5 Greatest Domains Of Dread To Set A Marketing campaign In (Different Than Curse Of Strahd’s Barovia) – Gamezebo

It’s been almost ten years because the 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 fascinated by one other dive into the mists very quickly.

Now, I really like Curse Of Strahd. I probably 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 group to hearken to be yap about what my adventuring social gathering did final session many occasions. I’ll doubtlessly have a lot to speak about with regard to that module particularly. Right now although, I wish to speak in regards to the domains past Curse Of Strahd. Barovia is however one in all 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 is likely to be the right time to look additional afield. Listed below are 5 finest Domains Of Dread to set a marketing campaign in, aside from Curse Of Strahd’s Barovia. I’ve additionally included the most effective comparisons to present IPs I can consider for every, so you will have a superb level of reference.

5 Greatest Domains Of Dread To Set A Marketing campaign In (Different Than Curse Of Strahd’s Barovia)

The entire 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 wonderful to 2024 as many of the content material is extra to do with lore, flavour and barely novel mechanics. The guide itself goes into much more element on every of the Domains, although not like Curse Of Strahd you gained’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 should you don’t wish to know something in regards to the potential plot threads, simply take your decide from the ‘vibes’ bit.

Lamordia

Vibes: Frankenstein, Empire Of Corpses

Mad scientists, reanimated corpses, steampunk aesthetic. If you happen to’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 ‘good’ (learn ‘insane’) scientist who, like Strahd, has a largely unwilling goal for her obsession. In Mordenheim’s case it’s a lady named Elise, who she managed to carry again from the useless along with her best creation, The Unbreakable Coronary heart. Elise is just not overjoyed by this. Her and Ireena Kolyana might 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 number 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 is likely to be shocked to come across fields overflowing with crops, and completely happy farmers going about their day. The individuals of Viktal are secure, they are saying. They’re protected by a goddess. She offers them security, and makes their crops develop. She even makes them youngsters, 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 form of European folks horror marketing campaign. Whereas Barovia’s Lord is a vampire, this area is dominated over by a robust hag. Mom Lorinda is an historical inexperienced hag obsessive about making a household of her personal, and cursed to by no means obtain it. The place is very nice if you’re a participant, or are DMing for gamers involved in taking the hexblood lineage. Hexblood PCs will probably 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 completely happy, the remainder of the social gathering ought to be apprehensive.)

Richemulot

We’re rats, we’re rat’s, we’re the rats. (Actually.) Richemulot is a site finest by the Gnawing Plague, a horrible illness that the PCs themselves may 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 properly knowledgeable of the time of the following outbreak.

That is the place for a plague-themed marketing campaign. I believe we’re far sufficient away from 2020 to do a type of now. A bunch inclined in the direction of investigation (somewhat than fireballing the entire constructing and calling it a day) might thrive right here… properly, possibly not thrive. Survive to see the top of the outbreak.

Valachan

Vibes: Predator, The Most Harmful Recreation, The Starvation Video games, Slasher Films

There are not any cities in Valachan. You may discover a number of villages within the assume jungle that covers its floor, however the land doesn’t enable anybody to get too comfy. On this forest, almost the whole lot desires you useless.

The spotlight of Valachan is a contest that may pit your social gathering towards varied different contestant within the Trial Of Hearts, a skill-based demise sport, 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 number of names off the checklist.

This can be 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 possibility 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 form of wanted a Cosmic Horror possibility, and Bluetspur offers you with the most effective one. )In need of getting round to studying methods to play Name Of Cthulhu.) Bluetspur is an enormous alien panorama of utmost climate and non-euclidean geometry. The one civilized life exists beneath its floor.. should you might Thoughts-Flayers as civilized. The squid-headed menaces right here serve the God Mind, an Elder Mind slowly degrading, turning 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 out of the blue 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 finest Domains Of Dread, whether or not you agree, or have your individual favourites. We’ve obtained some extra stuff on Strahd and Ravenloft on the best way quickly, although should you’d like some extra D&D content material, possibly take a look at my sizzling takes on essentially the most overrated spells in 5e.

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