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which books to get?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 13, 2005 6:39:57 Hi'

I am planning a ravenloft campaign for four players in a couple of months, and I would like to know which ravenloft books you would recommend.

A few remarks: We will be playing d20, characters starting out at low level and hopefully work their way to the top ;) All players are veteran gamers, with a lot of experience from other games - mostly present day horror, but also fantasy such as d&d drangonlance and MERP.
#2
gonzoron
Sep 13, 2005 10:16:16 Check out the Ravenloft FAQ here:
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/FAQs.htm

Specifically, question 2.

Also, which books (if any) do you already have? And what sort of campaign are you looking to run? (survival horror, intrigue, politics, war, investigation, personal horror, fantasy horror...) That will point you in the direction of what domains to start in, and therefore which books to get.
#3
darth_azalin
Sep 14, 2005 1:25:21 Well I would get the Van Richten Guides (Or the reprinted superbooks called something like Vampire Hunter Guides/Journels) They would give other powers to some of the most dangerous monsters in Ravenloft, for example a vampire that can energy drain while in gaseous form, more than one level of energy drain at a time, and the like.

Some great modules... Vecna Reborn, Where Black Roses Bloom are my personal favorites.
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 14, 2005 15:53:09 Thanks for your advice, especially the faq was most useful

The gaming style I am looking for is a mix. There will be investigation and intrigue - though probarbly often in different scenarios. Throughout I would like a kind of horror, where characters are sneaking around in fear, not knowing exatly what they are up against and only get weak shadowy hints of their opponent. What you label survival horror - I guess. Any advice on starting domain(s) will be very appreciated

Good gaming to you
#5
Prof._Pacali
Sep 14, 2005 19:26:24 If you are interested in mystery, a good domain is Dementlieu, where the Darklord hides behind a puppet ruler, where anyone can be an agent of the Darklord, or his rival "The Brain", and devils have set up shop in one of the towns. Also good for mysteries: Mordent, especially for ghost encounters, Richemulot, where opponents may be wererats, and Borca, where poisoners lurk behind every corner.

For survival horror, a goood domain is Saragoss, where the PCs are forced to confront a daily struggle for food and water, while competing with other shipwrecked sailors for these resources. Also good is Souragne, which has zombies. Lots of zombies. Another good domain for survival horror, is Timor, where the Marakith (a monster in Denizens of Dread, reminiscent of the creatures in Alien) roam, in tunnels beneath the streets of Paridon.
#6
gonzoron
Sep 15, 2005 10:26:32 Pacali gives some good suggestions of domains.

I would add for sruvival horror:
Barovia, a land where no one dares go out at night, for fear of the vampires and their minions that stalk the land. And Verbrek, an untamed wilderness frontier with werewolf packs lurking in the trees. There's a great low-level survival horror type mini adventure set in Darkon called Near at Hand/Dunkel Kralle in the Forgotten Children netbook at www.kargatane.com. (It's 2nd edition, but only has a few stats to convert...)

These have the benefit of Gazetteers written about them. (Vol 1 for Barovia, Vol 2 for Darkon, Vol 4 for Verbrek and Borca, Vol 3 for Richmulot, Mordent, and Dementlieu) Saragoss, Timor, and Sourange are all great in their ways, but you'll have to rely mostly on out of print stuff, since they didn't get much detail in 3rd edition. (Sourange's got some in Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends, but that's about it.) I'd recommend getting the Campaign Setting or Player's Handbook if you don't already have it, and reading the summaries of the various domains. See if one grabs your fancy.

You may also want to look into Van Richten's Guide to the Walking dead for survival horror. Lot's of customizable undead with creepy powers, and tips for running them. Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey is probably less useful to you unless you want some creepy fey trickster fairy tale horror. The other VRG's and the collected versions Darth_Azalin mentioned (Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendiums) are all 2nd edition. Still useful and easily converted, but 2e nonetheless. (and out of print.)
#7
darth_azalin
Sep 17, 2005 4:08:57
Thanks for your advice, especially the faq was most useful

The gaming style I am looking for is a mix. There will be investigation and intrigue - though probarbly often in different scenarios. Throughout I would like a kind of horror, where characters are sneaking around in fear, not knowing exatly what they are up against and only get weak shadowy hints of their opponent. What you label survival horror - I guess. Any advice on starting domain(s) will be very appreciated

Good gaming to you

Well since I take half of my forum name from Azalin. I would say Darkon or Barovia.

