While one must have a brave soul to buy the book I am sure someone does. What has changed? How well does it mesh with the rest of the book? Improvements compared to the R3E? Things that have gotten worse?
So, someone with the book?? What is the current year in the timeline?
The Duo has some lessons to learn, but they aren't so bad. And they're definetly not Evil. I quite like some of Woodworth's stuff and while he has some flips, his writings have some very good moments. Miller is writing for us, Rucht Lilavivat did a fair job on the Walking Dead.
The main problem with current Ravenloft is that there should be some dogmatic guidelines for the writers. Some do's and dont's. The game rules should be as standard and as clear as possible. Some of the people tend to go too vague while writing. Gore is not good horror (look at some items in DMG). And - all stuff should be read by someone, who has read and memorized every book, before it's published. There are many flips which can be avoided with the last point, there are quite a few people like that.
The year should be 757?
Originally posted by Irve
I am not scared, I just think that the Second Golden Age for Ravenloft has just passed.
Some of the people tend to go too vague while writing. Gore is not good horror (look at some items in DMG). And - all stuff should be read by someone, who has read and memorized every book, before it's published. There are many flips which can be avoided with the last point, there are quite a few people like that.
That's what I'm afraid. The Items section is so... bland. Just compare it to how items are described in VRA or get a hold on Relics and Rituals. All items in there are also unique and have a history of it's own.
Some writers just don't get Ravenloft at all I feel.
Most of those you mentioned are ok though : Steve Miller and Rucht for instance.
Please..if someone have this book or even have read it, send us some info.
Alack....wither yonder gaming bookshoppe?!
I noticed the S&S insider booklet, which had a page about RLPHB. It had a small exerpt from the book which chewed on the topic of fighters' possibility of getting corrupted by gaining power "as other classes", but the chapter seemed to be more like a filler than an expansion or change to the rules. The article also said that "Each character class has been given a new look that makes it uniquely suited to Ravenloft." and "...the addition of exiting new prestige classes..." and "discover a new dimension in Ravenloft - the Masques".
The last one seems to be either something bizarre or a connection to the Masque of the Red Death setting that is to be released next year. It also mentions that the skills and spells have been a bit tweaked.
I am also delighted with the fact that the article ends with the soothing words: "Your Ravenloft Campaign will never be the same." Oh the sweet irony if our nightmares come true with this book
Oh, Denizens of Dread - January 2004, VRGtShadow Fey - March.
Gamma World taught me another - Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I'll be waiting until I see a few reviews before I shell out that kind of money to Sword and Sorcery sight unseen again.
Thankyouverymuch.
It seems nobody is trustful about this release.
Oh, Denizens of Dread - January 2004, VRGtShadow Fey - March.
Oh, please, please, please don't let VRGtSF get moved back farther like other things have. I REALLY want it to come out before my campaign ends . . .
Anyway, I'm not too worried about the golden age ending. If the RLPHB stinks as much as I fear--and it may not--it might just be a HoL-like fluke that'll be followed by more amazing stuff. Particularly since they're coming out with the PHB, not because they want to, but because they're contractually obligated to.
In short, don't count your chickens before Gazetteer 4. ;)
Edit: bad coding
There's some new art, and the endpapers are red instead of grey, but the first chapter at least looks pretty much like RCS; the timeline even had many of the same headers ('The Expanding Stain'). I noticed a prestige class just after the race descriptions which I suspect was the Witch-Hunter from Secret of the Dread Realms.
If they have it nearer to home I might have a longer look at it.
I had started buying the hard-covers through the Amazon links on the Kargatane site, when they announced that they would receive a portion of the sale & then could use that $ for site maintenance, but that's over.
I'll definately buy the book, but I figure it's a couple weeks yet before I do.
