So many options, so little time - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

So many options, so little time

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
skiv_the_rat
Jun 14, 2006 4:15:10 Hello all,

I'm sure this has been covered before, but since I couldn't find anything I'll ask anyway. I'm looking for opinions, constructive ideas and and experiences everyone's had at bringing the many new classes/prestige classes, and optional rules into their Ravenloft games. What I'm talking about is the "Complete" series, Unearthed Arcana, the "critter" books such as Libir Mortis and of course BoVD and BoED. I'm getting a new game started and would love to have everyone's imput.
#2
ivid
Jun 14, 2006 6:23:38 http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html

;)
#3
ordbyrht
Jun 14, 2006 6:24:04 I've used a number of rules from Unearthed Arcana in my small Ravenloft campaign.

I used the Vitality/Wound system and Sanity rules for a "more frightening" Ravenloft campaign. It worked out pretty well, one of the players told me it reminded him of his earlier days of Call of Cthulhu.

I've also used the Armor as Damage Reduction rules, but that one's more of a personal preference and didn't really effect gameplay.

The Weapon Group feats were good as a change of pace, but again didn't really effect gameplay.

Never used them myself, but incantations could be used by dark cabals, cults and all that jazz.

I wouldn't suggest using Taint in a Ravenloft campaign. The idea of it doesn't mesh well with the campaign setting.
#4
ivid
Jun 14, 2006 7:40:04 FYI, Libris Mortis was difficult to adjust to RL's flavour. The monsters do well, but the other stuff can be skipped. You totally miss the flavour of RL if you let it degenerate into a big zombie butchery and endless splatter...
#5
ivid
Jun 14, 2006 7:41:17 Apart from that, Ordbyrht is right with everything, I think.
#6
skiv_the_rat
Jun 14, 2006 14:38:45 Really? I kinda liked all the info on how the various forms of undead think, their aims and tactics and such. The feats and stuff seemed usefull too. I'll have to give it a second look.
#7
ivid
Jun 15, 2006 4:07:12 I for my part liked the adventures presented in the book, but the rules for monster characters and upgrading known monsters was nearly useless for me so far... Still, my favourite book from WotC since Ghostwalk.
#8
malus_black
Jun 15, 2006 11:13:50
Really? I kinda liked all the info on how the various forms of undead think, their aims and tactics and such.

If that's what you're looking for, you should really look into Van Richten's Monster Hunter Compendium Volume I, II, and III.

Second edition, aye, but it's mainly flavor text (and damn good flavor text at that), and all the neccessary rules are updated to 3E in the RLCS and Van Richten's Arsenal.
#9
skiv_the_rat
Jun 17, 2006 3:33:42 Guess this is a good time to point out that I have, quite literally, every single ravenloft product printed.... All of them. I'm pretty much a near encyclopedia on the setting (being that it's tied for my favorite game setting ever.) I'm a huge fan of the D20 system. It ranks as one of my top 5 rule sets to use so I'm always willing to plumb the depths to find new stuff for my games. Just thumbing through some of these books casually game me dozens of new ideas. I'm just hoping to share them with others, and read about yours as well.

Another big part of this is of course "ravenlofting" things. Any class or prestige class, rule or spell is gonna need a bit of tweeking and it's always refreshing to see how someone else would do something. As it may be a way you'd have never come up with.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 skiv_the_rat Jun 14, 2006 4:15:10	Hello all, I'm sure this has been covered before, but since I couldn't find anything I'll ask anyway. I'm looking for opinions, constructive ideas and and experiences everyone's had at bringing the many new classes/prestige classes, and optional rules into their Ravenloft games. What I'm talking about is the "Complete" series, Unearthed Arcana, the "critter" books such as Libir Mortis and of course BoVD and BoED. I'm getting a new game started and would love to have everyone's imput.
#2 ivid Jun 14, 2006 6:23:38	http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/Library.html ;)
#3 ordbyrht Jun 14, 2006 6:24:04	I've used a number of rules from Unearthed Arcana in my small Ravenloft campaign. I used the Vitality/Wound system and Sanity rules for a "more frightening" Ravenloft campaign. It worked out pretty well, one of the players told me it reminded him of his earlier days of Call of Cthulhu. I've also used the Armor as Damage Reduction rules, but that one's more of a personal preference and didn't really effect gameplay. The Weapon Group feats were good as a change of pace, but again didn't really effect gameplay. Never used them myself, but incantations could be used by dark cabals, cults and all that jazz. I wouldn't suggest using Taint in a Ravenloft campaign. The idea of it doesn't mesh well with the campaign setting.
#4 ivid Jun 14, 2006 7:40:04	FYI, Libris Mortis was difficult to adjust to RL's flavour. The monsters do well, but the other stuff can be skipped. You totally miss the flavour of RL if you let it degenerate into a big zombie butchery and endless splatter...
#5 ivid Jun 14, 2006 7:41:17	Apart from that, Ordbyrht is right with everything, I think.
#6 skiv_the_rat Jun 14, 2006 14:38:45	Really? I kinda liked all the info on how the various forms of undead think, their aims and tactics and such. The feats and stuff seemed usefull too. I'll have to give it a second look.
#7 ivid Jun 15, 2006 4:07:12	I for my part liked the adventures presented in the book, but the rules for monster characters and upgrading known monsters was nearly useless for me so far... Still, my favourite book from WotC since Ghostwalk.
#8 malus_black Jun 15, 2006 11:13:50	Really? I kinda liked all the info on how the various forms of undead think, their aims and tactics and such. If that's what you're looking for, you should really look into Van Richten's Monster Hunter Compendium Volume I, II, and III. Second edition, aye, but it's mainly flavor text (and damn good flavor text at that), and all the neccessary rules are updated to 3E in the RLCS and Van Richten's Arsenal.
#9 skiv_the_rat Jun 17, 2006 3:33:42	Guess this is a good time to point out that I have, quite literally, every single ravenloft product printed.... All of them. I'm pretty much a near encyclopedia on the setting (being that it's tied for my favorite game setting ever.) I'm a huge fan of the D20 system. It ranks as one of my top 5 rule sets to use so I'm always willing to plumb the depths to find new stuff for my games. Just thumbing through some of these books casually game me dozens of new ideas. I'm just hoping to share them with others, and read about yours as well. Another big part of this is of course "ravenlofting" things. Any class or prestige class, rule or spell is gonna need a bit of tweeking and it's always refreshing to see how someone else would do something. As it may be a way you'd have never come up with.