Ravenloft 3.5: yea or nay

[CrimsonWineGlass]

I just came across a copy of the Ravenloft Campign Setting for 3.5 as well as the 3.5 Ravenloft DMG. I have never played Ravenloft, but its sparked my interest. Is it worth a try? I scanned through it at the book store, seems to be focused on a lot of vampires, undead and such. First thing I thought of was White Wolf. I just need some advice here.

 

[Treebore]

All I can tell you is that I had a lot of fun with the year long campaign I ran, and my six players at the time kept coming back for more. Like any setting, its as good as your able to make it. "mood" elements definitely added to it. I did the lights and and used candles, played scary music softly in the background, I/we had lots of fun. The two players I still have contact with still bring it up upon occassion.

One of the players at the time confessed to having a nightmare about it, and wanted more.

So it can be a great experience.

 

[CrimsonWineGlass]

I've ran a handful of D&D games and I think of myself as a very experianced player if only a moderately experianced DM. I have three players mainly, potentially four. One has had game experiance before and isn't bad. The other two are new to it. All express frequent interest in the lycans undead and darkness deal. So I'm thinking it might be good to get started on it. On the flip side, it will be my first time DM'ing a pre-created setting.

 

[tylermalan]

Ravenloft is pretty hardcore-tragic, so its not for every group. As already pointed out, the mood elements definitely make it a better experience, if you can do it right (if I'm not mistaken, the sourcebooks address that, and if not, there were a LOT of articles on various websites about setting the mood for horror games that came out around Halloween. I'm sure they're still archived.) Have you read any of the books, or know anything about the setting other than flipping through it?

 

[Stalker0]

We've been playing it for a year and a half and I've enjoyed it a lot. One thing we've noticed is that some high level magics don't work in all domains, meaning high levels aren't always so...iconic. You can't always teleport, divinations don't always work, etc.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's no longer being produced, so if you have the cash and the inclination, I'd recommend picking up those two books and the monster book (Denizens of Dread). I use the monsters in my regular campaign -- they're one of the best group of monsters produced by TSR that were never incorporated into the core game, IMO. (Al-Qadim had some winners as well that are unfortunately in limbo in the 3E era.)

 

[Treebore]

Ravenloft is pretty hardcore-tragic, so its not for every group. As already pointed out, the mood elements definitely make it a better experience, if you can do it right (if I'm not mistaken, the sourcebooks address that, and if not, there were a LOT of articles on various websites about setting the mood for horror games that came out around Halloween. I'm sure they're still archived.) Have you read any of the books, or know anything about the setting other than flipping through it?

Its doesn't have to be hard core tragic. That is something they really helped change in 3E. ITs really up to th eDM how tragic/dark/depressing/overwhelming it is. Plus I think the Ravenloft DMG is a great book, for DM's of things other than Ravenloft. Probably the best DMG since the 1E DMG.

 

[M.L. Martin]

It's no longer being produced, so if you have the cash and the inclination, I'd recommend picking up those two books and the monster book (Denizens of Dread). I use the monsters in my regular campaign -- they're one of the best group of monsters produced by TSR that were never incorporated into the core game, IMO. (Al-Qadim had some winners as well that are unfortunately in limbo in the 3E era.)

Go for the original 3.0 versions if you can, though--the 3.5 setting (aka the "Ravenloft Player's Handbook") adds some real "PC meatgrinder" rules, and Denizens of Dread (as opposed to the 3.0 Denizens of Darkness) is, by reports, less 3.5-compliant than the older book.

Matthew L. Martin

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Go for the original 3.0 versions if you can, though--the 3.5 setting (aka the "Ravenloft Player's Handbook") adds some real "PC meatgrinder" rules, and Denizens of Dread (as opposed to the 3.0 Denizens of Darkness) is, by reports, less 3.5-compliant than the older book.

I own both editions of the monster book and don't find this to be true.

 

[FunkBGR]

Regardless of whether or not you actually plan to RUN Ravenloft, those books are chock full of ideas of how to bring mood, setting and ambience to your game.

They came out with some really good books, and if you find yourself really liking the setting - it's pretty easy to find some of the excess books being sold off.

There's also a hardcore group of people over at the Fraternity of Shadows (www.fraternityofshadows.com) who have reviews, fan support, all kinds of things for you, should you find yourself unable to leave the Demiplane of Dread.