Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft (Dungeons & Dragons)
Hardcover – May 18, 2021
Terror stalks the nightmare realms of Ravenloft. No one knows this better than monster scholar Rudolph Van Richten. To arm a new generation against the creatures of the night, Van Richten has compiled his correspondence and case files into this tome of eerie tales and chilling truths.
• Travel (perhaps even by choice) to Ravenloft's expanded Domains of Dread—each domain with its own unique flavor of horror, thrilling story hooks, and grisly cast of characters
• Craft your own D&D horror settings, add tension with optional rules, and get advice for running a game that's ghastly in all the right ways
• Create characters with lineages tied to vampires, undead, and hags, horror-themed subclasses, the Investigator background, and "Dark Gifts" that may be a double-edged sword
• Unleash nightmarish monsters from an expanded bestiary, and browse a collection of mysterious trinkets
• Explore Ravenloft in the included Dungeons & Dragons adventure—play as a stand-alone adventure or drop it into your current game for a bit of sinister fun
This is almost exactly the book I predicted when the Gothic Lineages came out, except I called it "Van Richten's Diary of the Domains of Dread." I bumped the thread in which I called that a minute ago, actually.
I wonder how much information each of the Domains of Dread will have.
I am also curious about what optional rules there may be. Maybe insanity rules?
Lineages made it in. It will be interesting to see how they will differ from the UA. I am also guessing the Undead Warlock and College of Spirits will be in there as well.
Looking forward to monsters and trinkets. That will be the things I can use right away.
Meh about an Adventure, but it is a nice inclusion.
I'd expect each Domain to get at least as much focus as one of the countries/regions of Eberron, or guilds of Ravnica, at minimum.
Insanity rules could be cool, drag in Cthulhu players.
I fully expect the Lineages to get a lot of reworking. They're set up like templates, but in a nonsensical way that means Aarakocra Dhampir don't fly and Kenku Reborn can talk just fine. And I'd expect more subclasses than just the two horror-y ones from the UA. I'd think at least four. Maybe a couple we haven't seen at all yet?
I'm also curious about the investigator background. I've been thinking there needed to be a "detective" flavored one for awhile, particularly with Candlekeep coming up.
Insanity rules could be cool, drag in Cthulhu players.
I hope they don't, or at least if they do that they sensitivity readers go over it scrupulously.
Yeah, I think making instead of rules for SAN, build out rules for fear/dread/haunting from what's already in game, but sort of flesh out their role and ramifications in a horrific setting.
To be fair, some of the modern Cthulhu rules iterations have really sophisticated (for what they are) SAN rules, which actually relate to a lot of contemporary trauma counseling frameworks in their adherence to drawing on bonds and values. This would require a much more robust reworking of the bonds/values/ideals extant in 5e which are sort of inert, and I don't really see it happen. RotF talked a big game on playing horror too in its ramp up ... and, well we got Hammer Horror with a bit of Sam Raimi as opposed to The Thing they teased. Of course Hammer Horror I feel would be perfectly acceptable tone in which to run a Ravensloft game.
This is almost exactly the book I predicted when the Gothic Lineages came out, except I called it "Van Richten's Diary of the Domains of Dread." I bumped the thread in which I called that a minute ago, actually.
Someone's been secretly play testing enhanced Augury rules....
I am very excited to see what subclasses they give us as both of the ones from the last UA are very cool looking. Hopefully they clean up the wording and let the spirits bard add the d6 to more spells (currently very little are RAW useable) and lower the damage output of the undying warlock (1d10 per turn?)
Thinking about this new book coming out with the new lineages. Are they going to set up so that if your a Goliath Dhampir you can still retain your large frame and cold resistance as they kind of indicated in the UA? As it sits now it seems like no matter what your original race was its basically a human with new abilities and to me that just doesn't convey story flavor but I could be wrong.
