Quote from: RPGPundit;876977The original Ravenloft module gives equivalent using ordinary cards, if I recall correctly.

The original module only used a (truncated) poker deck. Every module that used the Tarokka did include equivalents with a standard 54-card deck, though.

Up for preorder now from Amazon WOTC.

Looks like  and Perkins & Mohan are working on it with input from Weiss & Hickman. And its not outsourced for once.

http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/curse-strahd

Levels 1-10?

Quote from: Omega;878690Levels 1-10?

That's what the promotional blurb said.

Just a thought. seeing how this is levels 1-10, an this little blurb.
"The only hope for the trapped adventurers is to heed the warnings of a mysterious fortune-teller named Madam Eva. Drawing random cards from her tarokka deck, she directs adventurers to search Strahd's domain for artifacts and allies to help the master of Castle Ravenloft. That is, before he orchestrates your demise for his amusement and feasts on your terror."
Am I to assume this will be more of a mini campaign than a standard module/adventure? I haven't been really been paying attention to the realms adventures they have put out for 5e. Is that what they have been doing?

Quote from: Ronin;878785Just a thought. seeing how this is levels 1-10, an this little blurb.
"The only hope for the trapped adventurers is to heed the warnings of a mysterious fortune-teller named Madam Eva. Drawing random cards from her tarokka deck, she directs adventurers to search Strahd's domain for artifacts and allies to help the master of Castle Ravenloft. That is, before he orchestrates your demise for his amusement and feasts on your terror."
Am I to assume this will be more of a mini campaign than a standard module/adventure? I haven't been really been paying attention to the realms adventures they have put out for 5e. Is that what they have been doing?

One of my players is running a 5E campaign using the published adventures and it sounds like each module is basically a hard back mini-campaign of some sort (just based on how long he's been running the thing). I haven't played them yet. I have the PHB and DMG and intend to run Ravenloft when it comes out. If it is a lot of bang for your buck, then I'm on board with that

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;878787One of my players is running a 5E campaign using the published adventures and it sounds like each module is basically a hard back mini-campaign of some sort (just based on how long he's been running the thing). I haven't played them yet. I have the PHB and DMG and intend to run Ravenloft when it comes out. If it is a lot of bang for your buck, then I'm on board with that

Tyrrany of Dragons was pretty long. Just running through Hoard took I think twelve sessions. By the end the characters were level 10. We havent finished the second half yet due to medical problems sidelining one of the players.

Havent seen Princes of the Apocalypse yet but reviews seem to indicate its a campaign setting area much like the Starters Phandelver is. Abyss seems to be as well but that one know the least about. From the sounds of it it plays "tour" style much like Hoard did.

This latest one sounds like a campaign area like Phandelver and Princes.

Quote from: Omega;878794Tyrrany of Dragons was pretty long. Just running through Hoard took I think twelve sessions. By the end the characters were level 10. We havent finished the second half yet due to medical problems sidelining one of the players.

Havent seen Princes of the Apocalypse yet but reviews seem to indicate its a campaign setting area much like the Starters Phandelver is. Abyss seems to be as well but that one know the least about. From the sounds of it it plays "tour" style much like Hoard did.

This latest one sounds like a campaign area like Phandelver and Princes.

Went ahead and pre-ordered Curse of Strahd. Will report on how it goes once I run it (won't be until April at least though).

Quote from: Omega;878794Tyrrany of Dragons was pretty long. Just running through Hoard took I think twelve sessions. By the end the characters were level 10. We havent finished the second half yet due to medical problems sidelining one of the players.

Havent seen Princes of the Apocalypse yet but reviews seem to indicate its a campaign setting area much like the Starters Phandelver is. Abyss seems to be as well but that one know the least about. From the sounds of it it plays "tour" style much like Hoard did.

This latest one sounds like a campaign area like Phandelver and Princes.

