Gothic Representation - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Gothic Representation

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 28, 2005 0:15:59 Greeting to you my fellow souls that are doomed to walk this foul planet
I have little knowledge of Ravenloft and its ways and would like to become educated........

-=13Th_Alias=-
#2
zombiegleemax
Dec 28, 2005 2:52:14
Greeting to you my fellow souls that are doomed to walk this foul planet
I have little knowledge of Ravenloft and its ways and would like to become educated........

-=13Th_Alias=-

If I were you I would start with the novel "I Strahd". From there get some game material (as Ravenloft is a bit complicated).
#3
Mortepierre
Dec 28, 2005 3:18:51 In knowledge, there is power.

And in Ravenloft, you'll need all the power you can get!

Start by visiting (and exploring) this place..
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Main_Page.html
#4
gotten
Dec 28, 2005 9:10:41
In knowledge, there is power.

And in Ravenloft, you'll need all the power you can get!

Start by visiting (and exploring) this place..
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Main_Page.html

And especially the FAQ! Great stuff for new misters there!
#5
tsuyoshikentsu
Dec 28, 2005 13:02:48 The Sword & sorcery campaign setting book is helpful, but the book that really let me get a feel for everything is Secrets of the Dark Realms. The darklords, to an extent, determine the feel of their domains, so the best way in my opinion to know the domains is to know the darklords.
#6
zombiegleemax
Dec 29, 2005 0:10:13 Greetings and salutations Mortepierre

Much thanx i found that website very informing and useful.
Where can i get the RAVENLOFT players guide?
-=13th_Alias=-
#7
scipion_emilien
Dec 29, 2005 13:32:33 Probably if you have a gaming store near, they will be able to order you one.

For net shopping, i'll let that to others one that know how to get it. Probably you could look here for a start: http://secure1.white-wolf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=39

Since they will only sell 3rd Ravenloft product until june, you can get really good price on the WW site.
#8
zombiegleemax
Dec 30, 2005 3:50:03 So now that ive got a little background......Do you still have all the same races, feats, classes ect as you do in the original DND??

-=13th_Alias=-
#9
psymnotica
Dec 31, 2005 14:38:09
So now that ive got a little background......Do you still have all the same races, feats, classes ect as you do in the original DND??

The races are pretty much the same, with a few cultural/superstitious modifications. Humans are by far the most predominate race in Ravenloft. Half-orcs do not exist in the setting, but a race that uses pretty much the same rules as half-orcs does: the calibans. These are humans who have been warped and/or corrupted in the womb by dark magic or malign forces. Another new PC race is the half-vistani. They also have rules for full-blooded vistani but it is really not recommended that you allow PC's to play them (it ruins some of the mystery and they are pretty powerful).

As for feats, all of the feats in the PHB and other source material is usable (with DM permission, of course) and they introduce some new feats in the various 3.0 and 3.5 sourcebooks. In the RL PHB they have several cool feats, like Back to the Wall (you fight better when in bad situations) or Dead Man Walking (if you overcome your fear you perform better due to your icy calm).

And as for classes, they use all of the same PHB classes, with some minor modifications (Example: Paladins are immune to supernatural fear effects but not their own natural fear). If you get the RL PHB I suggest ignoring the Weakness section listed under each character class. It is a really stupid modification to the character classes that will eventually ruin any character just because they gained levels.

Hope that helps.

Psymnotica
#10
zombiegleemax
Dec 31, 2005 16:33:54
So now that ive got a little background......Do you still have all the same races, feats, classes ect as you do in the original DND??

-=13th_Alias=-

To expand on the above, yes.

Races are the same, except as noted...for natives. Ravenloft exists as a demiplane in the standard D&D cosmology, and is in some way connected to all D&D worlds (well, all the ones from 2e at any rate, thanks to open/closed source and other real-world politics, Dragonlance's connection has been downplayed and Eberron is too new). In that respect, you can literally play anything from any D&D book, though the further from the PHB you go, the more knowledgable the DM needs to be. Orcs are not native to any of the Domains, hence half-orcs are not native, as listed above. Elves come from one of two places, and all other races generally come from one location, which is essentially Greyhawk-like (the elves are greyhawkish or Silvenesti from Dragonlance).

The classes are the same, and generally work the same...although the Demiplane messes with them. If you allow a non-native player, it's recomended to NOT tell them what the changes are...more fun that way. The natives tend to know things like "you can't detect evil" and the like, so it's generally safe to tell them. As for weaknessess, though i can't speak for all of them, you should ignore the ones that require powers checks for learning something (though keep the ones for actually using it). They were likely added due to the 3.0/3.5 tendancy to advance faster than in previous additions, hence it culls higher level PCs.

