Editing Ravenloft (section)

=== 3rd and 3.5 edition ===
A major revision of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' was released in 2000, the first edition published by [[Wizards of the Coast]] (which had acquired TSR in 1997).<ref name="Gygax-GygaxFAQ">{{cite web|title=What Happened to Gygax - TSR?|url=http://www.gygax.com/gygaxfaq.html#What%20Happened%20to%20Gygax%20-%20TSR?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128161605/http://www.gygax.com/gygaxfaq.html#What%20Happened%20to%20Gygax%20-%20TSR?|archive-date=1999-01-28|access-date=2006-07-04|publisher=gygax.com}}</ref> In the same year, Wizards of the Coast licensed the Ravenloft brand to [[White Wolf Publishing]].<ref>{{cite web|title=White Wolf To Publish Ravenloft|url=https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/160/white-wolf-to-publish-ravenloft|access-date=2020-12-29|website=icv2.com|language=en}}</ref> Under its [[Sword & Sorcery Studios]] (and later [[White Wolf Publishing#Imprints and labels|Arthaus]] imprints), White Wolf Publishing released the 3rd Edition [[d20 System]] ''[[Ravenloft (Sword and Sorcery Studios)|Ravenloft Campaign Setting]]'' (2001)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cermak|first=Andrew|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48893605|title=Ravenloft Campaign Setting – Core Rulebook (3e)|publisher=Sword & Sorcery|others=Mangrum, John W., Wyatt, Andrew.|year=2001|isbn=1-58846-075-4|location=Renton, WA|pages=8–18|oclc=48893605}}</ref> and the 3.5 Edition ''Ravenloft Player's Handbook'' (2003).

The campaign settings published by White Wolf introduced a number of alterations, many due to conflicts with existing Wizards of the Coast [[intellectual property]]. Specific references to ''D&D''-specific deities were replaced with new names in the White Wolf Ravenloft settings (for example, Bane was changed to the Lawgiver). The license to the Ravenloft [[trademark]] reverted to Wizards of the Coast on August 15, 2005, but White Wolf retained the right to continue to sell its back stock until June 2006. The timing of this reversion meant that the Ravenloft supplement ''[[Rudolph van Richten|Van Richten]]'s Guide to the Mists'' did not see print. Instead, it was released by White Wolf as a free download in late September 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Van Richten's Guide to the Mists|url=http://download.white-wolf.com/download/download.php?file_id=410|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060723064753/http://download.white-wolf.com/download/download.php?file_id=410|archive-date=2006-07-23}}</ref> The majority of the ''Van Richten's Guide'' series had already been published by TSR in the 1990s, before White Wolf's involvement.

In October 2006, Wizards of the Coast released ''Expedition to Castle Ravenloft'', a hardcover version of the original 1st Ed. adventure, updated for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' v.3.5 rule set.<ref name="stormgiantgames">{{cite web|date=January 3, 2020|title=Everything You Need To Know About Ravenloft|url=https://www.stormgiantgames.com/posts/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ravenloft|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Storm Giant Games|language=en-US}}</ref> This version includes maps from the original ''Ravenloft'' adventure, and new character-generation options. ''Expedition to Castle Ravenloft'' is a stand-alone supplement set for any ''D&D'' worlds, and only requires the three core books for usage. This book's setting is distinct from the Ravenloft of the White Wolf product line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Product Spotlight: Expedition to Castle Ravenloft|url=http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Fps%2F20061006a|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726065822/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Fps%2F20061006a|archive-date=2014-07-26|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref> Shannon Appelcline, author of ''Designers & Dragons'', highlighted that by 2006 people were beginning to wonder if Wizards of the Coast might be preparing a fourth edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and stated that "the release of ''Expedition to Castle Ravenloft'' (2006) might just have offered another clue to the changing winds that lay ahead. First, it was a new line for 3.5e, suggesting that their original series of 3.5e books was coming to an end. Second, it was a fond look back at one of the most notable adventures from the ''AD&D'' days, just the sort of thing that Wizards published in the waning days of 2e".<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|294}} Appelcline later noted that, once fourth edition was officially announced, "the ''Expedition'' books that had begun publication in 2006 were revealed to indeed be part of Wizard's slow slide into 4e".<ref name="designers" />{{rp|295}}