A few questions before I start up my campaign... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A few questions before I start up my campaign...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jonny_reload
Nov 20, 2004 3:33:13 How exactly are new Domains connected to the Core? Is it just random luck that one might merge with the Core or is there some formula that determines if a Domain gets thrown out into a cluster within the mists or attatches itself to the Core?

(I know this is a dumb one but I wanna double check) A domain is made by someone commiting vile and dispicable acts that the Dark Ones would deem worthy of impisonment? (Ex. A Lord of a kingdom in Forgotten Realms does alot of really evil stuff and then his realm is one day just blanketted by the mists then Poof, he's in Ravenloft?)

Is there some way of keeping a domain from returning to the mists if the Darklord is killed?

Can the mists be repelled or controlled in some sense? (Ex. Will having a village of people at the border of the mists and then having more people there making it grow into a small city of sorts kind of PUSH the mists back since it seems to hang in areas that aren't inhabitted?)

Was there ever an instance of a Good Darklord? (Ex. Someone who repented for his sins)

Can other planes of existance be brought in as Domain? (Ex. A Celestial falls from grace and commits a very VERY bad act of evil and takes a part of Arcadia or Mt. Celestia with him to Ravenloft)

The reason why I'm asking such specific questions is now that the Fields of Blood book from Eden Studios has arrived, I so want to run a war game in Ravenloft that would allow players to build communities and cities and field entire armies when they become powerful enough. I have a funny feeling I'm gonna have to bend and tweak some of the rules here to make this work but it's just been an itch I've had to scratch for far too long now
#2
zombiegleemax
Nov 20, 2004 14:54:06
How exactly are new Domains connected to the Core? Is it just random luck that one might merge with the Core or is there some formula that determines if a Domain gets thrown out into a cluster within the mists or attatches itself to the Core?

Pretty much, though in most campaigns a new chunk of the Core showing up might be a surprising event (and certainly warrant much intelligence-gathering from Darkon).

(I know this is a dumb one but I wanna double check) A domain is made by someone commiting vile and dispicable acts that the Dark Ones would deem worthy of impisonment? (Ex. A Lord of a kingdom in Forgotten Realms does alot of really evil stuff and then his realm is one day just blanketted by the mists then Poof, he's in Ravenloft?)

Pretty much, yeah. If the potential darklord is from a race inclined to evil deeds anyway (vampires, wolfweres, etc.) they have to be unusually depraved. Mind you, this doesn't completely explain Urik von Kharkov...

Is there some way of keeping a domain from returning to the mists if the Darklord is killed?

Depends. In the Gazetteers, there are quite a few potential successor darklords lurking about.

Can the mists be repelled or controlled in some sense? (Ex. Will having a village of people at the border of the mists and then having more people there making it grow into a small city of sorts kind of PUSH the mists back since it seems to hang in areas that aren't inhabitted?)

No official ruling here but I'd say that expansion pushes the mists back-- the domain of Barovia used to just be the village, after all.

Was there ever an instance of a Good Darklord? (Ex. Someone who repented for his sins)

Nope. Best they could do was Soth, who didn't so much repent as become numb to his punishment. (And even that's only a gloss for the real explanation, which is that Hickman and Weis wanted him out of Ravenloft for reasons of their own.)

Can other planes of existance be brought in as Domain? (Ex. A Celestial falls from grace and commits a very VERY bad act of evil and takes a part of Arcadia or Mt. Celestia with him to Ravenloft)

Again, no official rule here, but if you think it'll add spice to your campaign give it a try.
#3
zombiegleemax
Nov 21, 2004 2:24:43 Wow. Lot to chew on in one go but I'll field as I can.

(Adding Domains) Pretty much DM fiat where a new domain would be located. There might be some logic to putting new lands at the edges of the known world but from the Grand Conjunction we have an example of landlocked states being displaced as Islands. Also we know at once Darkon and Barovia shared a border, lots of domains between them now. While I agree with Brandi that the movers and shakers would notice a new realm and want it investigated the rules of Raveloft suggest (to me) that a lot of ordinary people would just assume the land had always been there in that configuration.

(Origens of Domains via Darklords) Brandi pretty much covers this. I'd just add that each domain reflects its Darklord in some way.

