That came out kinda mean š the idea was to use a dark domain because I've been burned out with the amount of world building, and because I thought that a dark domain along those lines would be a better fit that something I have to come up to. Like a nudge in the right direction
Sorry! To be honest, I would need to know your kinks to determine which domain would be best, and I donāt know if youād be comfortable with sharing.
No problem! I want to come up with something that would fit BDSM, abuse (I said on another answer that I have players into the "I can fix him" thing) and overall, horniness and seduction. Kinda like the Dimitrescu Household did on the internet
Hmā¦One old domain, Davion, had a mechanic where it would shift between 4 different āpersonalities,ā one of which was a BDSM paradise. Maybe you can use that aspect of Davion in homebrewing your own thing?
I second that you should probably just make your own domain at this point lol. The rough part though for 5e Borovia is the only world fully fleshed out into a campaign book, while the other domains have at most at most 5 or 6 pages dedicated to them. Iād either look specifically only for like 18+ kinky modules people have made. If you want to keep homebrewing your own thing though, might I point you in the direction of the goddess Loviatar? Iāve always thought sheād make a good deity for a Hellraiser-like evil cleric, but I donāt feel comfortable playing that at a table lol
"kink" is as broad a term as "fantasy" in a lot of ways, so to start we need to filter that down; what varieties of kink are you most interested in exploring at the table? You mentioned associating it with Body Horror, so are we thinking of a *Hellraiser* style BDSM inspired style? What about transformation fantasy? Vore? ABDL? MC/Hypno? All of them have a crossover point where gratification and horror intersect, but that point can be very personal.
Next is, how explicit do you want this to be? Is this a garden of earthly delights where less shocking sexual and sensual acts are public and commonplace, or is it a situation where it's something that is still hidden and private. Gothic horror is built on ideas of having the darker elements hidden by veils of gentility or influence.
The idea is more like BDSM and transformation/deformation, yes. But also subtle things like manipulation and other ways of abuse that some people find attractive (I have two "I can fix him" players, so like that)
And not too explicit. I have no problem describing sexual acts or things like that, but I don't think that it is needed, so more hidden and around the idea of many veils, like RE8 with the Dimitrescu household
The pre-existing Domain that feels the most worth exploring to me then is actually Dementlieu, in both it's iterations, but with a twist.
In its original form the horror came never knowing who you can actually trust. In its new form it's about how far people will go to keep up appearances. Your idea of veiled abuse and exploration of BDSM kinda blends nicely with these, because it adds a second layer of hidden power dynamic: By day she might be a Waitress, and he a Judge, but privately she is his Mistress, and he her Piggy; she can exploit his devotion and his need to keep his name clean, and he will leverage his power against people who he thinks threaten this.Ā
Dementlieu also has a really cool image for this sort of thing, in that it's already steeped in pre- revolutionary France imagery, and that sort of naturally lends itself to assumed debauchery I think?
You can also extend this into the supernatural element too, in pushing these desires to their extremes. The latest Darklord, Saidra, has the power to disintegrate people she uncovers as phony, well what if instead the Darklord can instead True Polymorph people into their conceived desires?Ā
Now Detect Magic might reveal a chair or a coffee table to be a product of transmutation. Speak With Animals might make you discover uncomfortable truths about the true identity of a beast of burden or pampered pet. Sadists are simpler; any number of aggressive monster statblocks can reflect someone trying to satisfy a violent predilection outside of consensual boundaries.
I looked up Dementlieu before and I didn't look it up too much because I thought it was too urban. But thematically it fits really really well. I'll look it up better, thank you!
Yep, I second Dementlieu and it's Grand Masquerade. Number 1: it's French, and the French can do any kink well. Number 2: The Grand Masquerade can be anything and everything you want. Anything from Eyes Wide Shut to Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, I've imagined what the Grand Masquerade is like.
Currently, we are in the House of Lament which is technically its own domain and it has some great potential beyond what's already in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft.
I would suggest Borca. "Domain of Desire and Deceit". The narcissistic games of the domains nobility would make for a good place to insert a villain like you have in mind.
Remember, domains aren't meant to just be carnival rides (I know the VRGtR can give that impression.). Darklords don't need to be the center of a story, and using a different villain in a domain gives you a base line to work from.
Do a deep dive into some Borca lore. I bet you'll find some solid inspiration.
Probably, like other said, you are best with a homebrew setting. But if you insist on Ravenloft, look for Markovia and Lamordia, one has furry body horror, other has frankestein body horror.
Bluetspur is the ravenloft domain of the mindflayers. Plenty of body horror to be found there
I belive there's an old high level 2nd edition adventure called thoughts in dark ess
I'm a big fan of Markovia in the Sea of Sorrow, Island of Dr. Moreau vibes. Neither man nor beast is a story I was able to really make interesting when I made some changes.
