I just got my copy and thought I'd give a brief review. This review is based on a familiarity with the original Ravenloft and the revised version "House of Strahd". This is also a first impression without extensive reading. There are NO SPOILERS within this glimpse, but the websites below might.
It is slick, and it is polished. The cover illo is very nice, but makes Strahd look weathered and older than in the previous editions. The inside illo of Strahd looks like a young elf; he's got huge ears. See here for a look at Strahd...
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061006a&page=2
I'm a graphics sort of guy, so I went straight for the main map. I really enjoyed the original map as well as the newer one found in Dragon Magazine a few years back. Guess what, no such map exists. The castle has numerous maps placed thru-out the book. The maps are done by two cartographers, not just one. If you want to show your player a map, you'll constantly be flipping thru the book and walking up close to give them a glimpse. Aside from the revised, and slightly altered, map of Barovia no map fills up the entire page. At first I thot my book was missing the big fold out map, but it didn't come with one. A minor map quibble is that some of the stairs have changed direction going from clock-wise to counter clock-wise. One room has been shifted and the neighboring staircase relocated. Some of the stairwell drawings are nowhere as well drawn as the original. Cartographers that redraw by hand should learn some drafting or at least tracing.
Here's a link to some maps. The city of Barovia map is skewed at this site. The compass points north but is really oriented to the east.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mw/20061004x
The book has numerouis added encounters outside and inside the castle... More than you'll need. However, this does allow for replaying many times before they are all exhausted. Some of the encounters within the castle are really just expansions of the area developing them with enhanced detail and combat options.
There's more to write about, but WoTC covers the further uses and prestige classes at their website.
Ravenloft looks great, and I can't wait to run it... Again! Only real downer NO BIG MAP of the CASTLE! If you have the original or the Dragon Article you're ok.
Cheers and Boo!
Gaakk! No big, sweeping, interior castle map? What were they thinking!! I LOVE the older two castle Ravenloft maps! I still pull them out for inspiration whenever I'm designing a castle, manor, or keep. My first thought when I heard about this renewed "Expedition" was, I can't wait to see how they improve the interior castle map!
I'm crushed.
Christopher West, where are you when we need you?
I glanced at a copy of Ravenloft at my game store, long enough to notice they are talking about a new format for encounters - can you describe it to me?
Its called the "delve format." Basically, every tactical encounter (i.e. combat, traps, etc.) is given a separate two page spread. The tactical encounter includes an encounter map, any relevant stat blocks, and a reprint of any relevant rules that are to be used in the encounter. It all looks pretty slick to me.
Noooooooo! They f'd up on the maps! Damn it! That was one of the coolest things about Ravenloft and what I was looking forward to seeing improved on. Crap!
strangely enough, the shift of the circular stairways to counterclockwise is to increase the historical accuracy of the castle. Turret staircases were built with counterclockwise staircases as a standard on the assumption that in case of combat on the staircases, the odds were strong that the attackers would be coming up the stairs while the defenders backing up. with counterclockwise stairs, the attackers would therefore have their right hand swing hindered by the walls while the defenders would be able to swing their right arms to full effect. a left handed individual would endure the reverse effect, but when one considers that only about ten per cent of the populace is left handed, odds favored this being a tactical advantage, however small.
Wow, Mrannah, that's a fabulous historical tid-bit I didn't know! Thanks.
I'm still shocked and horrified about the absence of a unified castle interior map. I can certainly rely on my older versions, but I was so looking forward to an update. My incentive to buy "Expedition" just took a nose-dive. Thanks for telling us all, Skech! You likely saved me the cost of the book.
*sobs nigh-uncontrollably at the horrid news*
My copy of Castle Hose-em-all was utterly obliterated due to water damage some years ago. I was eagerly looking forward to a kewl updated 3.5 version that had that awesome map, with whatever updates to it would be necessary for the expanded version.
Now ... it's ... compromised ... *quietly slinks off into the basement of the asylum*
I glanced at a copy of Ravenloft at my game store, long enough to notice they are talking about a new format for encounters - can you describe it to me?Its called the "delve format." Basically, every tactical encounter (i.e. combat, traps, etc.) is given a separate two page spread. The tactical encounter includes an encounter map, any relevant stat blocks, and a reprint of any relevant rules that are to be used in the encounter. It all looks pretty slick to me.
I think the Delve Format is really cool, but I still think an overview map would be a really good thing. My local stores still don't have this on their shelves, though I'm gonna check again soon.
No Map?!?
What were they thinking? I mean the map for Castkle Ravenloft might be the single best done piece fo cartigraphy in D&D history. It certianly ranks near the top. I would assume that this is pretty much a common consensus and yet some body had the bright idea of cutting the overview map? I was hoping for a postermap (if the original map had a weakness it might be that it was too constrained) not one that does not exist!
I can't fathom how someone could come to the conclusion that this is an aspect of the product that should be dumped. Even if the rest of the format did not really make use of a large castle map it should still have been included simply because it makes the product that much more useful. One could have used that map for insperation for another castle layout or used it in its entirety for a whole different kind of adventure. It significantly increases the 'must have' nature of the product.
