Lyssa von Zarovich - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Lyssa von Zarovich

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 11:42:59 Does anyone else feel that with the adventure in CotN: Vampires and the what was written about her in the Gaz 1, Lyssa has become alot more than the 2D villain she was in Thoughts of Darkness?
#2
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 11:46:51 I never read Thoughts of Darkness, how was her character in it?
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 11:49:29 It was a "Ooh! I'm evil, I'm related to Strahd. Give me a cookie" kinda character. She had no depth and no real incentive to like her.
#4
b4real
Dec 12, 2003 11:52:52
Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn
It was a "Ooh! I'm evil, I'm related to Strahd. Give me a cookie" kinda character. She had no depth and no real incentive to like her.

LoL! Thoughts of Darkness was that the Ravenloft adventure with the picture of the Illithid on the front cover? What was that adventure about anyway?

~B4Real
#5
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 12:02:41 I'd hasard a guess that Illithids featured in there somewhere
#6
b4real
Dec 12, 2003 12:07:40
Originally posted by Sir T
I'd hasard a guess that Illithids featured in there somewhere

I just got a quick explanation from Drinnik about the module.

~B4Real
#7
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 20:14:58 Lyssa is kind of a neat concept because it also helps illuminate Strahd and some of his own ongoing rivalrys within Barovia. I would agree she is much more interesting in this product than in Thoughts of Darkness. One thing about her I don't like (other people also share this opinion) is the part where she turned herself into a more uber-vampire w/ the unwitting aid from a ghost by aging herself. But this has little to do with her scheming personality, which I enjoyed.

But on the whole I liked the CON: Vampires adventurres. Paul Colada did a good job with it. I think he also wrote the Dungeon Adventure Felkovic's Cat which I also liked.

-Eric Gorman
#8
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 20:21:07 Before the Gaz I came out, someone at the Karg had this brillant idea on a variation on the ghost idea. I don't remember what it was though. It so great I was hoping it would be in her Gaz sidebar.
#9
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 22:47:24 well in children of the Night vampire, the one disapointment was Lyssa's stats where all 19, while Strahd where somewhat lesser then didn't even bother to get the right stats for Strahd they just put the stats of an average ancient vampire.

But the turning day story was pretty good.
#10
mortavius
Dec 12, 2003 23:00:19 I liked how they gave Lyssa Sorcerer levels in Gaz1. And having her waken and even helping the Gundarakites (if I remember correctly) thus once again proving to be a thorn in Strahd's side, is cool.
#11
gotten
Dec 13, 2003 6:20:27 My current campaign is based in Zeidenburg. She is an important person in the city - flamboyant (well at night ) person, invited to all important occasions.

It will probably lead to the Cotn adventure - I'll let you know how it went.

Jo
#12
orodruin
Dec 13, 2003 22:46:53 I was never a big fan of her myself. The CotN section that detailed her gave her a 19 in all her stats, which just seemed very lazy to me, and the less said about that STUPID ghost ageing scheme the better. (I actually threw the book down in disgust and gave up on Ravenloft until I got wind of the 3rd ed. version.) Maybe that initial negative impression just turned me off to her as a character, but if they've improved her, I may consider using her.

Now if only they got rid of that whole "Keepers of the Black Feather" idea, I could rest. That has got to vie with Lyssa's backstory as one of the worst ideas to come out of TSR's Ravenloft line...
#13
zombiegleemax
Dec 14, 2003 14:48:45
Originally posted by Orodruin
Maybe that initial negative impression just turned me off to her as a character, but if they've improved her, I may consider using her.

Well, the origin has been rewritten in a way that sounds less goofy (now it's that her vampirism ritual involved a dead lover's spirit and somehow unleashed temporal energies that made her more powerful. I'd've written it as unleashing unusually high amounts of negative energy, but YMMV) and she has no official stats so you can make her whatever you like.

Now if only they got rid of that whole "Keepers of the Black Feather" idea, I could rest. That has got to vie with Lyssa's backstory as one of the worst ideas to come out of TSR's Ravenloft line...

The ravenkin group? They're still around, but Pyoor Twohundredsummers died of old age and there's a new ravenkin in charge.

