D&D 5E Rebooting other Domains of Ravenloft (Post CoS)

[Remathilis]

After reading it over, I've come to the impression Curse of Strahd isn't as much a return to Ravenloft but a reboot of Ravenloft. Using that as a template, I wonder what other domains could use a dose of "reimagining".

In essence, this is a brainstorm to fix the problems with the old setting. Not everyone is going to agree with these things, and the idea to to tweak, fix, or re-write canon to make the setting fresher, newer, and more interesting or fun. Here is a few ideas to get things started.

Lose some Domains: Lets get some controversy out of the way: some domains are boring. They're boring because their Dark Lord is either one-note, their isn't anything to do but fight said Dark Lord, or the lord is barely powerful enough to be any real sort of threat. And a few are just silly. Specifically, the following domains could probably be lost to the Mists...

* Valachan. Sorry Von Karkov, but a Panther that was polymorphed into a man and THEN became a vampire is silly. There was so much you could do with a jungle/African/great cat vibe, but it seems like they went lazy and made him a cliche vampire with a eastern European name. Just dump the idea.
* Sithicus. Sorry, this domain is boring without Soth, and Soth deserves to be in Krynn, not here. Actually, while we're add it, can we add Hazlin to the list of "go back to your home plane, your just token TSR-world representation" list?
* The Shadow Rift. A Giant freaking hole in the middle of the world. Right... Plug the hole with something the PCs can actually explore.
* Necropolis. An attempt to shake up Darkon by replacing a kinda-generic Dark Lord with an even more generic Dark Lord, and then ret-conning the whole thing later. Forget it happened and move on.

A few classic "Islands" or "Clusters" could easily join the Core to fill out these losses. Har'Arik, Souragne, and Vorostokov would all make good additions.

Additionally, a few of the weaker Domain Lords (I'm looking at Borca and Dementlieu in particular) could combine land and let them be noble families fighting over the same land. Imagine a domain where nobles war continuously between themselves using different methods (poison, charms, etc) to fight some shadow war over a land none of them can ever win.

A few domain lords could REALLY use backstory re-writes (Tristen Apblac and Hireegard/Malken, I'm looking at you) to streamline their convoluted (really, a half-vampire who died because he bit someone WHO JUST HAPPENED to imbibe holy water and is now a ghost?) or contradictory (there are three versions of Malken's origin).

Lastly, a few domain lords really aren't worth a whole domain to themselves. Malingo, Diambel, Ebonblade, Bluebeard, you don't need your own domain. You can be absolutely chilling in another domain as a minor dark lord somewhere else.

So, what would you do to change Ravenloft?

 

[Mouseferatu]

I agree with a lot of what you wrote. I like Darklord Soth, but I agree he's better suited in Krynn. I wouldn't mind another "black knight" trope Darklord, though.

Vecna was never here. Ever, ever, ever. Ever.

I want a complete rewrite of Azalin. Keep the concept--lich-ruled nation--but make him an actually interesting (and alien; right now, he acts like a normal human, not a lifeless thing that's forgotten what it means to be human) character.

I'd like to give several of the Darklords purpose/story. Tristessa, the banshee in Keening? Give her something to actually do. Tristan, too.

While Strahd is clearly inspired by Dracula, several of the Darklords are direct ripoffs of their inspiration. Adam and Mordenheim, for instance. I'd like to see them tweaked to be further from their source material.

And yeah, get rid of the Shadow Rift. Adding factions of evil fey to Ravenloft is cool, but they should be scattered (and scheming) throughout, not forming the basis of their own domain.

 

[Mouseferatu]

(I want to write a RL novel where the Headless Horseman's road keeps appearing in Barovia and Strahd's going nuts trying to figure out what the hell he can do about it. He hates having his power and authority challenged, but where that one constantly shifting/moving expanse of road is concerned, he's powerless. It'd be a great opportunity to get into his head, and introduce some cool characters that he basically has to work with. But I don't think Wizards is likely to start the RL novel line back up any time soon. )

 

[hawkeyefan]

I always liked the Ravenloft setting at the time. Played through a few of the old adventures, and ran a few as well. Read a few of the novels, most of which are forgettable, but a couple were good.