Honestly this just knocked this product down from 'must have' to possible impulse buy - maybe. One of my players has already been through the original but I was thinking that I could significantly modify the layout - to use it as the manour of a Queen murdered by an ancient Mummy Lord menace from the crypts. I need an castle as this plot point for my campaign in the future - I thought this would fit the bill (I modify it for what I need now and I still have the adventure in its original glory for some future campaign), now I'm not at all sure.
Mr. Jacobs, would it be possible for some foolish volunteer to "update" the older Ravenloft castle overall interior map, give it something like the Christopher-West look, and post it on his website for people who still crave the sweeping interior map to download for free? Could someone get permission for such a project to avoid copyright violations? Who would one contact at WotC?
Yes, I know, angels fear to tread and all that, but is it possible?
I don't think it would be possible due to page count restrictions and the like, but I'm wondering if Paizo is going to adopt a similiar type of format for their encounters. Maybe just for the big, complicated, or final encounters. I should be receiving my copy tomorrow so I don't really have an opinion for the encounter format yet. I am a little dismayed by the lack of giant map (a disturbing trend in recent WOTC products IMHO) Thanks for your maps Erik, James, and Company.
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I really dislike the delve format.
Basic stat blocks are repeated several times. (Imagine a standard goblin in 6 different encounters.)
Basic information is split up. (Room description here, jump there for the fight information, jump back for the looting.)
The mapes are widely separated, and no single map provides any perspective on their relationship to each other.
It is one of the few things I don't like in the adventure.
I really dislike the delve format.
Basic stat blocks are repeated several times. (Imagine a standard goblin in 6 different encounters.)
Basic information is split up. (Room description here, jump there for the fight information, jump back for the looting.)
The mapes are widely separated, and no single map provides any perspective on their relationship to each other.
It is one of the few things I don't like in the adventure.
Hmmmm. Interesting. In my head I had some pros and cons. I am concerned about the lack of cohesive maps. I'll have a better opinion tomorrow night. I guess the true test is when we actually play it though. I hope it doesn't slow down my DM prep stuff. It(the product) sounds real good though based off the recent DnD podcast where they interviewed the authors (Wyatt and Cordell I believe...).
GVD,
was that confirmed? (EtCGH) or is it still just rumor?
I'm not exactly a veteran player. I'm only 21, and have only been playing D&D for about five to seven years, and so I had the chance to experience the original Ravenloft module. I did manage to find the campaign setting, however. I found the Sword and Sorcery 3rd edition printing of the game, ran some games in it, and needless to say, was thrilled when I discovered that they where revising the module for 3.5. I hear that Wizards acquired the rights to Ravenloft, and this intrigues me. Finally, the point of this post: Do you think that Wizards intends to do more with Ravenloft, perhaps even printing it as their next campaign setting?
"Mr. Jacobs, would it be possible for some foolish volunteer to "update" the older Ravenloft castle overall interior map, give it something like the Christopher-West look, and post it on his website for people who still crave the sweeping interior map to download for free? Could someone get permission for such a project to avoid copyright violations? Who would one contact at WotC?
Yes, I know, angels fear to tread and all that, but is it possible?"
well, i was thinking of doing just that. give me the weekend and i'll see what i can come up with. then, i'll post is on my site and make it open to all. :)
how's that sound?
Yes it is a shame there is no fold out map, and yes the ending is missing.The encounters are designed for play on a battle map or use a mapping software like dundjinni or cc2. I think its great that when you open the book everything you need to run each encounter is all on the 2 pages your looking at. Stat blocks,discriptions, the map of the encounter ,the enemey tactics all right in front of you.There are even tips on how to insert in to your eberron, forgotten realms or d20 modern campaign. I also like the way they dont make you buy libris mortis or heros of horror to run it. The info you need from those books are already included.Im hoping future updated versions of these classic adventures are all done in this format for battle map play.I would like to see the ending put out as a downloadable pdf ,that had to be a mistake in editing. How do you leave out the end?It is a great updated version , and most definitely worth buying. Bravo
"Vlad" likes a vampire book?
a left handed individual would endure the reverse effect, but when one considers that only about ten per cent of the populace is left handed, odds favored this being a tactical advantage, however small.
Additionally 'lefties' were considered to be spawns of the devil and were often not allowed in knightly orders further reducing the chance of fighting an effective unit in the tower.
Sean Mahoney
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a left handed individual would endure the reverse effect, but when one considers that only about ten per cent of the populace is left handed, odds favored this being a tactical advantage, however small.Additionally 'lefties' were considered to be spawns of the devil and were often not allowed in knightly orders further reducing the chance of fighting an effective unit in the tower.
Sean Mahoney
Left handed werewolf in the hay-owse.
Actually, the term "shifty" was a Viking word for warriors that could shift their sword to their other hand and use it to full effect.
As for a the new encounter spread, I think it will really come into its own when running the product. However, that said, it makes things crazy when reading through it, so you will be flipping pages a bit more during prep.
