I rolled up a backup PC in case my current Hexblade bites the dust, and as she's "leveled up" I think she's fairly perfect for CoS - a Protector Aasimar Fighter 2 / Celestial Warlock PotB. Still got that melee thing going on, with sword and board, but some hefty radiant / fire damage. Green Flame Blade and Sacred Flame are her go-to cantrips, Eldritch Smite and Thirsting Blade for invocations, with Guiding Bolt and most of the rest are charm/control/debuff... Healing Light, a couple of (different) Radiant Soul features...
Nearly everyone in my party is chaotic evil or chaotic Nuetral. I am probably the only Nuetral evil in my party. We are playing curse of Strahd.
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Luke, you can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together, we can rule the galaxy as father and son! Come with me. It is the only way.
I am going to play Curse of Strahd for the first time ever and I am hoping to get some ideas and examples of the best character to play! What's everyone's recommendations? Also what am I in for without being too spoilery!!
After playing in a game of Curse of Strahd, I have another suggestion.
Don't play a character that relies on gear and/or loot.
The chance of getting armour heavier than what you started with is near zero. We found obtaining extra weapons (even something as mundane as a longbow or a shield) to be difficult-to-impossible. Equipment costs are ridiculous and loot rewards are also ridiculous (purchased items at 10× price, sold items at 1/10× price). As far as we can tell, only one person in the entire game sells the inks for a wizard's spellbook (and her prices are… interesting). If you do loot stuff, you'll be carrying it yourself as horses, donkeys, oxen and so on are not avaiable (probably been eaten by the starving townsfolk).
Curse of Strahd is a people game. Less emphasis on gear and power and advancement; more emphasis on relationships and power and politics (sheesh, lots and lots of politics in our game!). A lot of the power is corrupt and/or impotent. It's Gothic Horror, after all.
After playing in a game of Curse of Strahd, I have another suggestion.
Don't play a character that relies on gear and/or loot.
The chance of getting armour heavier than what you started with is near zero. We found obtaining extra weapons (even something as mundane as a longbow or a shield) to be difficult-to-impossible. Equipment costs are ridiculous and loot rewards are also ridiculous (purchased items at 10× price, sold items at 1/10× price). As far as we can tell, only one person in the entire game sells the inks for a wizard's spellbook (and her prices are… interesting). If you do loot stuff, you'll be carrying it yourself as horses, donkeys, oxen and so on are not avaiable (probably been eaten by the starving townsfolk).
Curse of Strahd is a people game. Less emphasis on gear and power and advancement; more emphasis on relationships and power and politics (sheesh, lots and lots of politics in our game!). A lot of the power is corrupt and/or impotent. It's Gothic Horror, after all.
To add to this, consider that the Haunted One background that was introduced with this module is the only one without starting gold. This may be one of the few modules that starting out with gold instead of equipment and then getting your beginning load out exactly where you want it will be more beneficial.
The campaign leans a bit on your party having a Cleric. Your party will also do well to have a Rogue, and a Monster Hunter Ranger or a Paladin are great additions too. But any class can be useful, so do play what you want.
Many region-specific background features are made difficult to use by the nature of the campaign, so try to pick generally-useful ones or talk with your DM about fluffy abilities. But Strahd is all about the flavour and atmosphere of the campaign, so work harder on nailing your RP feel than your mechanical benefits. Go for edgy, gothic horror appeal; or alternatively, a naive optimist who is set up for a rude awakening. Think about horror cliche characters to a point.
If I were a DM running Strahd, I would explicitly ask my players to use human as race, for two reasons: nearly everyone you'll meet is human (other races get handwaved somewhat, but it helps immersion if everyone is human); and they lack darkvision, so you don't ruin the atmosphere by being able to see without candlelight (etc.). If you want to maximize fun and don't mind getting spooked in dark rooms, go with human.
I like that part about human or even halfling. Adds more to the play without dark vision, at least for me.
This is slightly a dead post but, if anyone wants the best class to start for curse of strahd, well. Go undying warlock and make everything not able to hit you.
all very helpful and interesting. so, throwing my question into the hat. rogue with Mastermind archtype? thoughts? was thinking as this was a more RP heavy, the Mastermind would come in handy with any diplomatic dialogue. my other thought was thief arch type
Pretty much everything works, I think. Paladins and clerics are good for battle, but bards are amazing for the social encounters. Never played it though.
the game leans on you having a cleric or paladin in your team and there are NPCs to play these if your party doesn't have one but if u wanna be op pick one of these. and (personal opinion) i prefer paladin. you get to be a front line fighter with smite that destroys undead, you can also get turn or control undead (depending on subclass like devotion or oath breaker) witch is then amplified by some campaign items and is a great last resort.
as for race, its based on personal opinion for a lot of it. there is a lot of travel so maybe something to help your party move like a centaur or something. i played a Tabaxi and the climbing speed helped a lot in some situations. something like an assimar with resistance to necrotic might be helpful as well as necrotic damage can be apparent in the campaign to
I'm having fun with a 2014 half elf Paladin with a 2-level dip in Warlock for access to Eldritch Blast, Agonizing Blast, and Devil's Sight. Given a choice, I'd change the race/species from half elf to 2014 wood elf though for the Fleet of Foot and Mask of the Wild abilities.
