 | |
| Genre | Role-playing games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | TSR |
Publication date | 1995 |
| Media type | Boxed set |
The Nightmare Lands is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995.
| | |
| Genre | Role-playing games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | TSR |
Publication date | 1995 |
| Media type | Boxed set |
The Nightmare Lands is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995.
The Nightmare Lands is a supplement that details the mist-covered Nightmare Lands on the borders of Demiplane of Dread in the Ravenloft setting. In this netherworld the Nightmare Court searches for dreamers to trap them in "dreamscapes" which amplify where their secret feelings to unbearable levels so that the Court can feed on their fears. These dreamers are subjected to this mental assault nightly and soon go insane unless the Nightmare torturer is defeated. [1]
The Nightmare Lands includes four books: "Book One: Journal of Doctor Illhousen", "Book Two: Rules of Dreams and Nightmares", "Book Three: Book of Nightmares" and the "Monstrous Supplement". [1] The "Journal of Doctor Illhousen" explains Nightmare adventures to the players, and how characters can reach the Nightmare Lands - physically and as dream beings - to aid victims held by the Nightmare Court. The journal also notes the reality shifting nature of this world. [1] The "Rules of Dreams and Nightmares" details the complexities involved in Nightmare adventures, as well as how characters can build their Mental Fortitude, or self-confidence in their "dreamself", by facing their worst nightmares which gives them the strength to break free of the influence of the Court. [1] The "Book of Nightmares" and "Monstrous Supplement" can be combined together for an adventure scenario for characters in the Nightmare Lands. [1]
The Nightmare Lands was designed by Shane Lacy Hensley with additional design and editing by Bill Slavicsek, and was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The box cover artist was Den Beauvais, and the book cover and interior artist was John Snyder.
Trenton Webb reviewed The Nightmare Lands for Arcane magazine, rating it a 7 out of 10 overall. [1] He refers to the "Journal of Doctor Illhousen" as "sketchy and theoretical", and felt that the "Book of Nightmares" and the "Monstrous Supplement" together "flesh out the Nightmare Lands into a truly horrific place to explore (and to DM)". [1] He comments on the set as a whole: "The ideas behind the Nightmare Lands are intriguing and exciting. They provide an arena in which a party of any level can truly be tested." He felt that the appeal of the Nightmare Court was "limited by its inevitable association with the gothic Ravenloft", but that in this setting "it works well and all Ravenloft DMs should be encouraged to give their parties a bad night's sleep every once in a while". [1] He cautions that the ready-to-run scenario Nightmares "may not sit readily with heroes from other places and planes in the multiverse". [1] Webb outlines his concerns with the running of a Nightmare Lands campaign, where "the worst problems can arise. Mental Fortitude is a good system, but it requires better examples, better explanation and easy-access tables or checklists before it can function effectively. Further, the very plumed nature of Nightmare reality causes continued questions for the DM and impairs the necessary suspension of disbelief for the players." [1] He concludes the review by saying: The Nightmare Lands is a brave attempt to add another element to D&D adventures. It conjures a scary new world where absolutely anything and everything can happen. It's a place I'd love to visit as a player - but I wouldn't want to live there." [1]
The Monstrous Compendium is a series of accessories for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game released from 1989 to 1998. The title was then used for a series of 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons supplements released on D&D Beyond.
Count Strahd von Zarovich is a fictional character originally appearing as the feature villain in the highly popular Advanced Dungeons and Dragons adventure module I6: Ravenloft. Later, this character and his world would be explored in follow-up modules, novels, and the Ravenloft campaign setting. Within this setting, Strahd is the first and best-known of Ravenloft's darklords. He is a powerful ancient vampire. He is also a master necromancer, a skilled warrior, and the unquestioned ruler of the domain of Barovia.
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a vampire is an undead creature. A humanoid or monstrous humanoid creature can become a vampire, and looks as it did in life, with pale skin, haunting red eyes, and a feral cast to its features. A new vampire is created when another vampire drains the life out of a living creature. Its depiction is related to those in the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood Dracula and monster movies. In writing vampires into the game, as with other creatures arising in folklore, the authors had to consider what elements arising in more recent popular culture should be incorporated into their description and characteristics.
Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill is a Dungeons & Dragons module written for use with the First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ruleset, by TSR.
Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) fantasy role-playing game.
The Gates of Firestorm Peak is an adventure module for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The adventure was published in 1996, and was written by Bruce Cordell, with cover art by Jeff Easley and interior art by Arnie Swekel.
Planes of Conflict is an accessory for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995.
Shaman is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995.
Treasure Tales is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
Requiem: The Grim Harvest is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
Forged of Darkness is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
Neither Man nor Beast is an adventure for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995.
Something Wild is an adventure module for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
Bleak House: The Death of Rudolph van Richten is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
Death Unchained is an adventure for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Death Ascendant is an adventure for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Avengers in Lankhmar is an adventure for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
The Return of Randal Morn is an adventure module for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
Children of the Night: Vampires is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.
A Guide to Transylvania is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996.