The other part that annoyed me was that it had a beautifully rendered map of the encounter rendered, but since it had all the locations of monsters and what not on it, I can't really scan them and use them for the encounter itself (like during an online game) with out going into photoshop and becoming the rubberstamp crazy guy.
Instead the players will get to see a roughly drawn outline of the great art in the book.
I do think they will make the encounters themselves run smoothly for the DM and anything to speed up play is a good thing.
On the down side they increase the page count DRAMATICALLY of the product, so I don't think we will be seeing anything similar in Dungeon anytime soon (hopefully... or adventures will become the size of sidetreks). That is really the biggest reason that this product is sooo much larger than the original.
Sean Mahoney
What're the odds?!?
Vlad Taltos is NOT a vampire thats Vlad Tepes.If you want a good book to read check out Jhererg, by steven brust. Imagine a hard boiled Clint Eastwood type as an assassin in a world of dragons.Fun! I run alot of our adventures on battle maps.The new format in Ravenloft makes my prep time smaller.Thats always good.Im going to make the maps anyway to play on,as many Dms do. Having it all on 1 page is convenient.Happy Hunting all !
Ooooh, I believe you, Mr. I'm-Not-THAT-Vlad. I do! You don't look undead. Not at all! Here, want to see? Would you mind holding my little CRUCIFIX while I dig out my MIRROR?
I wouldn't hold any breath on bringing back RL.
A new campaign setting would crowd Eberron and FR, for one. Number 2, it was not profitable enough for White Wolf to continue publishing. And finally, this wasn't a Ravenloft campaign setting nostalgia item, this was an old module nostalgia item. Hence why they are doing the other expedition modules, and not more RL.
There is tons of Ravenloft stuff out there, 2e and 3e. I'd stay to stick with that and not wait on any revival.
I, like everyone else, was sad about the lack of a pull out map. Fortunately the map key is the same as in my old copy of I6, so I can just break out the old pullouts.
The encounter format looks just plain awkward to me, and tactical maps (though handy) are the antithesis of a horror adventure. Which is cooler? The slavering beast man bursts through the undergrowth, and it's clear that he wants nothing more than to rend your body to gory chunks. Or the werewolf is in this square thirty feet away, there is difficult terrain which will prevent your charges. It seems like placing the monsters on a map just takes too much out of the creepy.
Also, as mentioned before there is no ending to the module. Also, perhaps more difficult, the Sunsword can be found in Madame Eva's camp "hidden under my very nose" but nowhere in the encouters does it say where the Vistani parked it. I guess I'll be taking those cards out of the deck.
I actually did half those maps -- the hand drawn parchment-y ones. Having looked a lot at the original module maps, I think you're remembering them as better than they were. That was certainly the impression I came away with when I looked at them for the first time in 20 years.
At the time, they were super-revolutionary, but there are a lot of technical problems with them. Some levels don't seem to line up properly, and parts are just-plain confusing. They are drawn on a kooky, almost-isometric angle, not a proper 30 degree projection.
A few years ago, Dragon published some very nice maps of the castle.
The challenge is balancing hand-drawn maps with the more digital Chris West-style stuff. Some at WotC want to keep conspicuously digital maps to a minimum. I haven't seen the final, but I think this is the first delve-format project.
Kobold Press
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Only real downer NO BIG MAP of the CASTLE! If you have the original or the Dragon Article you're ok.
Thanks for the minireview. I may be one of the few people happy to hear that the castle map is MIA, since I'm dropping a big isometric castle map into a Plane of Shadow adventure soonish. Wouldn't want to be too close the RL maps, and now it seems I'm not.
This news is a real downer. Not only no map but repeated stat blocks sound like such a waste of space. As if writers don't have their work cut down enough as is (FC 1). I hope this is not a trend.
I hope I am not reviving an old post. Anyway, I just recently recieved the book, and I really enjoy it. I did notice that the map was missing, and that there was no conclusion. Were these intentional? Looking at the maps, I thought that it seemed a little different from how I remember it. Unfortunately, that may be because I have never been able to play the original module. I have read the books entitled "I, Strahd" and played the old DOS game "Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession," but I'm sure it isn't quite the same. I really liked a lot about the DOS game and the books, so I bought this in hopes of reliving good memories. I guess I'll have to add in things from the game and books that are missing. Has anyone else ever play the game or read the books? How do they compare in your opinion?
so is there a mapset or a set of map tiles that would be good to use for this that is useable by minis?
so is there a mapset or a set of map tiles that would be good to use for this that is useable by minis?
People were whining a lot in this post about the maps. The maps are well done in the book. They pretty much conform to the orginal poster map, and there is an overal map of the castle, but they also break down the maps so that you can see the rooms that the encouncters take place in on there own, which is much easier than try to use a big poster map to figure out where the characters are and describe the room. It is set up so that for each enounter there is a map of the room/area that can easily be sketched onto a battle mat for minis. To me this is much more user friendly than having a poster map. Although I already have a copy of the poster map from the previous mods, so I don't miss it.
There are no map tiles, so you'll have to do lots of sketching onto graph paper or battle mats if you want to use minis or counters.