Ravenloft (D&D module)

DnDmodule| module_title = Ravenloft
module_

module_code = I6
module_rules = 1st Ed AD&D
module_character_levels = 5-7
module_campaign = Generic AD&D
module_authors = Tracy & Laura Hickman
module_first_published = 1983
series = I6

"Ravenloft" is a "Dungeons & Dragons" module, coded I6, published by TSR for use with the First Edition "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons". It was written by husband-wife duo Tracy and Laura Hickman, with art by Clyde Caldwell and maps by David Sutherland III. [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).] "Ravenloft" is considered by many to be one of the finest Dungeons and Dragons modules ever published. [Winter (2004) describes it as "one of the most popular adventures TSR ever published.] "Ravenloft" was also ranked the 2nd greatest Dungeons & Dragons adventure of all time on the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons game. [cite journal |last=Mona| first=Erik|authorlink=Erik Mona|coauthors=James Jacobs|title=The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time|journal=Dungeon|pages=68–81|volume=116|year=2004|month=Nov] "Ravenloft" inspired a sequel, a gamebook adaptation and an entire campaign setting which in turn had many spin offs [cite book| last = Melton| first = Gordon| authorlink = J. Gordon Melton| title = The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead| publisher = Visible Ink Press| date = 1994| location = Detroit, MI| pages = 852| edition = 1st| url = http://www.visibleink.com/title.php?id=41| isbn =0-8103-2295-1 ] . The original "Ravenloft" adventure itself has been revised and republished several times.

Original edition

The format of the original Ravenloft is a 32 page book with a double unattached cover. The outer cover was a display cover in keeping of the style of Dungeons & Dragons module covers of the time. The outer (glossy) side of the inner cover gave a map of the lands of Barovia where Castle Ravenloft and the village of Barovia are located. Maps of the castle Ravenloft were found on the inside of both covers.

The premise of writing this 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.(Winter 2004)] The plot is loosely based on the section of the original Dracula set in Count Dracula's homeland but also drew on other depictions of Dracula and other vampires in popular fiction. A party of adventurers 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, have left Barovia for centuries.(Hickman & Hickman 1983:6)] The master of the castle, Strahd, rules the terrified townspeople with an iron fist, but he holds the key to the player's escape from Barovia. Along the way, the adventurers encounter zombies, wolves, ghouls, ghosts and the far deadlier occupants of Castle Ravenloft itself.

The module originally had a working title "Vampyr". The module was tested every Halloween for five years before it was printed.cite journal
last =Varney
first =Allen
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Profiles: Tracy Hickman
journal =Dragon #250
volume =Vol. XIII
issue =No. 3
pages =120
publisher =
date =1998-08
url =
doi =
id =
accessdate = ] Tracy Hickman had been writing it with the intention of publishing through his company Daystar West. "Vampyr" was still in draft form when Tracy went to work for TSR; he sold it to TSR to help pay his relocation expenses.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Ongoing Research: Daystar West Vampyr
work =
publisher =The Acaeum
date =2006-05
url =http://www.acaeum.com/library/research.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-11 ]

Critical reception

"Ravenloft" won the 1984 Strategists' Club Award for Outstanding Play Aid [cite book
last = Schick
first = Lawrence
authorlink = Lawrence Schick
title = Heroic Worlds
publisher = Prometheus Books
location = Buffalo
date = 1991
pages = 102
doi =
isbn = 0879756535 ] . It was exceedingly popular among players and Dungeon Masters for a number of reasons. The classic Gothic fiction setting that in tightly woven plot showed for the first time how the horror genre could be used in D&D.(Rateliff 2004)] The adventure builds atmosphere by having all the text designated to be read to players written in the style of gothic horror.(Rolston 1984)] The innovative isometric projection map of Castle Ravenloft is fondly remembered by a generation from a time when most module maps were just two dimensional.(Cordell & Wyatt 2006:1)] A very memorable villain, Count Strahd von Zarovich, who has become one of the most infamous in D&D history. Strahd is notable for his then innovative combination of monster and character, and design to be able to use his powers and environment in combination to make him very difficult to kill. Another memorable feature was the introduction of replayability through an in-game Gypsy fortune telling session which randomly determined certain plot elements. For example, the locations or existence of artifacts, as well as Strahd's very motivations, would be determined by real or simulated turn of the cards.(Hickman & Hickman 1983:4)]

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. Receiving 8 out of 10, the module received a fairly positive review in Issue 55 of White Dwarf magazine. It was commented on the random placement of monsters and treasure but the puns were seen as tedious and detracting from the atmosphere. [cite journal| last =Morris| first =Dave| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Open Box: Dungeon Modules| format = review| journal =White Dwarf| issue =Issue 55| pages =18–19| publisher =Games Workshop| year = 1984| month = July| issn =0265-8712| accessdate = ]

In 1998 Hickman said "I still believe the original Ravenloft modules were perhaps the best that ever had my name on them."

