Van Richten's Guide to the Ancient Dead (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft, Campaign Accessory/9451) [Paperback]

Skip Williams (Author), Jonathan Caspian (Editor), Jeff Easley (Illustrator), Stephen Fabian (Illustrator), Paul Jaquays (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 94 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560768738
• ISBN-13: 978-1560768739
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #532,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Guide to 2nd edition individualized mummies, March 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Van Richten's Guide to the Ancient Dead (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft, Campaign Accessory/9451) (Paperback)

This is a continuation of the 2nd edition D&D Ravenloft Van Richten series on monster types. This series takes stock gothic monster types and demonstrates how monsters can be individualized and backstories created for better effect in a ravenloft or other RPG game.

It takes the perspective of the investigator Van Ricten's guide book to hunter's including his experiences and those of his contemporaries with game statistic information separately blocked off.

This volume focuses on mummies, undead creatures generally brought back to guard crypt areas and with disease powers.

I was expecting more from this volume, I particularly found it lacking in the realm of magic and spells, either for use by the greater mummies, Mummy hunting, or mummy creation. I also would have preferred more on curses to protect the realms of the dead. However, it is a good series and this volume has some neat points and back stories that can be used in games easily for good background or atmosphere.