Customer Reviews

Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales (AD&D 2nd Ed Roleplaying, Ravenloft, Expansion, 1103)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is by far the most original campaign setting in the AD&D line. While all other campaign settings are rather hack and slash, medieval settings. This setting takes you to 19th century earth in the 1890's. Where you can fight the villians some of the lords of Ravenloft were based after. You can fight Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Mummies in real Egyptian tombs, and many many more. The only problem is that to do a really good game of Masque, one must do a whole lot of research about the 1890's. I ended up reading 3 books about the History of L.A. where my campaign was taking place in. But if you love to do real good research for a campaign, this is the world for you! Oh, H.P. Lovecraft stories are really great adventure ideas for this setting!

The Gothic Earth setting is by far the most realistic adventure setting from TSR in decades, but, as noted in another review, successful play requires a good knowledge of the late 19th century, its customs, technology, etiquette, etc. This is NOT beyond the scope of anything required by any "steampunk" RPG, such as "Space 1889" or "Castle Falkenstein" or the "Cthulhu by Gaslight" 1890s campaign. Any background research into "our" world which has been done for any of those games is just as valid for Gothic Earth, and this campaign setting should actually require less mental gymnastics than "Falkenstein" or "1889."

The boxed set is VERY nice, and the maps and illustrations are unexpectedly beautiful (in a horrifically Gothic way, of course!), far above typical TSR standards, but the presentation and background of "the Red Death" entity (Gothic Earth's answer to the Voices of the Mists of Ravenloft) is rather feeble; most skilled GM's could come up with something better as a house rule. The mini-module, "The Red Death," which is included in the boxed set is, however, a very different matter; based upon Poe's "Masque of the Red Death," I adapted it to a "Falkenstein" game (it would have worked just as well in any other 19th century game) and shocked the heck out of my players; it is so obviously based upon the Poe story, however, that player knowledge can easily become a problem.

By and large, it's worth the price, and far less grim than Ravenloft itself.

Ever wondered whats like to play a Ravenloft campaign in the world we live in? This boxed set gives you everything you need to get started in gothic like horror role playing in Earth, in the year 1890. A general map, the character classes and abilities. Its just another good oportunity to role play something quite new... You'll love it.

Being as Ravenloft is based on Victorian era gothic fiction the creation of this spinoff series seems like a forgone conclusion, why not bring the horror home to roost? It is a very good campagin package except for a few bruises and sore thumbs here and there. Some of the backstory is a bit shoddily written, and occasionally hackneyed. I don't know about you but when I come across references to Merlin or Atlantis in a game book my mind kind of shuts down and I skim past it. If you can weed out the clichés you have a fine enjoyable game on your hands. I love the artwork, much of which is based on Victorian clip art. It's different, but that's not always a bad thing.

This was the finest box set printed during the 2nd Edition era. All the books were useful, including the pre-made adventures that let you know how you should frame your adventures. Add to the fact it had nice expansions, and its hard to beat this book, save for the new d20 version.