Feats are the same, plus additions. If it's not a core source (not the PHB or DMG, or a Ravenloft Book) the DM
#11
thanael
Jan 01, 2006 8:11:08
Greetings and salutations Mortepierre

Much thanx i found that website very informing and useful.
Where can i get the RAVENLOFT players guide?
-=13th_Alias=-

Check out this thread on the FoS site for where to get which Ravenloft product and which to get first:
http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2780

It also links to the Reviews on that site which are qutie informative.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 28, 2005 0:15:59	Greeting to you my fellow souls that are doomed to walk this foul planet I have little knowledge of Ravenloft and its ways and would like to become educated........ -=13Th_Alias=-
#2 zombiegleemax Dec 28, 2005 2:52:14	Greeting to you my fellow souls that are doomed to walk this foul planet I have little knowledge of Ravenloft and its ways and would like to become educated........ -=13Th_Alias=- If I were you I would start with the novel "I Strahd". From there get some game material (as Ravenloft is a bit complicated).
#3 Mortepierre Dec 28, 2005 3:18:51	In knowledge, there is power. And in Ravenloft, you'll need all the power you can get! Start by visiting (and exploring) this place.. http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Main_Page.html
#4 gotten Dec 28, 2005 9:10:41	In knowledge, there is power. And in Ravenloft, you'll need all the power you can get! Start by visiting (and exploring) this place.. http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Main_Page.html And especially the FAQ! Great stuff for new misters there!
#5 tsuyoshikentsu Dec 28, 2005 13:02:48	The Sword & sorcery campaign setting book is helpful, but the book that really let me get a feel for everything is Secrets of the Dark Realms. The darklords, to an extent, determine the feel of their domains, so the best way in my opinion to know the domains is to know the darklords.
#6 zombiegleemax Dec 29, 2005 0:10:13	Greetings and salutations Mortepierre Much thanx i found that website very informing and useful. Where can i get the RAVENLOFT players guide? -=13th_Alias=-
#7 scipion_emilien Dec 29, 2005 13:32:33	Probably if you have a gaming store near, they will be able to order you one. For net shopping, i'll let that to others one that know how to get it. Probably you could look here for a start: http://secure1.white-wolf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=39 Since they will only sell 3rd Ravenloft product until june, you can get really good price on the WW site.
#8 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2005 3:50:03	So now that ive got a little background......Do you still have all the same races, feats, classes ect as you do in the original DND?? -=13th_Alias=-
#9 psymnotica Dec 31, 2005 14:38:09	So now that ive got a little background......Do you still have all the same races, feats, classes ect as you do in the original DND?? The races are pretty much the same, with a few cultural/superstitious modifications. Humans are by far the most predominate race in Ravenloft. Half-orcs do not exist in the setting, but a race that uses pretty much the same rules as half-orcs does: the calibans. These are humans who have been warped and/or corrupted in the womb by dark magic or malign forces. Another new PC race is the half-vistani. They also have rules for full-blooded vistani but it is really not recommended that you allow PC's to play them (it ruins some of the mystery and they are pretty powerful). As for feats, all of the feats in the PHB and other source material is usable (with DM permission, of course) and they introduce some new feats in the various 3.0 and 3.5 sourcebooks. In the RL PHB they have several cool feats, like Back to the Wall (you fight better when in bad situations) or Dead Man Walking (if you overcome your fear you perform better due to your icy calm). And as for classes, they use all of the same PHB classes, with some minor modifications (Example: Paladins are immune to supernatural fear effects but not their own natural fear). If you get the RL PHB I suggest ignoring the Weakness section listed under each character class. It is a really stupid modification to the character classes that will eventually ruin any character just because they gained levels. Hope that helps. Psymnotica
#10 zombiegleemax Dec 31, 2005 16:33:54	So now that ive got a little background......Do you still have all the same races, feats, classes ect as you do in the original DND?? -=13th_Alias=- To expand on the above, yes. Races are the same, except as noted...for natives. Ravenloft exists as a demiplane in the standard D&D cosmology, and is in some way connected to all D&D worlds (well, all the ones from 2e at any rate, thanks to open/closed source and other real-world politics, Dragonlance's connection has been downplayed and Eberron is too new). In that respect, you can literally play anything from any D&D book, though the further from the PHB you go, the more knowledgable the DM needs to be. Orcs are not native to any of the Domains, hence half-orcs are not native, as listed above. Elves come from one of two places, and all other races generally come from one location, which is essentially Greyhawk-like (the elves are greyhawkish or Silvenesti from Dragonlance). The classes are the same, and generally work the same...although the Demiplane messes with them. If you allow a non-native player, it's recomended to NOT tell them what the changes are...more fun that way. The natives tend to know things like "you can't detect evil" and the like, so it's generally safe to tell them. As for weaknessess, though i can't speak for all of them, you should ignore the ones that require powers checks for learning something (though keep the ones for actually using it). They were likely added due to the 3.0/3.5 tendancy to advance faster than in previous additions, hence it culls higher level PCs. Feats are the same, plus additions. If it's not a core source (not the PHB or DMG, or a Ravenloft Book) the DM
#11 thanael Jan 01, 2006 8:11:08	Greetings and salutations Mortepierre Much thanx i found that website very informing and useful. Where can i get the RAVENLOFT players guide? -=13th_Alias=- Check out this thread on the FoS site for where to get which Ravenloft product and which to get first: http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2780 It also links to the Reviews on that site which are qutie informative.