* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Domains of Dread question Started at 01-30-07 09:42 PM by smuj_tremor Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=782369 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : smuj_tremor Date : 01-30-07 09:42 PM Thread Title : Domains of Dread question After finding the "Domains of Dread" book at the local game store, I became interested in Ravenloft since I hear about it all the time and know pretty much nothing about it. I looked through the book and it looked to me like it was the campaign setting for it. If I were to get this would I absolutely NEED any other book to run a ravenloft campaign? I read some descriptions about this product but they weren't very clear to me, probably because I don't know what Ravenloft is....lol -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : realmaster Date : 01-31-07 12:28 AM Thread Title : Re: Domains of Dread question you can use that book by it self but without buying any modules of ravenloft maps you would have to just follow the guide lines in the book to create your own adventure and world. so to answer your question yes you can play it without buying anything else. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Agathokles Date : 01-31-07 03:42 AM Thread Title : Re: Domains of Dread question I looked through the book and it looked to me like it was the campaign setting for it. If I were to get this would I absolutely NEED any other book to run a ravenloft campaign? Not really. Domains of Dread is a campaign setting book, so it contains everything you need -- character classes, history and geography of Ravenloft, adventure design tips, as well as all modifications to standard game mechanics you need. Most other Ravenloft books are either adventure modules or in-depth covering of standard monsters (with wide customization options). Monster Compendium books and the like tend to include a lot of NPCs rather than traditional monsters. They are usually nice books, but nothing would absolutely need. Also, there's a lot of free material for Ravenloft around: The Grand Conjuction adventure series: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads Several (excellent) netbooks: http://www.kargatane.com/ Current official fan website, with more netbooks: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Llwch Date : 01-31-07 04:56 PM Thread Title : Re: Domains of Dread question you can use that book by it self but without buying any modules of ravenloft maps you would have to just follow the guide lines in the book to create your own adventure and world. so to answer your question yes you can play it without buying anything else. The DoD hardback is a great resource - I have it, plus the original Ravenloft boxed set and the "second edition" boxed set (the one that includes the Tarokka Deck and info on the changes made to the dreadplane after the events of the Grand Conjunction). The Ravenloft Monstrous Compendia / Monster Manuals will be handy, but not an absolute necessity. And if you do use them, and your players are at all familiar with Ravenloft, be sure to NEVER call any of the beasts they find by what their true name is (even a zombie can be referred to as a "ghoul", in order to preserve uncertainty and mystique). If you want/need additional flavour (or to make your badass villains *REALLY* badass), then grab the "Van Richten's Guides". There are guides for Vampires, Ghosts, Golems ("The Created"), Liches, Demons, Werebeasts, Ancient Dead and Vistani. Naturally, this makes adventure construction a bit more complicated, but this also avoids the "vanilla" vampire or mummy (for example). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : Agathokles Date : 02-01-07 04:17 AM Thread Title : Re: Domains of Dread question If you want/need additional flavour (or to make your badass villains *REALLY* badass), then grab the "Van Richten's Guides". Note that the Van Richten's Guides were later reprinted in the Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendia, in three volumes (each containing three guides -- the last has the "bonus" guide to witches and hags). I'd get these revised versions rather than the originals -- in paper, because of the handier (more compact) format; in pdf, because you'd save 50%. Like Llwch said, the guides are very good (they include both flavor text -- in the form of Van Richten's accounting of his experiences hunting specific monsters -- and boxes with optional rules/powers for the subject monster type), though if you're already tend to tweak/customize heavily your monsters you might find it less useful (though the powers and vulnerabilities given are often inspiring). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : smuj_tremor Date : 02-01-07 06:33 PM Thread Title : Re: Domains of Dread question alright, awesome. thanks i'll look into that stuff. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : realmaster Date : 02-01-07 11:32 PM Thread Title : Re: Domains of Dread question Note that the Van Richten's Guides were later reprinted in the Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendia, in three volumes (each containing three guides -- the last has the "bonus" guide to witches and hags). I have these three books and they are really nice and worth buying. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:21 AM.