Finally got the new Ravenloft.

[Dog Moon]

One thing is a little weird, though, they posted Strahd's complete stat blocks on the WotC site as an advertisement for the adventure.

Bye
Thanee

Yeah, I didn't like that. One person in my group mentioned that on Saturday and I was like 'What the? They posted the stats of the BBEG in the adventure? That just seems totally wrong...'

 

[MW Turnage]

I picked this up during and ran my first session of it Friday. Very nicely done book, and I like the new layout of encounters. I'm not sure if separating them from when they occur in the adventure is a good idea, though.

Without getting into spoilers, there is one thing that I have noticed: the first several encounters seem a bit underpowered. I expected to have to adjust things a little...but the typical 6th or 7th level party seems far overpowered for these.

At first glance, the major NPCs and the later encounters seem reasonable, though.

 

[Talmun]

I'm about to run the full mini-campaign for my regular group, and so far I'm quite pleased with the adventure. I'm a little iffy on the way the encounters are being listed, but I'm willing to see how it goes in actual play.

 

[jezter6]

I dug out the old I6 module, and after relooking at the maps, I don't think there's any loss in the maps from this book vs I6.

The 2 page spread may seem odd, but wait until you get into an encounter there, and you can just flip to that room and go with all the maps and bad guy stats all in one place.

 

[Frostmarrow]

I dug out the old I6 module, and after relooking at the maps, I don't think there's any loss in the maps from this book vs I6.

The 2 page spread may seem odd, but wait until you get into an encounter there, and you can just flip to that room and go with all the maps and bad guy stats all in one place.

An example spread can be downloaded from Wizards podcast-page. Get it here!

 

[Endur]

Now if they make these battle maps available as downloads I'll really love this book. I think I would even be happy if they sold a "Ravenloft map pack" or tile set. Maybe even happier.

I would pay extra for a "Ravenloft map pack" or tile set.

 

[Vanye]

The village and region maps can be downloaded from the map a week page, here

 

[Endur]

The village and region maps can be downloaded from the map a week page, here

Yes, but we're talking about the battle maps from the combat encounters.

 

[SteveC]

I would pay extra for a "Ravenloft map pack" or tile set.

Let me second that. Now that I've seen the new encounter system, I like it a lot. I think that a PDF/downloadable set of maps--or tactical battle maps--would make this new setup just about perfect.

Good job with this product, WotC!

--Steve

 

[Vocenoctum]

It inserted well into my ongoing Eberron game, so I'm using it immediatly.

I'm undecided on the Delve format, on one hand everything is there, but it also seems like a lot of wasted space. Hopefully not every encounter in every adventure needs a Tactical Spread, or the page counts will be horrible. I'd also have liked references for some of the monsters as to where they may have originally appeared, or if they're original to the adventure.

I still miss boxed sets though, having the Tactical Spreads in a book, and the core stuff in a book, with removable maps, that would be the best.This does seem the perfect format for web-enhancement though, particularly if Player Versions of the tactical maps were available.

As far as plot changes, I'll be cutting it a bit, so won't be using the Fanes, and might trim a bit more, plus accentuating some other things that are more of a sidebar to fit into my campaign, but I really do like the idea. I am the Ancient, I am the Land has real meaning.

Though no chest with hiding place with Deck of Many Things.

Bonus Stuff: Legacy Items are great, Knight of the Raven is great, Lightbearer stuff cool enough. Magic Items are generally good, though the format still irks me as wasteful.

The only big thing that bugged me, was the constant reprinting of Strahds stats wherever he MIGHT be. It got tedious after a while, especially given the size of the stat block. Otherwise all is good, and I look forward to Madam Eva.