Dungeons & Dragons next sourcebook for Fifth Edition will be Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. It will draw players beyond Barovia and the Curse of Strahd module and into the demiplane known as of Ravenloft, where nothing is ever as it seems. Rudolf Van Richten's case files, notes and correspondence have been compiled in an effort to make sure future generations of explorers are adequately prepared when meeting creatures of the night.
Known as the Demiplane of Dread in previous Advanced Dungeons & Dragons editions, 5e refers to the numerous areas of Ravenloft as the Domains of Dread, and each of them is ruled over by a darklord. These darklords rule their respective regions with iron fists of terror, chilling the accursed people who dwell within their lands and potentially making their lives a living hell.
Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft will also give Dungeon Masters the tools they need to create terrifying campaign settings with a variety of familiar and intriguing horror tropes. Players can travel to familiar Domains of Dread, like Barovia or Werewolf Island, or visit domains never before explored. The book will offer rules and advice for DMs to create their very own Domains and dark lords, blending different tropes and lore to make every aspect of their adventures unique.
In the past, Ravenloft lore focused heavily on Gothic horror themes, exploring creatures like werewolves, vampires, ghouls and ghosts. While there will still be plenty of those classic options to explore, many new ideas will accompany those old tropes in an effort to create intriguing new opportunities for horrific adventure.
Wizards of the Coast didn't just revamp old source material; it is offering a new spin on some of those old tropes and making way for the changes the horror genre has seen in recent years. One example was a domain known as Falkovnia, which (like Barovia) was ruled by a vampire lord. Because fans had already done that in Curse of Strahd, writers shifted their focus to something entirely different, plunking players down in the middle of a zombie apocalypse in a brand new adventure.
It seems that one of the book's objectives was to find the midway point between classic and modern horror, blending them into terrifying possibilities that will go places players haven't yet explored. Those who crave the traditional Gothic feel can still experience that ambiance and flavor, while others who want something that feels a little more modern can go in an entirely different direction.
Van Richten's Guide also introduces new character backgrounds and lineages like those initially explored in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, such as dhampir, hexblood and reborn. Two new subclasses will be offered as well. Bards joining the College of Spirits can work as mediums, their abilities granting them abilities to communicate with the dead. Warlocks will be offered the Undead Pact, which will grant them unique new abilities from beyond the grave.
The sourcebook will also explore a series of new Dark Gifts, which were introduced in previous Ravenloft adventures to enhance character development and gameplay. These Dark Gifts will serve the same purpose for players as they did in Curse of Strahd. As they traverse the terrifying demiplanes of Ravenloft, they will be granted unique and interesting abilities that often come with horrific and accursed downsides.
A world absolutely crawling with monsters that go well beyond the imagination's scope will also feature a bestiary of monstrous enemies for players to encounter. From classic vampires and werewolves to mummies and zombies, the book promises plenty of opportunities to create and explore a nightmarish world teeming with terrifying big bads that will take ingenuity and teamwork to take down.
Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft will release on May 18.