Everything You Need to Know About Ravenloft: The Horrors Within

The reason why there are 17 darklords when there is 16 domains is because one of the domains has two darklords. Just saying for anyone wondering

So is the Hollow Warden Ranger new or revamped?

Nice that we got more information - definitely helps to clarify the ways in which this product actually makes changes instead of just reprinting like 90% of Van Richten's. That being said, I do have some minor critiques and observations.

1. As far as Ebonbane goes, I'm glad to see one of the Darklords that previously only got a brief mention in Van Richten's get top billing in this one, since I was honestly just expecting a mix of the old major Darklords and a few new ones like Soth or, sigh, Cthulhu. That being said, I'm also a little intrigued on what its stat block will look like compared to the others, what with the whole "evil magic sword that kills its wielders" thing.

2. As for Azalin, I'm a bit disappointed to say that I sort of predicted this retcon (or maybe more of a rewind?) just yesterday: it doesn't particularly surprise me given how popular both Azalin and Darkon are, plus leaving them out entirely would feel even more strange. Perhaps those with more of an attachment to the older lore would disagree, but I found the way in which Van Richten's portrayed Darkon as a Domain without its Darklord to be really interesting, not to mention the mystery of what even happened to Azalin after he escaped and the tension of who, if anyone, would succeed him among the three candidates vying to claim dominion over Darkon before the Mists consume it. Maybe there'll be some mention of all that here, although I sort of doubt it. Should make for ample material for Dungeon Masters to use if they decide to run him, though.

3. There seems to be a mistake in the subclasses section with the Hollow Warden Ranger being treated as both an original subclass and a returning subclass - not sure what that's about.

4. Although not mentioned explicitly, the maps seem to point towards a few additional confirmations as far as Domains go with the inclusion of locations from Cyre 1313, Kartakass, and Mordent, unless the map pack specifically is meant to feature material concerning locations in Domains both within and outside of the 16 advertised here. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing Cyre 1313 explored in more detail, although I am curious as to how exactly The Last Passenger would be presented in terms of their stat block.

5. The new creatures are interesting - we just got a sneak preview of one of them via Dungeon Masters, and I'm sure more such previews will be on the way in the coming weeks, but I do find myself a little worried at the description of "Mordenheim's Monster" as one of those creatures: I can't tell if it is meant to be Elise in a less sympathetic form or simply a catch-all stat block for any of Viktra's later monstrous creations. The wording of it makes me think the former, which would be a shame if true, as I feel like the dynamic between Elise and Viktra in Van Richten's brought something unique to the Frankenstein narrative that would be lost by just making Elise into more of a nameless monster. Again, very little information to go off of here, so perhaps I'm just jumping to conclusions on that front.

6. Ultimately, while I'm glad that this product isn't as much of a Van Richten's retread as I thought it would be, I also find myself strangely bummed that it isn't expanding on more of the content included in Van Richten's, both with respect to things like Darkon's circumstances and especially with respect to the major Darklords and Domains from that book that won't be getting updated. Nothing a little homebrew with Van Richten's as a reference can't fix, I suppose, but still, it's a little disappointing.

In any event, I look forward to seeing what all will be included in this product when it hits store shelves in a month.

Quote from thelemondrag >>

So is the Hollow Warden Ranger new or revamped?

 It’s new. 

Rather curious how the Dark Gifts work. 

“Returning Ravenloft Dark Gifts have also been revised for the 5.5e rules framework, reframing Dark Gifts like Living Shadow, Mist Walker, and Symbiotic Being into a feat-based system that gives players the choice to create corrupted characters. Similarly, the returning Haunted Oneand Investigator backgrounds have been revamped to include Origin feats or Dark Gifts as part of their loadouts.”

Do they actually mean that some of the backgrounds let you choose between Origin feats and Dark Gifts? (I would guess that the Survivor origin feat goes with the Haunted One background and Sharp Eye with the Investigator; the the Mist Wanderer background would seem to be associated with the Mist Walker Dark Gift.)

If you can take Dark Gifts at level 1, does that mean they don’t grant an ASI? Can you take them at level 4+ and, if so, do you gain the ASI then?

I don’t know what the creature is in the art above the bestiary section, but I Helge C. Balzer just put a nightmare down in ink. So excited to have that thing ambush my players

So there are only 3 new species options Dhampir has to be reprint or is that a different version from "Astarion's Book of Hungers" (i am confused because Beyond the Witchlight also reprints the Fairy and Haregon from Monsters of the Multiverse but didn´t treat them as new options in the book?)

Quote from KeraOldi >>

So there are only 3 new species options Dhampir has to be reprint or is that a different version from "Astarion's Book of Hungers" (i am confused because Beyond the Witchlight also reprints the Fairy and Haregon from Monsters of the Multiverse but didn´t treat them as new options in the book?)

 I don’t think we know yet, but, even if it’s an exact replica of the Astarion Dhampir, it’s still “new” for those of us who get out our D&D material as printed books. 

I’m rather pleased to see the mention of the haunted Bastions. I was hoping we’d see something like that. 

id assume taking a dark gift at level 1 through a background or origin feat works like with a human you get the feat just no asi with it

id assume given its an evil sword that possesses people you just use its statblock for the wielder along with anything that doesnt contradict the swords stats ie seperate actions and bonus actions any spells etc etc.

