The new Ravenloft

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:43 am

I am absolutely in shock at how much I like what WOTC did with this. I am a die hard Ravenloft/I6/Strahd fan and I really like what they did.

What they changed, what they added, everything. The only complaint I can come up with is that I wish the castle maps had gotten full page treatment. Plus it would be even better with C&C stat blocks, but I am honest to goodness stunned that I like something WOTC did, let alone redid, so much.

I can't remember being so happy with WOTC ever since they probably saved the D&D franchise from its demise.

If you like/love I6 give it a look. If you can get past all the 3E SPLAT!! I think you'll like/love the content.

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:51 am

Treebore wrote:
I can't remember being so happy with WOTC ever since they probably saved the D&D franchise from its demise.

Huh, saved D&D?? If you call what they've done with the current game "saving" it, I would rather have seen a dignified death of the franchise, as you say. Then we'd have more gamers playing O/B/A D&D or C&C and not loads of our breathen lost in the 3.X wastelands, never to find their way home.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:04 am

WotC did not "save" D&D, in anything other than name. The RPG had been "rescued" before WotC was even on the set, but was dying again due to the age old "its evil" stigma that those with less than an understanding love to promote.

Anyway...

I'll look at the "new Ravenloft" but I bet it'll suck just as much as the Arthaus stuff.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:26 am

Its good that they saved the franchise. IT has kept the interest in the RPG very much alive, which led to a lot of good stuff being done, just not by WOTC.

If I knew for a fact someone else would have kept publishing D&D material I would agree with you, but as far as I know WOTC is why the hobby stayed as alive as it is. Which is good for everyone, especially when they get tired of 3E and go looking for C&C, and other games.

I am very pleased with the new stuff, and alterations to old stuff, within the new Ravenloft, though. I never expected that to happen. I thought I would hate it.

Jynx · Post by **Jynx** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:17 am

I also bought the new ravenloft book and I Love it.

To say that 'I bet it will suck' without giving it any chance is just not right.

Personally, I think the fans of the gaming genre saved D&D, not a company. It got passed on from generation to generation, and will continue to be done so by myself... no matter what edition/version/etc... .

my 2 coppers...

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:27 pm

Jynx wrote:
Personally, I think the fans of the gaming genre saved D&D, not a company. It got passed on from generation to generation, and will continue to be done so by myself... no matter what edition/version/etc... .

I would agree for sure. The only thing that wotc saved was a trademark and rights to create products to make money. That's it. It's a corporation, nuff said.

And just to clarify a bit on my position, I'm not a wotc hater at all. Nor am I an 3.X hater. I think most people here feel the same way. I have several 3.X books and play in a 3.X Ravenloft game so I do indeed have some interest in the new book.

However, I am skeptical about what new or interesting things they could possibly add to the World of Ravenloft.

With all the 2E material out there (good or bad), it just seems like there are plenty of better sources, not to mention the novels as well.

What I suspect is wotc releasing this book to make money off it's current fans who don't know much about or have the earlier material. I've seen several posts around those big forums where the poster bought the new book, but doesn't know about or never read I6 or any 2E stuff.
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"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:29 pm

Well, the more I read it the more ideas that just keep coming together. ITs been a long time since I have bought anything from WOTC or TSR that got my creativity going this strongly. I love a product that makes it happen, and since its Ravenloft on top of that, a big win purchase for me.

As for my Ravenloft history, I own about 90% of everything ever put out. I'll have to look, but I think I failed to buy a boxed set and one or two of those Van Richten guides. In 3E I didn't buy the last two books describing the realms or the one they released only on pdf. Plus I DMed a Ravenloft campaign using the Arthaus stuff for nearly a year, 1st to 12th level. No one would have lived that long in the 2E version, let alone start at first level.

Yeah, I'm very happy with the new incarnation.

Jynx · Post by **Jynx** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:30 pm

I was planning on running the original I6 once again, but then I heard about the new bok coming out. I waited. I'm glad I did.

They basically took the old I6 module and added to it, changed VERY LITTLE and it is now much more robust... IMO!

Of course they released it to make money. Why else would they? But that is not the point rather that they actually released some good material for a change.

Anyhow... if anyone out there is a Ravenloft fan, more particularly a fan of the original I6 module, then check it out.

Although I do agree with the original posting where he said that the maps were a bit dissapointing. Doesn't matter... I have the ogiainl maps and I can download the original ones off the WOTC site anyhow.

good stuff

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:25 pm

I'll give it its day in court, but I do not trust the reviews of others, nor do I find "its awesome!" to be a reason to buy it. It gets a chance, but I am not holding it out to be better than the original... and if anyone on these boards is a fan of Ravenloft, it is me

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:07 pm

I looked at the new book and saw the confusing way the maps seemed to be handled and I havn't picked it up since. Maybe I should dive into the text next time.
..................................................Omote

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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:10 pm

Yes, read the text. As for the maps they spread it out to be surrounded by the relevent text, presumably to allow for less page flipping.

