It’s been almost ten years for the reason that launch of Curse Of Strahd, the preferred 5e module up to now, and we’ve simply seen Von Zarovich’s face pop up once more with the announcement on the D&D 2026 roadmap. The Season Of Dread will carry 5e 2024 again to Ravenloft content material with Ravenloft: The Horrors Inside, and it’s gotten loads of gamers enthusiastic about one other dive into the mists very quickly.
Now, I like Curse Of Strahd. I presumably love Curse Of Strahd a bit an excessive amount of.
I’ve performed 4 CoS campaigns, and run one. I’ve skilled two TPKs, killed the lord of Barovia twice, and compelled different members of the GZ workforce to hearken to be yap about what my adventuring celebration did final session many instances. I’ll doubtlessly have a lot to speak about with reference to that module particularly. Right this moment although, I wish to discuss concerning the domains past Curse Of Strahd. Barovia is however considered one of dozens of comparable demiplanes, recognized collectively because the Domains Of Dread. With new content material on the best way for Ravenloft in 5e 2024, now may be the proper time to look additional afield. Listed below are 5 greatest Domains Of Dread to set a marketing campaign in, aside from Curse Of Strahd’s Barovia. I’ve additionally included the perfect comparisons to present IPs I can consider for every, so you’ve a superb level of reference.
5 Finest Domains Of Dread To Set A Marketing campaign In (Different Than Curse Of Strahd’s Barovia)
All the talked about domains right here come from Van Richten’s Information To Ravenloft. That is primarily based in 5e 2014, however it could kind of carry over positive to 2024 as a lot of the content material is extra to do with lore, flavour and barely novel mechanics. The e book itself goes into much more element on every of the Domains, although not like Curse Of Strahd you received’t discover a full marketing campaign there. Take them as a body to construct on (or to ask your pleasant native DM very properly about operating a marketing campaign in).
Some spoilers for the campaigns within the textual content, so when you don’t wish to know something concerning the potential plot threads, simply take your choose from the ‘vibes’ bit.
Lamordia
- Vibes: Frankenstein, Empire Of Corpses
Mad scientists, reanimated corpses, steampunk aesthetic. For those who’ve ever needed a Frankenstein-inspired marketing campaign then the spot for that’s Lamordia, a frigid place of harsh climate, and lax approaches to medical ethics. This vaguely Victorian hellscape sees our bodies as an inexpensive commodity for labour, and considers necromancy and flesh golems a contemporary comfort. This world is managed from the shadows by Dr Viktra Mordenheim, (Viktra, Victor, I see what you probably did there.) a ‘sensible’ (learn ‘insane’) scientist who, like Strahd, has a largely unwilling goal for her obsession. In Mordenheim’s case it’s a girl named Elise, who she managed to carry again from the lifeless along with her best creation, The Unbreakable Coronary heart. Elise shouldn’t be overjoyed by this. Her and Ireena Kolyana may actually relate.
Being all about unethical science, Lamordia additionally comes with its personal mechanics associated to the great physician getting her palms on any PCs and making… a couple of minor changes. Who wouldn’t need their mind put inside an Animated Armor?
Tepest
- Vibes: Midsommar, The Ritual, The Wicker Man
Whereas most inhabitants of the Domains Of Dread appear overtly depressing of their lot, (Who wouldn’t be?) a celebration arriving within the area of Tepest may be shocked to encounter fields overflowing with crops, and joyful farmers going about their day. The folks of Viktal are protected, they are saying. They’re protected by a goddess. She offers them security, and makes their crops develop. She even makes them kids, they are saying as they level out somebody with inexperienced pores and skin and branches of their hair. All she asks, is an occasional sacrifice.
Tepest is THE place for a sort of European people horror marketing campaign. Whereas Barovia’s Lord is a vampire, this area is dominated over by a robust hag. Mom Lorinda is an historic inexperienced hag obsessive about making a household of her personal, and cursed to by no means obtain it. The place is very nice in case you are a participant, or are DMing for gamers all in favour of taking the hexblood lineage. Hexblood PCs might be both delighted or horrified on discovering that it’s a robust hag behind all of the unusual goings-on. (In the event that they’re joyful, the remainder of the celebration ought to be fearful.)
Richemulot
We’re rats, we’re rat’s, we’re the rats. (Actually.) Richemulot is a website greatest by the Gnawing Plague, a horrible illness that the PCs themselves would possibly obtain tangling with the swarms of rats that litter its streets. It comes with an epidemic mechanic which sees the town of Pont-a-Museau slowly descend into chaos because the illness spreads and quarantine tightens. On the heart of all of it, the present ruler Jacqueline Renier and her Casques Silencieux appear largely unsympathetic to the state of affairs, however suspiciously nicely knowledgeable of the time of the subsequent outbreak.
That is the place for a plague-themed marketing campaign. I feel we’re far sufficient away from 2020 to do a type of now. A gaggle inclined in the direction of investigation (fairly than fireballing the entire constructing and calling it a day) could thrive right here… nicely, perhaps not thrive. Survive to see the tip of the outbreak.
Valachan
- Vibes: Predator, The Most Harmful Sport, The Starvation Video games, Slasher Films
There are not any cities in Valachan. You would possibly discover a couple of villages within the suppose jungle that covers its floor, however the land doesn’t permit anybody to get too comfy. On this forest, almost every little thing desires you lifeless.
The spotlight of Valachan is a contest that can pit your celebration in opposition to varied different contestant within the Trial Of Hearts, a skill-based loss of life recreation, the place your PCs have to navigate some treacherous jungle whereas the area’s ruler, Chakuna pursues everybody in an effort to up her killstreak. PCs should face her immortal and relentless pursuit, the terrors of the hostile jungle, and different contestants keen to enhance their probabilities by taking a couple of names off the listing.
It is a good setup for a difficult marketing campaign that leaves everybody on edge, leaping at every twig snap. The killer panorama additionally offers you the prospect to throw in no matter monsters you’ve needed an excuse to make use of.
Bluetspur
- Vibes: H.P Lovecraft, Baldur’s Gate 3 (The thoughts flayer bits, anyway.)
We sort of wanted a Cosmic Horror choice, and Bluetspur offers you with the perfect one. )In need of getting round to studying play Name Of Cthulhu.) Bluetspur is an enormous alien panorama of utmost climate and non-euclidean geometry. The one civilized life exists under its floor.. when you may Thoughts-Flayers as civilized. The squid-headed menaces right here serve the God Mind, an Elder Mind slowly degrading, changing into extra deranged in its calls for and plans. Perhaps that’s how some unlucky PCs discovered themselves in such a horrible place. They’d higher maintain onto their brains. Extra scary although, is the suggestion of exploiting the Modify Reminiscence spell to have Bluetspur seem as one thing the PCs immediately recall taking place. What’s extra unsettling that being unable to belief your individual reminiscence of occasions?
We hope you’ve loved our article on the 5 greatest Domains Of Dread, whether or not you agree, or have your individual favourites. We’ve bought some extra stuff on Strahd and Ravenloft on the best way quickly, although when you’d like some extra D&D content material, perhaps take a look at my sizzling takes on probably the most overrated spells in 5e.
