Dread domains get a bad rep. Everyone’s been to Ravenloft and thinks all of them are just vampire aristocracy and heartbreak. But there is more out there. There is a land of horror and pain for every player, you just got to find the right one.
So, for your traveling pleasure, check out some of these unexpected domains that just might tickle your fancy.
You may know the name Cyre as a region in Eberron that was destroyed by an event known as the Mourning. The mysterious tragedy killed everyone in the area, leeching into the nearby terrain. However, not everyone died – or so they think.
One lightning rail holding a collection of passengers still exists out in the Mists. This lightning rail was consumed by the Mists just before the Mourning destroyed the land. The passengers within do not know how they got into the Mists, or where they’re going, but there is only one thing they know for certain – their alive.
But are they?
Make sure you bring Brenden Frasier along with you on this one, because mummies are everywhere. Har’Akir is a domain of endless desert, filled with undead and riches. Those who live here are under the thumb of the pharaoh Ankhtepot, who forces people to search for the hidden treasures littering Har’Akir. Those who disobey are damned by the strict gods of the pantheon that only Ankhtepot can speak to.
Out in the endless wastes, there is one treasure waiting – greater than any gift possible. And Ankhtepot will stop at nothing to get it. There is only one question to be asked – who is going to get it first?
It is time for revolution! End to the big fleshlings!
For the town of Odaire, there are no more adults. They were murdered by the puppet Figilo after being brought to life by his father Guiseppe. The adults of Odaire questioned if Figilo was really alive or just an elaborate toy, so they kept their children away. Now only children reign supreme, looking to their leader Figilo (now taking the name Maligno) to bring them to a bright future.
God, Pinocchio got dark.
If you happen to run a Strahd game, I suggest that this plane is somewhere close by. This small plane is a music hall inhabited by a former king named Doerdon. Doerdon made laughter forbidden, killing anyone who disobeyed him. Once he was pulled into the Mists, he now has a new purpose – whenever he has guests, he is forced to entertain others. But, Doerdon is not alone. He has a puppet who looks like Strahd von Zarovich, who shouts and cries that he is the real Strahd.
Fun, huh?
If you are looking for a night of theatre, then we have you covered.
Once a moderately successful playwright, Lemont Sediam Juste rose to fame for his horrifying productions, filled with revenge and blood. However, when Lemont premiered a show that was less than bloody, the audience became bored and dissatisfied. Now, Lemont writes a new show every night, forced to write bloody shows that he no longer has interest in just to feed the audience’s bloodlust.
Vhage Agency is very small domain located here and there. This black and white tinted domain is the home of Flimira “Flintlock” Vhage, the detective in charge of the agency. If your party encounters this dread domain, they may be sent on a series of mysteries by Flimira, Brooklyn-accent and all.
The only trouble is that she is the cause of every one of her cases. Once a reknowned detective, Flimira is now a low-cut criminal, but will never admit to it. Will your adventurers catch her? Or will she get away, waiting to strike again?
This list is only a taste of numerous other options. You can learn all about the other domain options in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft!
Get all your board game news from The Bag of Loot! www.thebagofloot.com
Get your copy of Van Richten’s Guide To Ravenloft at Three Kings Loot! https://www.threekingsloot.com/catalog/roleplaying_games-dungeons__dragons-dungeons__dragons_5th_edition-5th_edition_core_rulebooks_and_player_supplements/dd_van_richtens_guide_to_ravenloft/782398
With Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft recently come out, it was inevitable that people start becoming fascinated by the Dark Deals. While there are plenty of options to get down and dirty with an evil patron, there are a few gifts that soar among the rest.
Which of these will prove the most powerful in the lands of the dead? Let’s take a look.
With a traveler’s spirit, you can go anywhere. The Misty Travels feature allows you to traverse through the Mists of Ravenloft, and every other Dread Domain, with ease. You act as a Mist talisman to any Dread Domain that you wish to access. The only thing that can get in your way is if the Dread Lord of a plane locks access to the plane. You also gain access to the Misty Step spell if you did not have it previous.
The one big downside is that the world around will make you suffer for the deal you have made. You can stay in one area within a 10 mile radius for a number of weeks equal to your Constitution modifier. While this is pairs well with a traveling Bard, I think this is best played by a character who desperately wants to stay with their loved ones. It adds a dimension of tension that could lend to some great roleplay moments.
Touch of Death allows you to deal some damage whenever you grapple or strike a target with an unarmed attack. When grappling, you deal 1d10 additional necrotic damage, and unarmed strikes can deal anywhere from 1d10 to 5d10 necrotic damage based on your level. This gift is especially useful for Monks, who will be able to absolutely destroy an enemy from the inside out.
As the mechanic and name suggests, this Dark Gift makes it extremely dangerous for anyone to touch you. It doesn’t matter if it’s an ally, an enemy, a random creature. If they touch you, there is a good chance that it’s going to kill them.
There are plenty of ways that this kind of gift could cause the character strife – not able to touch loved ones, not able to interact with people in a way they find meaningful, etc. Just make sure to lean into these moments. While very useful, this Dark Gift will have huge psychological repercussions on a character.
Ah yes, the Dark Gift that Eddie Brock took. Paid off well for him, hm?
The Symbiotic Nature gift is all about making friends with the thing that lives inside you. Whether it was placed there by you or someone else, this gift gives you a little friend who is living inside your body at all times.
This gift allows you to gain one additional skill proficiency that your Symbiotic friend would have knowledge about. Also, since your new bestie doesn’t want you to die, you are able to add its hit dice rolls to your saving throws if you fail on a check. If you activate this ability on a death save, then you immediately gain one hit point.
The only downside is that your new buddy isn’t a nice creature – not all the time anyway. It is constantly trying to pressure you into performing something it wants to accomplish. Whether you agree of not is up to you, but don’t think it will give up easily. If you’re not careful, it has the ability to charm you for up to twelve hours. A lot of stuff can happen within that time…
Get all your board game news from The Bag of Loot! www.thebagofloot.com
Get all your D&D needs from Three Kings Loot! www.threekingsloot.com
Return once again, traveler, to Ravenloft. An old friend is here to see you to give you something. A book of his own writing… Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft!
Return to the land of undeath and create your own this companion guide to Curse of Strahd! This guide allows players to experience new vampiric adventures and offers DMs ways to create their own dark campaign settings. There are also new lineages, backgrounds, and two brand new subclasses for players to dive into – The College of Spirits for Bards, and the Undead pact for Warlocks.
And don’t forget about the new Dark Gifts for your players and NPCs, as well as the expanded bestiary. Who knows what you may find in the darkness of Ravenloft?
The guide’s description is as follows:
Discover the mysteries of Ravenloft, mist-shrouded lands where infamous Darklords lurk among ageless vampires, zombie hordes, cosmic terrors, and worse. Then make your choice. Will you create your own Domains of Dread, settings to host endless terrifying adventures? Or will you join the ranks of haunted heroes who embrace macabre lineages, dual-edged Dark Gifts, haunted subclasses, and other forbidden powers?
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft comes out on May 18th! Pre-order your copy at Three Kings Loot!
Keep up to date about all things board games on The Bag of Loot! https://www.thebagofloot.com/
Get everything D&D at Three Kings Loot! https://www.threekingsloot.com/