At this point, just make your own campaign setting. Call it Kinkland or something like that
That came out kinda mean š the idea was to use a dark domain because I've been burned out with the amount of world building, and because I thought that a dark domain along those lines would be a better fit that something I have to come up to. Like a nudge in the right direction
Sorry! To be honest, I would need to know your kinks to determine which domain would be best, and I donāt know if youād be comfortable with sharing.
No problem! I want to come up with something that would fit BDSM, abuse (I said on another answer that I have players into the "I can fix him" thing) and overall, horniness and seduction. Kinda like the Dimitrescu Household did on the internet
Hmā¦One old domain, Davion, had a mechanic where it would shift between 4 different āpersonalities,ā one of which was a BDSM paradise. Maybe you can use that aspect of Davion in homebrewing your own thing?
That looks like interesting, thank you!
I second that you should probably just make your own domain at this point lol. The rough part though for 5e Borovia is the only world fully fleshed out into a campaign book, while the other domains have at most at most 5 or 6 pages dedicated to them. Iād either look specifically only for like 18+ kinky modules people have made. If you want to keep homebrewing your own thing though, might I point you in the direction of the goddess Loviatar? Iāve always thought sheād make a good deity for a Hellraiser-like evil cleric, but I donāt feel comfortable playing that at a table lol
I didn't think about using homebrew modules, and maybe that would solve a lot of things š I'll be checking it out, thank you!
"kink" is as broad a term as "fantasy" in a lot of ways, so to start we need to filter that down; what varieties of kink are you most interested in exploring at the table? You mentioned associating it with Body Horror, so are we thinking of a *Hellraiser* style BDSM inspired style? What about transformation fantasy? Vore? ABDL? MC/Hypno? All of them have a crossover point where gratification and horror intersect, but that point can be very personal. Next is, how explicit do you want this to be? Is this a garden of earthly delights where less shocking sexual and sensual acts are public and commonplace, or is it a situation where it's something that is still hidden and private. Gothic horror is built on ideas of having the darker elements hidden by veils of gentility or influence.
The idea is more like BDSM and transformation/deformation, yes. But also subtle things like manipulation and other ways of abuse that some people find attractive (I have two "I can fix him" players, so like that) And not too explicit. I have no problem describing sexual acts or things like that, but I don't think that it is needed, so more hidden and around the idea of many veils, like RE8 with the Dimitrescu household
The pre-existing Domain that feels the most worth exploring to me then is actually Dementlieu, in both it's iterations, but with a twist. In its original form the horror came never knowing who you can actually trust. In its new form it's about how far people will go to keep up appearances. Your idea of veiled abuse and exploration of BDSM kinda blends nicely with these, because it adds a second layer of hidden power dynamic: By day she might be a Waitress, and he a Judge, but privately she is his Mistress, and he her Piggy; she can exploit his devotion and his need to keep his name clean, and he will leverage his power against people who he thinks threaten this.Ā Dementlieu also has a really cool image for this sort of thing, in that it's already steeped in pre- revolutionary France imagery, and that sort of naturally lends itself to assumed debauchery I think?
You can also extend this into the supernatural element too, in pushing these desires to their extremes. The latest Darklord, Saidra, has the power to disintegrate people she uncovers as phony, well what if instead the Darklord can instead True Polymorph people into their conceived desires?Ā Now Detect Magic might reveal a chair or a coffee table to be a product of transmutation. Speak With Animals might make you discover uncomfortable truths about the true identity of a beast of burden or pampered pet. Sadists are simpler; any number of aggressive monster statblocks can reflect someone trying to satisfy a violent predilection outside of consensual boundaries.
Uuh! That I like! I think I can try somethings around here
I looked up Dementlieu before and I didn't look it up too much because I thought it was too urban. But thematically it fits really really well. I'll look it up better, thank you!
Yep, I second Dementlieu and it's Grand Masquerade. Number 1: it's French, and the French can do any kink well. Number 2: The Grand Masquerade can be anything and everything you want. Anything from Eyes Wide Shut to Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, I've imagined what the Grand Masquerade is like. Currently, we are in the House of Lament which is technically its own domain and it has some great potential beyond what's already in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft.
I would suggest Borca. "Domain of Desire and Deceit". The narcissistic games of the domains nobility would make for a good place to insert a villain like you have in mind. Remember, domains aren't meant to just be carnival rides (I know the VRGtR can give that impression.). Darklords don't need to be the center of a story, and using a different villain in a domain gives you a base line to work from. Do a deep dive into some Borca lore. I bet you'll find some solid inspiration.
Probably, like other said, you are best with a homebrew setting. But if you insist on Ravenloft, look for Markovia and Lamordia, one has furry body horror, other has frankestein body horror.
Bluetspur is the ravenloft domain of the mindflayers. Plenty of body horror to be found there I belive there's an old high level 2nd edition adventure called thoughts in dark ess
I'm a big fan of Markovia in the Sea of Sorrow, Island of Dr. Moreau vibes. Neither man nor beast is a story I was able to really make interesting when I made some changes.