This is the last book you should buy only the compendium content for. Most of the content of the book is the writing. A fair warning to anyone thinking of going that route.
The train demiplane actually gave me an idea for a high-tech demiplane:
Elevator pitch version is (the movie) Alien on a Spelljammer ship. There is a ship, adrift in space, with a monster on it and that monster will not stay dead. The players have to try and figure out how to escape, by making the necessary repairs while being stalked by this monster. Not the most on brand adventure idea but maybe amusing enough.
This is the last book you should buy only the compendium content for. Most of the content of the book is the writing. A fair warning to anyone thinking of going that route.
The train demiplane actually gave me an idea for a high-tech demiplane:
Elevator pitch version is (the movie) Alien on a Spelljammer ship. There is a ship, adrift in space, with a monster on it and that monster will not stay dead. The players have to try and figure out how to escape, by making the necessary repairs while being stalked by this monster. Not the most on brand adventure idea but maybe amusing enough.
Compendium is everything except for character options and monsters, I believe. You get all the writing.
"Compendium Content" is basically a read-only PDF. You can't search it, you can't use the options in any of the website tools, you can't do anything with it but read it as if it were a static, unchanging book. A lot of folks want exactly that since they prefer to use physical character sheets and only need access to the rules, which is why 'Compendium Content' works. But yeah. Compendium Content is the opposite of "only tool content"
...the focus for many campaigns set in these Domains will be on resolving or subverting the Darklord's personal torments such that the realm is destabilized enough to afford a chance to flee. If flight is even possible - it's entirely within keeping for the tone of this book for even the party's best efforts to prove ultimately futile - Ravenloft does not relent, it does not let go, and even Herculean effort is ultimately pointless...
I certainly picked up that vibe. And that actually fits in with 5e where you basically create characters for an adventure path, run them from 1st through level 15 or so, then retire them. Rinse and repeat for the next campaign. Much of the book is about designing characters that fit with the Ravenloft theme. Which is fine and a really good idea. But I also like the idea of, "Okay...your 8th level party has to get to this place in the Shadowfell and they don't have time to traverse it like normal. There is, however, a train that barrels through the Shadowfell that you might be able to catch. Once you catch it, however, getting off is even harder..."
And having the train, for example, just be a few sessions as a dash of flavoring.
I'm loving Tepest. Specifically, I love that it seems like a decent place to live, it just has this dark underside. If you're okay with the Tithe, you can have a really good life there.
I'm not quite sure what my favorite Domain is, but I'd probably say Bleutspur. I have an idea for a Domain slightly similar to Bleutspur which the old Illithid empire now lives in.
This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco. No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
I really don't know if I do have a clear favorite, but I just sent a bunch of high school sophomores through the Death House and I think the Carnival is a great place for them to meet Madame Eva. There are so many more places I can put the Sunsword and Holy Symbol of Ravenkind now!
Didn't read many, but I'cath and Cyre 1313 are great, I'cath is tremendously original and the flavour is nice, Cyre 1313 is either a bad episode of The Twilight Zone, or a good Domain of Dread lol.
Other than Lamordia, really liking Kalakeri. The endless war, the family intrigue, the monstrous transformation of the siblings, the Indian-inspired culture, it's an amazing setting for adventures.
Yes, I noticed this one as well, I might reuse part of it for my rakshasa family plot grafted (through Mahadi) onto BG-Dia. Although I don't really like the three types of monsters, I probably would shift it to really rakshasa of different types, from previous editions, Ak'chazar Rakshasa and Naztharune Rakshasa.
Nice man! I may have to steal those for my own Ravenloft campaign, though it'll probably be awhile since the PCs have only recently reached 6th level.
I love Valachan...the whole "Deadliest Game" feel in a jungle is pretty great.
Also seems like it could be a decent story arc for a longer campaign...you are transported via the Mist during one of the hunts and have to figure out what is going on.
