Café de Nuit

Now, this book has been mentioned many times in these forums. I think it's time to really write a thread about it.

First the link:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=pr ... /885227200

According to the writers, it's not Ravenloftish, but has references to Ravenloft.
It follows the steps of Oriental Adventures (GREAT book) and Heroes of Battle (good and useful book).

Now, the writers:
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=s ... eatorid=22

That's Wyatt. Responsible for what I consider "the best book of 2005" - d20 Past (until Heroes of Horror comes out, that is ) and involved in tons of other great books.

http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=s ... torid=2538

that's Ari Marmelli. Involved in the V:tR - from a discussion we had in WotC forums, responsible for what I consider GOOD part of the book. (I mean not the ones with the crappy rules and certainly not responsible for the bad editing of this book)

http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=s ... torid=4386

also involved in the V:tR - I don't know what his part was. But I know that he was involved in Orpheus. I LOVE Orpheus.

The result: two Vampire/WoD writers (ie, great mood and ideas) and an experienced WotC writer (who can guarantee working rules and play balance).
I am DYING for this book

If WW stops supporting Ravenloft, then mother WotC has its answer...

It will rock definitivly. New base class... I hope they will be good maybe I will stop playing with the generic class(I dont think classeslike bard,barbarian and othe rlike that fit well horror so I use the warrior,expert andmagic user form unearted arcana)

Well, I'm cautiously optimistic.
Wotc has been making several new hardcovers dedicated to different topics, ex:Frostburn, Races of Fate, ect... But few are worth buying.

For example, the book Heroes of Battle seemed like a natural buy for anyone who wants to play a war campaign - except that it does not include and new rules for mass combat. Mass combat is the ONE thing not covered in any other book, and is the ONE area that DMs have the most trouble with. In the entire book there is no mention on how to adapt the individualistic combat system of the D20 rules to a huge groups of combatants.

Now, this doesn't mean that Wotc books are bad, or even that Heroes of battle is bad. I'm just trying to point out that Wotc books often lack the creative thought so important to making a $40 book a worthy investment.

The question will be, will Heroes of Horror include anything that we haven't already got from other books.

I think bard of all classes has the most potential to fit into a gothic atmosphere.

Of all the classes bard explores emotion the most...and knowledge. He deals with the people.

I can see your point about barbarian...but the bard is almost the most suited to Ravenloft of all the classes.

I am cautious of this book and will read many reviews before I commit myself to whether or not I will buy it.

Hmmm...
I was quite skeptic about HoH since I read the announcement on WotC website.
I now agree with ScS: cautiosly optimistic.

Thanks to tec-goblin for the info.

tec-goblin wrote: That's Wyatt. Responsible for what I consider "the best book of 2005" - d20 Past (until Heroes of Horror comes out, that is ) and involved in tons of other great books.

One of the best writers for d20, indeed.

tec-goblin wrote: that's Ari Marmelli. Involved in the V:tR - from a discussion we had in WotC forums, responsible for what I consider GOOD part of the book. (I mean not the ones with the crappy rules and certainly not responsible for the bad editing of this book)

http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=s ... torid=4386

also involved in the V:tR - I don't know what his part was. But I know that he was involved in Orpheus. I LOVE Orpheus.

And in the newly relaunched Blackmoor Campaign Setting, my favourite game next to RL.

If this book isn't written by absolute ICONS of the community, I don't know...

Interesting. I'll reserve judgement 'til I've at least glance through it, but does certainly have potential. Heh...released in October...think they're angling for a DM or two who wants to run something scary for Halloween?

Well, I suppose we'll see in this book many rules we've seen elsewhere but in a more play balanced way (d20 Past once and for all for example solved the problem with primitive firearms and ship battle in a decent way).
Some new ideas, many adventure hooks, and probably one or two really good new things.

HoB, for example, really helps with the question: "what are my PCs doing in a huge battle?" and it was the first to introduce teamwork benefits. Its classes rock too! And I mean REALLY rock.
Oriental adventures had tons of nice ideas and adventure hooks.

HoH looks good, but to be worth the pricetag it's going to carry it's going to have to be better than good. So I'm definitely going to wait and see what it's like before I commit to buying it.

JinnTolser wrote:HoH looks good, but to be worth the pricetag it's going to carry it's going to have to be better than good. So I'm definitely going to wait and see what it's like before I commit to buying it.

*Nods.*

From the sounds of it, the book, at the very least, has some good writers. James Wyatt wrote a classic article on villains for the MOTRD campaign years ago, and is a fan of RL in general. At the very least this book might be worth pillaging for ideas.

Will be getting this as I think it may be worth taking a look at.

Looks very interesting, but seems to me that WotC wanted their own version of Ravenloft...

Couldn't be - they already own Ravenloft and for good or ill, passed on the idea of running it themselves.

My synic sense tells me that this is just another throw-away idea in a long series of hardcover $40 dollar books.

If you listen closly, you can hear the cash cows Mooing.