Running the Curse of Strahd 5e module for 4 players. Please read the setting info before making characters and yes there are spoilers in there.
Disclaimer I've ran this module IRL many years ago for a group of friends, but this is my first time running a PbP campaign. I will try to post at least once every 1 or 2 days and expect the same from players. All feedback is welcome on how to make the experience better for players, please also excuse any inefficiencies and bloopers that will arise on my part.
Setting Info
The land of Barovia resides on its own demiplane, surrounded and choked by thick magical Mists. Strahd von Zarovich, the ruler of these lands, is both master and a prisoner of his domain. He decides who may pass through the Mists around Barovia, but is unable to leave. Travelers, from those who are lost in fog on their home planes to those actively seeking entry into Strahd's domain, may find themselves wandering into Barovia and forced to suffer the same fate as its master.
In order to setup the first scene, your character backstories should end with them traveling on foot through a thick misty forest as night is falling.
Characters start at level 3 and use 4d6 drop the lowest die (reroll 1s once) for stats. Characters may select 1 uncommon magic item to bring with them (I would suggest martial classes select a magic weapon +1 to overcome potential enemy damage resistances, but the decision is yours). Do note that the level cap is 10 and milestone levelling will be used. You may use any non-playtest material to create your characters. If interested, please submit the following details for your character.
Name:
Race:
Class:
Background:
Backstory:
Ability scores:
Uncommon magic item:
Link to Character Sheet: Either DnD Beyond or Google Docs if you do not have access to the Race/Class/Background you want on DnD Beyond.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ability scores: 17121715158
{I know I'm going to be DMing a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon version of Curse of Strahd shortly but I'm always curious about how other DMs run it. Everytime I've DMed so far, I've never gotten further than the Village of Barovia.}
Repeat players and DMs of the module are welcome, but please try to keep your posts spoiler free or hide the spoilers appropriately for those who have not played the module before. Thank you :)
To VictorNetherwalker: I did see your post, but got completely intimidated by the long list of unknown Pokemon names. My knowledge only extends to the first 150+1 Pokemon...and that should give you an inkling of my age.
Garavon was raised in the Silverwood in the Duchy of Ulek in Flanaess (Greyhawk campaign setting), both of his parents and two older sisters having followed the Druidic. While, Garavon has followed a more warlike path, spending time in the forces of the Duke as an archer in the Lortmil mountains before returning home to the Silverwood.
Garavon was responding to a call from the Duke for archers and warriors to gather at the village of Harrington in the foothills of the Lortmil mountains. The Duke and the Count Palatine having agreed to hunt a tribe of Orcs which had moves south, made their new home in the mountains and begun raiding into the valley.
Garavon had passed Tringlee and was making his way up the foothills in the cool autumn. Fog was a common morning sight in these intermediate elevations, but this morning the fog had a strange chill to it, as if malevolent as it rose in the early morning hours. Garavon suspected magic, perhaps, from an Orcish shamen to cover a raiding party’s movements, and he decided to leave the road. He was as at home in the woods and hills as upon the road. Cautiously, he continued, every sense alert for the sounds of movement or a passing shadow in the fog.
Garavon was raised in the Silverwood in the Duchy of Ulek in Flanaess (Greyhawk campaign setting), both of his parents and two older sisters having followed the Druidic. While, Garavon has followed a more warlike path, spending time in the forces of the Duke as an archer in the Lortmil mountains before returning home to the Silverwood.
Garavon was responding to a call from the Duke for archers and warriors to gather at the village of Harrington in the foothills of the Lortmil mountains. The Duke and the Count Palatine having agreed to hunt a tribe of Orcs which had moves south, made their new home in the mountains and begun raiding into the valley.
Garavon had passed Tringlee and was making his way up the foothills in the cool autumn. Fog was a common morning sight in these intermediate elevations, but this morning the fog had a strange chill to it, as if malevolent as it rose in the early morning hours. Garavon suspected magic, perhaps, from an Orcish shamen to cover a raiding party’s movements, and he decided to leave the road. He was as at home in the woods and hills as upon the road. Cautiously, he continued, every sense alert for the sounds of movement or a passing shadow in the fog.
Ability scores: 13 17 16 13 14 13
Uncommon magic item: +1 Longsword
After looking at your character sheet, are you sure the uncommon magic item you'd like is a +1 Longsword and not a +1 Longbow?