However, thinking about this thread topic, I'm struggling to come up with many domains at all. Sure, Adam and Mordenheim seem like a standout to me....they fill the Frankenstein slot in the way Strahd fills the Dracula one. I'll admit to not really remembering many of the actual realms other than Adam's and Azalin's. A couple of vague memories based on what [MENTION=7635]Remathilis[/MENTION] said above.

But other than that, what classic horror monsters or concepts can support an entire domain?

I agree with [MENTION=1288]Mouseferatu[/MENTION] about Azalin. Basic concept is good, but it needs a lot of work to make him a memorable villain. There's really nothing to Azalin beyond generic lich bad guy.

Other than that....I feel like it's a struggle. What justifies an entire domain? Witches, I think. Werewolves are probably another. Maybe a Jekyll/Hyde type that plays around with alchemy.

I thought Web of Illusion was a solid module, and rakshasas are definitely an underused villain, so I could go with something based on that.

Beyond those, I really struggle to come up with something. What else would work?

 

[flametitan]

Another point of conversation would be how to connect them. Currently, using the 5e DMG as a reference, the demiplane of Dread has been divided even further than it has been in previous editions, with each domain being its own demiplane instead of merely being walled off by mist. Now, of course travelling between domains was never a huge deal in the Original setting, but the new arrangements seem to make it even more difficult than before.

On the point of Sithicus: I doubt we'll ever see it again even if we wanted to; the collaboration with Tracy Hickman gives me the impression they'll respect his desire to pretend it never happened.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

But other than that, what classic horror monsters or concepts can support an entire domain?

I agree with [MENTION=1288]Mouseferatu[/MENTION] about Azalin. Basic concept is good, but it needs a lot of work to make him a memorable villain. There's really nothing to Azalin beyond generic lich bad guy.

Other than that....I feel like it's a struggle. What justifies an entire domain? Witches, I think. Werewolves are probably another. Maybe a Jekyll/Hyde type that plays around with alchemy.

I thought Web of Illusion was a solid module, and rakshasas are definitely an underused villain, so I could go with something based on that.

Beyond those, I really struggle to come up with something. What else would work?

Does Ravenloft have a boogeyman or Freddy Krueger equivalent? In-your-dreams stuff?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Does Ravenloft have a boogeyman or Freddy Krueger equivalent? In-your-dreams stuff?

Several. They rule the Nightmare Lands.

 

[Grumpy RPG Reviews]

I discuss Azalan in a thread just over there...

Vladimir Drakov's domain needs reworking.

One thought occurs. A lot of the Ravenloft domains were inspired either by classic horror literature or "old" horror movies. Old horror movies at the time a lot of the original material was written in the '80s and early '90. Hammer horror movies, that type of thing. It has been more than 20 years since Ravenloft was first written, now "old" horror movies include things like Halloween, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. How could we reference those movies, many of them just slasher flicks, as a Ravenloft setting?

To many, the term horror brings to mind slasher flicks.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I want a complete rewrite of Azalin. Keep the concept--lich-ruled nation--but make him an actually interesting (and alien; right now, he acts like a normal human, not a lifeless thing that's forgotten what it means to be human) character.

Well Azalin is ashamed of his Lich nature and regrets the choices he made to become one. Elaborating on this aspect of him along with his paranoia could help. I can't think of any Lich's that actually regret their choices to become one.

On a dark lord that is already pretty interesting we have Vlad Drakov aka probably the most monstrous and evil of the Dark Lords who also happens to be a normal human. His big problem is that he and his forces are horrible ineffective.

 

[ccs]

I'd improve the whole thing by dumping it as a campaign setting idea/product line.

Then I'd just write really good, completely stand alone adventures using these places & characters, that could be slotted into whatever campaign setting you prefer. They would not link to or refer to each other.
But if anyone wanted to link them together somehow in their own games? Well, more power to you.