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. [(Blashfield 1986)]

The House of Strahd

In 1993 the module RM4 "The House of Strahd" was a revision and expansion of the original Ravenloft to include rules from AD&D 2nd Edition and the "Ravenloft, Realms of Terror" campaign set. While still credited to the Hickmans and based on their original work, they had nothing to do with the revising which was done by Bruce Nesmith. This module is 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 was recommended for 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.{Hickman & Hickman 1993)]

ilver 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 colouring on the maps and a silver anniversary logo on the bottom left of the cover. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Intermediate Series (I1 - I14)
work =
publisher =The Acaeum
date =
url =http://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/modpages/i.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05 ]

The second version released in 1999 was the silver anniversary edition of Ravenloft released exclusively through the RPGA.(Lease 1999).] This version was updated for use with 2nd Edition AD&D and in the form of a 48 page book. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Ravenloft (Silver Anniversary)
work =
publisher =TSR Archive
date =
url =http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/rp/rp-rave.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05 ] It used part of the cover artwork of the original module but with a large distinctive silver border and prominent central placing of the silver anniversary logo. This version contradicts itself as to whether it is for character levels 5-7 or 11-13, but as it uses the more powerful version of Strahd from "House of Strahd", the latter is probably correct. [cite web
last =rizzard
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =Catman Jim
title =Ravenloft:silver anniversary , what level of play?
work =
publisher =
date =2005-02-21
url =http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=382972
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-16 ]

"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 v.3.5 ruleset in a 226-page hardcover, entitled "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft". This returned the adventure to its roots stripping the demiplane setting of the Ravenloft campaign. [(Weise 2007:1)] This expanded version was 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. [Adventure Options (Cordell & Wyatt 1006:17)] It includes suggestions for incorporating the adventure into an existing generic, Forgotten Realms, Eberron or d20 Modern campaign, but makes no mention of using in a Ravenloft campaign setting. [Adventure Hooks (Cordell & Wyatt 1006:19)]

Video game

"The Spires of Ravenloft" is a module for the video game "Neverwinter Nights" based heavily on the original version of "Ravenloft" and available for free download. [cite web
last =Watamaniuk
first =Jay
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Neverwinter Nights: Module Profile - The Spires of Ravenloft
work =
publisher =Bioware
date =2002-08-09
url =http://nwn.bioware.com/players/modprofile_spires.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-03-09 ]

equels

"Ravenloft II: House on Gryphon Hill"

"Ravenloft's" success eventually lead to a sequel module in 1986, "", coded I10. This sequel was also credited to the Hickman's but Tracey had already left TSR before work on it was complete. While following the Hickman's outline for the module, most of the writing was done by David "Zeb" Cook, Jeff Grubb, Harold Johnson and Douglas Niles, each working on their own section. While designed to run as a sequel for those who completed the original "Ravenloft" this module could also be run together with the original intertwining the two plots. [Appendix 3: The Dream of Barovia (Hickman & Hickman 1986:41)]

Ravenloft campaign setting

In 1990 TSR based an entire horror-themed AD&D campaign setting on the module. This campaign setting is also called Ravenloft, although the first version 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 off have been released. The campaign setting moves Barovia from an unamed 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. [{Nesmith 1990:8)] The description of Barovia and Strahd generally match that given in the original module. [{Nesmith 1990:63)] While the I6 "Ravenloft" module is not explicitly mentioned in the any of the Ravenloft campaign setting sets, the timeline given suggest that the campaign settings are set a couple of hundred years after the events of the module played out. [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 modle that described Madam Eva as an "old woman" (Hickman & Hickman 1983:11).]

pin offs

The three "Ravenloft" video games and twenty novels are spin offs from the campaign setting rather than the original module. However two of the novels have a particular connection to the "Ravenloft" module. The first Ravenloft novel "Vampire of the Mists" by Christie Golden (1991)and "I, Strahd" by P. N. Elrod (1993) both, from different perspectives, tell the history of Strahd, Barovia and Castle Ravenloft in a way that is generally compatible with the storyline of the module.

