Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

[teitan]

The puffing predates Vampire: The Masquerade, IIRC.

Yes, by a couple years I think. Ravenloft was in 1991, Vamp was in 92 I think but didn't take off until about 95 or thereabouts.

 

[Cam Banks]

Yes, by a couple years I think. Ravenloft was in 1991, Vamp was in 92 I think but didn't take off until about 95 or thereabouts.

Right. Vampire wasn't really huge until it was released in 2nd edition (and hardcover).

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Razz]

Bah, bring back Ravenloft the setting, to hell with it being an adventure only. What's with WotC teasing people? Had my hopes up, I'll rebel by not bothering to purchase the adventure now, whether or not it'll be fun, nostalgic, or whatever.

I may not have a voice to them, but at least they won't have my wallet.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The original Ravenloft adventure had mists. The original adventure wasn't in a demiplane: it was a small barony (whatever) that was cut off from the rest of the world by the effects of the mists... people could get in, but they couldn't get out.

"No one has left Barovia for centuries. This is because of the trapping fog that exists everywhere in Barovia..."

Wow. Y'know, I enjoyed the campaign setting for what it was, but I gotta say, I love this set up even more for a gaming product. Barovia existing in an otherwise "normal" world cements the idea of the horrific next door, and makes it able to blend with a homebrew (which is always more satisfying than an entire setting).

I LIKE the idea of Strahd's kingdom being self-contained. The rest of the Realms of Dread don't need to be present at all.

And I gotta give WotC a big high five for having the courage to cut ties with the campaign setting like this. It gives me hope for a Sigil sourcebook to be released.

 

[Nyeshet]

I'm guessing it will be generic enough to be placed in Greyhawk, Faerun, Eberron, Kuril, etc. Of course, this means that it will also be generic enough to exist as a part of the Demiplane of Dread, so I suppose it all works out, whatever your wishes.

From the ToC, however, I do not expect any support for the latter - merely a lack of facts that might contradict it. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the 'Welcome to Barovia' bit actually makes suggestions of where to place it in Eberron, Faerun, Greyhawk, etc for those not interested in placing it in the Ravenloft setting.

 

[Shemeska]

And I gotta give WotC a big high five for having the courage to cut ties with the campaign setting like this.

I'm not really sure that we know solidly one way or the other if it's being watered down and made into a generic location for the purposes of the book or not. Yes a lot of people who have nostalgia for I6 are begging for that to be the case, presumably because they don't like the setting or simply aren't familiar with it, and on the other hand there are people who liked the setting or don't want to see a decade of subsequent work be tossed aside for naught.

But given that WotC is re-releasing Ravenloft branded novels, I can't see them not at least providing multiple setting options in the book including the Barovia of more than just the 1e module, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they just catered to one perspective and let the IP go fallow. That they're releasing the books suggests that we'll see the actual demiplane of dread discussed in some manner, even if briefly.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm not really sure that we know solidly one way or the other if it's being watered down and made into a generic location for the purposes of the book or not.

This book, at least, is not a reintroduction of the Ravenloft campaign setting (though it certainly may include references back to that setting). This is a Good Thing because it means that one can enjoy the adventure without the Ravenloft CS baggage. And those who may want the baggage can pick up the old 2e stuff, the S&SS stuff, etc.

 

[Felon]

Meh. Undead adventures are lame in 3e and always will be, no matter what classic name you throw on it. Until level draining comes back, undead will just be another monster. It might work as a low level adventure where characters don't have access to restoration spells, but otherwise, just another adventure. Maybe a GOOD adventure, but definitely not scary. When I ran Ravenloft back in the day, the players were scared out of their wits at every sound. They love their precious levels, heheh.

Not sure what you're going on about. Restoration existed in previous editions of D&D, and level drain exists in the current one.

I've seen characters lose levels after failing their Fort saves. They've got a pretty healthy respect for the powers of undead without them being excessively cheesy and...lame.

 

[Shadowslayer]

I'm not really sure that we know solidly one way or the other if it's being watered down and made into a generic location for the purposes of the book or not. Yes a lot of people who have nostalgia for I6 are begging for that to be the case, presumably because they don't like the setting or simply aren't familiar with it, and on the other hand there are people who liked the setting or don't want to see a decade of subsequent work be tossed aside for naught.

Well, you say "watering it down". I say they've actually just "trimmed off the excess bloat". Its all a matter of perspective.

Count me among the I6 fans. At least Ravenloft as a module was, for a fantasy setting, somewhat believable. I found the "Demiplane of Dread", as presented, to be much less so...kind of goofy in fact, and I'm a huge horror fiction fan. I tried to like the setting. Bought almost all the stuff. But in the end I just ended up picking a little from this and a little from that and inserting it into my regular setting instead. It was more horrific that way, rather than comical.

 

[jinx crossbow]

I will buy it and read it and likely enjoy it.
Bit I will never play it because my hate of vampires knows no limit.

Jinx