Reference: List of Ravenloft future products

[Joël of the FoS]

List of Ravenloft future products :

---

2005 year summary:

Official Ravenloft products :

Only 3 products this year:

- Dark Tales & Disturbing Legends (May (was April) 2005) released
"A collection of original horror tales which present Ravenloft-twists on classic horror tales and then show how these
stories can be used in games. " (Dark Duo on the WotC boards, Nov 04)

Ravenloft: Stories To Chill the Heart
Gather Round for Ravenloft's Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends, by Jackie Cassada and Nicky Rea, Ravenloft Developers

In the dark we hope to distance, distract and defend ourselves from terrors that haunt the twilight by huddling in our houses before the fading evening fire and telling each other tales to occupy our thoughts till dawn. We recount legends of valiant quests and faded glory, fallen heroes and dark justice, tragic villains and ancient horrors. Then the old folk recall the time-worn tales, grim sagas known throughout the realms from Darkon to Invidia, Mordent to Barovia; narratives of suffering and shame, of trials and tribulation and ultimately of tragedy for hero and villain alike. For in these tales we find warning and caution, hope and solace, and a chance that we might yet avoid a similar fate. The Realms' greatest legends, however, are more than mere musings of an imaginative mind. Though these fables may vary with each telling, the characters, themes and lessons remain the same as if drawn from the very pages of history, for, after all, at the heart of every legend lies a foundation in truth! It is this very kernel of veracity that inspires some and entices others to seek to discern the fact from the fiction and drives them on through the torments of life with the frail hope of proving the tale true and claiming the prize for themselves. But, one must be careful when seeking to learn the legitimacy of a legend lest one becomes trapped within that very saga, facing the same grim fate as its hero. "To Inherit Eternity" is one such story.

So begins "To Inherit Eternity," the first of five bone-chilling tales in Ravenloft's latest supplement, Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends. Based on classic horror motifs familiar to anyone who has sat around a campfire swapping scary stories or stayed up late at night as a child to hear the grown-ups tell tales of ghostly visitations and horrific crimes, these stories serve a dual purpose. First and foremost, they are intended to entertain fans of Ravenloft with versions of familiar horror tales such as 'The Bride' and 'The Flying Dutchman.' These tales, however, are transformed by the Mists into mini-adventures that are uniquely flavored by the atmosphere of the Dread Realm. Read through these stories and you will recognize tales of wedding nights gone dreadfully wrong, monsters in the shape of men who prey upon the innocent and the trusting, and an eternal wanderer cursed by something most people would consider a blessing. Once you've read the tales, find out how you can turn these stories into adventures and expand those adventures into campaigns. Variations on each story's theme provide opportunities for clever DMs to use these adventures several times by making some simple changes, such as substituting one villain for another or altering objects or scenes. Beyond the tales themselves, Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends provides something intangible for the Ravenloft game - a set of folk legends and ideas for creating similar stories. These tales come from the popular folklore of the Dread Realm, not from the few heroic characters battling darklords and engaging in political intrigues. These are the stories told by grandfathers and grandmothers to their children's children, or featured in taverns and inns on stormy nights when the doors and windows are bolted against the wind and rain.Tales of haunted houses and hidden treasures hint of a rich body of legendry and folklore, differing from realm to realm but each touching upon the things seen out of the corner of the eye or sensed after the lights have been blown out. Five premier authors approached these tales in their own way. Some place the players in the middle of the story, while others introduce their tales as fireside entertainments.
The Ravenloft game grew out of one of the most famous tales of gothic horror, that of the doomed, deathless vampire caught in his own tragic drama. What more fitting addition to the body of published work than a book of folk stories brought to dreadful life by the talents of Harold Johnson, Steve Miller, Brett King, Ryan Naylor and Ari Marmell.
So sit back, brew a cup of hot cider, lock your doors and open your minds to a different kind of terror, one that grows quietly as the night darkens, the silence deepens and thoughts dwell on the unknown and the mysterious, on Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends.

- Van Richten's Guide to the Mists (August 2005)
"An exploration of the creatures who dwell in the Mists and some speculations on those most mysterious elements of the Dread Realm." (Dark Duo on the WotC boards, Nov 04)

Van Richten's Guide to the Mists
Author: Carla Hollar, Rucht Lilavivat
Description:
Spawns of Mist, Creatures of Mystery
Nothing symbolizes the mystery and horror of Ravenloft® more than the Mists. What horrors dwell within? What are their powers and purposes? Only a few hardy souls have braved the dangers of the Mists… and returned to tell the tale.

