I was curious about the setting for the Grimhollow book. I don't have access to it, but the description says it's a much darker setting. If anyone has played or at least read it, do you think you could elaborate with a kind of setting and/or brief lore overview? Maybe how you think it compares to other dnd settings?
I have purchased it - Think of Ravenloft on steroids. The options are better for players as well, with not overtly power creepy. Something called "Transformations"... A vampire , werewolf, LIch, or other curse with benefit but also downsides. A much better rendition of Ravenloft. In addition to the fantasy horror characters all the main races have been redone with their own flare. Each Race (Called heritage here}. has a list of Combat Traits, Exploration Traits, and Roleplaying Traits.
On the Lore....I am reminded of Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. One empire is run by a vampires, "The Crimson Court" Appropriately dark history. In another empire anything associated with arcane magic his hunted by an inquisition. "The Devils" by Abercrombie is another novel that reminds me of this, with its big anti-hero vibe. Overall very positive. Frankly better than the 2024 release.
Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to play a Ravenloft campaign. However, I have read Van Richten's Guide and playing dnd, it's kind of impossible to not know something about Curse of Strahd. I can't say I know the books you mentioned either, but I am familiar with Abercrombie so that does help.
If you are into the Macabe / DND / Witcher style this is very much it. In fact I would suggest it BEFORE Ravenloft and don't think I would be purchasing Ravenloft at all at this point.
Ravenloft snatches you up and toys with you. It's a horror setting on a great many levels, and you should essentially be expecting to fail. You may win battles, but Ravenloft will not let you go, and eventually you will fall. You are small and scared and all the enemies are bigger and stronger and the game is rigged anyways. It's about making you feel small and vulnerable (and then fighting back regardless, and maybe kinda win).
Grim Hollow is not that. Grim Hollow is all about making PC's powerful and monstrous. It is, basically, the opposite of Ravenloft - but in a similar setting, with a similar tone.
Also, your mileage may vary. How you use it may not reflect how it's designed. Or my perception of how it's designed.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I wouldn't disagree with this. I mentioned the Anti-hero vibe which is here for sure. "Inquisition Domain". "Oaths of Pestilence and Slaughter"
Indeed. And I did specifically point out that I'm playing counterpoint. There are two sides to this (as in so many thing). And being anti-Ravenloft isn't a bad thing. Imagine if there was an anti-Forgotten Realms. I'd be all over that. The Remembered Realms. Hm.
=)
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I wouldn't disagree with this. I mentioned the Anti-hero vibe which is here for sure. "Inquisition Domain". "Oaths of Pestilence and Slaughter"
Indeed. And I did specifically point out that I'm playing counterpoint. There are two sides to this (as in so many thing). And being anti-Ravenloft isn't a bad thing. Imagine if there was an anti-Forgotten Realms. I'd be all over that. The Remembered Realms. Hm.
=)
The Remembered Realms? Lol. I'm not sure what that would even look like, but now I'm curious...
The Remembered Realms? Lol. I'm not sure what that would even look like, but now I'm curious...
Well the main complaint against FR (to me) is that it's overly generic. I should add that I played it religiously for years before I decided it was overly generic.
So the Remembered Realms, in order to be the opposite, would need to be 'anything but generic.' What that means in practice I can't say. I'm simply not that original. And I'm not sure anyone is, or should be - I think a fantasy realm that doesn't rest upon a foundation of references to something recognizable will just be .. bland, or weird for the sake of weirdness, or .. something.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The Remembered Realms? Lol. I'm not sure what that would even look like, but now I'm curious...
Well the main complaint against FR (to me) is that it's overly generic. I should add that I played it religiously for years before I decided it was overly generic.
So the Remembered Realms, in order to be the opposite, would need to be 'anything but generic.' What that means in practice I can't say. I'm simply not that original. And I'm not sure anyone is, or should be - I think a fantasy realm that doesn't rest upon a foundation of references to something recognizable will just be .. bland, or weird for the sake of weirdness, or .. something.
Would any of the existing D&D settings fit that? Maybe Dark Sun because magic is scarce there, if I recall correctly? Perhaps Eberron because warforged, artifice, and dinosaurs? Idk.
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I was curious about the setting for the Grimhollow book. I don't have access to it, but the description says it's a much darker setting. If anyone has played or at least read it, do you think you could elaborate with a kind of setting and/or brief lore overview? Maybe how you think it compares to other dnd settings?
I have purchased it - Think of Ravenloft on steroids. The options are better for players as well, with not overtly power creepy. Something called "Transformations"... A vampire , werewolf, LIch, or other curse with benefit but also downsides. A much better rendition of Ravenloft. In addition to the fantasy horror characters all the main races have been redone with their own flare. Each Race (Called heritage here}. has a list of Combat Traits, Exploration Traits, and Roleplaying Traits.
On the Lore....I am reminded of Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. One empire is run by a vampires, "The Crimson Court" Appropriately dark history. In another empire anything associated with arcane magic his hunted by an inquisition. "The Devils" by Abercrombie is another novel that reminds me of this, with its big anti-hero vibe. Overall very positive. Frankly better than the 2024 release.
Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to play a Ravenloft campaign. However, I have read Van Richten's Guide and playing dnd, it's kind of impossible to not know something about Curse of Strahd. I can't say I know the books you mentioned either, but I am familiar with Abercrombie so that does help.
If you are into the Macabe / DND / Witcher style this is very much it. In fact I would suggest it BEFORE Ravenloft and don't think I would be purchasing Ravenloft at all at this point.
I'll play counterpoint here:
Grim Hollow is mostly 'reverse' Ravenloft.
Ravenloft snatches you up and toys with you. It's a horror setting on a great many levels, and you should essentially be expecting to fail. You may win battles, but Ravenloft will not let you go, and eventually you will fall. You are small and scared and all the enemies are bigger and stronger and the game is rigged anyways. It's about making you feel small and vulnerable (and then fighting back regardless, and maybe kinda win).
Grim Hollow is not that. Grim Hollow is all about making PC's powerful and monstrous. It is, basically, the opposite of Ravenloft - but in a similar setting, with a similar tone.
Also, your mileage may vary. How you use it may not reflect how it's designed. Or my perception of how it's designed.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I wouldn't disagree with this. I mentioned the Anti-hero vibe which is here for sure. "Inquisition Domain". "Oaths of Pestilence and Slaughter"
Indeed. And I did specifically point out that I'm playing counterpoint. There are two sides to this (as in so many thing). And being anti-Ravenloft isn't a bad thing. Imagine if there was an anti-Forgotten Realms. I'd be all over that. The Remembered Realms. Hm.
=)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The Remembered Realms? Lol. I'm not sure what that would even look like, but now I'm curious...
Well the main complaint against FR (to me) is that it's overly generic. I should add that I played it religiously for years before I decided it was overly generic.
So the Remembered Realms, in order to be the opposite, would need to be 'anything but generic.' What that means in practice I can't say. I'm simply not that original. And I'm not sure anyone is, or should be - I think a fantasy realm that doesn't rest upon a foundation of references to something recognizable will just be .. bland, or weird for the sake of weirdness, or .. something.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Would any of the existing D&D settings fit that? Maybe Dark Sun because magic is scarce there, if I recall correctly? Perhaps Eberron because warforged, artifice, and dinosaurs? Idk.