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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 6231584" data-attributes="member: 27780">Dragon Issue 348: October 2006part 5/6Savage tidings: So here we are, at the third adventure path, and the second one to be extensively supplemented in Dragon. We've already faced down Kyuss and his exceedingly icky servitors. What will this one entail. I already know it involves demons, Demogorgon, people being transformed by savagery, the sea, and the isle of dread. But it's the specifics that are important. Will I enjoy them? No time like the present to find out. Note that once again, I have not read the corresponding adventures. Our first instalment gives us more detail on the city of Sasserine. The 7 districts get a few lines each, and then we get 6 full page writeups for various affiliations that the players will either want to join, or oppose. This isn't really quite enough to play there, but I assume that more information is presented in the corresponding Dungeon issues. I do get the feeling that they're setting up a status quo, but it'll be knocked down relatively quickly into the adventure, Orpheus style. So far, it's not particularly gripping, but as we know, there's no point destroying something the players aren't attached too. Lets see how long it'll take to kick into high gear this time round. Spellcraft is once again tied in with recent releases, with a bit of ravenlofty goodness. Now unlike Dr Dominiani in issue 339, Strahd is well established as a wizard both capable and willing to develop his own spells. If he were a little more motivated in this area, he could probably overtake Azalin given a few more decades practice. But at the moment, he's still not the most powerful darklord in Ravenloft, just the oldest and most famous. So the only real continuity error will be if this has 9th level spells in it, or stuff from his forbidden schools.  Bloodstone's Frightful Joining is from the old Tome of magic, and ironically was one spell that didn't work too great in Ravenloft, due to close exposure to undead thoughts being extra maddening around here. Strahd also developed a reverse version of this, although curiously, that isn't mentioned here. It's actually a lot safer than it used to be, with both the chances of damage and insanity eliminated. Guess someone's been doing some refining work in the intervening years. Curse of the Gypsies doesn't seem to be from a specific source, but isn't too surprising, given the role the Vistani have in Ravenloft. It's actually less impressive than the regular bestow curse spell, so this won't be doing the epic stuff the tales have done in the past. Rain of Terror was from the 2e box set. It has a typically reduced 3.5 style range and duration, and more defined mechanical effects, but the visuals are the same. Gross stuff keeps falling on your head. This may be a bit unnerving. Strahd's Baneful Attractor was also introduced in the 2e box set. it gets a bit of a nerfing too, being restricted to damage dealing spells rather than messing up all the targeting in the area. They really are cutting down on the amusing unintended consequences these days.  Wraithform was originally from the 2e PHB. Not sure why it never got converted to 3e. It's surprisingly little changed, with only a bit of math conversion needed. The whole thing's a bit boring really. You're just trying to feed of nostalgia.</blockquote>

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