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Ravenloft (module)

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Ravenloft
CodeI6
Rules required1st Ed AD&D
Character levels5–7
Campaign settingGeneric AD&D
AuthorsTracy & Laura Hickman
First published1983

Ravenloft is a module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published by TSR in 1983 for use with the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. The module, or pre-packaged adventure booklet, was written by husband–wife duo Tracy and Laura Hickman, with art by Clyde Caldwell and maps by David Sutherland III.[1] The plot of Ravenloft centers around the villain Strahd von Zarovich, a vampire who draws power from the isolated land he rules.

Ravenloft is considered by many to be one of the finest Dungeons & Dragons modules ever published,[2] and is often considered a classic among gamers.[3] Ravenloft was also ranked the 2nd greatest Dungeons & Dragons adventure of all time on the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game, behind the supermodule Queen of the Spiders.[4] Ravenloft inspired a sequel, a gamebook adaptation and an entire campaign setting, which in turn had many spin offs.[5] The original Ravenloft adventure itself has been revised and republished several times.

Original edition

Ravenloft is coded with the alpha numeric designation I6, marking it as the sixth in a series of intermediate-level modules for the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.[6] The format of the original Ravenloft module is a 32-page book with a double unattached cover.[6] The outer cover is a display cover in keeping of the style of many Dungeons & Dragons module covers of the time. The outer (glossy) side of the inner cover gives a map of the lands of Barovia where both Castle Ravenloft and the village of Barovia are located. Maps of Castle Ravenloft are found on the inside of both covers.

The premise of writing the adventure was to take a classic monster, the vampire, which had been so overused as to become trite and mundane, and make it frightening again.[7] Because of this premise, the plot is loosely based on the section of the original Dracula set in Count Dracula's homeland, but it also drew on other depictions of Dracula and other vampires in popular fiction. In the module, a party of adventurers is called to Barovia, a country composed of a small town and surrounding forest overlooked by a massive cliffside castle, and surrounded by a magical choking fog that kills anyone who leaves. Because of this fog no one, except a few gypsies who have a potion to cancel the fog's effects, has left Barovia for centuries.[8] The master of the castle, Strahd, rules the terrified townspeople with an iron fist, but he holds the key to the player characters' escape from Barovia. Along the way, the adventurers encounter zombies, wolves, ghouls, ghosts and the far deadlier occupants of Castle Ravenloft itself.

A memorable villain, Count Strahd von Zarovich has become one of the most infamous villains in Dungeons & Dragons history.[9] Strahd is notable for his then-innovative combination of monster and character,[10] and a design that enables him to use his powers and environment in combination to make him very difficult to kill.[7] Another memorable feature of the module is the introduction of replayability through an in-game gypsy fortune-telling session which randomly determined certain plot elements.[9] For example, the locations or existence of artifacts, as well as Strahd's very motivations, would be determined by a real or simulated turn of the cards.[11]

The module originally had the working title of Vampyr.[12] The module was tested every Halloween for five years before it was printed.[13] Tracy Hickman had been writing the draft with the intention of publishing it through his company Daystar West. Vampyr was still in draft form when Tracy went to work for TSR; he sold the adventure to TSR to help pay his relocation expenses.[12]

Critical reception

Ravenloft won the 1984 Strategists' Club Award for Outstanding Play Aid.[14] The module was exceedingly popular among players and Dungeon Masters for a number of reasons. The classic Gothic fiction setting tightly woven into the plot showed for the first time how the horror genre could be used in Dungeons & Dragons.[10] The adventure builds atmosphere by having all the text designated to be read to players written in the gothic horror style.[15] The innovative isometric projection map of Castle Ravenloft[15] is fondly remembered by a generation from a time when most module maps were two dimensional.[9]

Despite its design innovations, Ravenloft is not totally effective at conveying the atmosphere of horror. It is not in the end gothic horror, but a dungeon style adventure that borrows from the gothic horror genre to add texture and novelty.[15] Receiving 8 out of 10, the module received a fairly positive review in issue #55 of White Dwarf magazine. The review commented on the random placement of monsters and treasure but the puns were seen as tedious and detracting from the atmosphere.[16]

Hickman stated in 1998, "I still believe the original Ravenloft modules were perhaps the best that ever had my name on them."[13]

Reprints and new versions

Master of Ravenloft

In 1986 Ravenloft was reworked as a gamebook, Master of Ravenloft, #6 in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebooks series. In the book, the reader plays the role of Jeren Sureblade, a high-level paladin, who must defeat the evil vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich in his dangerous home in order to save a young girl from becoming one of the undead.[17] The gamebook was written by Jean Blashfield, with cover art by Clyde Caldwell and interior art by Gary Williams. The book was printed in January, 1986, ISBN 0-880382-61-9.