I've played in each of the three Adventurer League seasons (Tyranny of Dragons, Elemental Evil (Princes of the Apocalypse) and Rage of Demons (Out of the Abyss)) through mid second tier. Tyranny of Dragons seemed the most railroaded. Princes of the Apocalypse had the most sandbox style to it; as far as I could tell, you could in theory pursue any of the elemental cults via a number of approaches. Out of the Abyss was somewhat in between; after escaping the drow, you had a fairly free choice in where to flee to, but it seems like a lot of stuff was more inevitable than a result of the PCs' choices. But a lot of this could be the result of choices of our DMs and players.

That key aspects in Curse of Strahd are determined by Madame Eva's tarroka cards suggests a more open setting, probably framed by initial events and a final confrontation with Strahd. So I'm guessing it's more like Princes of the Apocalypse than the other campaign books.

Quote from: rawma;878915Tyranny of Dragons seemed the most railroaded. Princes of the Apocalypse had the most sandbox style to it; as far as I could tell, you could in theory pursue any of the elemental cults via a number of approaches.

Tyranny of Dragons isnt a railroad. But it is fairly linear.
Linear does not = railroad.

My main gripe with the module is that its very blank on locales in between. Three cities are passed through and I dont think they devoted more than a paragraph to each.

The second module in the set though is fairly open.

Quote from: Omega;878946Tyranny of Dragons isnt a railroad. But it is fairly linear.
Linear does not = railroad.

:idunno: In the context of Adventurers League they are the same thing.

QuoteMy main gripe with the module is that its very blank on locales in between. Three cities are passed through and I dont think they devoted more than a paragraph to each.

The second module in the set though is fairly open.

That's good to hear. We didn't get past Hoard.

Quote from: rawma;878915That key aspects in Curse of Strahd are determined by Madame Eva's tarroka cards suggests a more open setting, probably framed by initial events and a final confrontation with Strahd. So I'm guessing it's more like Princes of the Apocalypse than the other campaign books.

Yeah, I wonder how fare they'll dare to take it?  Will they actually use the cards as a way to randomize the adventure? Maybe to make it radically different every time?

That's the sort of awesome shit the OSR would do. It'll probably be a step (or various steps) too far for WoTC.

QuoteDrawing random cards from her tarokka deck, she directs adventurers to search Strahd's domain for artifacts and allies to help the master of Castle Ravenloft.

I am guessing you'll have a big map of the area and the cards drawn will tell you where to go on the map and who to look for. Such that no two sessions may play exactly the same. Ideal would be that the cards determine the location, the NPC there to deal with, their disposition, and the McGuppin you need. Though its more likely it will just be the NPC and locale. Like you draw the Innocent and the Mists. Though I hope WOTC does more with it than that.

Quote from: Omega;879486I am guessing you'll have a big map of the area and the cards drawn will tell you where to go on the map and who to look for. Such that no two sessions may play exactly the same. Ideal would be that the cards determine the location, the NPC there to deal with, their disposition, and the McGuppin you need. Though its more likely it will just be the NPC and locale. Like you draw the Innocent and the Mists. Though I hope WOTC does more with it than that.

In the original ravenloft module, the cards determined only a couple of key points. Not enough to make the adventure truly variable.  

It would be a great opportunity if they didn't just repeat that and instead took the concept to a much bigger level.

Quote from: RPGPundit;879866In the original ravenloft module, the cards determined only a couple of key points. Not enough to make the adventure truly variable.  

It would be a great opportunity if they didn't just repeat that and instead took the concept to a much bigger level.

Nor sure about the other sets. But my Ravenloft boxed set. The one with the Fabian art Deck had several methods for using the Tarokka.

1: Predtacked deck: Used to best effect when you wanted a really targeted answer. The deck is essentially a stage prop.

2: Pre-planned answers: Note some cards relevant to the situation beforehand and then during the session lay out all the cards. But make special note of those you prepped answers for. The other cards are irrelevant.

3: Random elements: You have a general idea of whats there. But the cards drawn determine the particulars. Like you hav decided the locale will be a graveyard and theres an NPC there. The cards then help determine other factors like NPC personality, type of threat, where in the graveyard the threat is and so on.

4: Totally random on the fly generation: The cards determine everything of the adventure to come.

As you might guess my favorites are methods 3 and 4.

My hope is that Curse options all four.

We'll see. Like I said, WotC might feel like it's a step too far into OSR territory for them to risk.