Backstory: Vicky Traakimash is a young, half-orc child, who lives on a small farm in between the mountains outside of Krezk. Her father, an orc with some human blood, her mother, a dwarf who takes care of the farm, and her older brother, a half-orc who helps care for the livestock, all keep her safe. She has taken up cooking as a skill of her's, and enjoys cooking over an open fire in the outdoors.
She often explores the landscapes she lives in, and thanks to the family not being as paranoid as the people of Krezk, she and her dad often venture out as far as the Wizards of Wines Winery. These adventures mostly end with a basket or two of mushrooms and apples and wild berries, most often being safe for consumption. She now explores places by herself, along with her weasel companion.
During her current venture through the mountains, she found herself wandering off her intended path in persuit of her pet weasel, named Gujat Latagu, as she suddenly tripped. Noticing where she now was, she attempted to retrace her steps, but she was feeling turned upside down, and couldn't see clearly. She suddenly sees three figures moving about her, one looking quite elven in the fog, and another with tall horns protruding from their head. She calls a very scared Latagu (short for Gujat Latagu) over, who hops into a mostly empty basket, curling up and quietly whimpering. Vicky calls out to anyone who might be there: "Who's there? What are you people?!"
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
I'm going to roll the numbers first and then marinate on a character. :)
???
If you haven't already, marinate it in crude oil XD
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
May I ask wether it is legal to own a pet / companion weasel?
I. NEED. WEASEL
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
This isn't the DM of the group, but I recommend making sure it isn't home-brewed and that it is not too rare in Barovia. For that last point, try using Obsidian Portal: Races of Barovia. Do it quickly, mind you, because the campaign might start soon!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
{Got it. I always make sure to avoid going into spoiler territory. I'm going to try something a little different instead of bard, sorcerer or fighter for a change.
As someone who also grew up with the original 150+1 Pokemon I get that. There are quite a few times where I've accidentally mixed up the newer ones. I still can't believe there's 1025 now.}
Character name: Skanon
Race: Tiefling
Class: Wizard (School of Necromancy)
Background: Smuggler
Backstory: Skanon's family never stayed in one place for all that long due to his parents line of work. As a child he never really gave it much thought to it because he got to visit so many different places and meet a variety of new people along the way, although when he became a teenager his mother came clean to him about what it was that they did. Initially he was upset that they hid the fact that they were smugglers but after a couple years he decided to join them even after they told him that it could get rather dangerous.
While most of the jobs he'd do involved smuggling items and weapons the one that stands out the most to him was when he helped transport a family that was fleeing from a looming war. When their baby began to cry at the checkpoint near the border Skanon gave the guards all the gold that he'd been saving to let them pass, although the family never found out about it. He had been saving the gold to buy himself a new spell book and some better gear but as he got to know the family he realized that the safety of others is more important than a few material things that he'd likely end up losing or having to sell to get him out of a sticky situation.
About ten years after helping the family Skanon received a letter from them, or at least he thought it had been from them although the penmanship was far more neat than that of the father or mother. While he was suspicious of the letter he couldn't deny that he wanted to see them again. As he set out in the hopes of seeing them again he couldn't help but wonder if the letter was actually a trap. The last time he'd seen them they had been near the coast but the letter had mentioned a small town on the other side of a forest, in his mind he rationalized that they could have moved since their last meeting.
It took him a few days to reach the forest in question but even in the remains of the fading light he could make out what appeared to be fog or maybe a thick mist amongst the trees. A wave of hesitation hit him as he stared at it for what seemed like an eternity even though it was only a couple of minutes before he finally took a few steps into the misty forest.
Running the Curse of Strahd 5e module for 4 players. Please read the setting info before making characters and yes there are spoilers in there.
Disclaimer
I've ran this module IRL many years ago for a group of friends, but this is my first time running a PbP campaign. I will try to post at least once every 1 or 2 days and expect the same from players. All feedback is welcome on how to make the experience better for players, please also excuse any inefficiencies and bloopers that will arise on my part.
Setting Info
The land of Barovia resides on its own demiplane, surrounded and choked by thick magical Mists. Strahd von Zarovich, the ruler of these lands, is both master and a prisoner of his domain. He decides who may pass through the Mists around Barovia, but is unable to leave. Travelers, from those who are lost in fog on their home planes to those actively seeking entry into Strahd's domain, may find themselves wandering into Barovia and forced to suffer the same fate as its master.
In order to setup the first scene, your character backstories should end with them traveling on foot through a thick misty forest as night is falling.
Characters start at level 3 and use 4d6 drop the lowest die (reroll 1s once) for stats. Characters may select 1 uncommon magic item to bring with them (I would suggest martial classes select a magic weapon +1 to overcome potential enemy damage resistances, but the decision is yours). Do note that the level cap is 10 and milestone levelling will be used. You may use any non-playtest material to create your characters. If interested, please submit the following details for your character.