House of Strahd

In 1993, the module RM4 House of Strahd was printed as a revision and expansion of the original Ravenloft module in order to include rules from the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game rules and the Ravenloft, Realm of Terror campaign setting. While still credited to the Hickmans and based on their original work, Bruce Nesmith designed this module without their help. This version of the module is a 64-page book with a fold-out map. While the layout has been redone, much of the original text and artwork is reused, with additional art by James Crabtree and a new cover by Dana M. Knutson. The module is recommended for character levels 6–13, with the main revised version for characters level 11–13, but also the option to play more like the original with the slightly revised level recommendation of 6–8.[18]

One criticism of this module is that, since it was printed as part of the Ravenloft campaign setting, many pertinent details are not reprinted from the boxed set, making it rather difficult to run House of Strahd as a stand-alone adventure.[19]

Silver Anniversary editions

In 1999, the 25th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, two separate versions of the Ravenloft module were released. The first was a simple reprinting available in the Dungeons & Dragons Silver Anniversary Collector's Edition boxed set, with the only difference from the original being a slightly different coloring on the maps and a silver anniversary TSR logo on the bottom left of the cover.[20]

The second version, released in 1999, is the silver anniversary edition of Ravenloft, and it was released exclusively through the RPGA.[21] This version is updated for use with second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and in the form of a 48-page book.[22] It used part of the original module's cover artwork but with a large distinctive silver border and prominent central placing of the silver anniversary logo. This version contradicts itself as to what level of play it is intended for; the back cover indicates that it is appropriate for character levels 5–7 like the original module, but the introduction text indicates the module is for levels 11–13 as in House of Strahd. The statistics for the vampire Strahd are the same as those from House of Strahd.

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

File:Expedition to Castle Ravenloft map.jpg
One of the 3-D orthogonal maps in Expedition to Castle Ravenloft

In October 2006, Wizards of the Coast released an updated and expanded version of the original module for the Dungeons & Dragons version 3.5 ruleset as a 226-page hardcover book, entitled Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. Written by Bruce Cordell and James Wyatt, with cover art by Kev Walker, this book returns the adventure to its roots, stripping the demiplane setting of the Ravenloft campaign from the setting.[23] Expedition to Castle Ravenloft is a reimagining of the original Ravenloft module, with new design that complements the original.[24] This expanded version is designed to be able to run a mini campaign for about 20 sessions taking characters from level 6 to 10, with options for instead running long (8 session), short (4 session) or single session adventures.[25] The book includes suggestions for incorporating the adventure into an existing generic setting, Forgotten Realms, Eberron or d20 Modern campaign, but makes no mention of how to use it in the Ravenloft campaign setting.[26] The maps for Castle Ravenloft were rendered in 3-D orthogonal effect, similar to those the maps in the original Ravenloft adventure.[27]

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft is also the first 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons adventure to make use of a new encounter layout, in which each encounter has a two-page spread on which all pertinent statistics for monsters, terrain, and traps can be found.[9][27] This format has been praised for how much easier it is to use than the previous adventure formats were.[3] However, the format has also been criticized because of how much information must be repeated from one spread to another, and how much filler material seems to be used in some cases to fill two pages.[27]

The adventure has also been criticized because it "railroads" players in certain directions,[3] and because some elements from the original module I6, such as Strahd's black coach, are missing from this revision.[3] The artwork has been criticized both for several pieces having been reused from previous Dungeons & Dragons books in addition to some pieces being used more than once in this book, and for its departure from the original work, alternately depicting Strahd as a feeble old man, and a young man with long hair and elf ears.[27]

Expedition to Castle Ravenloft was the first of a series of adventures looking back at the early days of the game, updating and expanding classic D&D locations into much larger works using the 3rd edition game rules,[28] later including Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk and Expedition to the Demonweb Pits.

A web enhancement for the book entitled "Diseased!" was released in April 2007. It is intended as an optional short mission for a group of characters adventuring through Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, detailing some other areas around the castle and country.[29]

Video game

The Spires of Ravenloft is a module for the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights based heavily on the original version of Ravenloft and available for free download.[30]

Sequels

Ravenloft II: House on Gryphon Hill

Ravenloft's success eventually lead to a sequel module in 1986, Ravenloft II: House on Gryphon Hill, coded I10. This sequel was also credited to the Hickmans but Tracey had already left TSR before work on it was complete. While following the Hickmans' outline for the module, most of the writing was done by David "Zeb" Cook, Jeff Grubb, Harold Johnson and Douglas Niles, each of whom worked on their own section[10][31] in order to meet a deadline. Clyde Caldwell, who had done all of the art for the original Ravenloft module, again provided the cover, but this time interior art was provided by Jeff Easley. While designed to be run as a sequel for those who completed the original Ravenloft, this sequel can also be run together with the original while intertwining the two plots.[32] The adventure is designed for first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons characters of levels 8-10.

