Renaissance Domains
The focus of this site is on the Renaissance domains of Dementlieu, Mordent, Lamordia and Richemulot. Role-playing games on the whole tend to blur when defining the differences between time periods, and Ravenloft is no exception, despite the fact that it makes an attempt to create different time periods. Descriptions of the various domains in Ravenloft 3rd Edition, and the Gazetteers paint a picture of anywhere between 1600 and 1800 C.E., however, this is late renaissance at best, and would more accurately be in the Age of Enlightenment. We should make some clarifications:
The Renaissance Time Period
The renaissance period differs depending on which school you are asking. For example, there is a difference between renaissance in Italy to the rest of europe - italy's renaissance period began to get in motion in the later half of the 14th century, and influenced the rest of europe. Renaissance means Rebirth, and symbolised the coming of civilisation out from the dark ages.
Historically, the renaissance began in the 1400's and ended sometime in the late 1550's. Often the classifications for different time periods differs between historians, but this is a loosely identified time. In Ravenloft, the authors appear to have grouped the Reformation Period and the Age of Enlightenment all together under the banner of Renaissance.
Although the core rulebooks suggest otherwise, armour existed for a long time alongside firearms. The earliest firearms were around in the 13th century, and in the 16th century, a heavier full plate was designed for and worn by knights armed with pistols.
Therefore, some changes must be made to the Ravenloft Cultural Level System if they are to historically represent earth's history.
The Renaissance Core
Regardless of historical inacuracies, this website will refer to the advanced nations of the core as the renaissance core. Presented are ideas for thickening out or running an alternative campaign in one of the north western domains.
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