(Death of a DL) The domain either disolves, goes back to the prime or has another person take over as the new DL. When the later happens there are often subtle or even overt changes to the domain reflecting the nature of the new master. Sithicus is the best example we have of this.

(Mists and population) I going to go the opposite way of Brandi. The misty boundaries usually ebb and flow along the edges. I think if you build a village at the edge of "the mists" at "high tide" the mists would just roll over it. Whether or not you still had villagers (or even village buildings) by the time low tide came around again is a doubtfull proposition. I think its an open question whether Barovia got bigger and pushed the mists back OR if the mists receeded showing new lands (and people?) OR some combination of both.

(A Good DL?) Some would argue that Isolde, the leader of the Core's most (in)famous traveling carnival is effectively a good DL. Though there similarities I don't think I'd be one of them though. So no.

(Stealing Planar Material) I'd tend to say no. Outsiders from the outer planes generally play a much reduced role in Ravenloft. The supposed Dark Pact of non-interference woudl probably lean against such a transference. Unlike Planescape RL doesn't run on belief. IMO if a chunck of Celestia was to "fall" it'd go to one of the traditional lower planes.

An extended 2 cents
-Eric Gorman
#4
zombiegleemax
Nov 24, 2004 8:50:03
Can other planes of existance be brought in as Domain? (Ex. A Celestial falls from grace and commits a very VERY bad act of evil and takes a part of Arcadia or Mt. Celestia with him to Ravenloft)

Quite frankly, I don't see why not. Remember that Ravenloft exists in the ethereal plane, which touches on the inner planes (elemental, para-elemental, quasi-elemental, positive and negative material), while the Outer Planes touch on the astral. So the Gods (in my opinion) don't pay much attention to the Demi-Plane because most of them probably don't know it's there, or they don't care. So a piece falling off and going into the ethereal isn't likely, but if there was some intelligence behind the move of the plane, then I could see it being quite feasible.

