Horror RPGs

[Morrus]

Is Ravenloft even relevant anymore as a horror setting?

In what sense? It's not currently in print, no, like many other settings. I imagine if WotC decides to print it, it'll magically become relevant.

 

[Abstruse]

In what sense? It's not currently in print, no, like many other settings. I imagine if WotC decides to print it, it'll magically become relevant.

God I wish I could spill more beans..but we talk about THIS in next week's episode too!

Basically, WotC is courting a lot of the original founders of various campaign settings. I confirmed that they've been in talks with Keith Baker for Ebberon and that talks have started to mend the burnt bridges with Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman for Dragonlance (Weis has expressed particular interest in returning to Dragonlance). Considering that Ravenloft is arguably somewhere in the #3 to #5 range in terms of popularity of D&D settings (definitely behind Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms and, depending on the poll, ahead of or just behind Greyhawk and Darksun), I'd say there's a damn good chance of it coming back in some form.

But again, Ari Marmell has some very interesting things to say on our October 31st episode of You All Meet in a Tavern that I won't spoil.

 

[Morrus]

I confirmed that they've been in talks with Keith Baker for Ebberon and that talks have started to mend the burnt bridges with Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman for Dragonlance (Weis has expressed particular interest in returning to Dragonlance).

Heh, yeah, Keith and Margaret both said as much a while back. Interesting stuff!

Considering that Ravenloft is arguably somewhere in the #3 to #5 range in terms of popularity of D&D settings (definitely behind Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms and, depending on the poll, ahead of or just behind Greyhawk and Darksun), I'd say there's a damn good chance of it coming back in some form.

It'd be nice (and WotC has already indicated it's part of the new cosmology); let's hope!

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I am working on a Halloween episode for my own RPG review show... and Ravenloft, at least classic Ravenloft, is rooted in Gothic literature and the old Universal horror flicks and the Hammer horror movies. These movies were aired on TV late Saturdays and early Sundays in the 1970s and the 1980s. But they are not aired on TV anymore and horror movies and literature have moved in different directions. I like movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hellraiser and the Ring, but none of them possesses a style like that of the old Universal horror flicks and the Hammer horror movies. I cannot image an expy of the Hewitt Family (from TCM) or Pinhead or the girl crawling out of the well with their own Ravenloft domains. The kind of horror movies which defines the term for the modern generation are movies like Saw, Hostel and even (god help us) Human Centipede. Those flicks do not have a remotely Ravenloft tone or feel to them, but they (and crappy SyFy flicks) define horror expectations from a modern audience.

So, given this sea-change, is Ravenloft even relevant anymore as a horror setting? And I ask this as someone who liked the classic setting.

 

[Abstruse]

Heh, yeah, Keith and Margaret both said as much a while back. Interesting stuff!!

Yeah, I was the source on both of those. I bugged Robert J. Schwalb, Miranda Horner, and Bruce Cordell (when he was still with WotC) until they gave a half-assed admission, then hijacked an IRC Q&A with Margaret Weis and pestered Keith Baker on Twitter. It's about the only story I've ever broken for AICN Tabletop and I'm friggin' proud of it

 

[Morrus]

I am working on a Halloween episode for my own RPG review show... and Ravenloft, at least classic Ravenloft, is rooted in Gothic literature and the old Universal horror flicks and the Hammer horror movies. These movies were aired on TV late Saturdays and early Sundays in the 1970s and the 1980s. But they are not aired on TV anymore and horror movies and literature have moved in different directions. I like movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hellraiser and the Ring, but none of them possesses a style like that of the old Universal horror flicks and the Hammer horror movies. I cannot image an expy of the Hewitt Family (from TCM) or Pinhead or the girl crawling out of the well with their own Ravenloft domains. The kind of horror movies which defines the term for the modern generation are movies like Saw, Hostel and even (god help us) Human Centipede. Those flicks do not have a remotely Ravenloft tone or feel to them, but they (and crappy SyFy flicks) define horror expectations from a modern audience.

So, given this sea-change, is Ravenloft even relevant anymore as a horror setting? And I ask this as someone who liked the classic setting.

It's as relevant as Eberron is. In other words, as soon as it's published, it will become relevant. And vampires are unfortunately popular these days; there's a new Dracula TV series starting soon. Stars that bloke who played Henry VIII in The Tudors. He's probably jealous his friend is now Superman, but such is life.

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

Well, people who like classic Ravenloft (and Universal Horror and Hammer Horror) will be cool with Ravenloft, but people accustomed to horror as defined by movies since 2000 will not think it qualifies as horror until someone is butt-raped by a running chainsaw. If it does not strike that note, then many will say it is not horror.

 

[Abstruse]

Well, people who like classic Ravenloft (and Universal Horror and Hammer Horror) will be cool with Ravenloft, but people accustomed to horror as defined by movies since 2000 will not think it qualifies as horror until someone is butt-raped by a running chainsaw. If it does not strike that note, then many will say it is not horror.

Yeah, I'm pimping my podcast again at http://gamerstavern.org/ but we talk about exactly that topic on the episode in some pretty good detail. The TL;DR version is "Yes, because even modern horror films use the same tropes and they've become universal on a cultural level." But check back on October 31st for our episode with guest Ari Marmell where we spend a lot of time talking about seriously exactly the points you're bringing up.

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Is Ravenloft even relevant anymore as a horror setting?

Does that bother my group on our gaming table?

- Yes, yes, I know I am late, but I had to say it.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I am working on a Halloween episode for my own RPG review show... and Ravenloft, at least classic Ravenloft, is rooted in Gothic literature and the old Universal horror flicks and the Hammer horror movies. These movies were aired on TV late Saturdays and early Sundays in the 1970s and the 1980s. But they are not aired on TV anymore and horror movies and literature have moved in different directions. I like movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hellraiser and the Ring, but none of them possesses a style like that of the old Universal horror flicks and the Hammer horror movies. I cannot image an expy of the Hewitt Family (from TCM) or Pinhead or the girl crawling out of the well with their own Ravenloft domains. The kind of horror movies which defines the term for the modern generation are movies like Saw, Hostel and even (god help us) Human Centipede. Those flicks do not have a remotely Ravenloft tone or feel to them, but they (and crappy SyFy flicks) define horror expectations from a modern audience.

So, given this sea-change, is Ravenloft even relevant anymore as a horror setting? And I ask this as someone who liked the classic setting.

I think it is a fair question. To me its still relevant. I love Ravenloft, grew up on all that stuff but have no idea how popular classic horror is with people younger than me. I have seen a bunch of trailers for shows about dracula and sleepy hollow this fall, so i suspect there is still an appetite for it. But Ravenloft makes very direct references to stuff from hammer, universal, etc...if you didn't grow up watching Cushing and Price, woukd it still resonate---not sure. I think the tropes are strong enough that it is relevant. However i do think the OP poses an interesting question.

has any tried introducing Ravenloft to people who started gaming on 3.0 or 4E?