I doubt they will let you keep abilities from another race (as the power of different racial abilities varies greatly) but your dm could definelty let you keep powerful build or something. Dhampir Goliath means mechanically you are just one or the other, otherwise balancing would be a mess. I would compare them to aasiamr. You can be a dwarf or elf aasimar but your abilities don't change.
Back in the day that would require a level adjustment.
Maybe a slight alteration to the original racial template adding the lineage instead?
It could be done via a background like the Haunted One, but I haven't seen any of those gothic lineages released so far so maybe when they release the latest article it might explain that?
I'm pretty much excited for everything sans the new lineages. Everything else is gonna be read thoroughly, dissected painstakingly, analyzed meticulously and added to my own settings where wanted or needed.
I hope that there will be more than 2 new subclasses - didn't we have a monster hunter subclass for the fighter once? I know Ranger has the Monszter Slayer in XGtE that could see a reprint.
Insanity rules could be cool, drag in Cthulhu players.
I hope they don't, or at least if they do that they sensitivity readers go over it scrupulously.
In retrospect, you're probably right. That was a kneejerk response as someone who was huge Lovecraft reader when they were thirteen, rather than a thought-through response from who I am now, at 37.
D&D in general doesn't do horror well. Good horror relies on disempowerment and preys on the weakness of humanity (in many different senses of the word 'weakness'). A typical D&D party is anything but disempowered. DMs trying to do straight-up horror are going to be super disappointed in the results.
Dark fantasy, though? Gothic fantasy? Adopting the aesthetic and putting some edge on one's game? That, D&D can accomplish. Hopefully this book leans more dark fantasy than 'horror' despite the billing.
Can confirm.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786967250/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_0786967250
Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft (Dungeons & Dragons)
Hardcover – May 18, 2021
Terror stalks the nightmare realms of Ravenloft. No one knows this better than monster scholar Rudolph Van Richten. To arm a new generation against the creatures of the night, Van Richten has compiled his correspondence and case files into this tome of eerie tales and chilling truths.
• Travel (perhaps even by choice) to Ravenloft's expanded Domains of Dread—each domain with its own unique flavor of horror, thrilling story hooks, and grisly cast of characters
• Craft your own D&D horror settings, add tension with optional rules, and get advice for running a game that's ghastly in all the right ways
• Create characters with lineages tied to vampires, undead, and hags, horror-themed subclasses, the Investigator background, and "Dark Gifts" that may be a double-edged sword
• Unleash nightmarish monsters from an expanded bestiary, and browse a collection of mysterious trinkets
• Explore Ravenloft in the included Dungeons & Dragons adventure—play as a stand-alone adventure or drop it into your current game for a bit of sinister fun
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
This is almost exactly the book I predicted when the Gothic Lineages came out, except I called it "Van Richten's Diary of the Domains of Dread." I bumped the thread in which I called that a minute ago, actually.
I wonder how much information each of the Domains of Dread will have.
I am also curious about what optional rules there may be. Maybe insanity rules?
Lineages made it in. It will be interesting to see how they will differ from the UA. I am also guessing the Undead Warlock and College of Spirits will be in there as well.
Looking forward to monsters and trinkets. That will be the things I can use right away.
Meh about an Adventure, but it is a nice inclusion.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
I'd expect each Domain to get at least as much focus as one of the countries/regions of Eberron, or guilds of Ravnica, at minimum.
Insanity rules could be cool, drag in Cthulhu players.
I fully expect the Lineages to get a lot of reworking. They're set up like templates, but in a nonsensical way that means Aarakocra Dhampir don't fly and Kenku Reborn can talk just fine. And I'd expect more subclasses than just the two horror-y ones from the UA. I'd think at least four. Maybe a couple we haven't seen at all yet?
I'm also curious about the investigator background. I've been thinking there needed to be a "detective" flavored one for awhile, particularly with Candlekeep coming up.
I've wanted this for so long.
DM/Founder for Mimics & Monstrosities, a D&D network.
