Masque of the Red Death as a d20 Modern oneshot?

[JPL]

The inclusion of the Six-Fingered Hand in the Menace Manual suggests an interesting possibility:

Swords and Sorcery could do an updated Masque of the Red Death book as part of its Ravenloft line.

White Wolf has already done a lot of the heavy lifting with Victorian Age Vampire.

Take some of that [atmosphere, mostly], some of the original AD&D Masque, and d20 Modern for the mechanics [maybe making incantation magic the norm?]...and throw in some hints about the future of that timeline [to set up either modern Masque or a particularly interesting Shadow Chasers campaign].

If they hurry up, they could have it done in time for the Van Helsing movie next summer.

Nothing better that Victorian Age vampire-hunting...

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

The inclusion of the Six-Fingered Hand in the Menace Manual suggests an interesting possibility:

Swords and Sorcery could do an updated Masque of the Red Death book as part of its Ravenloft line.

White Wolf has already done a lot of the heavy lifting with Victorian Age Vampire.

Take some of that [atmosphere, mostly], some of the original AD&D Masque, and d20 Modern for the mechanics [maybe making incantation magic the norm?]...and throw in some hints about the future of that timeline [to set up either modern Masque or a particularly interesting Shadow Chasers campaign].

If they hurry up, they could have it done in time for the Van Helsing movie next summer.

Nothing better that Victorian Age vampire-hunting...

There is already a 3e version of "Masque of the Red Death" - it's the RPGA "Living Death" campaign. The source book is free and it's available on the website. The URL is http://www.livingdeath.org.

 

[DarkSoldier]

The Ravenloft developers are doing a Masque of the Red Death book for their line; they've mentioned such at the Malodorous Goat Tavern.

 

[JPL]

The Ravenloft developers are doing a Masque of the Red Death book for their line; they've mentioned such at the Malodorous Goat Tavern.

Groovy. Any word on whether it's d20 Modern?

 

[jaerdaph]

Any word on whether it's d20 Modern?

The esteemed Ravenloft developers, producers of such fine RL products as Champions of Darkness and Heroes of Light, said on the Kargatane message boards that it will NOT be d20 Modern because, and I quote, "Masque is not Modern". Then two weeks later, the d20 Modern Menace Manual came out...

Personally, I think not making MotRD a d20 Modern setting is very short sighted. It sounds like the new Masque is just going to be a rehash of the Living Death conversion, as the individual responsible for that is involved in the WW project.

jaerdaph
Ex-Kargatane Guy in the Know

 

[JPL]

The esteemed Ravenloft developers, producers of such fine RL products as Champions of Darkness and Heroes of Light, said on the Kargatane message boards that it will NOT be d20 Modern because, and I quote, "Masque is not Modern". Then two weeks later, the d20 Modern Menace Manual came out...

Personally, I think not making MotRD a d20 Modern setting is very short sighted. It sounds like the new Masque is just going to be a rehash of the Living Death conversion, as the individual responsible for that is involved in the WW project.

Joe Bardales
Ex-Kargatane Guy in the Know

Hmm. I think that's a mistake. 1890s is still "modern" in d20 terms.

 

[Pagan priest]

First, why MotRD as a one shot? I would say that there is enough material out there to make it a regular (albeit small) product line... say start with 2 or 3 books (main rules, plus a couple of setting books, like say a guide to Victorian London) followed by new setting books once every 6 months to a year. Other titles could include a detailed look at the secret societies, an Old West expansion... the possibilities are indeed numerous.

Second, I have to agree, given the preponderance of reliable firearms, the minimal significance of melee weapons and most importantly, the lack of heroic stature in the "heros". I mean, really... Conan could have taken on the entire group of Van Helsing & co without breaking into a sweat! Also, the incantations from UA seem far more suitable to the 1890's than the standard D&D system of magic.

 

[JPL]

First, why MotRD as a one shot? I would say that there is enough material out there to make it a regular (albeit small) product line... say start with 2 or 3 books (main rules, plus a couple of setting books, like say a guide to Victorian London) followed by new setting books once every 6 months to a year. Other titles could include a detailed look at the secret societies, an Old West expansion... the possibilities are indeed numerous.

Second, I have to agree, given the preponderance of reliable firearms, the minimal significance of melee weapons and most importantly, the lack of heroic stature in the "heros". I mean, really... Conan could have taken on the entire group of Van Helsing & co without breaking into a sweat! Also, the incantations from UA seem far more suitable to the 1890's than the standard D&D system of magic.

I say "one-shot" because I want it self-contained --- none of this stuff where to REALLY play, you need to commit to lots and lots of books. But sure, as long as the quality is there, more would be better.

I'd rather see incantations as the default magic system, too.

 

[nobodez]

I have to agree, modern goes back to about the beginning of the industrial revolution, at least. Also, the incantation system is great, but it's not OGL, so most likely wouldn't be included anyway.

 

[JPL]

I have to agree, modern goes back to about the beginning of the industrial revolution, at least. Also, the incantation system is great, but it's not OGL, so most likely wouldn't be included anyway.

I betcha incantations are in Unearthed Arcana...which is all OGL.