It’s been almost ten years because the launch of Curse Of Strahd, the preferred 5e module so far, 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 desirous about one other dive into the mists very quickly.
Now, I 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 staff to hearken to be yap about what my adventuring get together did final session many instances. I’ll doubtlessly have loads to speak about with regard to that module particularly. At the moment although, I wish to speak in regards to 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 way in which for Ravenloft in 5e 2024, now is likely to be the right time to look additional afield. Listed here are 5 finest Domains Of Dread to set a marketing campaign in, aside from Curse Of Strahd’s Barovia. I’ve additionally included one of the best comparisons to current IPs I can consider for every, so you may have a very good 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 will kind of carry over superb to 2024 as a lot of the content material is extra to do with lore, flavour and barely novel mechanics. The ebook 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 working a marketing campaign in).
Some spoilers for the campaigns within the textual content, so for those who 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. When you’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 reasonably priced 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 lifeless together with her biggest creation, The Unbreakable Coronary heart. Elise isn’t 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 nice physician getting her arms on any PCs and making… just a few 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 brazenly depressing of their lot, (Who wouldn’t be?) a celebration arriving within the area of Tepest is likely to be shocked to come upon fields overflowing with crops, and glad farmers going about their day. The folks of Viktal are protected, they are saying. They’re protected by a goddess. She provides 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 form 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 historical 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 excited about taking the hexblood lineage. Hexblood PCs shall 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 glad, the remainder of the get together needs to be apprehensive.)
Richemulot
We’re rats, we’re rat’s, we’re the rats. (Actually.) Richemulot is a website 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 middle of all of it, the present ruler Jacqueline Renier and her Casques Silencieux appear largely unsympathetic to the state of affairs, however suspiciously effectively 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 kind of now. A gaggle inclined in direction of investigation (relatively than fireballing the entire constructing and calling it a day) might thrive right here… effectively, perhaps 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 just a few villages within the assume jungle that covers its floor, however the land doesn’t permit anybody to get too snug. On this forest, almost the whole lot needs you lifeless.
The spotlight of Valachan is a contest that may pit your get together towards varied different contestant within the Trial Of Hearts, a skill-based demise sport, the place your PCs must 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 just a few names off the checklist.
It is a good setup for a difficult marketing campaign that leaves everybody on edge, leaping at every twig snap. The killer panorama additionally provides 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 form of wanted a Cosmic Horror possibility, and Bluetspur supplies you with one of the best one. )Wanting getting round to studying easy methods to play Name Of Cthulhu.) Bluetspur is an unlimited alien panorama of maximum climate and non-euclidean geometry. The one civilized life exists under its floor.. for those who might 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. Possibly 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 occurring. 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 received some extra stuff on Strahd and Ravenloft on the way in which quickly, although for those who’d like some extra D&D content material, perhaps try my sizzling takes on probably the most overrated spells in 5e.
