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Moral Machivelli · Post by **Moral Machivelli** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:14 am

Players guide to ebberon

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:25 am

Thank you... Is there a Castle RL in Eberron? - Be cautious what you answer, because if I am not pleased. I swear this night the HASBRO building in my town will burn!

Moral Machivelli · Post by **Moral Machivelli** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:34 am

No. I ment that it might be set out like that book, only substatuteing Ravenloft info In place of ebberon Info

That is the only explanation i can think of that is not an adventure.

Ultramyth · Post by **Ultramyth** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:44 pm

Eberron is pretty cool as a setting. At first I was reluctant to take a look, until I was doing some dataset conversions for code monkey and I found heaps of elements I liked in there. Especially that it is not a seriously overpowered setting. In many ways, it is quite a bit darker than other traditional D&D settings, lots of ravenloft-esque themes to be explored. One of the rulers is actually a vampire, but no, there is no Castle Ravenloft in there.

I seriously doubt that the new book is going to be an adventure, at least, not alone. WOTC rarely publishes adventures over 32 pages these days. Even the revamped I6 was scarcely bigger.

I think they plan to do something special with it. They're probably even reading this right now, and are taking into consideration everything that we talk about.

Lately, I had the chance to go over Five Nations for Eberron. I must say, it's almost pure fluff, and the crunch is all top notch quality. I think we can expect to see something similar. Quality and useful prestige classes, some ravenloft-specific magic, and perhaps a new take.

I think even if it does republish the adventure (note that they never did put up i6 for free in the classic adventures section of the WOTC website...) in this new upcoming book, you can expect to find much much more than just I6 updated alone.

alhoon · Post by **alhoon** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:03 pm

Ultramyth wrote:Eberron is pretty cool as a setting.
I found heaps of elements I liked in there.
Especially that it is not a seriously overpowered setting.

Agreed.
I don't own Eberon and I don't plan to but I have checked the thing and I found things I liked like:
- No 23rd level rulers of nations
- The PC classes are heroic. A 5th level hero is an accomplished hero
- The class (I don't remember the name) that makes magic items without being able to cast spells.
- The fact that what D&D considers "nuissance monsters" like orcs and goblins finally get a nation. I have always included such nations to my campaigns and many people thought I was a heretic.

If I had to stop playing Ravenloft & Homebrew, I might well give it a try.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:28 pm

Ultramyth wrote:Eberron is pretty cool as a setting[...]

I have no problem with Eberron or anything. Still, I would highly lament it, would WotC try to mix both settings (like making Barovia a land of Khorvaire).

As to the book's content, what I understood from over at WotC is that it is indeed a module with extra content, and that it will be a one-shot. Rumour has it for a long time that WotC will redo a lot of the still popular classic modules for 3e, and Castle Ravenloft could well be the first module in such a series.

As to extra content, there's plenty of stuff to fill the module, I think:

A neat description of village Barovia, some Barovian-specific monsters, adventure hooks for the immediate vicinity, alternate storylines (if they skip the randomizing plot-definer via the tarot cards and so on).

In any case, I am eager to see this module published. It seems that this could be the one big bestseller for WotC this year. Seriously, everyone will want to have it!

Undead Cabbage · Post by **Undead Cabbage** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:44 pm

- The fact that what D&D considers "nuissance monsters" like orcs and goblins finally get a nation. I have always included such nations to my campaigns and many people thought I was a heretic.

I agree that they should get their own nation in fantasy as well. I've only played a FR campaign once, and in it I gave orcs a lot more substanence than they get regularily. In the future I would like to 'remap' FR so as to make it less cliche, more balanced.

WOTC would be stupid to mix it. However people might buy it at first, they wouldd be 'giving the cat a bone', per say. I don't know about the setting itself, but Ebberon's (and WOTCs) current target fanbase are youngsters. Generally speaking, players with a lower level of maturity will have negative reactions to something darker than what they're normally used to. There are some exceptions, but as a whole the young guys typically play for the power, not for the experience.

On te other hand, if they water down the adventure, you now have a giant population of pissed off veteran players.

There are two main outcomes to this, both of which work in our favor:

a: The setting is good, and it gets people into Ravenloft, thus shifting more souls into our net

.

b: The setting is bad, in which case this allows the true-ravenloft populace to say "hey, wanna see the better version?", thus shifting their supports over to our side.

Ivana_Boritsi · Post by **Ivana_Boritsi** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:47 pm

I have to agree with Desdichado. I think this will be one of a series of "classic" modules that are being updated to 3.5. I could also see them doing the Tomb of Horrors and the Rod of Seven Parts. There's been enough time since the last iteration.

My bet is, with so much space, the village of Barovia will be detailed as well.

Another bet is that the stats and other stuff will not necessarily jive with what Arthaus produced. I highly suspect that the Arthaus produced material will be treated much the same way that the Star Trek and Star Wars novels were treated in regards to canon. Arthaus's stuff will be considered "nice fluff, but ultimately fan fiction." That's my guess.

This is not to say that I'm not excited! I'm sure that they will do a good job. The 3D maps will be done with justice. Strahd will get a very nice makeover. I'd like to see his tatics section alone!

I just can't see them reading all of Arthaus's material and keeping it in line with what they are going to produce.

Bluebomber4evr · Post by **Bluebomber4evr** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:40 am

Desdichado wrote:(if they skip the randomizing plot-definer via the tarot cards and so on).

I hope they don't...that's what made the module a best-seller in the first place...the fact that you could run it three or four times in a row and have a different plot each time.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:04 am

Ivana_Boritsi wrote: Another bet is that the stats and other stuff will not necessarily jive with what Arthaus produced. I highly suspect that the Arthaus produced material will be treated much the same way that the Star Trek and Star Wars novels were treated in regards to canon. Arthaus's stuff will be considered "nice fluff, but ultimately fan fiction." That's my guess.

I guess that as well. For I don't know the exact legal situation, but I am not sure of WotC could simply rely on S&S's material and continue from there. Means, for possible future Ravenloft support, no S, no Azalin returned, etc.

Dion of the Fraternity · Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:18 am

Has anyone noticed that it doesn't say "Ravenloft" but "Castle Ravenloft"? Methinks this ultimately means that Castle Ravenloft could be plopped into virtually ANY D&D world, disregarding the rest of the Demiplane entirely.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:22 am

I guess it will be something like *Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil* - a remake that will assure highly financial success, but ultimately kill the setting off... I am pretty sure this will be the last time we see Raveloft material for the forseeable future...

alhoon · Post by **alhoon** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:35 am

You are a pessimist.

It is a good thing to have this book out.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:24 am

alhoon wrote:You are a pessimist.
It is a good thing to have this book out.

I absolutely welcome this book.

The only thing I want to emphasize is that I don't believe WotC will relaunch the entire line. But that is indeed just my pessimism, for I of course don't know any details of the company's policy.

Undead Cabbage · Post by **Undead Cabbage** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:19 am

When trying to guess the intentions of business men, you need to think like businessmen.

WOTC doesn't hate RL, it just doesn't think it will sell. This module may very well be WOTC testing the water for RL fans. If this makes money for Wizards, then I sincerely doubt they would cut it off there. They have the rights to a really good setting, which has maintained its popularity despite its misfortune.

Who knows, after this we may see a 3e version of 'The House on Griffon hill', only hopefully better made than the original.

Question: Do you think they would dare make it an adventure that takes place pre-ravenloft's existance? I.e. the tergs and the Von Zarovich family are all of a suddenly a part of ebberon?

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