First published as a stand alone Advanced Dungeons & Dragons adventure module also called Ravenloft, it was popular enough to spawn a Pick-A-Path book, a sequel module (I10: The House on Gryphon Hill), and in 1990 was launched as a full-fledged campaign setting with the Realm of Terror boxed set, popularly known as the "Black Box". The campaign setting was revised twice during Second Edition - first as the Ravenloft Campaign Setting "Red Box", then as the Domains of Dread hardback - before Wizards of the Coast cancelled the line after acquiring TSR. In 1991, the "Black Box" won the Origins Award for Best Graphic Presentation of a Roleplaying Game, Adventure, or Supplement of 1990.
TSR also published a series of novels set in Ravenloft. Each novel was typically focused on one of the darklords that inhabited the Ravenloft world, with several focusing on the figure of Count Strahd von Zarovich.
Ravenloft was licensed to Arthaus Games for Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition and revised "3.5" Third Edition and published by White Wolf Game Studio through the Sword & Sorcery Studios imprint. Arthaus' license to the Ravenloft setting was allowed to revert to Wizards of the Coast on August 15, 2005, but Sword & Sorcery retained the right to continue to sell its backstock until June of 2006. This reversion means that the Ravenloft supplement Van Richten's Guide to the Mists will not see print; it was released as a free download in late September 2005.[1]
Currently the future of the Ravenloft setting is unknown, though there is speculation among fans that it will be shelved until another gaming company pursues a license from Wizards of the Coast.
In 2006, Wizards of the Coast announced the reprinting of the classic Ravenloft novels, among which Vampire of the Mists and Death of a Darklord, fueling speculation that more reprintings or new material may soon become available. In October 2006, Wizards of the Coast released Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, a updated hardcover, version of the original 1st edition adventure for the 3.5 rule set. The 2006 version includes maps from the original Ravenloft adventure and a new encounter format that may become a D&D standard in the future. The new adventure also includes a new prestige class and Ravenloft-specific feats. Expedition to Castle Ravenloft is not part of the Arthaus Games product line, and only requires the three core books for usage.
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The origins of the Ravenloft series are found in modules
I6 Ravenloft and I10 Ravenloft II: The House
on Gryphon Hill. The module Ravenloft was revised for Second Edition as an RPGA exclusive. Modules Castle Spulzeer and Die Vecna Die! both feature Ravenloft crossovers. |