Café de Nuit

Not sure if people have seen this...

I was just over at the Paizo site (paizo.com) and looked at the upcoming issue of Dragon... it has Ravenloft stuff in it! Seems they are updating some of the old critters, as well as doing something with Masque of the Red Death.

http://paizo.com/dragon/products/issues/2006/339

I don't know why, but suddenly I have a small spark of hope for Ravenloft's future.

BBG

Yeah, we've (mostly) seen that. However, I would let that spark too much hope. For instance, Planescape is mentioned semi-regularly in Dragon, yet there's no official production of 3rd edition Planescape material (and the online "official" site is a shambles, to be honest).

Then again, I don't let it get me down. If Ravenloft stuff continues to be made by the community, I'm happy

You could look at it as a means of staying in the public eye.

Settings like Darksun and Ravenloft not only survived the fall of TSR but also continued to increase their fan-base, just by making the occasional appearances in public venues.

What really surprises me is the MotRD spell section. Masque suffered from obscurity for years and years.
Could this appearance possibly lead to a resurgance in popularity?

I got the list of monsters covered in the issue from this post here

Why on earth cover two monsters already covered in RL 3e books?

And by the way, remind me where does the maggot golem comes from?

Joël

Joël of the Fraternity wrote:I got the list of monsters covered in the issue from this post here

Why on earth cover two monsters already covered in RL 3e books?

Because not everyone purchased the books they're covered in and the books will be impossible to purchase in less than a year.

That and they're presenting these creatures to the general DnD audience, who might want to use the creatures but not want to spend 40 bucks on a book to do it.

Joël of the Fraternity wrote:I got the list of monsters covered in the issue from this post here

Why on earth cover two monsters already covered in RL 3e books?

And by the way, remind me where does the maggot golem comes from?

Joël

Maggot Golem is from the Requiem box, created by Yako Vormoff, I believe.

Though I would like to be excited, I have to agree - let's not get our hopes up too high. After all, I think we can safely assume that the campaign classics, if it IS back as a semi-regular feature implies that we'll have to wait out the rotation each few months in order to get something.

Still, exposure is good. Even better - we might be able to get paid for submissions for our favourite oldies to Dragon!!! (I own every plaescape product and was VERY dissapointed that it didn't make the cut into 3e. It allowed me to play with my love of classics and philosophy without boring my firends to death! )

I'm looking forward to see what they have to offer, though....

Planescape didn't made it? ! ?
But there is the Manual of the Planes and the planar handbook! Sigil is also mentioned somewhere too... What has been left out?

Speaking of Ravenloft poping back up. I noticed WoTC is rereleasing Death of a Darklord again. While I'm sure it's mainly just to cash in on the success of Laura K. Hamilton, I did happen to notice that it was part one of a new Ravenloft Trilogy. I'm wondering if they have either comishioned her to write the other 2 or if this the begining of a Ravenloft novel ressurection.

Yeah, we've (mostly) seen that. However, I would let that spark too much hope. For instance, Planescape is mentioned semi-regularly in Dragon, yet there's no official production of 3rd edition Planescape material (and the online "official" site is a shambles, to be honest).

D'oh!

Oh well. I don't read every thread, ya know.

As for it getting my hopes up, well, I'm just happy that they are releasing ANY Ravenloft stuff, whether as a full fledged campaign setting, or just a monster at a time. Just so long as it's good.

BBG

alhoon wrote:Planescape didn't made it? ! ?
But there is the Manual of the Planes and the planar handbook! Sigil is also mentioned somewhere too... What has been left out?

The setting history. Modrons. I'm sure Drinnik or Trebor could mention a few other things. It's the mechanics and references to the other stuff, but the setting itself hasn't been delved into the way, say, the Forgotten Realms has.

Manual of the Planes and the 3.5 update in Player's Guide to the Planes are pretty much the rulebooks and guide to the lands. Not a full reprint of the Planescape setting but enough to use the planes and old products. You can update it yourself. And WotC get to sell products to people who want to use the planes and Planescape fans.

I wish it was that easy to update Dark Sun or Ravenloft.

Just a quick sidetrack. Is there much difference between the Manual of the Planes and the Planar handbook or is it pretty much the same material re-printed?

I have the manual of the planes and a friend has the planar handbook, and there are many new interesting things there.

David of the FoS wrote:Manual of the Planes and the 3.5 update in Player's Guide to the Planes are pretty much the rulebooks and guide to the lands. Not a full reprint of the Planescape setting but enough to use the planes and old products. You can update it yourself. And WotC get to sell products to people who want to use the planes and Planescape fans.

I wish it was that easy to update Dark Sun or Ravenloft.

Dragon released a two-part article series about 3e Dark Sun... One of them is 319, I think the other is 318. But yeah - bare bones at best.

As for PlaneScape: yeah they came out with the planar stuff, which is great - I own the manual of th planes, so I'm ESSENTIALLY covered, but what hurts is the lack of campaign development... That's always the best part.