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.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's still a convoluted mess with the nature of Ravenloft

It’s straightforward enough if you think in Gothic logic. It is both a prequel, and a sequel, and takes place at the same time as Curse of Strahd.

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

So what? Minor character is minor. Not everything in Ravenloft has to be about a dark lord.

I'm not saying it can't work. I'm saying it needs major revisions to make it work

Of course it needs reworking. No one here is suggesting you could reprint it as first published and expect it to work. The “monsters” no longer being always evil needs to be dealt with for a start.

And a part of me questions if it's worth it compared to making something new that aligns with VRGR.

It’s a lot more interesting than most modern WotC content. That seems to me to be a good reason to revive it. As for VGR, it’s closer to the Gryphon Hill version of setting than the 2nd edition box.

 

[TravDoc42]

I'd love to see something like "Villains of Faerun" wherein they talk about not yet covered, but already known; as well as new villainous factions, nations, areas, and Big Bads and some of their key henchfolk. So more about Thay, maybe the Pirate Isles, and more. Something very similar to Adventures in Faerun.

I love this idea!! The Warlock Knights of Vaasa would totally fit well in that book, IMO!

 

[Stormonu]

Gryphon Hill failed because it tried to be too many things at once - Dracula in London, Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde, a ghost story, attack of the pod people and the Hound of the Baskervilles at the very least. That might work for a 260 page campaign-length adventure, but it was too much to stuff into a 48 page adventure.

I think if it was reworked to follow this plot, it might work better (using the Deadly/Confounding Mists to wall them into town and slowly open areas up as they beat back Godfrey's hold on Mordenshire so they can visit the Weathermay House, Gryphon Hill, etc.):

Levels 1-3: The Sanitarium and the Town of Mordenshire (solve supernatural issues around town caused by individuals possessed by dead spirits caused by Godfrey returning the spirits from the dead)

Levels 4-5: Explore and expose the secrets of the WeatherMay House and it's lineage with a final confrontation with a Weathermay ghost in a sealed-off portion of the attic (sent by Godfrey to torment the Weathermays)

Levels 6-7: Raid of Gryphon Hill and confrontation with Lord Godfrey; discover that Strahd/Azalin have been pulling Godfrey's strings

Levels 8-9: Raid Heather House and face a Simulacrum of Strahd that is level-appropriate

Level 10+: Delve into the Mausoleum and confront Azalin and the apparatus

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Gryphon Hill failed

It didn’t fail. It has lots of positive reviews dating from publication, there is nothing to suggest sales were poor, and it got a sequel in the form of of the boxed set.

 

[bedir than]

I rather expected we'd get a teaser today

First 'normal' week of the year on a Tuesday.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

STK was nothing like Against the Giants. That said, AtG was reprinted in Yawning Portal.

Yawning Portal was the first non-core 2014 book I picked up and it's really not up to the standards of the rest of 5E adventures. Just reprinting the old adventures with new maps and new stats didn't produce something very satisfying by today's standards.

I would definitely let it go out of print and reboot most of those adventures.

 

[Remathilis]

Gryphon Hill failed because it tried to be too many things at once - Dracula in London, Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde, a ghost story, attack of the pod people and the Hound of the Baskervilles at the very least. That might work for a 260 page campaign-length adventure, but it was too much to stuff into a 48 page adventure.

I think if it was reworked to follow this plot, it might work better (using the Deadly/Confounding Mists to wall them into town and slowly open areas up as they beat back Godfrey's hold on Mordenshire so they can visit the Weathermay House, Gryphon Hill, etc.):

Levels 1-3: The Sanitarium and the Town of Mordenshire (solve supernatural issues around town caused by individuals possessed by dead spirits caused by Godfrey returning the spirits from the dead)

Levels 4-5: Explore and expose the secrets of the WeatherMay House and it's lineage with a final confrontation with a Weathermay ghost in a sealed-off portion of the attic (sent by Godfrey to torment the Weathermays)

Levels 6-7: Raid of Gryphon Hill and confrontation with Lord Godfrey; discover that Strahd/Azalin have been pulling Godfrey's strings

Levels 8-9: Raid Heather House and face a Simulacrum of Strahd that is level-appropriate

Level 10+: Delve into the Mausoleum and confront Azalin and the apparatus

Now THAT would be a good way to start fixing the mess. Still has issues with three Dark Lords all fighting for space, but at least it feels like escalating dangers rather than everything all at once.