Need a crash course in Ravenloft (S&S 3.5 version)
- Thread starter RigaMortus2
- Start date
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
And, frankly, the villagers are right to treat you that way.Klaus said:
RigaMortus2
First Post
InVinoVeritas said:
Not for me. It was a class suggestion I was giving to a friend. He's been the healer, he's been the melee person, he's been the support character (ie Bard) and he wanted to try something different. He could go plain old Wiz or Sorc, but that is boring. We've already had Warlocks, so that was my second choice. Dread Necros would probably not be welcome in the typical PC group in most of our campaigns, but given the dark feel of Ravenloft, I thought it might be more acceptable. But from what you and others have stated, perhaps not.
Perhaps I will suggest something else to him... Warmage maybe...
InVinoVeritas
Adventurer
A Scout is quite effective, as well. The Acrhivist is definitely one of the best classes thematically for Ravenloft.
Also, a number of domains are higher-tech, in Renaissance or Victorian style. Firearms become a possibility, and a firearms-based PC would definitely have a different feel. In a high-tech world, then Swashbucklers and Scouts are interesting choices.
I'd love to hear more about what sort of campaign you plan to be running. More Medieval and wild? More Renaissance and urban? Do you want ruins? Secret societies? Werewolf cairns? Do you like your evil overt? Sinister? Savage? Subtle?
You can, of course, combine these elements at different times into the campaign world. For example, in my Paridon game, the first villain they met was Lug. Lug was a brutish, winner-take-all sort who unleashed problems wherever he went, such as sending careening carriages toward groups of innocents and the like. Later, they met Alek, a scheming, debonair type with a terribly dark hedonistic streak and a genius of always staying multiple steps ahead of the PCs. Finally, they also met The Monster, an indeterminate being that is seemingly unstoppable, and goes on murderous rampages but tends to vacillate from attacking the PCs to simply ignoring them.
What materials do you have available in developing your campaign? We could help you pick and choose the best bits to focus on to start your campaign and let you branch out from there.
Also, a number of domains are higher-tech, in Renaissance or Victorian style. Firearms become a possibility, and a firearms-based PC would definitely have a different feel. In a high-tech world, then Swashbucklers and Scouts are interesting choices.
I'd love to hear more about what sort of campaign you plan to be running. More Medieval and wild? More Renaissance and urban? Do you want ruins? Secret societies? Werewolf cairns? Do you like your evil overt? Sinister? Savage? Subtle?
You can, of course, combine these elements at different times into the campaign world. For example, in my Paridon game, the first villain they met was Lug. Lug was a brutish, winner-take-all sort who unleashed problems wherever he went, such as sending careening carriages toward groups of innocents and the like. Later, they met Alek, a scheming, debonair type with a terribly dark hedonistic streak and a genius of always staying multiple steps ahead of the PCs. Finally, they also met The Monster, an indeterminate being that is seemingly unstoppable, and goes on murderous rampages but tends to vacillate from attacking the PCs to simply ignoring them.
What materials do you have available in developing your campaign? We could help you pick and choose the best bits to focus on to start your campaign and let you branch out from there.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Not in Ravenloft. Familiars there are malevolent entities that seek to lure their "masters" into damnation. Super-cool.RigaMortus2 said:
It's not a setting that lends itself to blasting stuff.
RigaMortus2
First Post
InVinoVeritas said:
I am not running it, I'll be a player. But I think we are going for a Transylvania feel. The best "RPG" comparison I can think of would be Quest for Glory IV
More swashbucklery type, renaissance (but no guns).
Actually, I should have mentioned this (as it will help), we are starting from level 1 and will eventually run Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. But before we are the appropriate level for that, the DM will run us through some adventures and what not so we can build up to the appropriate level.
Psychotic Jim
First Post
Generally Ravenloft enforces a strong code of ethics for players by hitting them with a chance to be corrupted by a powers check for doing things deemed unethical. Part of this code is alien to much of D&D, so if you're not up to the facing the forces of corruption, you have to be on your toes. Necromancy is probably something you want to avoid if you're a typical D&D player. Raising the dead and resurrection is another thing you want to avoid. Mostly, the setting has a lot of themes of xenophobia and isolation, so you can't as easily play characters that might be viewed as perfectly normal in other settings without being attacked or arousing suspicion. In many places, practicing magic out in the open will get you killed. The setting also has a system of diplomacy/bluff/perform penalties called outcast modifiers for those who stick out, like any non-human race.
InVinoVeritas
Adventurer
RigaMortus2 said:
Transylvania, huh? Small, paranoid villages. Untamed wilds. Outdoorsy types will do well. Druids, rangers, scouts... they should make a solid party.
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