The text is what is winning me over.

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:09 pm

Well, I will say this, based on the strong support/recommendation from Jynx and Treebore, I'm much more inclined to take an interest in this book. Their opinions rank way high compared to some posters on ENworld or RPGnet.
So, maybe I'll look around online for a LOW price!
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"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:36 am

Book? Text? What, do you expect me to READ it? Sheesh...

...........................................Omote

FPQ
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
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Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:47 am

OK, I'm seeing some nice online discounting on this book for anyone interested:
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/078693946X ... 83-5952954
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books ... 078693946X

8)
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Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

miller6 · Post by **miller6** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:40 am

WOTC didn't save the game, they bought it from 2 corrupt brothers who who used a stock scam to steal TSR from Gary, then ran the company into the ground financially, then sold it to a lady from California who did no better, then sold it to WOTC who had enough money to bail TSR out of debt. But selling TSR to an MTG CCG gamer only guaranteed it would go further in the wrong direction - to eventually become the powergamer's RPG that it is today.

So you see, society didn't kill TSR or D&D and WOTC just changed it into something it was never meant to be.

Having people in charge of business decisions who weren't long time D&D gamers was the true culprit. After Gary's time, D&D lost it's visionary and a company without a visionary is just a money making operation. WOTC is just riding the glory of D&D's former years and catering to a generation of power gamers who falsely call themselves RPGers. To believe otherwise, simply doesn't agree with the historical facts.

People like us saved D&D, and TLG gave it a new name, a new look and some rules simplifications. There's no doubt in my mind that, unlike WOTC, TLG has the right formula for success.

Brian Miller
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:22 am

You know, when I first heard about the project, I was disgusted. With WOTC following a MTG business model with D&D, the sudden re-interest in Ravenloft was very discomforting.

But, for the record, I am not a 3.x hater either but I admit that I find that a lot of things with C&C are just better IMO. I'm still buying certain d20 products and I will probably be running (converting) the Lost City of Barakus for my new C&C campaign. I just picked up a copy late last week. I've also been picking up other similar products from Necromancer games too.

With some of the positive things that have been said here, I'm going to take a good look at this new offering and, it could be that I'll end up picking it up.

As to WOTC... I believe that they had good intentions at the start.

The only thing I don't understand is how I'm spending so much more money now on d20 products, since I've started playing C&C as opposed to before, when I pretty much only bought the Core Books and the Tome of Vile Darkness over a period of 5-6 years!

Moriarty the Red
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 4:51 pm

I would suspect it has something to do with you knowing you have the control.

Your running C&C, so when you buy the d20 stuff you know it is completely up to you what will be plundered and what will be left buried.

If you run d20 than you may have certain players who have expectations of the material being used, then you have to defend yourself by explaining why you do or do not allow stuff. Gets tiring and tedious pretty fast.

I don't know about you, but I quit buying d20 rule type books simply because I didn't want to go through it and try and figure out what I would and wouldn't allow. I, as the DM, was plenty happy with the rules I already had in use.

So I found it easier to not buy the book and just say, "I don't have or want the book. We'll just use the rules we have."

Even then I had a player or two who bought the books and then would ask to use this or that feat, spell, PrC, etc... However I found that easier to deal with, and I like playing off of player creativity, so it was actually enjoyable to me.

Come to think of it, I think that is the real reason I prefer C&C. I get more interaction with my players because they have to ask me what they can or can't do. Which gives me a much clearer idea of what things they would like to happen in the game. That didn't happen nearly as much in 3E. Of course there are many other reasons I prefer C&C, but that may be the most fundamental reason.

froglegg · Post by **froglegg** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:30 pm

I got the Ravenloft book and..................Well I liked it. We like what we like I guess.

Plaag · Post by **Plaag** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:52 pm

froglegg wrote:
I got the Ravenloft book and..................Well I liked it. We like what we like I guess.

Yeah, is pretty good and I have all the previous versions of this as well. Only thing being the format, that I don't care for so much.

ShaneG.

daddystabz · Post by **daddystabz** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:24 am

Do you plan on running a dark gothic horror themed Ravenloft online campaign anytime soon Treebore?
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:15 pm

daddystabz wrote:
Do you plan on running a dark gothic horror themed Ravenloft online campaign anytime soon Treebore?

Well, look for a certain thread in the "Online Games Forum". I believe its still on the first page. Not one response yet.
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