Also Sword and Sorcery/Arthaus did alot of 3-3.5 updates of Van Richtens stuff you can find it at www.white-wolf.com

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 13, 2005 6:39:57	Hi' I am planning a ravenloft campaign for four players in a couple of months, and I would like to know which ravenloft books you would recommend. A few remarks: We will be playing d20, characters starting out at low level and hopefully work their way to the top ;) All players are veteran gamers, with a lot of experience from other games - mostly present day horror, but also fantasy such as d&d drangonlance and MERP.
#2 gonzoron Sep 13, 2005 10:16:16	Check out the Ravenloft FAQ here: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/FAQs.htm Specifically, question 2. Also, which books (if any) do you already have? And what sort of campaign are you looking to run? (survival horror, intrigue, politics, war, investigation, personal horror, fantasy horror...) That will point you in the direction of what domains to start in, and therefore which books to get.
#3 darth_azalin Sep 14, 2005 1:25:21	Well I would get the Van Richten Guides (Or the reprinted superbooks called something like Vampire Hunter Guides/Journels) They would give other powers to some of the most dangerous monsters in Ravenloft, for example a vampire that can energy drain while in gaseous form, more than one level of energy drain at a time, and the like. Some great modules... Vecna Reborn, Where Black Roses Bloom are my personal favorites.
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 14, 2005 15:53:09	Thanks for your advice, especially the faq was most useful The gaming style I am looking for is a mix. There will be investigation and intrigue - though probarbly often in different scenarios. Throughout I would like a kind of horror, where characters are sneaking around in fear, not knowing exatly what they are up against and only get weak shadowy hints of their opponent. What you label survival horror - I guess. Any advice on starting domain(s) will be very appreciated Good gaming to you
#5 Prof._Pacali Sep 14, 2005 19:26:24	If you are interested in mystery, a good domain is Dementlieu, where the Darklord hides behind a puppet ruler, where anyone can be an agent of the Darklord, or his rival "The Brain", and devils have set up shop in one of the towns. Also good for mysteries: Mordent, especially for ghost encounters, Richemulot, where opponents may be wererats, and Borca, where poisoners lurk behind every corner. For survival horror, a goood domain is Saragoss, where the PCs are forced to confront a daily struggle for food and water, while competing with other shipwrecked sailors for these resources. Also good is Souragne, which has zombies. Lots of zombies. Another good domain for survival horror, is Timor, where the Marakith (a monster in Denizens of Dread, reminiscent of the creatures in Alien) roam, in tunnels beneath the streets of Paridon.
#6 gonzoron Sep 15, 2005 10:26:32	Pacali gives some good suggestions of domains. I would add for sruvival horror: Barovia, a land where no one dares go out at night, for fear of the vampires and their minions that stalk the land. And Verbrek, an untamed wilderness frontier with werewolf packs lurking in the trees. There's a great low-level survival horror type mini adventure set in Darkon called Near at Hand/Dunkel Kralle in the Forgotten Children netbook at www.kargatane.com. (It's 2nd edition, but only has a few stats to convert...) These have the benefit of Gazetteers written about them. (Vol 1 for Barovia, Vol 2 for Darkon, Vol 4 for Verbrek and Borca, Vol 3 for Richmulot, Mordent, and Dementlieu) Saragoss, Timor, and Sourange are all great in their ways, but you'll have to rely mostly on out of print stuff, since they didn't get much detail in 3rd edition. (Sourange's got some in Dark Tales and Disturbing Legends, but that's about it.) I'd recommend getting the Campaign Setting or Player's Handbook if you don't already have it, and reading the summaries of the various domains. See if one grabs your fancy. You may also want to look into Van Richten's Guide to the Walking dead for survival horror. Lot's of customizable undead with creepy powers, and tips for running them. Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey is probably less useful to you unless you want some creepy fey trickster fairy tale horror. The other VRG's and the collected versions Darth_Azalin mentioned (Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendiums) are all 2nd edition. Still useful and easily converted, but 2e nonetheless. (and out of print.)
#7 darth_azalin Sep 17, 2005 4:08:57	Thanks for your advice, especially the faq was most useful The gaming style I am looking for is a mix. There will be investigation and intrigue - though probarbly often in different scenarios. Throughout I would like a kind of horror, where characters are sneaking around in fear, not knowing exatly what they are up against and only get weak shadowy hints of their opponent. What you label survival horror - I guess. Any advice on starting domain(s) will be very appreciated Good gaming to you Well since I take half of my forum name from Azalin. I would say Darkon or Barovia. Also Sword and Sorcery/Arthaus did alot of 3-3.5 updates of Van Richtens stuff you can find it at www.white-wolf.com