Name:
Race:
Class:
Background:
Backstory:
Ability scores:
Uncommon magic item:
Link to Character Sheet:
Either DnD Beyond or Google Docs if you do not have access to the Race/Class/Background you want on DnD Beyond.
Ability scores: 14 16 13 14 11 11
Sounds great. Just seeing this before bed so I‘ll think about the setting, sleep on the numbers and come up with a character tomorrow.
Ability scores: 17 12 17 15 15 8
{I know I'm going to be DMing a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon version of Curse of Strahd shortly but I'm always curious about how other DMs run it. Everytime I've DMed so far, I've never gotten further than the Village of Barovia.}
Repeat players and DMs of the module are welcome, but please try to keep your posts spoiler free or hide the spoilers appropriately for those who have not played the module before. Thank you :)
To VictorNetherwalker:
I did see your post, but got completely intimidated by the long list of unknown Pokemon names. My knowledge only extends to the first 150+1 Pokemon...and that should give you an inkling of my age.
Name: Garavon of the Silverwood
Race: Elf, Wood
Class: Fighter (Arcane Archer)
Background: Outlander
Backstory:
Garavon was raised in the Silverwood in the Duchy of Ulek in Flanaess (Greyhawk campaign setting), both of his parents and two older sisters having followed the Druidic. While, Garavon has followed a more warlike path, spending time in the forces of the Duke as an archer in the Lortmil mountains before returning home to the Silverwood.
Garavon was responding to a call from the Duke for archers and warriors to gather at the village of Harrington in the foothills of the Lortmil mountains. The Duke and the Count Palatine having agreed to hunt a tribe of Orcs which had moves south, made their new home in the mountains and begun raiding into the valley.
Garavon had passed Tringlee and was making his way up the foothills in the cool autumn. Fog was a common morning sight in these intermediate elevations, but this morning the fog had a strange chill to it, as if malevolent as it rose in the early morning hours. Garavon suspected magic, perhaps, from an Orcish shamen to cover a raiding party’s movements, and he decided to leave the road. He was as at home in the woods and hills as upon the road. Cautiously, he continued, every sense alert for the sounds of movement or a passing shadow in the fog.
Ability scores: 13 17 16 13 14 13
Uncommon magic item: +1 Longsword
"ALWAYS GIVE A MONSTER AN EVEN BREAK!"
1st Edition DMG
Ability scores: 11 15 13 16 13 8
Why not?
EDIT: THOSE SCORES!?
Lore, Lore, and More! That's what I'm about!
PM me if you wish for some lore on a person or place!
Rolling to see if I get inspired.
Ability scores: 14 15 14 10 15 18
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Oh dear. What have you done to the RNG's dog? It clearly hates you. You can re-roll if you like.
After looking at your character sheet, are you sure the uncommon magic item you'd like is a +1 Longsword and not a +1 Longbow?
Name: Wagner
Race: Custom Lineage (TIefling/Eladrin hybrid)
Class: Bard (Swords)
Background: Entertainer
Backstory: Coming Soon
Ability Scores: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 19
Uncommon Magic Item: Rapier +1
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/116837398/4Vd4iZ
May I trade in my lute, non-magical rapier and leather armor from my starting equipment for studded leather and 15 gold?
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Don't know lol.
Re,and hopefully good,roll: Ability scores: 16 12 11 13 17 10
Lore, Lore, and More! That's what I'm about!
PM me if you wish for some lore on a person or place!
Much Better.
Lore, Lore, and More! That's what I'm about!
PM me if you wish for some lore on a person or place!
Name: Vicky Traakimash
Race: half orc
Class: druid
Background: none (sorry)
Backstory: Vicky Traakimash is a young, half-orc child, who lives on a small farm in between the mountains outside of Krezk. Her father, an orc with some human blood, her mother, a dwarf who takes care of the farm, and her older brother, a half-orc who helps care for the livestock, all keep her safe. She has taken up cooking as a skill of her's, and enjoys cooking over an open fire in the outdoors.
She often explores the landscapes she lives in, and thanks to the family not being as paranoid as the people of Krezk, she and her dad often venture out as far as the Wizards of Wines Winery. These adventures mostly end with a basket or two of mushrooms and apples and wild berries, most often being safe for consumption. She now explores places by herself, along with her weasel companion.