Train is definitely number 1, but I love a bunch of those tiny location ones that can pop up anywhere. The carnival is also great, but you can always ignore the listed one and make your own with its own lord too, which sounds wicked. Finally, Darkon, it's great to see what happened after Masque of the Red Death, and I love the oblivious inhabitants fighting over an empty throne without realizing what it would take to fill it.
Lamordia's got to be my favorite of the major write-ups. I've already got tons of ideas for running adventures there. I also really love Cyre 1313, Klorr, and Risibilos. The Strahd Von Zarovich puppet that believes he's the real Strahd is hilarious.
I made my own. It's called rfgyuuhfdr. It is literally the Far Realm that is watered down so mortal minds can (barely) comprehend it.
I dumped my PCs briefly into a far-realm-esque area in my CoS campaign; it was a place where you arrived floating in darkness with stars all around you, and if you explored around you would find moderate sized spherical 'planets' of flesh with maws that, if they swallowed you, would spit you back somewhere near where you came in, though possibly changed by the experience.
I kinda liked Lamordia, The Carnival (Mostly because if I ever DM I'll take the players their so I can make an "organ grinder" joke), I actually liked all of them. I wonder what Malingo's torment is? Is it that the kids of the village eventually grow up and he has to do away with his former friends to keep his domain adult free? The only darklord in the other domains section who we truly know what their torture is is Doerdon of Risibilos.
edit: That's actually a good Idea for Malingo's torment
There's one I feel like hardly gets any attention that I think is really cool. Scaena is a domain of dread that is entirely a stage. I think it would be really cool to run a one shot where you've been brought there by the darklord, an obsessed playwright, in order to perform his latest creation. But when the audience gets bored and calls for blood. The different actors (monsters) would start attacking the party. The only way to escape would be in order to perform the entire play, and survive the murderous actors,.
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Quokkas are objectively the best animal, anyone who disagrees needs a psychiatric evaluation
There's one I feel like hardly gets any attention that I think is really cool. Scaena is a domain of dread that is entirely a stage. I think it would be really cool to run a one shot where you've been brought there by the darklord, an obsessed playwright, in order to perform his latest creation. But when the audience gets bored and calls for blood. The different actors (monsters) would start attacking the party. The only way to escape would be in order to perform the entire play, and survive the murderous actors,.
You may want to check out some of the literary and TTRPG interpretations of the King in Yellow for food for uncomfortable thoughts. Carcosa of course could also be built out of a King In Yellow domain. I've been on a sort of a kick reading up on them since I finished a read through of Impossible Landscapes for Delta Green. Some of the King and Yellow stuff could fit into a very gothic or dreamscape D&D game.
A digital copy'd cost you roundabout thirty bucks. Or twenty, if you opted for Compendium Content Only.
And yes, physical copies should be in print. Often with fancy shiny variant covers in certain FLGSs
Please do not contact or message me.
This is the last book you should buy only the compendium content for. Most of the content of the book is the writing. A fair warning to anyone thinking of going that route.
The train demiplane actually gave me an idea for a high-tech demiplane:
Elevator pitch version is (the movie) Alien on a Spelljammer ship. There is a ship, adrift in space, with a monster on it and that monster will not stay dead. The players have to try and figure out how to escape, by making the necessary repairs while being stalked by this monster. Not the most on brand adventure idea but maybe amusing enough.
Compendium is everything except for character options and monsters, I believe. You get all the writing.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
"Compendium Content" is basically a read-only PDF. You can't search it, you can't use the options in any of the website tools, you can't do anything with it but read it as if it were a static, unchanging book. A lot of folks want exactly that since they prefer to use physical character sheets and only need access to the rules, which is why 'Compendium Content' works. But yeah. Compendium Content is the opposite of "only tool content"
Please do not contact or message me.
Oh really? I was under the impression that it was only the D&D Beyond unlocks without access to the actual book. Curious.
I certainly picked up that vibe. And that actually fits in with 5e where you basically create characters for an adventure path, run them from 1st through level 15 or so, then retire them. Rinse and repeat for the next campaign. Much of the book is about designing characters that fit with the Ravenloft theme. Which is fine and a really good idea. But I also like the idea of, "Okay...your 8th level party has to get to this place in the Shadowfell and they don't have time to traverse it like normal. There is, however, a train that barrels through the Shadowfell that you might be able to catch. Once you catch it, however, getting off is even harder..."
