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.

 

[darjr]

Top 300!

 

[R_J_K75]

One feels horror when the most precious thing that one values is threatened, first with it being stolen away, then with it being defiled, and then with its slow and painful destruction. No parlor trick there. Unless, of course, it is the parlor that one holds most precious.

I have never once felt horrified or threatened playing D&D or any other RPG for that matter. Probably why this setting was used more as a standard setting the few times we did play in it rather than playing up the horror aspect.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

As much as I want to see a Dragonlance 5e book, I'm really happy with Ravenloft getting a setting book. And honestly, I think the timing was just not right for Dragonlance. With the first novel coming out in summer, putting a Dragonlance game book out in the spring would've had all sorts of problems - you'd be pretty much stuck either ignoring the events of the novels or spoiling the events of the novels.

I would have preferred a Dragonlance setting "World of Krynn" book,

I hope so. Can't say I'm feeling the standard cover.

Will there be an alternative cover to this? So far I haven't noticed such announcement.

I am heartily excited to run a campaign in Ravenloft. Undead are some of my favorite monsters to use and I've long been a fan of the Domains of Dread.

 

[Hatmatter]

One feels horror when the most precious thing that one values is threatened, first with it being stolen away, then with it being defiled, and then with its slow and painful destruction. No parlor trick there. Unless, of course, it is the parlor that one holds most precious.

I have never once felt horrified or threatened playing D&D or any other RPG for that matter. Probably why this setting was used more as a standard setting the few times we did play in it rather than playing up the horror aspect.

Then it sounds like you or your character(s) have never felt your or their most precious thing that you or they valued threatened, first with being stolen away, then with being defiled, and then with its slow and painful destruction while playing D&D or any other role-playing game.

 

[Professor Murder]

For me, it's mostly systems that interest me. A revamp of the Demiplane could be good, but if I dont like the changes, I still have a good amount of the WW 3.5 materials for setting. I need 5th ed rules for fear/horror/madness and dark powers checks the most. The game Im running right now is already altered from the previous setting, with ignoring most of the race issues from previous editions.

 

[R_J_K75]

Yeah. I think think you have to know your group. My lifelong buddy hates undead with a passion. Hard pass for him. I am not into ravenloft and never was.

I think for me it was the imagery. I like more medieval Europe and less renaissance which means the realms is hit or miss for me generally.

that said I’d the put out variety we can all get some goodies. I would snap up greyhawk and would likely buy dark sun though I never played it before!

a little variety would be good for me. It’s ok. I bought xanathars and tashas and mordenkainens and Volos.

skipping the one is no big issue! Some people will love it which is cool.

I'll pick it up for the monsters and a few other things but id have preferred something else myself.

 

[darjr]

Todd is live and will have an interview about the new book!
I think?

 

[R_J_K75]

Then it sounds like you or your character(s) have never felt your or their most precious thing that you or they valued threatened, first with being stolen away, then with being defiled, and then with its slow and painful destruction while playing D&D or any other role-playing game.

Alas neither I or my PC have not.

 

[Hatmatter]

As much as I want to see a Dragonlance 5e book, I'm really happy with Ravenloft getting a setting book. And honestly, I think the timing was just not right for Dragonlance. With the first novel coming out in summer, putting a Dragonlance game book out in the spring would've had all sorts of problems - you'd be pretty much stuck either ignoring the events of the novels or spoiling the events of the novels.



I hope so. Can't say I'm feeling the standard cover.



I am heartily excited to run a campaign in Ravenloft. Undead are some of my favorite monsters to use and I've long been a fan of the Domains of Dread.

I am surprised at all the interest in Dragonlance. It is a good thing, by the way, that I am surprised, I like that. I read the first two series (six books) not long after they were published in the 1980s and liked them. All the while I was playing D&D. I read the Dragonlance Campaign book in the 1980s and liked it, but I never wanted to play in that setting and I never met any who exhibited an interest in role-playing in that setting (and I attended many conventions in the last 1980s and early 1990s)...but the setting as a campaign book gets a lot of love here. I am all for it because I would like to see people get their favorite settings published...but I would not have guessed all the love Dragonlance gets here on Enworld. It is cool to discover that.

 

[darjr]