The Ghost
Explorer
Ravenloft, is one of the few campaign settings that can really exist beyond the rules. Ravenloft is how you tell the story. The descriptions that you use. The images that you evoke.
I think it certainly can be done in 4e. I can see the Mists and the Dark Powers being used to explain a lot of why the PCs are special and different than the common person. Where their powers came from. I think the minion rules add a lot to what you can do with bats, rats, wolves, zombies, etc. The liberal monster creation rules certainly allow you to make monsters like Adam easier than in 3e.
I do agree with you, however, in regards to non-humans (Dragonborn and Tieflings in particular) as having problems with fitting into the setting. Mostly because I view Ravenloft to be a very Eastern European, very Gothic Earth setting. I view Ravenloft as something that could have existed in our own history. And non-human characters, well, I have a hard time seeing their place in our history. As always, though, YMMV.
I think it certainly can be done in 4e. I can see the Mists and the Dark Powers being used to explain a lot of why the PCs are special and different than the common person. Where their powers came from. I think the minion rules add a lot to what you can do with bats, rats, wolves, zombies, etc. The liberal monster creation rules certainly allow you to make monsters like Adam easier than in 3e.
I do agree with you, however, in regards to non-humans (Dragonborn and Tieflings in particular) as having problems with fitting into the setting. Mostly because I view Ravenloft to be a very Eastern European, very Gothic Earth setting. I view Ravenloft as something that could have existed in our own history. And non-human characters, well, I have a hard time seeing their place in our history. As always, though, YMMV.