Expidition to Castle Ravenloft - Spoilers and Answers

[Klaus]

Even though one might not memorize the entire stat block, the stats do come out and tell about the three rituals to be performed, and what they accomplish...

 

[kvehmane]

I've always hated the Boris Karloff look for Strahd. It's what turned me off to Ravenloft in the first place. His look was envisioned at a time when artists felt that all vampires had to look like Count Dracula. I am so glad movies, books, and television have helped to get us away from that ridiculous pigeonhole!

You DO mean Bela Lugosi? He was the Dracula in those black/white movies; Karloff was usually the big ugly (e.g. Frankenstein's monster).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

As far as I remember, Strahd was the first monster with class levels and, thus, he was a rule breaker.

There was a drow vampire magic-user in D3 years prior to the release of I6.

 

[Nikosandros]

There was a drow vampire magic-users in D3 years prior to the release of I6.

According to the AD&D Monster Manual, any classed individual would retain his classes in undeath.

Any human or humanoid drained of all life energy by a vampire becomes an appropriately strengthed vampire under control of its slayer. This transformation takes place 1 day after the creature is buried, but if and only if the creature is buried. Thus it is possible to have a vampiric thief, cleric (chaotic evil in vampire form, of course), etc. If the vampire which slew the creature is itself killed, the vampires created by it become free-willed monsters.

 

[Cam Banks]

No illustration will ever top the original Caldwells for me. The fangs, eyes without pupils, slightly pointed ears, and the high collar are essentials. Add in the whitened hair at the temples (and the hair slicked back and short) and that's the iconic Strahd von Zarovich.

I don't buy that "ancient" and "elder" require him to end up sunken-cheeked and shriveled, either. Vampirism gave him a timeless, patrician sort of look. Tatyana very likely only called him those names because he was older than she was.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Aeric]

You DO mean Bela Lugosi? He was the Dracula in those black/white movies; Karloff was usually the big ugly (e.g. Frankenstein's monster).

Yep, my mistake.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

There's something I never really noticed: they radically changed the look of Strahd von Zarovich for the cover of Dragon #315, but Lord Soth in the back there looks like he always did, bucket head and all.

 

[frankthedm]

There's something I never really noticed: they radically changed the look of Strahd von Zarovich for the cover of Dragon #315, but Lord Soth in the back there looks like he always did, bucket head and all.

I was very worried Soth was going to get the 3E spikey look.

 

[Hawken]

I was very worried Soth was going to get the 3E spikey look.

Kind of a moot point since Soth was yanked out of Ravenloft and only came back to Dragonlance long enough to die.

 

[Marchen]

I generally like my vampires to be very in-human. I loathe the whole "aristocracy of the night" deal; I'll have no Anne Rice romantic blood-suckers or politically minded WoD vamps.

That being said, the Strahd/Raveloft image has a special exception with me because of the gothic over the top style. The older AD&D artwork makes him look like a frightening monster, even with the cheesy monster movie costume. The new artwork makes Strahd as unappealing anime knockoff.

Even with some lame artwork (certainly not ALL of it though), the new module sounds pretty neat.