Important Ravenloft news!

[Don Fernando]

I consider this to be bad for the line, really bad. The information we've got from 3.5 RL is not complete and many things are left in the dark. And much of that information is going to stay there (no publications of missing stuff as I read). I feel like I am reading one of the Gazeteers.....aggghhh

Whatever WotC chooses to do is not going to be good.
If they are planing to have Heroes of Horror as a starting point for the "New Ravenloft", we can forget about the RLDMG and RLPHB... this basically sucks. And that's only the begining...

If they are planing to give the licence to another company, the odds that this new company hires someone of the Kargatane or the other wonderful developers, is really small, so there goes the new story arc down the drain.

And finally, if they choose to leave it in the dungeons, well....

Uf! I feel sad...

[Steve Miller]

I think the original "S" story arc had *already* gone down the drain.

[The Pickled Punk]

Just want to add my thanks to Dark Duo, even though I didn't always like some of the decisions they made, they mostly did good work, to the Kargatane for keeping the setting going in the lean years, even when they had server problems, and to writers like Steve Miller, Rucht Lilavecht, and even Tadd McDivet, who deserves some praise (though not much ) for his work as well.

As for the future, let's see what happens when Heroes of Horror comes out. Maybe Dragon Magazine might accept submissions on the Domains that got neglected. And there are still fan websites like this one. Don't give up hope yet.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

I think the original "S" story arc had *already* gone down the drain.

I wouldn't be surprised if it had Steve.

[Algaris]

Well, the next 7 Gazetteers that were planned would have been worth it. I for one would have paid good money for any (and all) of them.

Me too. As far as I’m concerned, the Gazetteers were some of the most important books for the setting.

I wouldn't view this development necessarily as a knock against the Ravenloft setting per se. We should root for Heroes of Horror to sell really well...

So long as we don’t end up with something similar to the film Van Helsing. I’ve never really been a fan of comic book action, preferring things the Ravenloft / gothic horror way.

[Algaris]

Regarding Hero's of Horror I found this thread over at the Wizards Community Forums.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=6890561

[cure]

I sent a polite email asking for the release of all unpublished material (cuts mainly). Why not you?

iecarus@white-wolf.com Stewart Wieck

[Le Noir Faineant]

The guide to the mists is quite useless after all, if you're a n00b and don't know the setting...

How can you possibly say that it's useless, when you haven't even seen it yet?!? There's been a few hints as to what will be in it, but IMO those were geared toward established DM's as just as well as newbies.

I'm looking forward to it, at any rate.

*Ahem* I said the book is useless for someone who doesn't know the setting. I mean, a book written about the Ravenloft mists demands to be used with Ravenloft setting, doesn't it? So, people who like that VRG are likely to buy other RL products as well...

Don't get me wrong: I think that book would be /have been an excellent addition to my RL library. Still, I don't think it's exactly a GENERIC rpg book usable FOR ANY GAME... But, yeah, I'd bought it, if it had come out...

[Jester of the FoS]

Not knowing what the Guide to the Mists is about I'm reserving judgement. It probably touches on Mist Horrors and Mist Ferrymen in addition to everything else. That could be usefull in any setting.
Other than that I agree it's pretty setting specific, but no more than the Campaign Setting book itself. And probably not just for "newbies".

[tec-goblin]

Well, I was proven right in my expectations about the end of the line (these are the sad news). I hope I will be proven right in my expectations of some incorporation of RL in d20 Modern (wishful thinking)

[alhoon]

I agree with Des. While everyone can read, use and enjoy VRGttWD or VRGttSF without any other Ravenloft book (OK the name Barovia, Mordent etc wouldn't register but it doesn't matter as it is apparent they are places) the VRGttMists will probably be more campaign specific.

[Charney]

I must say I don't know what to think about this. I'm mostly afraid this means the death of the setting as I doubt HoH will spearhead a new RL age. I think (that statement isn't based on anything except my bad feelings) that Wizards decided to make get back Ravenloft, bought back the license and then said: "here's an horror book if they want horror books, now we'll bury Ravenloft."

Anyway, that's what I fear.

[Igor the Henchman]

You know what I find most sad? Its been Eight years, EIGHT YEARS of waiting for official info on Liffe and Isle of Ravens, and just as we were getting close... there's this. And I don't know what to say.

Nothing to do but to express my gratitude to the people behind the 3E incarnation of my favorite roleplaying setting. I give all my undying thanks and respect to Steve, Jackie, Nickie, Rucht and all the Kargatane, and to artists like Mr Dunning, Mrs Trott, Mr McHugh and Mr Pozas. I sincerely think your work should be an example for all third-party d20 RPG industry, and am sorry I didn't ever express this until this sad moment.

Of all campaign settings that I've seen on the market, Ravenloft has to be the one that held that elusive little something... And although I didn't run as many adventures there as many other DMs here, the sheer quality of detail and stress on atmosphere Ravenloft always boasted have taught me alot. And did much in helping me forge my own DMing style and preferences.

I don't believe that Wizards will do much if anything with the setting. Despite its brilliance, Ravenloft just has too many strikes against it. Not only does it appeal to only a limited portion of connoisseur players, its selling scope is further reduced in that most of the books cater solely to DMs. Add to that the fact that the setting requires a no small amount of DMing and roleplaying skill to do it "right"... Well, I don't see how that could be what WotC would want to consider, based on their history so far.

Oh, well... I guess that makes the second funeral of the setting I attend. Lower the coffin.

*as the coffin is lowered, scraping sounds are heard from within. All attendees make warding signs and start praying frantically*

[midnightcat]

I must say I don't know what to think about this. I'm mostly afraid this means the death of the setting as I doubt HoH will spearhead a new RL age. I think (that statement isn't based on anything except my bad feelings) that Wizards decided to make get back Ravenloft, bought back the license and then said: "here's an horror book if they want horror books, now we'll bury Ravenloft."

Anyway, that's what I fear.

I feel the same way as you Charney. I am sad we won't get any books on the seas. they have never been covered very well, not even in 2nd edition. I also wish that Arthaus has done a Secrets of the Dreaded realm Voume 2 before they had dropped Ravenloft. That way we could have atleast gotten the official stats of all the Dark Lords that are not in the Core.

[Dominique]

Do we know for a fact that WotC won't continue the Gazetteers? They might not be the same as the current Gazetteers, but they'd at least be something.

Sigh. I'm pretty unambiguously disappointed about this; other than Champions of Darkness, Heroes of Light, and the random additions to the PHB, I really liked the way White Wolf handled the setting. WotC might pleasantly surprise me, but I'm having trouble seeing this as anything but a step down. Still, I'm going to keep my hopes up . . .