Wizards announced two more upcoming products with Vistani

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

original topic:

https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/featur ... ty-and-dnd

Kind of an odd context for the announcement to be sure, but I'll quote the relevant:

Curse of Strahd included a people known as the Vistani and featured the Vistani heroine Ezmerelda. Regrettably, their depiction echoes some stereotypes associated with the Romani people in the real world. To rectify that, we’ve not only made changes to Curse of Strahd, but in two upcoming books, we will also show—working with a Romani consultant—the Vistani in a way that doesn’t rely on reductive tropes.

And to address the article, the Vistani were copied from Dracula which in turn was based on very unflattering depictions of the Slovaks and the Romani - typical for literature of the time but not worth defending or imitating in the modern era. 3.5e did a pretty decent overhaul, but made them more like some sort of noble-savage Jedi. 5e was a step backwards for the Vistani to be honest. The writers should have paid more attention to the 3.5e Ravenloft products. (I wish they paid any attention to the 3.5e products...) I'm planning on doing a Vistani reboot myself to solve the Arturi Ezmerelda contradiction, one tribe's worth, which hopefully will be done in time for October.

As for the rest of it, the divorce between character design and mechanics continues. Pathfinder 2e did a pretty good job with the heritages system. Calling it now, next edition character creation will be picking a starter feat/profession and race traits will be fluff for the most part.

Attempt to get discussion back on the rails:

Did it again...

I'll save this spot for a future post that actually is related to the topic. Least I can do.

Could Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden perhaps feature Vistani?

I thought I read that one of the devs (Perkins?) mentioned something like "If you liked CoS then you're going to love the next project I'm working on". And with the horror hype that is attached to Icewind Dale, could the Vistani/a Vistani be our Crypt Keeper for 5E?

Anyone still wanting to discuss WotC diversity/inclusion efforts please do so in the original thread, now renamed:
Reaction to WotC announcements re: Vistani (Drow, orcs, etc.

Leave this thread for discussion/speculation on the upcoming products that feature vistani.

[Five]

Could Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden perhaps feature Vistani?

I thought I read that one of the devs (Perkins?) mentioned something like "If you liked CoS then you're going to love the next project I'm working on". And with the horror hype that is attached to Icewind Dale, could the Vistani/a Vistani be our Crypt Keeper for 5E?

Madam Eva, as presented in Curse of Strahd, could be a cool recurring NPC in such a role. There it is said that she "lives among the Vistani but isn't truly one of them." So for all intents and purposes she plays the stereotypical role of evil/mischievous hag fortune teller but is detached from it just enough to not be pinning down an entire fantasy culture into cuts of black and white. And she's Strahd's half-sister to boot! Always looking to find worthy individuals to either destroy or free (swap roles with) him. Could her macabre search take her through the Mists and into other realms? More accurately it is said that she sends "her Vistani" out to other worlds to do just that but meh.

Kinda thin, I know, what with the mention that " They (the Vistani) puzzle over her desire to remain in Barovia"...