Ravenloft, I6 (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Official Game Adventure #9075) [Paperback]

Tracy Hickman (Author), Laura Hickman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1983

"Under raging stormclouds, a lone figure stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of castle Ravenloft. Count Strahd von Zarovich stares down a sheer cliff at the village below. A cold, bitter wind spins dead leaves around him, billowing his cape in the darkness. Lightning splits the clouds overhead, casting stark white light across him. Strahd turns to the sky, revealing the angular muscles of his face and hands. He has a look of power and of madness. His once handsome face is contorted by a tragedy darker than the night itself. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind's howling increases as Strahd turns his gaze back to the village. Fas below, yet not beyond his keen eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd's face forms a twisted smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they came, all according to his plan. He, the master of Ravenloft, will attend to them. Another lightning flash rips through the darkness, its thunder echoing through the castle's towers. But Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind or perhaps a lone wolf fills the midnight air. The master of Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited."

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: TSR Inc.; 1st edition (November 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088038042X
• ISBN-13: 978-0880380423
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,036,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The original that started it all..., July 25, 2000

By 

Nick Kapur (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ravenloft, I6 (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Official Game Adventure #9075) (Paperback)

This module is the stand alone adventure that introduced Strahd Von Zarovich and the land of Barovia that eventually grew to be the entire Ravenloft campaign setting. Even if we disregard what came later, this adventure is astoundingly good. The maps are incredible, the emphasis on character interaction rather than hack-n-slash fighting is apreciated, and the use of cards to randomly determine key elements of the plot insures that the story will be different every time you run it. Even 2 decades after it was published this one has held up surprisingly well and compares favorably to the modules that are currently out today.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best AD&D modules of all time., October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ravenloft, I6 (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Official Game Adventure #9075) (Paperback)

Tracy and Laura Hickman of DragonLance fame authored this fantastic module. This module introduced gothic horror to the Dungeons and Dragons game and formed the basis for the entire Ravenloft campaign setting. The module itself is beautifully rendered. The artwork, maps, and accessories are all first rate. The Hickmans bring the villain Strahd to life and make him much more than just a blood-sucking vampire. His motivations are well thought out and quite plausible. Although, I do not play in the Ravenloft campaign setting very often, this module will always have a special place in my heart. And remember. The mists of Ravenloft know no bounds. You just might end up invited to the House of Strahd as a dinner guest!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting adventure, that never leaves you., August 16, 2007

By 

David (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ravenloft, I6 (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Official Game Adventure #9075) (Paperback)

I'm not sure where to begin with this review. Though it's not really a review in the purest sense, it's more about how I feel towards this wonderful adventure. I love Ravenloft; I can't reiterate that fact enough. To the point that I've "taken possession of it" as if it were "mine". I know that's a little "melodramatic" but I'm thinking you understand what I mean. I'm writing this in the hopes that someone else will be inspired to pick this tome up and enjoy it as much as I have over all these years.

The product description and the other reviewers mentioned some of the key aspects of this adventure - which I don't think need to be rehashed by me. But if you do purchase this (and I HIGHLY recommend it), hopefully it will touch you like it did me 25 years ago.

This was the first Dungeons & Dragons "module" I bought and it has "haunted" me ever since. I have explored the Ravenloft campaign setting inspired by this book and even into "Gothic Earth" and later derivatives. But this was the first... and best of the best. To me, it was the first Dungeons & Dragons product that had a "soul".

If this is to be your first encounter with Count Strahd and the cold, haunted parapets of his dreary, forlorn home, I envy you. You're about to experience an astonishing story of dark romance, cursed magics and unspeakable horror. You're about to plunge through the mists of fear, madness and a "tragedy darker than the night itself". Like a lifelong, welcome friend, this melancholy adventure always calls and brings me back. It should be played every few years - the lights low with serious role playing friends on Halloween or chill nights in late December.

Trust me. If you have any intrest in role playing games and TRUE gothic horror - the original Stoker's Dracula or Shelley's Frankenstein you will not regret playing this. And like it has for me, it will haunt with you forever.