D&D 5E [Updated with cover!] The D&D Book Is.... Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft!

Yesterday's hints that a new D&D book would be announced today have born fruit -- we now have a product description and a title! It's a Ravenloft setting book, with tools and new rules for horror-themed games, and new horror-themed character options. I'll update this post with a product image as soon as one is revealed -- the official announcement allegedly comes today!

D&D 5E - Here's the Ravenloft Alternate Cover!

As usual, there is an alternate hobby-store exclusive cover for the upcoming Ravenloft book. Here's a look at it! And here's the full wraparound art. https://www.enworld.org/threads/updated-with-cover-the-d-d-book-is-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft.678411/...

www.enworld.org

D&D 5E - Everything We Know About The Ravenloft Book

Here is a list of everything we know so far about the upcoming Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. Art by Paul Scott Canavan May 18th, 256 pages 30 domains (with 30 villainous darklords) Barovia (Strahd), Dementlieu (twisted fairly tales), Lamordia (flesh golem), Falkovnia (zombies), Kalakeri...

www.enworld.org

Here’s some info on Dr. Rudolph Van Richten! He's a vampire hunter (he appeared in Curse of Strahd, and he's been around in the Ravenloft setting for decades) and is basically Van Helsing to Strahd's Dracula. His name appears on a whole pile of 2nd Edition D&D sourcebooks, all titled "Van Richten's Guide to.... Vampires/Ghosts/Werebeasts, etc."

The Ravenloft setting, of course, features a bunch of 'domains' other than Barovia itself, each ruled by its own Dark Lord. Strahd rules Barovia, but even other signature D&D villains like Lord Soth and Vecna have been placed in Ravenloft ruling dread domains of their own, along with an assortment of other domain rulers.

The Mist Beckons

The image below is not of the upcoming book, but of one of the many D&D 2nd Edition Van Richten's Guides.

 

[Aldarc]

Considering how big a hit the adventure was, this is hardly a surprise.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I am happy with the return of the setting, but I wonder when the metaplot is going to continue. Is canon the one published for 3.5. by White Wolf?

If Renegade Games Studios is going to publish 5th Ed of World of Darkness and TTRPGs of other famous franchises (G.I.Joe, My Little Pony, Power Rangers, Transformers).... Could it be hired as an outsourcer company to publish Ravenloft 5th Ed?

I remember something metinoned by LPJ Design about my crazy suggestion of a crossover Ravenloft and Obsidian Apocalypse.

Could the return of Ravenloft be good for the publishers of the setting "Shadows over Vathak" or "Kaidan"?

 

[Abstruse]

If Renegade Games Studios is going to publish 5th Ed of World of Darkness and TTRPGs of other famous franchises (G.I.Joe, My Little Pony, Power Rangers, Transformers).... Could it be hired as an outsourcer company to publish Ravenloft 5th Ed?

Nothing stopping them from doing it right now. Ravenloft is available to use on DM's Guild, you just have to abide by their terms.

I doubt that WotC will hand out specific licenses though as they haven't done so for anything else. Outside of DM's Guild, nobody's publishing anything for Eberron or Forgotten Realms so no reason to think they'd do something different for Ravenloft.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Not too surprising considering the latest playtests.
I am really looking for the bard subclass.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Every time I'm thinking I'm about done with D&D 5e, they pull the same trick....sigh...where's my wallet.

I still would have preferred something like more Vistani-focused as narrator instead of that generic Van Helsing with the serial number filed off, but this will be a nice addition to my collection for sure.

 

[happylarry]

Okay. looks interesting. Would have preferred Spelljammer / Mystara etc. etc. (Maybe next time...) but will probably get this.
Presumably Van Richten predates Van Helsing?

 

[Morrus]

Presumably Van Richten predates Van Helsing?

The opposite. Dracula was published in 1897. Van Richten was created for D&D about a hundred years later, in the 1980s.

 

[Quartz]

I have a good number of the original Van Richten's books. They're still useful.

 

[Nilbog]

This is a great release that I think will prove popular, and has been the top of people's wish lists for a while.

Not for me as I don't do horror games, but definitely a welcome addition.