Café de Nuit

I have been looking into the other dread domains, as I am about to run Curse of Strahd for the first time with some fairly new players. Only a handfull one shots played by each of them or for some DnD is fully new.

While I was looking into the dread domaina I found that there seems to be no official map of the regions and I am Not even sure that wheater some places are more South or North Matter for the dread domains, as they all have their unique biosphere anyway, protected and caged by the borders of the individual dread domains.

So my question generally is if there is some general rules about putting some places next to eachother? Or should I freestyle it. Its mostly backround stuff for my Curse of Strahd campgain,might influence the flavour or some monsters that arent in the setting but do fit in well.

In the 5th edition continuity, each domain is floating isolated in the Mists. There is no geographical relationship between domains.

In the earlier continuity, some domains are also isolated "islands of terror", but many of them are connected to other domains in a cluster. The largest cluster is known as The Core, and, yes, Barovia is smack dab in the middle of it.

If you are interested, a number of maps may be found elsewhere on this site: https://www.fraternityofshadows.com/MapAlcove.html

Hope this helps!

And as far as your question on how to connect domains to something larger:
Clusters as mentioned are usually 2-3 domains of a similar "theme". For example, three desert domains with a middle East feel are in the Amber Wastes cluster. There is another cluster of two domains locked in eternal winter. Etc.

IanFordam wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:17 pm In the 5th edition continuity, each domain is floating isolated in the Mists. There is no geographical relationship between domains.

In the earlier continuity, some domains are also isolated "islands of terror", but many of them are connected to other domains in a cluster. The largest cluster is known as The Core, and, yes, Barovia is smack dab in the middle of it.

If you are interested, a number of maps may be found elsewhere on this site: https://www.fraternityofshadows.com/MapAlcove.html

Hope this helps!

The 5th ed continuity does not exist.

Mistmaster wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 7:24 am The 5th ed continuity does not exist.

In some peoples's minds 5e Ravenloft does not exist (good thing there are parallel Universes...)

No, there are some good things is the continuity which I do not appreciate.

Some fine work has been done which is available on this site, particularly Jester's maps of the Core and Ryan Naylor's Formation of the Core. May I humbly offer my own entry to this in the Core Genesis v4, available in the Mausoleum. Also if you like maps, I suggest the Ravenloft Cartographic Society page on the cesspool that is Facebook.

Strahdsbuddy wrote: Mon Sep 23, 2024 5:33 pm May I humbly offer my own entry to this in the Core Genesis v4, available in the Mausoleum.

The link in your signature doesn't work...

Thank you, alhoon. I'm not sure it was ever a link but that's a fine idea, so it is now!

I think the map of Ravenloft in the "Dread Domains" is fine, but it labels places like the "D'Honaire estate" and "Schloss Mordenheim" which the players should not know are important. Are there any maps of Ravenloft here which leave out those inconvenient locations?

But they are, D'honaire is a minister and Mordenheim a famed scientist. Probably thought there should be other central locations. But those are important.

Solan wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 7:45 pm I think the map of Ravenloft in the "Dread Domains" is fine, but it labels places like the "D'Honaire estate" and "Schloss Mordenheim" which the players should not know are important. Are there any maps of Ravenloft here which leave out those inconvenient locations?

Check some of the fan-made maps in this site.

Mistmaster wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 9:21 pm But they are, D'honaire is a minister and Mordenheim a famed scientist. Probably thought there should be other central locations. But those are important.

I believe that what Solan means is not to give away that these people are more important than others. For instance D'Honaire is a member of the Council of Brilliance, but he is the only one whose estate is mentioned, not even the governor's of Dementlieu. As for Mordenheim, well he is considered an oddball by the natives of Lamordia but that is that, Schloss Aubrecker is more important for Lamordians than Schloss Mordenheim.

Yes, as I said probably the other important places should be advertised too, yes.

Mistmaster wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 7:58 pm Yes, as I said probably the other important places should be advertised too, yes.

My bad, but still we should at least have an official map with most of the canon castles and residences of important NPCs such as the castles of all Nova Vaasan nobility. Fortunately most darklords are official leaders of their domains or reside in mapped settlements so there are a few spoilers.