Café de Nuit

I wondered if the 1999 Silver edition (25th anniversary) Reprinting/ updating for 2nd Ed. of Ravenloft I6 (product # TSR 11397) that was available to RPGA Network Guild-Level members at GenCon,
was different (in any way besides the Cover art obviously) than House of Strahd (1993, TSR9418 RM4) and if so what are the differences? Also there was a 25th aniversary reprinting of I6 (unchanged for 2nd ed. just a reprinting of I6 I believe) that came in a collector's set.

My other question is why in the hell did the Hickman's decide to put parody spoof type names on several of the crypts in Stahd's catacombs in the original I6 module such as Stabhal Indiback the court advisor? I found it was a lame attempt at humor indeed and didn't mesh with the dark gothic setting at all. Did these in-joke names make it into the Ravenloft catalogue?

The endless quest book Master of Ravenloft (TSR 8956, 1986 ) had another reincarnation of Tatyana (I can't seem to remember her name) as well a high level Paladin Jeren Sunblade (maybe Sureblade my memory is fuzzy) are these characters in the catalogue or any other material? Does anyone use them as NPCs?

Is the up coming Castle Ravenloft Product supposedly coming in the future listed on Amazon just a rehash of the House of Strahd 2nd Ed. Product for 3.X? I hope it will be more like Bleak house, The nightmare Lands, and Forlorn boxed set types of major Campaign expansion material, Not just a rehash of a product that has been redone several times now.

My other question is why in the hell did the Hickman's decide to put parody spoof type names on several of the crypts in Stahd's catacombs in the original I6 module such as Stabhal Indiback the court advisor? I found it was a lame attempt at humor indeed and didn't mesh with the dark gothic setting at all. Did these in-joke names make it into the Ravenloft catalogue?

Its a inside thing amoung game designers. Several of the 1st and second edition moduals have hidden in-jokes in them for the astute reader to pick up. Even the 3rd edition ravenloft books have the injokes- A NPC ghost hunter in VR asenal is named Noge Spengler (Ie Egon Spenger fron Ghostbusters)

The endless quest book Master of Ravenloft (TSR 8956, 1986 ) had another reincarnation of Tatyana (I can't seem to remember her name) as well a high level Paladin Jeren Sunblade (maybe Sureblade my memory is fuzzy) are these characters in the catalogue or any other material? Does anyone use them as NPCs?

The endless quest books are concidered alternate-cannon. While nothing in them directly contradicts cannon they are set up to not have happened in the same reality as the rest of the published ravenloft books.

Is the up coming Castle Ravenloft Product supposedly coming in the future listed on Amazon just a rehash of the House of Strahd 2nd Ed. Product for 3.X? I hope it will be more like Bleak house, The nightmare Lands, and Forlorn boxed set types of major Campaign expansion material, Not just a rehash of a product that has been redone several times now.

We don't know yet. Rumors is that instead of a rehash of the 2nd edition adventure it will be a more modern (in game time) update of the entire castle and Strahds goings on. The first adventure was set all the way back before any of the other domains formed and alot has happened in the mean time.

The other rumor is that it will be begins guide to ravenloft with a ultracondenced retelling of all the information in the White wolf books so WOTC can continue the Ravenloft line without having to reference the white wolf books.

eldritch wrote:I wondered if the 1999 Silver edition (25th anniversary) Reprinting/ updating for 2nd Ed. of Ravenloft I6 (product # TSR 11397) that was available to RPGA Network Guild-Level members at GenCon,
was different (in any way besides the Cover art obviously) than House of Strahd (1993, TSR9418 RM4) and if so what are the differences? Also there was a 25th aniversary reprinting of I6 (unchanged for 2nd ed. just a reprinting of I6 I believe) that came in a collector's set.

See the discussion here:
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Foru ... php?t=2702

The 11397 seems to be missing a map. I just won House of Strahd on ebay, so in a few days I can compare to 11397 directly.

thanks Gonzoron. It seems our positions are reversed as I have I6 Rvenloft and House of Strahd but have neither of the silver anniversary editions that purportedly reprinted both those titles exactly......it would appear that if the silver ed has material from DoD then it is quite different. Perhaps we should call it Ravenloft, Ravenloft 2e (house of strahd), and ravenloft 2x? ha ha ah ahem well maybe we shouldn't. It seems that I still need to acquire the silver ed. then.

when you have both in hand you will have to do a side by side comparision for me? either that or I will seal my domain and not trade with your peasants anymore.