CONFIRMED: Ravenloft for 5th Edition

[Ender]

The Escapist Magazine article indicates the following:

The new adventure will return players to Castle Ravenloft and the surrounding countryside of Barovia where they'll have to "contend with the horrors" of Strahd's "evil will." Their only hope will be a fortune-teller named Madam Eva who, drawing random cards from her tarroka deck, will guide the players on adventures to serve Strahd and delay their inevitable deaths "for his amusement."

[Mortavius]

I think you were right before Ron; this module is not going to assume that the reader is familiar with any previous Ravenloft material.

Yes, but that doesn't mean they can't put in a quick reference to it that makes sense even if you don't "get" the reference. I mean, it doesn't hurt them much to say "Van Richten is a medical doctor and herbalist from a neighboring land called Darkon, who swore to fight monsters when his son was turned by the vampire Baron Metus." vs. "Van Richten is a medical doctor and herbalist, who swore to fight monsters when his son became a vampire."

Yes, they have word counts to meet, and yes, too much of this would overwhelm the new reader with irrelevant info. But a little bone here and there for the grognards would either go unnoticed by the new readers or perhaps intrigue them.

Oh I agree, I expect some little nods, but I don't think there will be a lot of them. And if any of that past work conflicts with what the writers want to do, I expect it will be thrown right out the window.

[Joël of the FoS]

But considering the authors do not like RL as a setting, I woudn't be surprised if there was nothing hidden for long time setting fans... Why would they bother ?

[Ender]

But considering the authors do not like RL as a setting, I wouldn't be surprised if there was nothing hidden for long time setting fans... Why would they bother ?

To be fair, Tracy and Laura Hickman aren't really the authors. They brainstormed and helped with concept and design, but it's still primarily Chris Perkins' adventure.

[alhoon]

But considering the authors do not like RL as a setting, I wouldn't be surprised if there was nothing hidden for long time setting fans... Why would they bother ?

To be fair, Tracy and Laura Hickman aren't really the authors. They brainstormed and helped with concept and design, but it's still primarily Chris Perkins' adventure.

And also, because the personal opinions of some of the authors do not have to be reflected in a product commissioned by the company. If the heads told them "Put some reference to old Ravenloft material" they would probably do it.

[Joël of the FoS]

But considering the authors do not like RL as a setting, I wouldn't be surprised if there was nothing hidden for long time setting fans... Why would they bother ?

To be fair, Tracy and Laura Hickman aren't really the authors. They brainstormed and helped with concept and design, but it's still primarily Chris Perkins' adventure.

OK, indeed. So it's still uncertain. And if they do, will they read / know WW 3e era RL, or 2e's Domains of Dread?

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

I mean, we already know there are references to Van Richten, and Vecna, neither of which are to be found in I6 or I10... so it's not solely based on the Hickman's demiplane-less non-setting.

[Guardian of Twilight]

The tarokka deck is already available for pre-order direct from Gale Force 9 for a surprisingly reasonable $10+shipping*:
http://www.flamesofwar.com/gf9online_st ... ryID=13327

*shipping, however, was kind of unreasonable. $8.95 for me. I think I'll wait and see if Amazon gets them.

I completely understand that. Should Amazon sell them, please post that information for us. The same should anyone find out that they'll be releasing a set of DM screens for Ravenloft. I really want a set of those...

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

The same should anyone find out that they'll be releasing a set of DM screens for Ravenloft. I really want a set of those...

Note that there was a Ravenloft DM screen included with Secrets of the Dread Realms. And another one in the Red Box Campaign setting. You might be able to find one of those that still has the screen.

[Guardian of Twilight]

The same should anyone find out that they'll be releasing a set of DM screens for Ravenloft. I really want a set of those...

Note that there was a Ravenloft DM screen included with Secrets of the Dread Realms. And another one in the Red Box Campaign setting. You might be able to find one of those that still has the screen.

Believe me, I'm always looking. I even checked Amazon, but the one that has the screen is around $40. I'm mostly just hoping for one in 5E now, as it should be reasonably priced.

[Dion of the Fraternity]

Official Curse of Strahd Tarokka Adventures are up!

http://dndadventurersleague.org/curse-o ... dventures/

And yes, many of them link to the Forgotten Realms.

[Ender]

Official Curse of Strahd Tarokka Adventures are up!

http://dndadventurersleague.org/curse-o ... dventures/

And yes, many of them link to the Forgotten Realms.

Hm. Not just a link. In some cases, like The Beast, it seems to suggest we find Vistani actually on Faerun. I don't particularly like that... but I'm sure the plot hooks can be reworked.

[alhoon]

Well, Vistani WERE wandering the worlds before they came to Ravenloft...

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Yeah, Vistani on other worlds is nothing new (see The Evil Eye's intro, and The Enemy Within (yes, yes, noncanon, but still), off the top of my head)

I'm a bit sad to see that it seems we won't be going beyond Barovia in these, (the blurb for The Esper seems to imply it to me... if you start in one town of Barovia and then move out into the wider "world" of Barovia, it seems unlikely that you'll go anywhere beyond that. But maybe a side-trek in one of the later ones to a neighboring land? pretty please? )

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

And, hey, Ken Hart (known hereabouts as Ken of Ghastria) wrote #6! Congrats, Ken! Care to spill any scoop on it?

Anyone recognize any of the other authors? I don't...