Mimics & Monstrosities Youtube
Mimics & Monstrosities Twitch
Occasional DM's Guild Content Creator
I hope they don't, or at least if they do that they sensitivity readers go over it scrupulously.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Yeah, I think making instead of rules for SAN, build out rules for fear/dread/haunting from what's already in game, but sort of flesh out their role and ramifications in a horrific setting.
To be fair, some of the modern Cthulhu rules iterations have really sophisticated (for what they are) SAN rules, which actually relate to a lot of contemporary trauma counseling frameworks in their adherence to drawing on bonds and values. This would require a much more robust reworking of the bonds/values/ideals extant in 5e which are sort of inert, and I don't really see it happen. RotF talked a big game on playing horror too in its ramp up ... and, well we got Hammer Horror with a bit of Sam Raimi as opposed to The Thing they teased. Of course Hammer Horror I feel would be perfectly acceptable tone in which to run a Ravensloft game.
Someone's been secretly play testing enhanced Augury rules....
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
All I know is I think a Reborn collage of spirits bard could be a lot of fun in Ravenloft.
I am very excited to see what subclasses they give us as both of the ones from the last UA are very cool looking. Hopefully they clean up the wording and let the spirits bard add the d6 to more spells (currently very little are RAW useable) and lower the damage output of the undying warlock (1d10 per turn?)
Thinking about this new book coming out with the new lineages. Are they going to set up so that if your a Goliath Dhampir you can still retain your large frame and cold resistance as they kind of indicated in the UA? As it sits now it seems like no matter what your original race was its basically a human with new abilities and to me that just doesn't convey story flavor but I could be wrong.
I doubt they will let you keep abilities from another race (as the power of different racial abilities varies greatly) but your dm could definelty let you keep powerful build or something. Dhampir Goliath means mechanically you are just one or the other, otherwise balancing would be a mess. I would compare them to aasiamr. You can be a dwarf or elf aasimar but your abilities don't change.
Well that does sound better than my initial reaction to that reveal.
Kudos to whoever expanded on the release details as I assumed this was another Volo or Mordenkainen's Book of Foes!
Now THIS sounds like something I'd be interested in!
Not a template added?
Back in the day that would require a level adjustment.
Maybe a slight alteration to the original racial template adding the lineage instead?
It could be done via a background like the Haunted One, but I haven't seen any of those gothic lineages released so far so maybe when they release the latest article it might explain that?
I'm pretty much excited for everything sans the new lineages. Everything else is gonna be read thoroughly, dissected painstakingly, analyzed meticulously and added to my own settings where wanted or needed.
I hope that there will be more than 2 new subclasses - didn't we have a monster hunter subclass for the fighter once? I know Ranger has the Monszter Slayer in XGtE that could see a reprint.
#OpenDnD
In retrospect, you're probably right. That was a kneejerk response as someone who was huge Lovecraft reader when they were thirteen, rather than a thought-through response from who I am now, at 37.
D&D in general doesn't do horror well. Good horror relies on disempowerment and preys on the weakness of humanity (in many different senses of the word 'weakness'). A typical D&D party is anything but disempowered. DMs trying to do straight-up horror are going to be super disappointed in the results.
Dark fantasy, though? Gothic fantasy? Adopting the aesthetic and putting some edge on one's game? That, D&D can accomplish. Hopefully this book leans more dark fantasy than 'horror' despite the billing.
Please do not contact or message me.
Amazon has the cover this book is going to be so awesome for people wanting to continue or change strahd games!
|| Sol Night-Arrow, Tabaxi Ranger ||
||Currently DMing a Homebrew Campaign ||
Guides or Important Threads of Mine ----- || List of ALL Official Familiars || My Homebrew Monsters ||
Level 3 One Shot Character Concepts ----- || Fist of the Gods || Triple Tap Hunter || Bullseye Dartmaster || Captain America ||
^^^Those are Links BTW^^^
Plane Shift Amonkhet would be fine, but the races are either over or underpowered.
The Book Cover is out.
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
RoughCoronet's Greater Wills