorinda (one of the original three hags) turned on the other two hags and became the sole Dark Lord. She imprisoned the two in her cauldron.
• Lorinda's goal is to recreate a family for herself, but is limited by not having the power of a full coven.
• Inspired by media like The Wicker Man.

 

[TheSword]

Dragon Talk | Official D&D Podcast | Dungeons & Dragons

Each week, the D&D team sits down with celebrities and personalities from across gaming and pop culture to discuss the world's greatest roleplaying game.

dnd.wizards.com

New Lore You Should Know, this time on Tepest.

• The domain worships a power called "The Mother." They devote sacrifices and rituals to her in a "Tithing."
• What they sacrifice to is up to the DM (there is no set creature in the book).
• There are few children, and the ones that do remain are all Hexbloods.
• Lorinda (one of the original three hags) turned on the other two hags and became the sole Dark Lord. She imprisoned the two in her cauldron.
• Lorinda's goal is to recreate a family for herself, but is limited by not having the power of a full coven.
• Inspired by media like The Wicker Man.

Also that awesome chapter of Witcher 3 in the Velen Marshes. Where they chop their right ears off as tribute to the Witches.