D&D 5E (2024) Predict WotC's 2026 D&D releases

[Paul Farquhar]

The problem is that Gryphon Hill only works as a prequel, not sequel, to Curse of Strahd.

It doesn’t matter about that, it’s different characters on different planes of existence where time can flow differently. And it’s characteristic of Gothic literature for the past to bleed into the present in any case. It was in trying to have a concrete history that the 2nd edition Ravenloft boxed set completely failed to get Gothic literature.

It also absolutely makes its domain lord, Godfrey, a bit player at best.

So? No rule says the domain lord has to be a significant character. The focus on killing domain lords is another thing the 2nd edition boxed set screwed up (and why this adventure is so much better than the subsequent Ravenloft adventures - it gets Gothic). The psychic presence of Strahd, and whoever they happen to be possessing, works well as the main antagonist.

 

[tetrasodium]

It doesn’t matter about that, it’s different characters on different planes of existence where time can flow differently. And it’s characteristic of Gothic literature for the past to bleed into the present in any case. It was in trying to have a concrete history that the 2nd edition Ravenloft boxed set completely failed to get Gothic literature.

So? No rule says the domain lord has to be a significant character. The focus on killing domain lords is another thing the 2nd edition boxed set screwed up (and why this adventure is so much better than the subsequent Ravenloft adventures - it gets Gothic). The psychic presence of Strahd, and whoever they happen to be possessing, works well as the main antagonist.

Dread Metrol kinda rolls that back a bit. It's explicitly a Domain of Ravenloft with a very heavy dose of The Dark Powers actively bring involved in screwing with both the Dark Lord & Players (always with proper Capitalization on Dark Powers:) It's broken into a GM & player file with the player one doing a great job of setting the stage right from the first page after credits & ToC

Spoiler: like so

"Empress of Shadows" never shows up personally or by name outside that blurb in Dread Metrol but does get a blurb in Exploring Eberron as one of the The Dark Powers of Mabar where The Dark Powers might get their best writeup that doesn't involve pulling a sentence or two together from all over

It's always a joy to watch players put together the pieces and figure out what the cure everyone is fighting to seize/control does for the first time just about the time they get to decide what to do with it

 

[Remathilis]

It doesn’t matter about that, it’s different characters on different planes of existence where time can flow differently. And it’s characteristic of Gothic literature for the past to bleed into the present in any case. It was in trying to have a concrete history that the 2nd edition Ravenloft boxed set completely failed to get Gothic literature.

It's still a convoluted mess with the nature of Ravenloft, and this is from someone who embraces the Dream Logic of 5e's Ravenloft.

So? No rule says the domain lord has to be a significant character. The focus on killing domain lords is another thing the 2nd edition boxed set screwed up (and why this adventure is so much better than the subsequent Ravenloft adventures - it gets Gothic). The psychic presence of Strahd, and whoever they happen to be possessing, works well as the main antagonist.

You misunderstood. Godfrey adds almost nothing to plot. Not as villain, not as anything. He's pretty much a nonentity in it except as the reason you can't storm Gryphon Hill. You can set GH anywhere and the plot is unaltered. That was fine when Mordentshire was supposed to be generic (like Barovia) but it absolutely fails in the context of the larger setting.

I'm not saying it can't work. I'm saying it needs major revisions to make it work. And a part of me questions if it's worth it compared to making something new that aligns with VRGR.