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Is Spelljammer really that bad?
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<blockquote data-quote="Chaosmancer" data-source="post: 8852341" data-attributes="member: 6801228"><p>As [USER=22779]@Hussar[/USER] points out, Van Richten's was a second dive, the first being the setting of Barovia, which was only lightly detailed. </p><p></p><p>But, you also are comparing a second set of issues as though they are the same thing. Ravenloft explores different horror genres. That isn't setting information, that is genre information. They give you ideas on how to run horror games, but again "horror game" isn't a setting. I'll put a pin in the rest, but detour to talk about this bit. </p><p></p><p>So, why is it we had a lot more exploration of horror genres and how to effectively run horror games than we did for a game of Sails? Well, quite simply horror is far more complicated. Not only is it more difficult to run, it is more difficult to run in regards to DnD (horror often involves dis-empowering people, while DnD and fantasy adventures deal in empowerment), and it is difficult to run in terms of the party, because you have to be hyper-aware of the tolerance levels of your different players. It is a far more difficult subject, while many Age of Sail/Age of Pirate stories are actually very easy to run in comparison. They are the same sort of treasure hunting and exploration stories that ALL DnD stories are... just on boats. Or Spelljammers. </p><p></p><p>Now, there is one subject I could see being sticky and complex for these types of stories. And it is so radioactive, that I'm actively glad WoTC didn't try to tackle it, because it would have been terrible. </p><p></p><p>But what about the last part, the Domains? Well, first of all, many many people have complained the Domains lack detail and are insufficient, but there is something else at play. Remember, the Mist of Ravenloft actively prevents people from leaving the domains. Ravenloft isn't a singular setting. It is an umbrella realm containing multiple settings, and each domain is a different setting. You aren't really expecting to easily travel between the domains and have adventurers spanning them. </p><p></p><p>And that does put a different perspective on it, doesn't it? Because no Domain as Setting gets more than a page, maybe two of detail. Very much UNLIKE Spelljammer.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Chaosmancer, post: 8852341, member: 6801228"] As [USER=22779]@Hussar[/USER] points out, Van Richten's was a second dive, the first being the setting of Barovia, which was only lightly detailed. But, you also are comparing a second set of issues as though they are the same thing. Ravenloft explores different horror genres. That isn't setting information, that is genre information. They give you ideas on how to run horror games, but again "horror game" isn't a setting. I'll put a pin in the rest, but detour to talk about this bit. So, why is it we had a lot more exploration of horror genres and how to effectively run horror games than we did for a game of Sails? Well, quite simply horror is far more complicated. Not only is it more difficult to run, it is more difficult to run in regards to DnD (horror often involves dis-empowering people, while DnD and fantasy adventures deal in empowerment), and it is difficult to run in terms of the party, because you have to be hyper-aware of the tolerance levels of your different players. It is a far more difficult subject, while many Age of Sail/Age of Pirate stories are actually very easy to run in comparison. They are the same sort of treasure hunting and exploration stories that ALL DnD stories are... just on boats. Or Spelljammers. Now, there is one subject I could see being sticky and complex for these types of stories. And it is so radioactive, that I'm actively glad WoTC didn't try to tackle it, because it would have been terrible. But what about the last part, the Domains? Well, first of all, many many people have complained the Domains lack detail and are insufficient, but there is something else at play. Remember, the Mist of Ravenloft actively prevents people from leaving the domains. Ravenloft isn't a singular setting. It is an umbrella realm containing multiple settings, and each domain is a different setting. You aren't really expecting to easily travel between the domains and have adventurers spanning them. And that does put a different perspective on it, doesn't it? Because no Domain as Setting gets more than a page, maybe two of detail. Very much UNLIKE Spelljammer. [/QUOTE]
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