WotC State of the Game, Darklords of Ravenloft

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Watching the replay. What a great first question (how it is different from Van Richtens)

The number one question (along with why doesn't have my shop have the FLGS cover available to pre-order yet).

EDIT: "No, how dare you" isn't a great answer. If Wes was confused/offended by the question, they should have made it clearer how the book is different than Van Richten's before this point.

The answer appears to mostly be "more details on the darklords, including stat blocks, and more specific details on how to run adventures in individual domains."

 

[TravDoc42]

I LOVE Ebonbane's stat block!! And the mechanics of wielding it as a magic weapon sounds neat!!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The art direction being inspired by stuff like I Saw the TV Glow is a great example of why bringing in younger creators, with their newer influences, is a great idea.

 

[beta-ray]

I agree with this. "State of the Game" as it stands reminds me of Sony PlayStation's State of Play or a Nintendo Direct, so I expected more from this just from the title alone.

I agree, big annual addresses on the year ahead would be most welcome.

State of the Game: Ravenloft Direct

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don't really find their Cthulhu/Innsmouth arguments compelling.

"We didn't just yeet a New England town into the dark domains," followed by laughter.

So, what was the purpose of calling it "Innsmouth?" Just make a new setting and a new cosmic horror entity.

I would love to hear how they came to decide on putting Cthulhu into this book, because it still feels pretty random. Strahd shows that making a D&D specific riff works great. I don't think Ravenloft would be better if he was Dracula and Barovia was his corner of Transylvania.

 

[Scribe]

So, what was the purpose of calling it "Innsmouth?" Just make a new setting and a new cosmic horror entity.

Come now friend...the purpose is the same thing as the vast vast majority of the 5/5.5 line. Nostalgia and Brand Recognition.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm a longtime Mystara fan, so I'm happy to see lupins back, but I'm not sure full-time dog man ancestry is really fulfilling players' "werewolf dreams," per the video. Isn't a big part of werewolf dreams the change aspect and fighting to keep control?

Still, having a doggo race will be popular with a large part of the player base.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It does sound like dark gifts are much more flavorful and interesting.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I like that the tarokka deck is going to be much more supported with this book. Long overdue.

 

[Bravesteel25]

State of the Game: Ravenloft Direct

I don't really think "State of the Game" is imparting what they are trying to communicate.

I think if WotC did do some sort of annual digital address that it could be called "State of the Game" while more focused things like this should be something like "Deeds & Discourse: Ravenloft" but I'm not in charge of Marketing at WotC. shrugs