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Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft - A Grognard Finally Reads It (Review)
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<blockquote data-quote="toucanbuzz" data-source="post: 8874337" data-attributes="member: 19270"><p>That'd be my #1 gripe along with treating Ravenloft Lords as combat targets.* In original design, they're eternally cursed playthings of the Powers that exist to feed off the corrupted, the fallen, the Lost, and the Powers aren't going to simply let centuries, perhaps eons of that delicious meal go away because some PCs who picked up adventuring 6 months ago saunter in. </p><p></p><p>The true challenge of Ravenloft should be not to fall into despair.</p><p></p><p>The AD&D Powers would tempt you with just a tiny bit of power in return for corrupting your soul, or revel in the crushing despair you feel as it becomes clear evil holds sway and there's nothing (really) you can do about it. I used this with delight in <em>Curse of Strahd </em>wherein Strahd, realizing Ireena/Tatyana looked up to the PCs, sought to recreate history (from the novels wherein she nearly has an affair with him and comes to him willingly) with PC help. When they refused, he casually mentioned "why bother." Even if he fails, this storyline just repeats itself in another generation, and as an eternal being, he'll just try again. They'll die of old age having achieved nothing in this so-called "struggle" against him. And, by now, they've probably discovered enough history in Barovia to know this statement is true.</p><p></p><p>In AD&D adventures, with the beautifully done boxed set and its maps, a primary goal was to avoid becoming a permanent resident (basically, you're corrupted beyond repair, DM takes your character sheet and you become an NPC). Now, I'm not sure why you go to Ravenloft. </p><p></p><p><em>* Many Dark Lords were barely a challenge in combat but given complete power over their Land. The horror came in understanding why they, compared to all others of their kind, were here, and perhaps use that knowledge to escape.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="toucanbuzz, post: 8874337, member: 19270"] That'd be my #1 gripe along with treating Ravenloft Lords as combat targets.* In original design, they're eternally cursed playthings of the Powers that exist to feed off the corrupted, the fallen, the Lost, and the Powers aren't going to simply let centuries, perhaps eons of that delicious meal go away because some PCs who picked up adventuring 6 months ago saunter in. The true challenge of Ravenloft should be not to fall into despair. The AD&D Powers would tempt you with just a tiny bit of power in return for corrupting your soul, or revel in the crushing despair you feel as it becomes clear evil holds sway and there's nothing (really) you can do about it. I used this with delight in [I]Curse of Strahd [/I]wherein Strahd, realizing Ireena/Tatyana looked up to the PCs, sought to recreate history (from the novels wherein she nearly has an affair with him and comes to him willingly) with PC help. When they refused, he casually mentioned "why bother." Even if he fails, this storyline just repeats itself in another generation, and as an eternal being, he'll just try again. They'll die of old age having achieved nothing in this so-called "struggle" against him. And, by now, they've probably discovered enough history in Barovia to know this statement is true. In AD&D adventures, with the beautifully done boxed set and its maps, a primary goal was to avoid becoming a permanent resident (basically, you're corrupted beyond repair, DM takes your character sheet and you become an NPC). Now, I'm not sure why you go to Ravenloft. [I]* Many Dark Lords were barely a challenge in combat but given complete power over their Land. The horror came in understanding why they, compared to all others of their kind, were here, and perhaps use that knowledge to escape.[/I] [/QUOTE]
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