Me, I didn't think they were as bad as Lyssa's goofy origin... or, for that matter, the magic item availibility in Falkovnia according to Death Unchained (where basically, any party lucky enough to kill a few Talons would be rolling in goodies).
#14
zombiegleemax
Dec 15, 2003 10:01:40 Just wanted to note that in Gaz I, they made her older. I didn't note the dates but she was now born a century earlier than that the Black Box suggested. In the Black Box she was born in the 7th century (listed as Anna and Tod's child) and in the Gaz she was from the 6th century (still Anna and Tod's child).
#15
john_w._mangrum
Dec 15, 2003 14:54:09
Originally posted by Charney
Just wanted to note that in Gaz I, they made her older. I didn't note the dates but she was now born a century earlier than that the Black Box suggested. In the Black Box she was born in the 7th century (listed as Anna and Tod's child) and in the Gaz she was from the 6th century (still Anna and Tod's child).

She isn't mentioned in the Black Box.
#16
zombiegleemax
Dec 15, 2003 20:49:40 But isn't there an entry in the family trees for Anna and Sturm von Zarovich having an unnamed child?
#17
gotten
Dec 15, 2003 21:08:21
Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn
But isn't there an entry in the family trees for Anna and Sturm von Zarovich having an unnamed child?

Yep. She is just a blank line in the Black Box family tree Her parents diseappeared when her mother was pregnant.

Her origin was stated in Thoughts of Darkness.

Jo
#18
john_w._mangrum
Dec 15, 2003 21:11:02
Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn
But isn't there an entry in the family trees for Anna and Sturm von Zarovich having an unnamed child?

Not exactly; there's a three-century gap between Sturm and his next listed descendant.

Also, Lyssa is Sturm's granddaughter, not his daughter.

ETA: I'll clarify to add that as I write this, I have the book open in front of me.
#19
zombiegleemax
Dec 16, 2003 8:21:41 Well I double check when I get my book. But like Gotten said, I based this upon Anna and Tod giving birth to a unnamed child in the Black Box family tree but I will check again.
#20
gotten
Dec 16, 2003 11:33:33 But Drinnik, don't worry, as that gap in the family tree once fooled me too

Jo
#21
zombiegleemax
Dec 17, 2003 10:15:18
Originally posted by Gotten
But Drinnik, don't worry, as that gap in the family tree once fooled me too

