Ravenloft was the first of the D&D adventure board games.
Not sure where Wrath of Ashardalon is set.
The last one is apparently set on Dri'zzt because hes so awesome he has become a location now? ahem...

So nominally Ravenloft there is a location in the realms and no-longer a plane.

The original module didn't take place in its own plane.  That came later with the Ravenloft setting.  Barovia was a location that could be dropped into any D&D world.

Quote from: yosemitemike;869479The original module didn't take place in its own plane.  That came later with the Ravenloft setting.  Barovia was a location that could be dropped into any D&D world.

And that is the only Ravenloft I really know or like.

Quote from: yosemitemike;869479The original module didn't take place in its own plane.  That came later with the Ravenloft setting.  Barovia was a location that could be dropped into any D&D world.

And the setting preserved that by allowing portions of Ravenloft to slip into other settings.

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;869497And the setting preserved that by allowing portions of Ravenloft to slip into other settings.

The Barovia in the Ravenloft setting is a long way from the version in the module.  It went from a small valley with one town and a castle to a whole country.

I hope we see Ravenloft make a comeback in 5e. It's the only official D&D setting I like. Forgotten Realms is over-exposed and Dragonlance just blows in my opinion.

Hell, I'd like the 5e system expand into other genres as well.

Quote from: Doc Sammy;869511Hell, I'd like the 5e system expand into other genres as well.

Theres a UA article over on the WOTC site on converting 3e's Urban Arcana over to 5e.

Quote from: Doc Sammy;869511Hell, I'd like the 5e system expand into other genres as well.

I always liked the idea of XCrawl.

I would like to see a swords and planet type setting for 5e.

I've tinkered with making one that has magic and whatnot, but is tied to a future earth through space travel and a Prime Directive ala the L. Sprague de Camp "Krishna" novrls.

Come spend a night in Dildo, if you've got the time...

Quote from: RPGPundit;869816Come spend a night in Dildo, if you've got the time...

Painsville. etc.

Doesnt make Underdark Undermountain Wildspace, and about 90% of the FR place names any less over-used and unimaginative.

Back on topic.

Aside from the big V himself and his castle. What other non-demiplane elements of Ravenloft do you think are integral to the setting?

Quote from: Omega;869844Aside from the big V himself and his castle. What other non-demiplane elements of Ravenloft do you think are integral to the setting?

The isolation created by the mists and the PC's inability to leave until Strahd is dealt with are pretty integral.

Quote from: Omega;869844Aside from the big V himself and his castle. What other non-demiplane elements of Ravenloft do you think are integral to the setting?

This might be a demi-plane element, but powers checks are and the transformation of evil characters into creatures is pretty essential for me. Mists are key too. But in terms of just basic aspects of the setting that are not related to its demiplane nature:

1) Azlin and Darkon (even though they kind of got rid of him, for me the setting lost something when they altered Darkon).

2) KArtakass and Harkon Lukas: I used this domain more than any other I think. I think they fleshed it out just enough in Feast of Goblyns that you have enough to go on as a GM but not so much detail that there isn't room for inventing new things to surprise your players. Plus, I love the musical angle of the domain.

3) Lamordia, Tepest, Forlorn, Mordent, invidia and Valachan are all domains I found easy to incorporate into play. Don't know why. I think the core as they established it after the Grand Conjunction generally works pretty well. There is a nice balance of places. Hazlan and Nova Vaasa were the only domains that really never quite fit for me.

4) Not everyone will agree with this, but I think for me the Hammer Monster and Universal Monster approach is what made Ravenloft work. I either picture it as a Peter Cushing monster hunter type setting or a black and white universal type setting. The cliches and camp are part of the fun for me. And I find some of that stuff can lower the player's defenses a bit.

5) The Van Richten Guides. I think the Van Richten books (from the TSR days not the ones they put out by the weathermays/foxgroves for d20---Generally speaking the d20 books just didn't do it for me at all) are really important for running the setting. I was clueless as a GM with Ravenloft before I picked up the Van Richten Guides. But they pretty clearly present a campaign approach based on monster hunts and investigations (and give you a bunch of tools and ideas).

oooh? WOTC is putting out teasers for the next product,



Called "Innocence".

Style a little like the Ravenloft boxed set I have. And has her neck been nibbled? Looks so? And someone else pointed out that the curtains behind her look suggestive of fangs.

Quote from: Omega;873838oooh? WOTC is putting out teasers for the next product

QuoteCalled "Innocence".

Style a little like the Ravenloft boxed set I have. And has her neck been nibbled? Looks so? And someone else pointed out that the curtains behind her look suggestive of fangs.

So far everything 5e has been Forgotten Realms, with recurring places, factions and characters for organized play; Ravenloft would be a bit of a departure from that, wouldn't it? But that image does suggest vampire to me as well, and after dragons, elemental cults and demons, having undead and vampires in particular as the villains would not be surprising.