Important Ravenloft news!

[RedundantZombie#33]

Maybe Ravenloft is already dead, but it may become dormant as well. And that's my fear.

RL got many fans eager to contribute with the setting. But not having presence in the bookstores is just sad.

[Kel-nage]

With such a great community, I doubt Ravenloft could ever die properly.

I am intrieged to think what Wizards will do with Ravenloft now... Hopefully they'll do something with it.

But I think it premature to start tolling the death bells for Ravenloft yet.

[ScS of the Fraternity]

Wotc may not be able to move on this quickly. I'm sure they were'nt ready for Ravenloft to be dropped so soon. As a consequence, they migth not have any staff to divert to the dread realms.

I think the smartest thing for Wotc to do would be to milk the fan community for a little while. Maybe offer suckers like us some sort of semi-offical title and get us to do some promotional activities for half a year.
Then, when the fan base is primed and the Wotc staff is available, shut the fan community down with the copyright perogative just as the first offical Wotc products get published.

Its a nasty strategy, but if I were running things, that's just how I'd maximize results and minimize costs.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Yeah, shutting the fan community down would minimize costs.

If, by shutting down the community, you mean "mercilessly kill the free stuff competing with their for-pay stuff" I can't see how that would minimize anything but profit. Companies have offended fanbases in the past, and they've paid the price for it.

I you mean "scale back their support of the online stuff," then that makes perfect sense and I would agree.

I've misjudged such comments enough lately to offer both sides. Please clarify if you want to continue discussion.

[Wiccy of the Fraternity]

Wotc may not be able to move on this quickly. I'm sure they were'nt ready for Ravenloft to be dropped so soon. As a consequence, they migth not have any staff to divert to the dread realms.

I think the smartest thing for Wotc to do would be to milk the fan community for a little while. Maybe offer suckers like us some sort of semi-offical title and get us to do some promotional activities for half a year.
Then, when the fan base is primed and the Wotc staff is available, shut the fan community down with the copyright perogative just as the first offical Wotc products get published.

Its a nasty strategy, but if I were running things, that's just how I'd maximize results and minimize costs.

That sounds just about evil enough to be something that I would also do

[Ultramyth]

If nothing else, I think they could make an official ravenloft page and release weekly/fortnightly/monthly articles like they do already based on the setting.

Though they say Ravenloft died from sales, it's very clear that it was beloved. With the rights back, I don't see why that would not be possible.

Otherwise, they should officialise the Frat here, like the old Kargatane website. Though I guess you're right in the sense that if they are going to pick it back up, it may take a while to get the ball rolling - i.e., no products at least this year...

Is there anyway that we can contact someone who actually knows if there's plans to use the licence in any way shape or form? Emails? Petitions?

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

I've been to Rome for a week, so this is new news for me. I'm really disappointed that Ravenloft's gone OOP (for the time being atleast) and I want to congratulate Steve Miller, Rucht Lilivat, Ryan Naylor, John Mangrum, Stu Turner (Dementlieu rocked!), Andrews Cermak and Wyatt and any other authors who I've missed and who's work I enjoyed.

I am not, however, going to congratulate nor thank Jackie and Nicky. This isn't because I'm a bastard, but because it would be hypocritical of me to congratulate them when I've been most vocal about my feelings towards their work. However, I hope the two of you can learn from your mistakes and continue to work in the RPG industry.

I would like to say though, that I think it isn't Ravenloft's time to die and when given to someone who understands the setting, it'll be back in print in no time.

[RedundantZombie#33]

Will it ever be given to someone who understands the setting?

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

Look at the quality of the writers, give it to one of them. Hell, give it to Steve Miller I say.

[RedundantZombie#33]

I would just love this happening. Steve Miller is one of my favourite writters (along with John W. Mangrum), and I would love to see he and/or Mangrum working on RL.

But seriously, now. What are the chances of that happening? WotC loves screwing up this kind of things.

I'm afraid the fate is spelling dark augury upon the land of the mists.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

I think if WotC are going to publish Ravenloft again, it'll be on the strength of the sales of Heroes of Horror.

[Steve Miller]

Look at the quality of the writers, give it to one of them. Hell, give it to Steve Miller I say.

If I had the money, I'd take it. I'd farm out most of the writing, though.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

Which gets me wondering, how much did the liscensing actually cost?

At a conservative estimate, I'd guess at least $50,000.

And that's conservative.

[RedundantZombie#33]

I don't know. Doesn't look very smart to keep up a whole product line just to help selling one book.

On the other hand, I hope they at least release one stand alone book. Just like they did with Ghostwalk. It would be nice. Even if a little redundant with the current core books.

But hey! I don't mind redundant stuff!

[Igor the Henchman]

Will it ever be given to someone who understands the setting?

Depends on what is meant by "understanding". As far as I know, almost everyone who has ever contributed to Ravenloft had a rich knowledge of the setting and its tone. All of them. Bill Connors, Chrisitie Golden, Lisa Smedman, James Lowder, Steve, the Kargatane, Brett King, the Dark Duo... all these different authors do "get" the setting... but each in his own way. Which naturally results in products with different flavors.

The only time I remember where RL products ever had a completely uniform flavor was when the Kargatane were the only ones working on it (RLCS, VRA, GazI & GazII). These guys really know how to work together well. Almost too well, I might even add. For, unfortunately, all their carefully balanced plans shattered like glass as new authors started to pour in their own, original ideas. So the K packed and left. And it wasn't for lack of understanding the setting on either side.