Jo

Something tells me that that gap was actually a hole made by beetles.
#22
zombiegleemax
Dec 20, 2003 9:26:47 Here's why I say she was in the Black Box indirectly. In CotN: V, she's listed as Anna and Tod von Zarovich's daughter. This couple is listed in the Zarovich family line in the Black Box.
Anna von Zarovich (born in 630) married Tod Heitman (630) and had a unnamed child. I'm assuming around 650-660. It is said that the couple and their child disapeared.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 11:42:59	Does anyone else feel that with the adventure in CotN: Vampires and the what was written about her in the Gaz 1, Lyssa has become alot more than the 2D villain she was in Thoughts of Darkness?
#2 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 11:46:51	I never read Thoughts of Darkness, how was her character in it?
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 11:49:29	It was a "Ooh! I'm evil, I'm related to Strahd. Give me a cookie" kinda character. She had no depth and no real incentive to like her.
#4 b4real Dec 12, 2003 11:52:52	Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn It was a "Ooh! I'm evil, I'm related to Strahd. Give me a cookie" kinda character. She had no depth and no real incentive to like her. LoL! Thoughts of Darkness was that the Ravenloft adventure with the picture of the Illithid on the front cover? What was that adventure about anyway? ~B4Real
#5 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 12:02:41	I'd hasard a guess that Illithids featured in there somewhere
#6 b4real Dec 12, 2003 12:07:40	Originally posted by Sir T I'd hasard a guess that Illithids featured in there somewhere I just got a quick explanation from Drinnik about the module. ~B4Real
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 20:14:58	Lyssa is kind of a neat concept because it also helps illuminate Strahd and some of his own ongoing rivalrys within Barovia. I would agree she is much more interesting in this product than in Thoughts of Darkness. One thing about her I don't like (other people also share this opinion) is the part where she turned herself into a more uber-vampire w/ the unwitting aid from a ghost by aging herself. But this has little to do with her scheming personality, which I enjoyed. But on the whole I liked the CON: Vampires adventurres. Paul Colada did a good job with it. I think he also wrote the Dungeon Adventure Felkovic's Cat which I also liked. -Eric Gorman
#8 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 20:21:07	Before the Gaz I came out, someone at the Karg had this brillant idea on a variation on the ghost idea. I don't remember what it was though. It so great I was hoping it would be in her Gaz sidebar.
#9 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 22:47:24	well in children of the Night vampire, the one disapointment was Lyssa's stats where all 19, while Strahd where somewhat lesser then didn't even bother to get the right stats for Strahd they just put the stats of an average ancient vampire. But the turning day story was pretty good.
#10 mortavius Dec 12, 2003 23:00:19	I liked how they gave Lyssa Sorcerer levels in Gaz1. And having her waken and even helping the Gundarakites (if I remember correctly) thus once again proving to be a thorn in Strahd's side, is cool.
#11 gotten Dec 13, 2003 6:20:27	My current campaign is based in Zeidenburg. She is an important person in the city - flamboyant (well at night ) person, invited to all important occasions. It will probably lead to the Cotn adventure - I'll let you know how it went. Jo
#12 orodruin Dec 13, 2003 22:46:53	I was never a big fan of her myself. The CotN section that detailed her gave her a 19 in all her stats, which just seemed very lazy to me, and the less said about that STUPID ghost ageing scheme the better. (I actually threw the book down in disgust and gave up on Ravenloft until I got wind of the 3rd ed. version.) Maybe that initial negative impression just turned me off to her as a character, but if they've improved her, I may consider using her. Now if only they got rid of that whole "Keepers of the Black Feather" idea, I could rest. That has got to vie with Lyssa's backstory as one of the worst ideas to come out of TSR's Ravenloft line...
#13 zombiegleemax Dec 14, 2003 14:48:45	Originally posted by Orodruin Maybe that initial negative impression just turned me off to her as a character, but if they've improved her, I may consider using her. Well, the origin has been rewritten in a way that sounds less goofy (now it's that her vampirism ritual involved a dead lover's spirit and somehow unleashed temporal energies that made her more powerful. I'd've written it as unleashing unusually high amounts of negative energy, but YMMV) and she has no official stats so you can make her whatever you like. Now if only they got rid of that whole "Keepers of the Black Feather" idea, I could rest. That has got to vie with Lyssa's backstory as one of the worst ideas to come out of TSR's Ravenloft line... The ravenkin group? They're still around, but Pyoor Twohundredsummers died of old age and there's a new ravenkin in charge. Me, I didn't think they were as bad as Lyssa's goofy origin... or, for that matter, the magic item availibility in Falkovnia according to Death Unchained (where basically, any party lucky enough to kill a few Talons would be rolling in goodies).
#14 zombiegleemax Dec 15, 2003 10:01:40	Just wanted to note that in Gaz I, they made her older. I didn't note the dates but she was now born a century earlier than that the Black Box suggested. In the Black Box she was born in the 7th century (listed as Anna and Tod's child) and in the Gaz she was from the 6th century (still Anna and Tod's child).
#15 john_w._mangrum Dec 15, 2003 14:54:09	Originally posted by Charney Just wanted to note that in Gaz I, they made her older. I didn't note the dates but she was now born a century earlier than that the Black Box suggested. In the Black Box she was born in the 7th century (listed as Anna and Tod's child) and in the Gaz she was from the 6th century (still Anna and Tod's child). She isn't mentioned in the Black Box.
#16 zombiegleemax Dec 15, 2003 20:49:40	But isn't there an entry in the family trees for Anna and Sturm von Zarovich having an unnamed child?
#17 gotten Dec 15, 2003 21:08:21	Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn But isn't there an entry in the family trees for Anna and Sturm von Zarovich having an unnamed child? Yep. She is just a blank line in the Black Box family tree Her parents diseappeared when her mother was pregnant. Her origin was stated in Thoughts of Darkness. Jo
#18 john_w._mangrum Dec 15, 2003 21:11:02	Originally posted by Drinnik Shoehorn But isn't there an entry in the family trees for Anna and Sturm von Zarovich having an unnamed child? Not exactly; there's a three-century gap between Sturm and his next listed descendant. Also, Lyssa is Sturm's granddaughter, not his daughter. ETA: I'll clarify to add that as I write this, I have the book open in front of me.
#19 zombiegleemax Dec 16, 2003 8:21:41	Well I double check when I get my book. But like Gotten said, I based this upon Anna and Tod giving birth to a unnamed child in the Black Box family tree but I will check again.
#20 gotten Dec 16, 2003 11:33:33	But Drinnik, don't worry, as that gap in the family tree once fooled me too Jo
#21 zombiegleemax Dec 17, 2003 10:15:18	Originally posted by Gotten But Drinnik, don't worry, as that gap in the family tree once fooled me too Jo Something tells me that that gap was actually a hole made by beetles.
#22 zombiegleemax Dec 20, 2003 9:26:47	Here's why I say she was in the Black Box indirectly. In CotN: V, she's listed as Anna and Tod von Zarovich's daughter. This couple is listed in the Zarovich family line in the Black Box. Anna von Zarovich (born in 630) married Tod Heitman (630) and had a unnamed child. I'm assuming around 650-660. It is said that the couple and their child disapeared.