Dhampir reprinted or will they get back the do not need to breath / Immune to exhaustion due to suffocation.

More info on Bite to see how/if affected by Monk / Dancing Bard damage dice and to hit mechanic to make it clearer and more understandable.

Quote from ThelenyiWhinlaw >>

Rather curious how the Dark Gifts work. 

“Returning Ravenloft Dark Gifts have also been revised for the 5.5e rules framework, reframing Dark Gifts like Living Shadow, Mist Walker, and Symbiotic Being into a feat-based system that gives players the choice to create corrupted characters. Similarly, the returning Haunted Oneand Investigator backgrounds have been revamped to include Origin feats or Dark Gifts as part of their loadouts.”

Do they actually mean that some of the backgrounds let you choose between Origin feats and Dark Gifts? (I would guess that the Survivor origin feat goes with the Haunted One background and Sharp Eye with the Investigator; the the Mist Wanderer background would seem to be associated with the Mist Walker Dark Gift.)

If you can take Dark Gifts at level 1, does that mean they don’t grant an ASI? Can you take them at level 4+ and, if so, do you gain the ASI then?

 To answer your questions:

1. Yes, going by promotional previews, some or all of the backgrounds will let you choose between an Origin feat or a Dark Gift feat. Said previews revealed that the Investigator  background will let you choose between Sharp Eye or a Dark Gift feat of your choice. I fully expect Haunted One to similarly let you choose between Survivor or a Dark Gift feat of your choice.

2. The Dark Gift feats will probably not grant an ASI at all, much like the Dragonmark feats from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer.

Hope this helps!

Quote from RecordiconKnok >>

Quote from ThelenyiWhinlaw >>

 

 To answer your questions:

1. Yes, going by promotional previews, some or all of the backgrounds will let you choose between an Origin feat or a Dark Gift feat. Said previews revealed that the Investigator  background will let you choose between Sharp Eye or a Dark Gift feat of your choice. I fully expect Haunted One to similarly let you choose between Survivor or a Dark Gift feat of your choice.

2. The Dark Gift feats will probably not grant an ASI at all, much like the Dragonmark feats from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer.

Hope this helps!

 Thank you!

the lupin are making a return? neat

Quote from ThelenyiWhinlaw >>

Quote from RecordiconKnok >>

Quote from ThelenyiWhinlaw >>

 

Rather curious how the Dark Gifts work. 

“Returning Ravenloft Dark Gifts have also been revised for the 5.5e rules framework, reframing Dark Gifts like Living Shadow, Mist Walker, and Symbiotic Being into a feat-based system that gives players the choice to create corrupted characters. Similarly, the returning Haunted Oneand Investigator backgrounds have been revamped to include Origin feats or Dark Gifts as part of their loadouts.”

Do they actually mean that some of the backgrounds let you choose between Origin feats and Dark Gifts? (I would guess that the Survivor origin feat goes with the Haunted One background and Sharp Eye with the Investigator; the the Mist Wanderer background would seem to be associated with the Mist Walker Dark Gift.)

If you can take Dark Gifts at level 1, does that mean they don’t grant an ASI? Can you take them at level 4+ and, if so, do you gain the ASI then?

 To answer your questions:

1. Yes, going by promotional previews, some or all of the backgrounds will let you choose between an Origin feat or a Dark Gift feat. Said previews revealed that the Investigator  background will let you choose between Sharp Eye or a Dark Gift feat of your choice. I fully expect Haunted One to similarly let you choose between Survivor or a Dark Gift feat of your choice.

2. The Dark Gift feats will probably not grant an ASI at all, much like the Dragonmark feats from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer.

Hope this helps!

 Thank you!

 You're welcome!

Quote from ThelenyiWhinlaw >>

Quote from KeraOldi >>

So there are only 3 new species options Dhampir has to be reprint or is that a different version from "Astarion's Book of Hungers" (i am confused because Beyond the Witchlight also reprints the Fairy and Haregon from Monsters of the Multiverse but didn´t treat them as new options in the book?)

 I don’t think we know yet, but, even if it’s an exact replica of the Astarion Dhampir, it’s still “new” for those of us who get out our D&D material as printed books. 

I’m rather pleased to see the mention of the haunted Bastions. I was hoping we’d see something like that. 

I think you misunderstood me I don't have a problem with a Reprint of a species because in past books the Reprints were not marketed as new species but this book is marketed with 4 new species that makes it for me confusing (even the reskins of species in last MTG suplement werent marketed as new species) 

Quote from Marc_Ducorsky >>

Dhampir reprinted or will they get back the do not need to breath / Immune to exhaustion due to suffocation.

 I was hoping bcause of the Dhampir already realesed in a book that we finaly wil get the Reverent. 

Thanks for the phone backgrounds

Question about the Digital Map Pack: Is it new, exclusive maps, or maps also in the HC (or an earlier one like Van Richtens)?

I have a question: with this new manual, will it no longer be necessary to buy "Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft"? I ask because I was about to buy it.