Paranoia is useful in ravenloft campaigns. Maybe you could utilize a were npc within a town or the classic gypsy camp encounter with the palm readings and foreshadowing of future peril leaving the pcs with much to think about.
W E Ray wrote:
6 1/2 months ago I started a new group to help sate my addiction. 1 of my 5 players gamed for 4 months back in '03 but the others had never played; 1 had never even heard of D&D! So I taught my house-rules, helped roll up some PCs, loaned some novels and started wowing 'em w/ goblins, orcs, potions and an intelligent sword -- ahh, to be a newbie again! The group's 1st hated enemy were Kobolds (showed 'em the full page picture in the old MM - still the best illustration of Kobolds) and my newbies now connote these softies (after a 40% PK) with the same wide eyed terror the rest of us have of Drow. Ahh, to be a newbie again. It's been a blast.
Well a couple months ago I let them retire their first PC party (9th lvl) and start experimenting. I've run some stand alone Dungeon crawls and plot intrigues with higher level PCs and begun to expose them to a wider spectrum of the D&D experience. They're learning fast. Now their nemesis is a Rakshasa Priest of Vecna with ties to the 9 Hells!
Anyway, I'm starting this thread seeking advice and nostalgia for a campaign I'm about to start writing for them. We'll start it, 1st lvl, in late Sept and the campaign will be called... Ravenloft. None of my players have ever heard of Ravenloft. They have no idea.
So everyone, imagine you're about to do Ravenloft w/ some newbies; what are some things you would do? What scared you back in the day? I've thought about having their fortunes read -- just like the original. I've thought about just wisking them away like Jander Sunstar. In return for your help I'll let you know how I've started effective Ravenloft campaigns in the past to longtime, jaded players who know all.