A Van Richten Guide for Ravenloft
• A complete guide to the Mists, including descriptions of the creatures that dwell within, their powers and weaknesses, the spells and items that affect them, and how to survive encountering them.
• Includes rules to create new Mist-spawned creatures for customized encounters
• Presents new information about the Vistani and others who travel through the Mists


- Masque of the Jade Dragon (November 2005)

On the WotC side:

- Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations (April 2005) released
Unnatural Creatures of Unspeakable Evil
Trembling hands have recorded horrifying stories of encounters with aboleths, beholders, mind flayers, and other aberrations. The victims of these alien creatures are quickly overwhelmed by mind-numbing terror -- their only comfort is the hope for a quick death.

This supplement for the D&D game presents a comprehensive look at some of the most bizarre creatures ever to invade the world of fantasy roleplaying. Along with information about the physiology, psychology, society, and schemes of these strange beings, you'll find spells, feats, tactics, and tools commonly employed by those who hunt them. Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations also provides new rules, prestige classes, monsters, sample encounters, and fully developed NPCs ready to instill fear in any hero.

- Heroes of Horror (October 2005) http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pr ... /885227200

By: James Wyatt, Ari Marmell, C.A. Suleiman

Heroes of Horror provides everything players and Dungeon Masters need to play and run a horror-oriented campaign or integrate elements of creepiness & tension into their existing campaigns. Players can develop heroes or anti-heroes using new feats, new spells, new base classes and prestige classes, and new magic items. The book presents new mechanics for different types of horror, including rules for dread and tainted characters, as well as plenty of new horrific monsters and adventure seeds. Different types and genres of horror are discussed in detail.



Fan-made Ravenloft products :

- Quoth the Raven #11: released; #12 (getting submissions)


---

2004 year summary:

Official products :

- Denizens of Dread – released !
- Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey – released !
- Ravenloft Gazetteer V – released !
- Masque of the Red Death – released !
- Legacy of Blood, The Great Families - released !

Fan-made Ravenloft products :

- Quoth the Raven # 8, 9, 10 (released !)
- Tales of the Mists (released !)
- Call of Verbrek (released !)


On the WotC side: Libris Mortis - released!
A WotC accessory book about undead. An adventure web enhancement is available at: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20041015a

---

Future releases info:

(none yet)

---

Recent releases (last 6 months):

December 13th, 2004 * (was July 2004) – Legacy of Blood : the Great families
(we know Steve Miller is one of the author. It should expand the Black box family info)

From the S&S web site:

Legacy of the Blood: Great Families of the Core

Born to Greatness and Darkness

A few great and nefarious lineages hold the reins of power in the domains of Ravenloft’s Core. What is it like to share their blood, their secrets, their strengths and the curses that shadow their lives?

Their Secrets Come to Light and Life

This book explores the histories of some of the Core’s most powerful families. In addition to a history of each family, this sourcebook contains prestige classes, family feats and special requirements for playing individuals whose names carry great weight in Ravenloft.

Ravenloft books are published under license with Wizards of the Coast and are 100% compatible with v.3.5 rules and the d20 System.

ISBN: 1-58846-089-4 Stock #: 15031 Retail Price: $22.99 U.S. Page Count: 128 Authors: Steve Miller, Anthony Pryor, Penny Williams, and more Developers: Jackie Cassada and Nicky Rea Artists: SSS Staff


October 18th, 2004 Masque of the Red Death

From the S&S catalog:

Terror Crosses the Mists… to Earth
The Mists of Ravenloft cannot contain all its terrors. A terrible force invades Earth, weaving a plan that comes together in the 1890s. Only a few intrepid souls risk their lives to prevent the conquest of darkness.

The Red Death Awaits…
This campaign setting presents a new look at the popular Masque of the Red Death expansion for Ravenloft, describing an alternate Earth in the 1890s, filled with wonderous inventions, dynamic energy — and untold terror! Featuring new prestige classes, revised magic rules, lairs of evil, and numerous adventure hooks, it provides a wealth of information for players and DMs wishing to explore Ravenloft in a new time and place. Ravenloft books are published under license with Wizards of the Coast and are 100% compatible with v.3.5 rules and the d20 System.
Authors: Harold Johnson, Rucht Lilavivat, Claire Hoffman and more
Developers: Nicky Rea and Jackie Cassada
Page Count: 256

From the S&S Quarterly:

Masques and Magic
Presenting Ravenloft’s Masque of the Red Death
The Mists of Ravenloft travel where they will, seeping into many worlds and many times. Long ago, those Mists enabled an already ancient evil to enter into a strange and varied world, where it settled in for the long haul. For centuries, that malevolent being made subtle movements that helped shape the history of that world, biding its time until it felt ready to launch its campaign of evil.
That world is the world of Gothic Earth — a world very like our own, but with a sinister twist. That evil is the entity known only as The Red Death.

This October, Ravenloft visits the 19th century of Gothic Earth in Masque of the Red Death, a core campaign setting that introduces players to a world in which magic and steam engines coexist, where arcane wizards and ambitious archaeologists uncover forbidden knowledge and serve evil, unearthly masters, and where your characters may brush shoulders with such luminaries such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Bram Stoker. This is a world in which Dracula — the Dracula — exists… and that’s just the beginning.

