Ominous shadows rise beyond the campfire's light. Steps echo through the halls of a supposedly empty house. Something whispers from under the stairs. Such details fill horror tales, but what place do they have in your D&D game?
Horror Toolkit
Strike fear in the heart of even the boldest adventurers, with advice and optional rules for making your D&D adventure truly terrifying.
Create Tension & Inspire Terror
Encourage your players to roleplay fear by letting them choose something their character finds frightening from the "Seeds of Fear" table. Or have them track a Stress Score that increases during tense, frightful encounters. Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft is full of tools and tips for transforming your D&D game into a unique horror experience.
Haunted Traps & Curses
A sudden drop in temperature, a distorted reflection in the mirror, or a sound of distant, mournful music—the observant may recognize the signs of a haunted trap before setting it off. This book includes a selection of horror-themed traps that reveal grim histories and frightening tales, plus rules for creating your own.
Rules and examples of curses are also provided—ominously poetic consequences that may befall characters after fateful choices, whether it be defiling a tomb or the spilling of innocent blood.
Survivors
This book introduces stat blocks for "survivors"—simple, premade characters that represent everyday people with just a hint of talent. Survivors can be used to recapturing the tension and fear that arises without access to the power and resources available to higher-level characters. Or they may let players witness first-hand events they might otherwise only hear about—whether it's front-row seats to an important historic event or a part to play in a character's ominous dreams.
A Nightmarish Bestiary
Creepy "carionette" dolls, floating undead heads, and a relentless killer straight out of a slasher film—this book contains a bestiary of monsters ranging from beloved horror classics to creative terrors that will haunt your nightmares. It also includes tips for restoring mystery and menace to creatures players may find too familiar to be frightening… or so they think.
One D&D Horror Adventure
Take players on a chilling journey with the included horror adventure, "The House of Lament." A spirit board in the appendix can be photocopied for use as a prop, and the climax of the tale may serve as a springboard into future adventures in the Domains of Dread, if you dare enter.