During her current venture through the mountains, she found herself wandering off her intended path in persuit of her pet weasel, named Gujat Latagu, as she suddenly tripped. Noticing where she now was, she attempted to retrace her steps, but she was feeling turned upside down, and couldn't see clearly. She suddenly sees three figures moving about her, one looking quite elven in the fog, and another with tall horns protruding from their head. She calls a very scared Latagu (short for Gujat Latagu) over, who hops into a mostly empty basket, curling up and quietly whimpering. Vicky calls out to anyone who might be there: "Who's there? What are you people?!"
But only to be replied to by faint echoes...
Ability scores: 15, 16, 16, 8, 12, 15
Uncommon magic item: decanter of endless water
Link to Character Sheet: Character Sheet
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Hope I've made your day!
This will be my second very recent druid character, so expect this to be strange.
This character is definitely not Vicky from the Fool's Gold campaign by Dingo Doodles
Feel free to look at the spoiler, it's just a character from a campaign you'll likely never learn of.
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Hope I've made your day!
I'm going to roll the numbers first and then marinate on a character. :)
Ability scores: 17 12 17 13 14 12
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 3 Halfling Rogue (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Evelyn Drake - Lvl. 3 Human Wizard (Rule of Change) ♦ Aranea Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Human Warlock (Where the Cold Winds Blow) ♦ Elsenia Vesper - Lvl. 2 Shadar-kai Druid (Strixhaven)
DMing: Curse of Strahd
???
If you haven't already, marinate it in crude oil XD
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Hope I've made your day!
May I ask wether it is legal to own a pet / companion weasel?
I. NEED. WEASEL
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Hope I've made your day!
Ability scores: 9 12 13 8 13 10
This isn't the DM of the group, but I recommend making sure it isn't home-brewed and that it is not too rare in Barovia. For that last point, try using Obsidian Portal: Races of Barovia. Do it quickly, mind you, because the campaign might start soon!
Look at it! Beauty! A spoiler!
Look what you've done, spoiling it for you and everyone who can see this screen. You're a disgrace, you know that, right? You have nothing to be ashamed of but yourself, you moster!
But to be completely fair, every monster has a cute side, like have you seen people draw goblins? Goblins look so cool! You're fine, you may seem like a monster, but I bet you're cute on the inside!
Hope I've made your day!
{Got it. I always make sure to avoid going into spoiler territory. I'm going to try something a little different instead of bard, sorcerer or fighter for a change.
As someone who also grew up with the original 150+1 Pokemon I get that. There are quite a few times where I've accidentally mixed up the newer ones. I still can't believe there's 1025 now.}
Character name: Skanon
Race: Tiefling
Class: Wizard (School of Necromancy)
Background: Smuggler
Backstory: Skanon's family never stayed in one place for all that long due to his parents line of work. As a child he never really gave it much thought to it because he got to visit so many different places and meet a variety of new people along the way, although when he became a teenager his mother came clean to him about what it was that they did. Initially he was upset that they hid the fact that they were smugglers but after a couple years he decided to join them even after they told him that it could get rather dangerous.
While most of the jobs he'd do involved smuggling items and weapons the one that stands out the most to him was when he helped transport a family that was fleeing from a looming war. When their baby began to cry at the checkpoint near the border Skanon gave the guards all the gold that he'd been saving to let them pass, although the family never found out about it. He had been saving the gold to buy himself a new spell book and some better gear but as he got to know the family he realized that the safety of others is more important than a few material things that he'd likely end up losing or having to sell to get him out of a sticky situation.
About ten years after helping the family Skanon received a letter from them, or at least he thought it had been from them although the penmanship was far more neat than that of the father or mother. While he was suspicious of the letter he couldn't deny that he wanted to see them again. As he set out in the hopes of seeing them again he couldn't help but wonder if the letter was actually a trap. The last time he'd seen them they had been near the coast but the letter had mentioned a small town on the other side of a forest, in his mind he rationalized that they could have moved since their last meeting.
It took him a few days to reach the forest in question but even in the remains of the fading light he could make out what appeared to be fog or maybe a thick mist amongst the trees. A wave of hesitation hit him as he stared at it for what seemed like an eternity even though it was only a couple of minutes before he finally took a few steps into the misty forest.
Ability Scores: STR- 15 DEX- 10 CON- 13 INT- 17 WIS- 13 CHA- 17
{before modifiers it was STR- 15 DEX- 10 CON- 13 INT- 16 WIS- 13 CHA- 15}
Uncommon Magic Item: +1 Arcane Grimoire
Character Sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/116830388/QJ5IBd