Ravenloft Adventures - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Ravenloft Adventures

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 13, 2004 18:15:01 I'm planning to start my first Ravenloft campaign, and I'm wondering what kind of adventures would be suitable for low level characters. The campaign is starting in Souragne (an island of terror that is mostly swamp land), and the players are outlander PCs that were on their way back to their town when a storm hit and rained for 3 days straight. When the storm ended, they found themselves in this new land. I never ran a Ravenloft campaign before, so I'm not sure exactly what to do. I've read the RL Campaign Setting, and RL Dungeon Masters Guide, so I know how to create the proper atmosphere, but it they don't go into details on writing adventures. It wouldn't make sense for them to save an entire town from its evil ruler that's preying on the populous, because they're only 1st level. So what can the PCs actually do???
#2
zombiegleemax
May 13, 2004 20:45:01 Maybe just start by saving a family or group of villagers in an isolated area from a zombie horde or somesuch. Use all the terrors of techniques. Don't call the zombies 'zombies', even if the players know or suspect they are, cause then they'll never really be sure. I'd even suggest giving the zombies some of the additional powers for undead from Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead, just to throw the players off. Don't let the players get a good look at the zombies until they are in melee, and even then, not a really details description. Just images during the lightning strikes. A DM I once played under did a similiar thing, and it was very memorable.
#3
Tintagel
May 13, 2004 21:32:46 Get Night of the Walking dead. GREAT module, for 1st level guys, and set in Souragne.
#4
malus_black
May 14, 2004 5:46:32
Originally posted by Tintagel
Get Night of the Walking dead. GREAT module, for 1st level guys, and set in Souragne.

Indeed. NotWD is a brilliant module, one of my favourites in fact. It can be found here, just scroll down to the low-level modules.

Of course, you might have to alter it a bit since the PCs are from Souragne, but that won't really be a problem, and might actually make the game more fun.

And you might want to consider removing the giant frogs and the magic items.
#5
orodruin
May 14, 2004 10:10:55 Just wanted to chime in and agree with the other two. "Night of the Walking Dead" is not only a great way to kick off a Ravenloft campaign (what with it being low level and all) but for me, it is easily the BEST Ravenloft adventure published since the original two.