Notes

References

*cite web
last =Carroll
first =Bart
authorlink =
coauthors = [http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?p=9944367 Wizards of the Coast Community]
title =Expedition to Castle Ravenloft Designer Interview
work =
publisher =Wizards of the Coast
date =2006-06-10
url =http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ps/20061006a
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05
*cite web
last =Cooper
first =John
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Review of Expedition to Castle Ravenloft
work =
publisher =EN World
date =2006
url =http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=review&reviewid=3221768
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05
*cite book
last =Blashfield
first =Jean
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = [http://www.gamebooks.org/show_item.php?id=134 Master of Ravenloft]
publisher =TSR, Inc.
date =1986
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0-8803-8261-9
*cite book
last =Cordell
first =Bruce R.
authorlink =Bruce Cordell
coauthors =James Wyatt
title = [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061006a Expedition to Castle Ravenloft]
publisher =Wizards of the Coast
date =2006
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0-7869-3946-X
*cite book
last =Elrod
first =P. N.
authorlink =P. N. Elrod
coauthors =
title =I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire
publisher =TSR
date =1993
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 1-56076-670-0
*cite web
last =Gibson
first =David
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Review of House of Strahd
work =
publisher =The Fraternity of Shadows
date =2006
url =http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/DrawingRoom/Ravenloft_Products/Adventures_1_2_Edition/HouseOfStrahd.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05
*cite book
last =Golden
first =Christie
authorlink =Christie Golden
coauthors =
title =Vampire of the Mists
publisher =TSR
date =1991
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 1-56076-155-5 :also republished in 2006 as "Vampire of the Mists: The Ravenloft Covenant". Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-4124-3
*cite book
last =Hickman
first =Tracy
authorlink =Tracy Hickman
coauthors =Laura Hickman
title =Ravenloft
publisher =TSR
date =1983
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0-88038-042-X
*cite book
last =Hickman
first =Tracy
authorlink =
coauthors =Laura Hickman
title =Ravenloft II: House on Gryphon Hill
publisher =TSR
date =1986
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0-88038-322-4
*Hickman, Tracy; Laura Hickman [1983] (1993). Ravensloft revised by Bruce Nesmith retitled as "House of Strahd." TSR. ISBN 1-56076-671-9.
*Hickman, Tracy; Laura Hickman [1983] (1999). "Ravensloft" revised RPGA 25th Anniversary edition. TSR.
*cite web
last =Lease
first =Spencer M.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Review of Ravenloft (TSR Silver Anniversary Edition)
work =
publisher =RPGnet
date =1999-10-16
url =http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_2391.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05
*cite book| last = Melton| first = Gordon| authorlink = J. Gordon Melton| title = The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead| publisher = Visible Ink Press| date = 1994| location = Detroit, MI| pages = 852| edition = 1st| url = http://www.visibleink.com/title.php?id=41| isbn =0-8103-2295-1
*Mona, Erik; James Jacobs, and the "Dungeon Design Panel". "The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time", "Dungeon" #116, November 2004.
*cite book
last =Nesmith
first =Bruce
authorlink =
coauthors =Adriana Hayday
title =Realm of Terror
publisher =TSR
date =1990
location =
pages =
url =
doi =
isbn = 0-88038-835-6
*cite web
last =Rateliff
first =John D.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Introduction to Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill
work =
publisher =Wizards of the Coast
date =2004
url =http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/dx20020121x9
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05
*cite journal
quotes =
last = Rolston
first = Kevin
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 1984
month = January
title = Gaming without heroes
journal = Dragon #81
volume =Vol. VII
issue =No. 7
pages = 76–78
language =
format =
*cite web
last =Wiese
first =Robert
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Diseased!
work =Web Enhancements
publisher =Wizards of the Coast
date =2006-04-13
url =http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070413a
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-04-15
*Harvard reference
Surname=Winter
Given=Steve
Year= 2004
Chapter=Ravenloft
Editor=Harold Johnson, Steve Winter, Peter Adkison, Ed Stark, Peter Archer
Title=
Edition=
Publisher=Wizards of the Coast
Place=
URL=
Access-date=
isbn =0-7869-3498-0 .