It could be manipluation of Evil Gods to weaken the Power of Good, or Good Gods to weaken the power of Evil. But something (Maybe the Dark Powers, but I doubt it as they don't seem, to be able to extend beyond the prime material plane), has had to push that plane into the ethereal and then into Ravenloft.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jonny_reload Nov 20, 2004 3:33:13	How exactly are new Domains connected to the Core? Is it just random luck that one might merge with the Core or is there some formula that determines if a Domain gets thrown out into a cluster within the mists or attatches itself to the Core? (I know this is a dumb one but I wanna double check) A domain is made by someone commiting vile and dispicable acts that the Dark Ones would deem worthy of impisonment? (Ex. A Lord of a kingdom in Forgotten Realms does alot of really evil stuff and then his realm is one day just blanketted by the mists then Poof, he's in Ravenloft?) Is there some way of keeping a domain from returning to the mists if the Darklord is killed? Can the mists be repelled or controlled in some sense? (Ex. Will having a village of people at the border of the mists and then having more people there making it grow into a small city of sorts kind of PUSH the mists back since it seems to hang in areas that aren't inhabitted?) Was there ever an instance of a Good Darklord? (Ex. Someone who repented for his sins) Can other planes of existance be brought in as Domain? (Ex. A Celestial falls from grace and commits a very VERY bad act of evil and takes a part of Arcadia or Mt. Celestia with him to Ravenloft) The reason why I'm asking such specific questions is now that the Fields of Blood book from Eden Studios has arrived, I so want to run a war game in Ravenloft that would allow players to build communities and cities and field entire armies when they become powerful enough. I have a funny feeling I'm gonna have to bend and tweak some of the rules here to make this work but it's just been an itch I've had to scratch for far too long now
#2 zombiegleemax Nov 20, 2004 14:54:06	How exactly are new Domains connected to the Core? Is it just random luck that one might merge with the Core or is there some formula that determines if a Domain gets thrown out into a cluster within the mists or attatches itself to the Core? Pretty much, though in most campaigns a new chunk of the Core showing up might be a surprising event (and certainly warrant much intelligence-gathering from Darkon). (I know this is a dumb one but I wanna double check) A domain is made by someone commiting vile and dispicable acts that the Dark Ones would deem worthy of impisonment? (Ex. A Lord of a kingdom in Forgotten Realms does alot of really evil stuff and then his realm is one day just blanketted by the mists then Poof, he's in Ravenloft?) Pretty much, yeah. If the potential darklord is from a race inclined to evil deeds anyway (vampires, wolfweres, etc.) they have to be unusually depraved. Mind you, this doesn't completely explain Urik von Kharkov... Is there some way of keeping a domain from returning to the mists if the Darklord is killed? Depends. In the Gazetteers, there are quite a few potential successor darklords lurking about. Can the mists be repelled or controlled in some sense? (Ex. Will having a village of people at the border of the mists and then having more people there making it grow into a small city of sorts kind of PUSH the mists back since it seems to hang in areas that aren't inhabitted?) No official ruling here but I'd say that expansion pushes the mists back-- the domain of Barovia used to just be the village, after all. Was there ever an instance of a Good Darklord? (Ex. Someone who repented for his sins) Nope. Best they could do was Soth, who didn't so much repent as become numb to his punishment. (And even that's only a gloss for the real explanation, which is that Hickman and Weis wanted him out of Ravenloft for reasons of their own.) Can other planes of existance be brought in as Domain? (Ex. A Celestial falls from grace and commits a very VERY bad act of evil and takes a part of Arcadia or Mt. Celestia with him to Ravenloft) Again, no official rule here, but if you think it'll add spice to your campaign give it a try.
#3 zombiegleemax Nov 21, 2004 2:24:43	Wow. Lot to chew on in one go but I'll field as I can. (Adding Domains) Pretty much DM fiat where a new domain would be located. There might be some logic to putting new lands at the edges of the known world but from the Grand Conjunction we have an example of landlocked states being displaced as Islands. Also we know at once Darkon and Barovia shared a border, lots of domains between them now. While I agree with Brandi that the movers and shakers would notice a new realm and want it investigated the rules of Raveloft suggest (to me) that a lot of ordinary people would just assume the land had always been there in that configuration. (Origens of Domains via Darklords) Brandi pretty much covers this. I'd just add that each domain reflects its Darklord in some way. (Death of a DL) The domain either disolves, goes back to the prime or has another person take over as the new DL. When the later happens there are often subtle or even overt changes to the domain reflecting the nature of the new master. Sithicus is the best example we have of this. (Mists and population) I going to go the opposite way of Brandi. The misty boundaries usually ebb and flow along the edges. I think if you build a village at the edge of "the mists" at "high tide" the mists would just roll over it. Whether or not you still had villagers (or even village buildings) by the time low tide came around again is a doubtfull proposition. I think its an open question whether Barovia got bigger and pushed the mists back OR if the mists receeded showing new lands (and people?) OR some combination of both. (A Good DL?) Some would argue that Isolde, the leader of the Core's most (in)famous traveling carnival is effectively a good DL. Though there similarities I don't think I'd be one of them though. So no. (Stealing Planar Material) I'd tend to say no. Outsiders from the outer planes generally play a much reduced role in Ravenloft. The supposed Dark Pact of non-interference woudl probably lean against such a transference. Unlike Planescape RL doesn't run on belief. IMO if a chunck of Celestia was to "fall" it'd go to one of the traditional lower planes. An extended 2 cents -Eric Gorman
#4 zombiegleemax Nov 24, 2004 8:50:03	Can other planes of existance be brought in as Domain? (Ex. A Celestial falls from grace and commits a very VERY bad act of evil and takes a part of Arcadia or Mt. Celestia with him to Ravenloft) Quite frankly, I don't see why not. Remember that Ravenloft exists in the ethereal plane, which touches on the inner planes (elemental, para-elemental, quasi-elemental, positive and negative material), while the Outer Planes touch on the astral. So the Gods (in my opinion) don't pay much attention to the Demi-Plane because most of them probably don't know it's there, or they don't care. So a piece falling off and going into the ethereal isn't likely, but if there was some intelligence behind the move of the plane, then I could see it being quite feasible. It could be manipluation of Evil Gods to weaken the Power of Good, or Good Gods to weaken the power of Evil. But something (Maybe the Dark Powers, but I doubt it as they don't seem, to be able to extend beyond the prime material plane), has had to push that plane into the ethereal and then into Ravenloft.