You'll have do a little conversion work since it's in 2nd ed, but it shouldn't be too much of a hassle since most of the monsters are pretty basic.
#6
zombiegleemax
May 14, 2004 10:35:16 I just brought the PC's in from other worlds. Dropped them right into the swamp.

~~~
#7
sabbattack
May 14, 2004 11:58:27 OHHHH!!!!!!!Praise Ezra!!! At last, a thread where I can add my 2cps on how great a module NotWD is!! It has everything in just the right measures. Open plot hooks, great horror mood, ereything.
I have one suggestion for you. Buy or find "Dance of Death". It's precious, it's indispensable. If you actually start from souragne it has tons and tons of sub-plots, and it can be easily connected with NotWD.

Once again:
Please, PLEASE bring back Misroi in 3.x ed!!!! His huge legion of zombie-fans want him back!

#8
zombiegleemax
May 14, 2004 15:50:54
Originally posted by sabbattack
Buy or find "Dance of Death".

Meaning of course the Ravenloft novel, 'Dance of the Dead' by Christie Golden, from 1992. Pretty common to find on Ebay or in used book stores.
#9
sabbattack
May 17, 2004 6:23:30 ...And yet another time the Righteous Catman Jim comes to destroy evil and correct all wrong-doings!!!
Yep, I'll give you this one Jim. You always seem to wait hidden in the shadows and jump out to pounce at mistakes. A true feline!!

Now, on "Dance of the Dead", I remembered that it takes place in Port D'Elhour, so it would be better to use it after your players get through with Marais de Tarrascon ( if they get through of course :D ). For me, DotD is a sad story, because I've been hunting it down since 1999, and I only found it this easter, during my trip to UK...in a used books store!!!

Cheers Cat-boy!!Hehe!!
#10
zombiegleemax
May 17, 2004 8:06:31 What I find amazing is that 'Night of the Walking Dead' claims that it is only 2-and-a-half miles from Marais de Tarrascon to Port D'Elhour.
So where in Greece are you? Less than 100 days until the 2004 Olympics!
#11
zombiegleemax
May 18, 2004 0:10:52 As far as writing your own adventures think about small personal scales. Saving a woman from a (supernatural) stalker is an appropriate low level idea. As you've guessed, saving a whole town generally isn't. Some other thoughts:

*A woman wants the PCs to lay her sons spirit to rest. The son is some form of minor incorporeal undead. PCs probably have to find out why the spirit has lingered rather than face it down.

*A man fears his daughter has been turned into a zombie by a rival(s) of his. PCs have to go investigate shadows in the night. In Souragne gawds only know what they actually find.

*A cursed soul has recieved a prophesy of doom. They hire the PCs to stop it from happening...maybe the PCs can't stop it and can only mitigate the impact on the people close to the "cursed soul".

*Two rival (petty) witch doctors each try using the PCs to get rid of the other (possibly leading to a situation like the old Eastwood western A Fist Full of Dollars)

*A predator from the swamp is attacking a family. PCs might suspect a lycanthrope but actually the family has come under a curse.

Hope those seeds help.

-Eric Gorman

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 13, 2004 18:15:01	I'm planning to start my first Ravenloft campaign, and I'm wondering what kind of adventures would be suitable for low level characters. The campaign is starting in Souragne (an island of terror that is mostly swamp land), and the players are outlander PCs that were on their way back to their town when a storm hit and rained for 3 days straight. When the storm ended, they found themselves in this new land. I never ran a Ravenloft campaign before, so I'm not sure exactly what to do. I've read the RL Campaign Setting, and RL Dungeon Masters Guide, so I know how to create the proper atmosphere, but it they don't go into details on writing adventures. It wouldn't make sense for them to save an entire town from its evil ruler that's preying on the populous, because they're only 1st level. So what can the PCs actually do???
#2 zombiegleemax May 13, 2004 20:45:01	Maybe just start by saving a family or group of villagers in an isolated area from a zombie horde or somesuch. Use all the terrors of techniques. Don't call the zombies 'zombies', even if the players know or suspect they are, cause then they'll never really be sure. I'd even suggest giving the zombies some of the additional powers for undead from Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead, just to throw the players off. Don't let the players get a good look at the zombies until they are in melee, and even then, not a really details description. Just images during the lightning strikes. A DM I once played under did a similiar thing, and it was very memorable.
#3 Tintagel May 13, 2004 21:32:46	Get Night of the Walking dead. GREAT module, for 1st level guys, and set in Souragne.
#4 malus_black May 14, 2004 5:46:32	Originally posted by Tintagel Get Night of the Walking dead. GREAT module, for 1st level guys, and set in Souragne. Indeed. NotWD is a brilliant module, one of my favourites in fact. It can be found here, just scroll down to the low-level modules. Of course, you might have to alter it a bit since the PCs are from Souragne, but that won't really be a problem, and might actually make the game more fun. And you might want to consider removing the giant frogs and the magic items.
#5 orodruin May 14, 2004 10:10:55	Just wanted to chime in and agree with the other two. "Night of the Walking Dead" is not only a great way to kick off a Ravenloft campaign (what with it being low level and all) but for me, it is easily the BEST Ravenloft adventure published since the original two. You'll have do a little conversion work since it's in 2nd ed, but it shouldn't be too much of a hassle since most of the monsters are pretty basic.
#6 zombiegleemax May 14, 2004 10:35:16	I just brought the PC's in from other worlds. Dropped them right into the swamp. ~~~
#7 sabbattack May 14, 2004 11:58:27	OHHHH!!!!!!!Praise Ezra!!! At last, a thread where I can add my 2cps on how great a module NotWD is!! It has everything in just the right measures. Open plot hooks, great horror mood, ereything. I have one suggestion for you. Buy or find "Dance of Death". It's precious, it's indispensable. If you actually start from souragne it has tons and tons of sub-plots, and it can be easily connected with NotWD. Once again: Please, PLEASE bring back Misroi in 3.x ed!!!! His huge legion of zombie-fans want him back!
#8 zombiegleemax May 14, 2004 15:50:54	Originally posted by sabbattack Buy or find "Dance of Death". Meaning of course the Ravenloft novel, 'Dance of the Dead' by Christie Golden, from 1992. Pretty common to find on Ebay or in used book stores.
#9 sabbattack May 17, 2004 6:23:30	...And yet another time the Righteous Catman Jim comes to destroy evil and correct all wrong-doings!!! Yep, I'll give you this one Jim. You always seem to wait hidden in the shadows and jump out to pounce at mistakes. A true feline!! Now, on "Dance of the Dead", I remembered that it takes place in Port D'Elhour, so it would be better to use it after your players get through with Marais de Tarrascon ( if they get through of course :D ). For me, DotD is a sad story, because I've been hunting it down since 1999, and I only found it this easter, during my trip to UK...in a used books store!!! Cheers Cat-boy!!Hehe!!
#10 zombiegleemax May 17, 2004 8:06:31	What I find amazing is that 'Night of the Walking Dead' claims that it is only 2-and-a-half miles from Marais de Tarrascon to Port D'Elhour. So where in Greece are you? Less than 100 days until the 2004 Olympics!
#11 zombiegleemax May 18, 2004 0:10:52	As far as writing your own adventures think about small personal scales. Saving a woman from a (supernatural) stalker is an appropriate low level idea. As you've guessed, saving a whole town generally isn't. Some other thoughts: A woman wants the PCs to lay her sons spirit to rest. The son is some form of minor incorporeal undead. PCs probably have to find out why the spirit has lingered rather than face it down. A man fears his daughter has been turned into a zombie by a rival(s) of his. PCs have to go investigate shadows in the night. In Souragne gawds only know what they actually find. A cursed soul has recieved a prophesy of doom. They hire the PCs to stop it from happening...maybe the PCs can't stop it and can only mitigate the impact on the people close to the "cursed soul". Two rival (petty) witch doctors each try using the PCs to get rid of the other (possibly leading to a situation like the old Eastwood western A Fist Full of Dollars) *A predator from the swamp is attacking a family. PCs might suspect a lycanthrope but actually the family has come under a curse. Hope those seeds help. -Eric Gorman