In the module, an artifact known as The Apparatus can place a monster's personality in the body of an ordinary townsperson and vice versa, leaving player characters not knowing who is really whom. The module also features the first appearance of Azalin the lich, who would later become a major character in the Ravenloft campaign setting.[33]

The module was reviewed by Carl Sargent in issue #87 (March 1987) of White Dwarf magazine.[34]

Ravenloft campaign setting

Main article: Ravenloft

In 1990, TSR based an entire horror-themed second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting on the module. This campaign setting is similarly called Ravenloft, although the first version of the campaign setting boxed set was actually titled Realm of Terror under a Ravenloft logo. The Ravenloft campaign setting has been published in several editions and a large number of modules, supplements and other spin-offs have been released. The campaign setting moves Barovia from an unnamed location to a demiplane, an alternate dimension called variously "Ravenloft" or "the Demiplane of Dread". Barovia is the central and, chronologically, the first of many cursed lands to have been moved from their original location to this demiplane.[35] The descriptions of Barovia and Strahd generally match that given in the original module.[36] While the I6 Ravenloft module is not explicitly mentioned in any of the Ravenloft campaign setting sets, the timeline given suggests that the campaign settings are set a couple hundred years after the events of the module would have played out.[37]

Notes

  1. ^ While not credited in the module text, a signature "David Sutherland III" can be seen in the bottom left corner of each of the maps (Hickman & Hickman 1983:Inside Cover). Also David Sutherland is acknowledged as the designer of the original castle maps in Hickman & Hickman (1993:2), Rateliff (2004) and Cordell & Wyatt (2006:1).
  2. ^ Winter (2004) describes it as "one of the most popular adventures TSR ever published.
  3. ^ a b c d Expedition to Castle Ravenloft Review at d20zines.com. Retrieved November 17th, 2008.
  4. ^ Mona, Erik (2004). "The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time". Dungeon. 116: 68–81. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Melton, Gordon (1994). The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead (1st ed.). Detroit, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 852. ISBN 0-8103-2295-1.
  6. ^ a b Intermediate Series (I1-I14) at acaeum.com. Retrieved on November 17th, 2008
  7. ^ a b (Winter 2004)
  8. ^ (Hickman & Hickman 1983:6)
  9. ^ a b c d (Cordell & Wyatt 2006:1) Expedition to Castle Ravenloft excerpts. (Wizards of the Coast, 2006). Retrieved on March 9, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c (Rateliff 2004)
  11. ^ (Hickman & Hickman 1983:4)
  12. ^ a b "Ongoing Research: Daystar West Vampyr". The Acaeum. 2006-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ a b Varney, Allen (1998-08). "Profiles: Tracy Hickman". Dragon #250. Vol. XIII (No. 3): 120. {{cite journal}}: |issue= has extra text (help); |volume= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds. Buffalo: Prometheus Books. p. 102. ISBN 0879756535.
  15. ^ a b c (Rolston 1984)
  16. ^ Morris, Dave (1984). "Open Box: Dungeon Modules". White Dwarf (Issue 55). Games Workshop: 18–19. ISSN 0265-8712. {{cite journal}}: |format= requires |url= (help); |issue= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  17. ^ (Blashfield 1986)
  18. ^ (Hickman & Hickman 1993)
  19. ^ Gibson, David (2006). "Review of House of Strahd". The Fraternity of Shadows. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
  20. ^ "Intermediate Series (I1 - I14)". The Acaeum. Retrieved 2007-03-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Lease, Spencer M. (1999-10-16). "Review of Ravenloft (TSR Silver Anniversary Edition)". RPGnet. Retrieved 2007-03-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  22. ^ "Ravenloft (Silver Anniversary)". TSR Archive. Retrieved 2007-03-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ (Weise 2007:1)
  24. ^ Carroll, Bart (2006-06-10). "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft Designer Interview". Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved 2007-03-05. {{cite web}}: External link in |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Adventure Options (Cordell & Wyatt 1006:17)
  26. ^ Adventure Hooks (Cordell & Wyatt 1006:19)
  27. ^ a b c d Cooper, John (2006). "Review of Expedition to Castle Ravenloft". EN World. Retrieved 2008-11-29. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. ^ Expedition to Undermountain at the Wizards of the Coast website. Retrieved on November 20, 2008.
  29. ^ Wiese, Robert (2006-04-13). "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Diseased!". Web Enhancements. Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  30. ^ Watamaniuk, Jay (2002-08-09). "Neverwinter Nights: Module Profile — The Spires of Ravenloft". Bioware. Retrieved 2007-03-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  31. ^ Schick, Lawrence. Heroic Worlds (Prometheus Books, 1991).
  32. ^ Appendix 3: The Dream of Barovia (Hickman & Hickman 1986:41)
  33. ^ Rateliff, John D. (2004). "Introduction to Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill". Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved 2007-03-06. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  34. ^ Sargent, Carl (1987). "Open Box: AD&D Adventures". White Dwarf (Issue 87). Games Workshop: 2–3. ISSN 0265-8712. {{cite journal}}: |format= requires |url= (help); |issue= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  35. ^ (Nesmith 1990:8)
  36. ^ (Nesmith 1990:63)
  37. ^ The timeline (Nesmith 1990:9) includes two dates that appear to refer to the original module. A date of 470 is given for the agreement between Strahd and Madam Eva, and 58 years later in 528 "Powerful heroes assault Castle Ravenloft and perish" which would correspond with the original module that described Madam Eva as an "old woman" (Hickman & Hickman 1983:11).

References

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