Wanted to post here my experience found when running a CoS game for the first time as a DM. Generally speaking, Village of Barovia is always the first port of call. Besides the optional Death House adventure hook, players aren't normally in the village for very long, 1 or 2 sessions at most.

Well, the current game I am running have spent just over 4 sessions! Yes, absurd as it sounds... but this is the run of events:

-- After spending 2 sessions in the Death House, one of the players found the deed to the house. They wanted to get this validated so they wanted to question Ismaark on it. Ismaark agreed that they are welcome to claim ownership as the house was finally destroyed and no living descendant exists.
-- Player then wants to review the site and possibly make it a mine of some kind (they have back storied into being a prospector). Part of this means they need to get a feel for the townsfolk and determine how many workers they can get on board.
-- After realizing the dismal state of the general population, the players decide they would like to try and re-vitalize the town. They go back to Izmark to ask if this is allowed - who is skeptical of the idea due to the constant threat of Strahd.
-- Players have first encounter with Strahd in the Burgomaster mansion.
-- The players make a plan with the barkeep to hold any messages and send via raven if any odd jobs are required. Starting off willing to accept any/all.
-- The players help clear the church of Donavich's vampire spawn, ready for the burial of Kolyan.
-- Players visit Bildraths to buy supplies. They then realize how expensive he charges, and are angered by it. See an opportunity to take over the shop, but want feedback from Ismaark.
-- Visit Ismaark and ask if they can take over the shop as Bildrath is "over-charging" on all goods. Promise that they will do it amicably. Ismaark again is skeptical - but is persuaded to allow them temporary powers of council (power of the Burgomaster). So that they can attempt to officially remove Bildrath.
-- They attempt to force Bildrath out, who doesn't take it well. Parriwimple tries to throw them out but is charmed with suggestion to "Take Bildrath as far from town as possible". Parriwimple takes Bildrath forcibly out of town.
-- Players raid the back office of Bildraths, obtain all his accumulated gold and some signed documents for potential forgery.
-- Players determine that Ismaark may not actually be cut out to be Burgomaster. As he wants escorting out of the village to Barovia, they use this time to plan a way to remove him from office (potentially using Strahd).
-- Players ask Donavich to run the shop in their absence until they can find a more permanent solution. He is persuaded successfully.
-- Players leave for the Vistani camp. After speaking with Stanimere, they try and persuade him to help move the goods to potentially a safe location for the time being, or even to Vallaki. He decides that he will help for 50% of profits, but can't commit any folk yet due to clan duties.
-- They then decide that it cannot wait as they aren't sure if Bildrath will return before then. SO THEY GO BACK TO THE VILLAGE (party is now split in 2, with half going to Vallaki with Ismaark/Ireena, and the other half going back).
-- After they return, they start clearing out the shop with what they can carry. Bildrath and Parriwimple return. A fight ensues.
-- Parriwimple is charmed AGAIN, this time to leave without Bildrath and to not return (will only last the 8 hours suggestion lasts for whilst spell is concentrated on). 
-- One player who is an Aarakocra takes Bildrath, flies up into the air, and drops him from 80ft. Bildrath is killed instantly.
-- The party then decide to see Mary and then finally leave the village.

All in all, it was a pretty awesome unique experience, but in terms of main story progression I ended up having to split the party in 2 as the others were getting impatient with waiting around. Trying to keep options open to all players. 

Does anyone else have interesting adventures from the Village of Barovia?

As long as you are having fun .. go for it :)

In my game, when I ran it, most of that would not have happened since it didn't fit the world and because I was constrained to run the module more or less as written.

However, when you are running it feel free to change anything up that you like as long as you and the players are having fun.

Though I would suggest keeping an eye on how "persuasive" the characters might be and decide in advance whether you want to allow them to "persuade" Strahd to step down, or "persuade" the witch or hags to help them etc. Given your description of the game so far, I expect the party is likely to try to "persuade" themselves out of a lot of situations but keep in mind that there are many cases where persuasion won't work at all.

P.S. I think the players are likely going to be a bit disappointed with their mercantile efforts though :) Nothing much is really made in the land of Barovia, all of their goods and clothing are typically pretty shoddy or patched. The primary source of goods like weapons etc is from outside Barovia. Bildrath gets these by trading with the Vistani who are the only source of goods other than the rare adventurer who winds up trapped in Barovia. He likely marks the goods up a bit to get a decent profit but the real source of the cost is the Vistani that trade with him. They likely charge him 5x the outside price since they are the only ones who can get new goods reliably. Bildrath likely marked things up by x2 to get 10x the outside pricing. However, I find it hilarious that Stanimir will help them for 50% of the profits since he then just sells the good to the players for the 5x markup and then they have to turn around and pay him half of whatever markup they decide to put on the goods so the Vistani profit even more from this little arrangement :). Threaten the Vistani and they cut of the supply and the characters have nothing to sell once whatever Bildrath has in stock is gone :)

Haha yes I've already the feeling that's how they think they'll skate past. The last session we had they tried to steal the black carriage that sits at the crossroads... that didn't end well for them 🤣 It has made them re-evaluate a lot of things!

Yes as it is their first time playing DnD, and as a group deciding on Curse of Strahd, I have been a bit more... lenient on them. I've allowed them a little easing into it but have been warning them that will fade the more they play.

Yeah I thought it was brilliant when they started trying to haggle with Stanimere. They haven't even thought to ask or query where Bildraths supplies come from! They are planning on renting out a building in Vallaki to set shop up, but not realising that they will have to figure out sourcing more stock, if it sells at all!

They've also now become fascinated with making bread and pastries... so they are going to try and "persuade" the hags. They don't know anything about them yet as they have not encountered her (they skipped past her in the Village!) 

Definitely the most unique play idea for it, though it's probably the wrong module to use.

Question - being constrained to run the module as is, have you ever had an evil player? 2 of my players have gone down the route of evil characters and they are thinking of taking Ismaark out so they can take Ireena to Strahd. I've never had a player be evil before so wanted to see how it would play out but now I feel like perhaps it was a mistake 🤣🤣