And having the train, for example, just be a few sessions as a dash of flavoring.
I'm loving Tepest. Specifically, I love that it seems like a decent place to live, it just has this dark underside. If you're okay with the Tithe, you can have a really good life there.
Having finished the book, I will add Valachan, Klorr, and Cyre 1313 to that list.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
I'm not quite sure what my favorite Domain is, but I'd probably say Bleutspur. I have an idea for a Domain slightly similar to Bleutspur which the old Illithid empire now lives in.
EDIT: I like Borca too.
This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco.
No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
I really don't know if I do have a clear favorite, but I just sent a bunch of high school sophomores through the Death House and I think the Carnival is a great place for them to meet Madame Eva. There are so many more places I can put the Sunsword and Holy Symbol of Ravenkind now!
Didn't read many, but I'cath and Cyre 1313 are great, I'cath is tremendously original and the flavour is nice, Cyre 1313 is either a bad episode of The Twilight Zone, or a good Domain of Dread lol.
Mystic v3 should be official, nuff said.
Nice man! I may have to steal those for my own Ravenloft campaign, though it'll probably be awhile since the PCs have only recently reached 6th level.
I love Valachan...the whole "Deadliest Game" feel in a jungle is pretty great.
Also seems like it could be a decent story arc for a longer campaign...you are transported via the Mist during one of the hunts and have to figure out what is going on.
Train is definitely number 1, but I love a bunch of those tiny location ones that can pop up anywhere. The carnival is also great, but you can always ignore the listed one and make your own with its own lord too, which sounds wicked. Finally, Darkon, it's great to see what happened after Masque of the Red Death, and I love the oblivious inhabitants fighting over an empty throne without realizing what it would take to fill it.
Lamordia's got to be my favorite of the major write-ups. I've already got tons of ideas for running adventures there. I also really love Cyre 1313, Klorr, and Risibilos. The Strahd Von Zarovich puppet that believes he's the real Strahd is hilarious.
I made my own. It's called rfgyuuhfdr. It is literally the Far Realm that is watered down so mortal minds can (barely) comprehend it.
Lover of pugs, dinos, dragons, and chickens
FEAR AND LOVE ME MORTALS!
Leader of the cult of bwba (barbarians with big axes)
I dumped my PCs briefly into a far-realm-esque area in my CoS campaign; it was a place where you arrived floating in darkness with stars all around you, and if you explored around you would find moderate sized spherical 'planets' of flesh with maws that, if they swallowed you, would spit you back somewhere near where you came in, though possibly changed by the experience.
I kinda liked Lamordia, The Carnival (Mostly because if I ever DM I'll take the players their so I can make an "organ grinder" joke), I actually liked all of them. I wonder what Malingo's torment is? Is it that the kids of the village eventually grow up and he has to do away with his former friends to keep his domain adult free? The only darklord in the other domains section who we truly know what their torture is is Doerdon of Risibilos.
edit: That's actually a good Idea for Malingo's torment
There's one I feel like hardly gets any attention that I think is really cool. Scaena is a domain of dread that is entirely a stage. I think it would be really cool to run a one shot where you've been brought there by the darklord, an obsessed playwright, in order to perform his latest creation. But when the audience gets bored and calls for blood. The different actors (monsters) would start attacking the party. The only way to escape would be in order to perform the entire play, and survive the murderous actors,.
Quokkas are objectively the best animal, anyone who disagrees needs a psychiatric evaluation
You may want to check out some of the literary and TTRPG interpretations of the King in Yellow for food for uncomfortable thoughts. Carcosa of course could also be built out of a King In Yellow domain. I've been on a sort of a kick reading up on them since I finished a read through of Impossible Landscapes for Delta Green. Some of the King and Yellow stuff could fit into a very gothic or dreamscape D&D game.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.