In addition to the setting itself, the Gothic Earth of Masque of the Red Death has some distinctions from the normal Ravenloft campaign. For instance, though magic works, it has its price. A few dedicated individuals have risked their lives, their health and their sanity to uncover long forgotten spells and rituals. Magic in Gothic Earth is more difficult, takes more time and follows different laws than is standard for Ravenloft. The following excerpt from Chapter Five: The Magic of Gothic Earth demonstrates this difference.

The Laws of Gothic Magic Magic cannot be trusted: No matter whether it is divine or arcane in origin, spellcasting is and should always remain an uncertain art, one that is ultimately indifferent to any attempts the characters make to codify and understand it. Even experienced magic-users cannot always rely on their talents functioning and the potential for failure — or worse still, perversion or backlash — remains present at every turn. Magic cannot be purified: While magic was once as “clean” an energy as on any other fantasy world, the coming of the Red Death changed that forever, and as a canonical matter the corruption of the web is not something the characters can ever really hope to change, try though they might. Do not allow the characters to have access to totally “untainted” spells or magical items, or you risk losing the very essence of what makes spellcasting so demanding — and dangerous — in the first place.

Magic cannot be cheated: Above all, do not allow characters or systems designed to circumvent the terrible risks and costs involved in casting spells in the Gothic Earth, or even just allow it to become a game of simple numbers rather than fear and horror. It may be possible to stave off disaster every now and then, particularly with quick thinking and no little sacrifice, but in the end, magic will claim its due — most often with interest.

TSR first published Masque of the Red Death ten years ago, written by William W. Connors and other members of the TSR staff. Today’s version is updated for the Dungeons & Dragons® v.3.5 rules. We’re pleased to have Harold Johnson, part of the creative team for the original Masque of he Red Death, join Claire Hoffman, Carla Hollar, Rucht Lilavivat, Andrew Scott, Pete Woodworth and ourselves as the writing team bringing you a new version which features even more information than the original of a decade past, while remaining faithful to the spirit of its predecessor.

This is a project both near and dear to us; in many ways, it epitomizes the essence of Ravenloft — a world both familiar and terribly different, with uncertainty and dread as constant companions. The 19th century is an age exploding with discovery. Human inventiveness grows by leaps and bounds and, for perhaps the first time in history, scientific knowledge outstrips its moral and ethical watchdogs, creating monstrous machines and chemical chimera capable of doing great good or causing great evil. The familiar has suddenly become totally strange; comfort and ease evaporate. Adventure and terror begin. This is the world of Masque of the Red Death; we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.


July 5th, 2004* – Gazetteer V *
March 15th, 2004 – VRG to the Shadow Fey *
Jan 26th, 04 – Denizens of Dread (a 3.5 update of Denizens of Darkness) *

* See the review pages of the FoS to get the summary of content of these books.

On our board Steve asked that fans buying this book via Amazon do it through his link, so he gets a small kick back. You heard the man, click here !


---

Rumors and other yet unconfirmed books:

(Thanks to JEB for hunting these hints through the net)

Ravenloft Gazetteer VI is due out in 2005 (pushed ahead due to the 3.5 books), and will move into the oceans of the Core. Future Gazetteers may include new domains. However, the "S" plotline may not follow the same path as proscribed by the Kargatane in the long term, although the editors will try to stay true to the plan.
(Dark Duo, WotC Ravenloft boards, 2004)
However, it was announced early 2005 that the Gaz serie was on hold for unknown time, because of lower sales then expected.

Van Richten's Guide The VRA1 hints of four VRG (p7), the VRGttWalking Dead and VRGttShadowFey (both out since) and of an abomination from Bluetspur, and a guide on sea monsters …

Arthaus would like to do a Van Richten's Arsenal II "eventually." (Dark Duo, WotC Ravenloft Boards, 2004)

More Children of the Night books: "While we can't promise a Children of the Night in 2005, a continuation of the series is a distinct possibility..." (Dark Duo, WotC Ravenloft boards 2004)

---

If you hear about other details and hints, please send me a private message and I’ll update this list.

Quotes from S&S are taken from the www.swordandsorcery.com web site.

Joël

[Lucius]

Masque of the Jade Horror is also disponible for pre order at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

And it will be a Hardcover!

[Jonathan Winters]

Hum...

Anybody knows what is becoming of our scheduled books?

It feels like they are lost in the mists...

Is there bad news on the horizon?

Obviously, the longer it takes to get some answers from the Developpers or someone, the more people will speculate...

Patrick

[Le Noir Faineant]

Seems that Masque of the Jade Horror will remain a myth forever...

[Coan]

I really wanted a Masque accessory as well.

There goes my Masque of the Red Death campaign I suppose.