Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 14, 2005 21:54:52	Greetings, Am setting up a Ravenloft campaign and do not seem to have any references on distance. Can someone please give me some cities and distances? Specifically, I'm in Kartakass, so Skald and Harmonia distance would be great. Thanks, Marziti
#2 zombiegleemax Sep 15, 2005 6:24:20	Distances are not given in Ravenloft for several reasons. Some people prefer their setting to be very small & claustrophobic, promoting a sense of being trapped. Others prefer a larger area to work in to be able to add their own villages, counties, baronies, or whatever. That said, in Gazetter 1, S. commented that it was a quick travel south from Skald to Harmonia. Looking at the original map of the core from the Black Box set, it appears to be only about six miles. Of course, that can vary from day to day, and whether a group of travellers can actually reach town before dark or must spend a night in the woods...
#3 gotten Sep 15, 2005 12:05:48	From the FAQ, to complete CJim's answer: Earlier books have the main landmass of the Core at around 180 miles by 200 miles. The Sea of Sorrows and the Nocturnal Sea add about 80 and 90 miles respectively (based on Domains of Dread). Using this size on the inside cover maps in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting and the Ravenloft Player’s Handbook puts the scale at 20-25 miles per inch. However, this is prone to change as the mists that border the known land ebbs in and out. Distance is quite relative in the Land of the Mists. In short the size of the Core and most Domains has been purposely left out to allow Dungeon Masters to set the size to fit their Campaigns; the Core can be left small for a more claustrophobic feel or enlarged to whatever size is deemed appropriate. The populations can be adjusted accordingly.
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 15, 2005 15:46:54	Thank you
#5 solandras Sep 20, 2005 12:05:13	My only real source of knowledge of the size of the core comes from in one of the Gazateers. The author is in Sithicus telling about a giant rift in it (in Sithicus itself, not the Shadow Rift) that is dozens of miles long and took him days to go around. Taking that into account, that means at absolute worst, Sithicus is dozens of miles aross. However, by looking at the map I couldn't see any rift in the land, meaning either they neglected it, or it's small enough in comparison to the rest of Sithicus it barely shows up.
#6 zombiegleemax Sep 20, 2005 13:18:52	My only real source of knowledge of the size of the core comes from in one of the Gazateers. The author is in Sithicus telling about a giant rift in it (in Sithicus itself, not the Shadow Rift) that is dozens of miles long and took him days to go around. Taking that into account, that means at absolute worst, Sithicus is dozens of miles aross. However, by looking at the map I couldn't see any rift in the land, meaning either they neglected it, or it's small enough in comparison to the rest of Sithicus it barely shows up. You are probably looking at a map of the land before the Grand Conjunction (quick description: a series of modules leading up to a hole being torn in the barriers between Ravenloft and other worlds; in the chaos the Core was rearranged as well, with two domains-- G'Henna and Markovia-- removed leaving a big hole in the middle, the Shadow Rift).
#7 Morrigan Sep 21, 2005 5:51:07	You are probably looking at a map of the land before the Grand Conjunction (quick description: a series of modules leading up to a hole being torn in the barriers between Ravenloft and other worlds; in the chaos the Core was rearranged as well, with two domains-- G'Henna and Markovia-- removed leaving a big hole in the middle, the Shadow Rift). No, solandras is right - that's from Gazateer IV, and is post Grand Conjunction. The rift in question surrounds Nadragaard Keep, but it isn't shown on any map in that supplement. It might be in When Black Roses Bloom however. It's quite separate from the Shadow Rift. But yes, it does mean that Sithicus is dozens of miles long. And I like that. I my Ravenloft game, the core is much larger than the books suggest - it's a month-long journey on foot just to get from Vallaki to Krezk, for example. I didn't up the population any - I feel that a good claustrophobic atmosphere can be created by isolation. If it's weeks to the next major settlement, then unless you have a very good reason you're not going to go there. Even a couple of days travel won't take you anywhere important. Because of that, no-one travels, and it creates a nice cabin-fever type atmosphere. Morrigan
#8 zombiegleemax Sep 21, 2005 6:45:24	Sounds like the Great Chasm of Sithicus, there is a map that includes it at the Mordent Cartographic website, here; http://www.gryphonhill.com/sithicus/maps.html