Where is Strahd from originally? Is he from a certain Campaign world, or just "another" world?
Also, in 3e has he found his way out of the mists, or is he still there? I can't seem to find a reference to him anywhere in the 3e books.
Roger
I have tried to fix Strahd to a concrete campaign world, but it seems that there is no real tie.
The I-Series, of which the original adventure was a part of, is said to have been placed on "Aquaria", Frank Mentzer's campaign world in an early phase of development, but Mr Mentzer has denied that Strahd was from his setting, or even that this character would fit into that campaign world.
Greyhawk and the old Known World would be other possibilities, but there's nothing written about that officially.
However, it seems to me personally that TSR tried to find a home for Strahd somewhere in the Birthright setting. If I am not very mistaken, there are minor references in the Vos box that may make it possible to set i6 in the region's past. - I however, don't own that box, nor am I a BR expert.
- BTW, in one of the Grand Conjunction modules, glimpses from a Prime Material World are given, in which Castle Ravenloft still exists, so that is probably the best place to start searching.Yours,
Rafael
Also, in 3e has he found his way out of the mists, or is he still there? I can't seem to find a reference to him anywhere in the 3e books.
Uh? He is described in both Gazetteer I and Secrets of the Dread Realms (all from the Sword & Sorcery 3e RL product line)
Note that what-little we *do* know about the Von Zarovich homeworld isn't a particularly good match to any published campaign setting. Magic seems to have been relatively rare and little-understood there (which decisively rules out Faerun, Mystara, and Eberron); the only two ancient Barovian deities we've heard of (Andral and Erlin) have no counterparts on Krynn, Oerth, or in the Kalamar setting; there's not enough psionics for pre-desertification Athas, no Shadow Realm for Birthright, and no out-and-out weirdness a la Spelljammer, Planescape, etc.
Maybe it's Earth Prime. :P
roflmao!
I suggest reading I, Strahd, a novel entirely about Strahd's pre-Ravenloft life. Also, as far as 3e stats for Strahd, Dragon magazine did a write up of him a couple of years ago (I think it was #314, but I'm not sure). They gave 2 different versions, both of which are strong and scary!
I suggest reading I, Strahd, a novel entirely about Strahd's pre-Ravenloft life.
"I, Strahd" is one of the novels that WotC will be re-releasing some time this year, along with "Vampire of the Mists", the first ever Ravenloft novel (which also concerns Strahd).
Note that "I, Strahd" is presented as an autobiography, not an unbiased, third-person recounting of events. It's clear that some parts of the novel are meant to be Strahd's own self-justifying propaganda, not literal fact; for instance, he denies personally slaughtering innocent guests in the wedding chapel, in "I, Strahd", yet is actually shown killing these people in a rage, in the module "From The Shadows". Most Ravenloft fans consider "I, Strahd" to be accurate about Leo Dilisnya's plots, but believe "Vampire of the Mists" (which describes the same events without Strahd's editing) to be a more correct accounting of Strahd's own worst deeds.
"I, Strahd" is one of the novels that WotC will be re-releasing some time this year, along with "Vampire of the Mists", the first ever Ravenloft novel (which also concerns Strahd).
Note that "I, Strahd" is presented as an autobiography, not an unbiased, third-person recounting of events. It's clear that some parts of the novel are meant to be Strahd's own self-justifying propaganda, not literal fact; for instance, he denies personally slaughtering innocent guests in the wedding chapel, in "I, Strahd", yet is actually shown killing these people in a rage, in the module "From The Shadows". Most Ravenloft fans consider "I, Strahd" to be accurate about Leo Dilisnya's plots, but believe "Vampire of the Mists" (which describes the same events without Strahd's editing) to be a more correct accounting of Strahd's own worst deeds.
I forgot about "Vampire of the Mists." "Knight of the Black Rose" is also good, but it's mostly about Lord Soth (which is an entirely different deabate). I would really suggest reading and re-reading any and all adeventure modules dealing with Strahd to get a true feel for him.