WotC spelt my name wrong!

[Jason of the Fraternity]

But that doesn't mean it's not a great prize now, does it Joel?

Honestly, I would think that most any book that you could get for free would be a great prize. Even if the content is schlock, the paper would be useful for starting fires, lining bird cages, etc.

Doesn't mean we can't take from it what we want and dump all the high-fantasy rest.

In addition to what I stated above, I find it hard to believe that a good DM couldn't find something useful in any book they read. I, for one, am looking forward to this book, if only for some general thoughts and ideas. The "high-fantasy" aspects, which don't mesh well with Ravenloft, can always be removed or left out. However, I'm not going to say that a books isn't good just because it doesn't perfectly fit one of my favorite settings (especially when it isn't specifically designed to be a part of such a setting).

[Jason of the Fraternity]

And, of course, if above statements don't prove true, then I recommend that with stick with Plan B...

Until the book hits the shelves, we will all put out fingers in our ears, close our eyes real tight, and continuously chant - "It will be a good book, it will be a good book, it will be a good book...."

[alhoon]

And I found a reference to Ravenloft. Not by name, but a mention of a "demiplane that entraps all who enters within an impassable border of mist" is close enough I think

Why is that? Why not just say a "demiplane called Ravenloft etc." They can use the word Ravenloft now. Perhaps that part was written before the rights returned to WotC.

[Algaris]

Perhaps because Ravenloft (the demiplane) isn't called Ravenloft. It's referred to as The Land of Mists.

[Jason of the Fraternity]

I am actually pretty sure it will be a good book. - Certainly better than most of what we saw from WotC in the recent past. But it certainly seems like we can bury any hope for an explicit mention of Ravenloft, or for explicite RL material in it.

No, there isn't any explicite Ravenloft material included within this book. However, after reading the vast majority of its contents, I think that you could easily transfer the material into most Ravenloft campaigns. Admittedly, some sections would need more tweaking than others, but I would say that this book isn't worth having just because it isn't Ravenloft-specific.

Why not just say a "demiplane called Ravenloft etc." They can use the word Ravenloft now. Perhaps that part was written before the rights returned to WotC.

Considering the amount of time that it takes to fully create (e.g. write, edit, print, and deliver) a book, it is quite possible that the reference was included before WotC had full custody of the setting back. On the other hand, I really like Algaris's approach that the actual demiplane isn't referred to as Ravenloft...

[Bluebomber4evr]

Perhaps because Ravenloft (the demiplane) isn't called Ravenloft. It's referred to as The Land of Mists.

It's also been referred to as "The Demiplane of Dread" in some 2E Planescape books such as A Guide to the Ethereal Plane.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

On Heroes of Horror:

I've only read the first chapter, but on the whole I'd say it is very useful sourcebook and I agree that it is a nice companion to the RLDMG.