If going with pure 2024 rules, then high elf Cleric with a 1-level dip in Warlock for the same warlock-related benefits. Misty Step is just too good a combat maneuver to pass up; keep in mind that the teleport is in any direction, including up and down.
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Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson
When life is bleak, all hope is lost, a wall is at your back, you always have one option left...attack! Attack! ATTACK! - Me
ANYTHING MORE 'HAPPY' OR 'GOOD'. YOUR DM AND PARTY WILL ENJOY THE CONTRAST TO THE GLOOMY SETTING AND SEEING AS STRAHD IS THE VILLAIN BEING ALL CREEPY AND DARK IS A LITTLE OF CLASSES LIKE, CLERIC PALADIN, RANGER OR EVEN MAYBE BARD FIT THIS.
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I rolled up a backup PC in case my current Hexblade bites the dust, and as she's "leveled up" I think she's fairly perfect for CoS - a Protector Aasimar Fighter 2 / Celestial Warlock PotB. Still got that melee thing going on, with sword and board, but some hefty radiant / fire damage. Green Flame Blade and Sacred Flame are her go-to cantrips, Eldritch Smite and Thirsting Blade for invocations, with Guiding Bolt and most of the rest are charm/control/debuff... Healing Light, a couple of (different) Radiant Soul features...
Nearly everyone in my party is chaotic evil or chaotic Nuetral. I am probably the only Nuetral evil in my party. We are playing curse of Strahd.
Luke, you can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny. Join me, and together, we can rule the galaxy as father and son! Come with me. It is the only way.
Aasimar paladin or blood hunter (ghost slayer).
After playing in a game of Curse of Strahd, I have another suggestion.
Don't play a character that relies on gear and/or loot.
The chance of getting armour heavier than what you started with is near zero. We found obtaining extra weapons (even something as mundane as a longbow or a shield) to be difficult-to-impossible. Equipment costs are ridiculous and loot rewards are also ridiculous (purchased items at 10× price, sold items at 1/10× price). As far as we can tell, only one person in the entire game sells the inks for a wizard's spellbook (and her prices are… interesting). If you do loot stuff, you'll be carrying it yourself as horses, donkeys, oxen and so on are not avaiable (probably been eaten by the starving townsfolk).
Curse of Strahd is a people game. Less emphasis on gear and power and advancement; more emphasis on relationships and power and politics (sheesh, lots and lots of politics in our game!). A lot of the power is corrupt and/or impotent. It's Gothic Horror, after all.
I don't know, I think a haunted one monk would be cool. Clerics are only second in helpfulness though, paladins take first.
That's gotta be interesting to play out.
Oathbreaker Paladin. You get to control undead
When players get creative.
To add to this, consider that the Haunted One background that was introduced with this module is the only one without starting gold. This may be one of the few modules that starting out with gold instead of equipment and then getting your beginning load out exactly where you want it will be more beneficial.
I like that part about human or even halfling. Adds more to the play without dark vision, at least for me.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
This is slightly a dead post but, if anyone wants the best class to start for curse of strahd, well. Go undying warlock and make everything not able to hit you.
I know this was like 4 years ago but thanks for this.
This helped me.
Don't worry... I'm not wearing any pants.
Play as a weakling
all very helpful and interesting. so, throwing my question into the hat. rogue with Mastermind archtype? thoughts? was thinking as this was a more RP heavy, the Mastermind would come in handy with any diplomatic dialogue. my other thought was thief arch type
I think you'll find is that Strahd is actually playing you. :-)
Pretty much everything works, I think. Paladins and clerics are good for battle, but bards are amazing for the social encounters. Never played it though.
the game leans on you having a cleric or paladin in your team and there are NPCs to play these if your party doesn't have one but if u wanna be op pick one of these. and (personal opinion) i prefer paladin. you get to be a front line fighter with smite that destroys undead, you can also get turn or control undead (depending on subclass like devotion or oath breaker) witch is then amplified by some campaign items and is a great last resort.
as for race, its based on personal opinion for a lot of it. there is a lot of travel so maybe something to help your party move like a centaur or something. i played a Tabaxi and the climbing speed helped a lot in some situations. something like an assimar with resistance to necrotic might be helpful as well as necrotic damage can be apparent in the campaign to
I'm having fun with a 2014 half elf Paladin with a 2-level dip in Warlock for access to Eldritch Blast, Agonizing Blast, and Devil's Sight. Given a choice, I'd change the race/species from half elf to 2014 wood elf though for the Fleet of Foot and Mask of the Wild abilities.
If going with pure 2024 rules, then high elf Cleric with a 1-level dip in Warlock for the same warlock-related benefits. Misty Step is just too good a combat maneuver to pass up; keep in mind that the teleport is in any direction, including up and down.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
- Hunter S. Thompson
When life is bleak, all hope is lost, a wall is at your back, you always have one option left...attack! Attack! ATTACK!
- Me
ANYTHING MORE 'HAPPY' OR 'GOOD'. YOUR DM AND PARTY WILL ENJOY THE CONTRAST TO THE GLOOMY SETTING AND SEEING AS STRAHD IS THE VILLAIN BEING ALL CREEPY AND DARK IS A LITTLE OF CLASSES LIKE, CLERIC PALADIN, RANGER OR EVEN MAYBE BARD FIT THIS.