EDIT: Reopening recruitment, as we unfortunately had a lot of unexpected drop-outs.
The group so far has navigated most of the Death House and is is about to enter the final level of the dungeon. For story purposes, any new characters were driven/lured to Barovia like the rest, but arrived a little later and will meet the existing characters as they emerge from Death House back into the village.
Character creation should follow the same guidance as below, but starting on Level 3. Please let me know if you would like to join.
________________________________
Original recruitment thread:
________________________________
I want to run a Curse of Strahd campaign and am looking for some players. This is my first time DM-ing play-by-post, so while I while do my very best please accept my apologies in advance for any minor hiccups.
The adventure hook is:
You are a group of individual travellers on the road, all travelling in the same direction but not particularly familiar with each other. As the sun starts setting on another day of travel, you decide to make camp and share a fire for the night to cook your rations and exchange stories. The woods are quiet this night, and the air grows chill. Your fire sputters as a low mist gathers around the edges of your camp, growing closer as the night wears on. During the night, you sleep fitfully, and occasionally awake briefly - but when you do the fog and darkness obscures everything beyond the area of your campfire. In the distance, you hear the occasional howling of Wolves in the distance - which strikes you as odd since you have not heard of wolves in these parts of the world. When you wake up in the morning, the fog seems just as thick, with no sign of lessening. As you gather your things and look around, you begin to notice that the trees and ground around you appear to have changed. Worse still, the stone road by which you pitched your camp appears to have vanished, and in its place you find a single dirt track leading off from your camp into the fog. Whatever happened to you overnight, you do not appear to be in the same place as where you pitched your camp.
If you would like to join, please post a link to your character, and also please answer the following questions:
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Some general rules for character creation:
No homebrew please, only official materials
Point Buy or Standard Array (I believe this makes for more balance within the party)
Everyone will start at 1st level
No encumbrance
Feel free to add any standard non-magical equipment from the list, but subtract the cost from your starting gold (we will assume everyone had a chance to do some non-magical shopping in the last town).
I will leave the thread open until 31 May, and then choose a party of 6. So don't rush, as this will not be first-come-first served. If there are too many good characters (which I suspect will be the case), I will have to make a selection - and I apologise in advance if not everyone can make the cut.
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
I tend for the play the "collector" type, a failed pawnbroker or merchant who has decided the only way he's going to make a living is to join up with others. Explorers, and is constantly barteeing stuff. Skill sets are usually high in the intelligence and wisdom so he knows about stuff, can identify it, estimate its value. He's more of a backline support role.
At level two I usually multi-class and again at level three to pick up all three cleric, rogue, and sorcerer. Typically his clerical background is first (knowledge domain), having been raised monastically in an offshoot of worshipers of Oghma, that interpret that relationship differently than the mainstream (isn't that always the case with spinoffs). They tend to believe that items of power should only be held by the trustworthy so they actively seek to find and secure anything that if it fell in the wrong end would be bad. This is the underlying "divine" premise to support him having been a pawnbroker in the past. Seems a lot of people seek out of church that fits their beliefs, and that's exactly what he did.
If allowed to pursue the multiclass later, then he learns as he goes, constantly practicing different things at night before the group goes to bed, or during his shift on watch. That's how he eventually picks up his rogue skills, and finally uncovers an innate sorcerer power that he didn't know he had at first. (Shadow magic origin).
2. Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
Go about 40 plus years, mostly as a dungeon master. The original D&D, basic and expert, then second edition, skip third and 3.5, and have played a lot of 4th and fifth edition. Tons of other game systems too.
As for PBP, I started playing that way before the internet existed and we had to use dial-up modems and Bulletin Board Systems, exchange game turns by email. Still play a lot of PbP now, on a lot of sites. LolH
3 Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Oh yeah, tried to. Failed a lot. Never had a group make it out of the first village. multiple times even including the old Ravenloft original. I suppose I forgotten most of it, but wouldbe thrilled to find another chance to actually get through it for once. PbP is so slow, it's just hard to hold a group together, all with the same posting frequency. Good news is my job is very flexible so, I can usually post between 4 and 10 times a day... That seems to be well above the general average of asynchronous gaming as a whole.. some of the games I'm in are once a week, you're lucky if it's once a day.
Edit: oops, forgot to include a link. This character is a WIP because he was already third level and I'm backing him back down to first... So I have to clean him up, remove some of his gear, and rework his spells, but.... Here is the link
Character summary: High Elf Rogue (Thief) - Rojor Reldraxi is a treasure hunter extraordinaire. He was raised in a loving stable elven home to parents who worshiped Correllon proudly. Spent alot of his youth in various temples and libraries. He found his life to be too mundane and dull, so he sought out a way to get out into the larger world and find a life of adventure. He was recruited by a high ranking priest of his temple to join a secretive but equally useful branch of the church. He was trained to find and retrieve lost elven heirlooms and artifacts and return them to the church. Though some of his methods are not the most noble, he performs them with skill and pride.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post: Started playing back in the 80's with 1st and 2nd ed. Recently started playing again just over a year again. Have played some pbp over discord.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before? Haven't played Curse of Strahd at all
Remnant Two Mask, Grave Cleric. They were born to a traveling tabaxi troupe, but their birth was surrounded by ill omens. Fearful, the troupe convinced their parents to leave them with the local temple. They were raised as an acolyte and tended to the temple cleaning and burials - things that kept them out of the way of any high-class visitors. They are a humble devotee of guiding the dying to their rest, and when they came of age, the head priest of their temple charged them with going out into the world and proving their devotion. It settled their wanderer's spirit, allowing them to roam where they would, helping the dying and the grieving, and putting wandering spirits to rest. Above all, they respect the sanctity of death as the natural end.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
6 years playing Dnd; 22 years of text-based roleplay.
Kiara Strongbow, Variant Human Fighter/Champion (with possible multiclass into Ranger or Paladin after level 4)
Born of a commoner stock, Kiara is no stranger to hard work. With no brothers to help him, Kiara's father relied on her to help him tend to the family farm. She grew up strong and hearty, which is probably why she survived the sickness when so many others did not.
Since the farm lease passes from tenant farmer to eldest son, Kiara had a choice, a marriage of convenience or the life of a vagabond. She's been on the road ever since.
Experience Level: Played mid-eighties through the early 2000's, mostly 2e. Started playing 5e and PBP in January, both in the forums and on Discord.
Curse of Strahd Experience: None. I'm vaguely aware of the Ravenloft setting and briefly ran a Ravenloft flavoured, homebrew campaign as a duet at the specific request of my player.
1) Character Summary Thromlin Treesinger, Firbolg druid (Moon). Thromlin is a quiet, peaceful, lover of the natural world. As one of three apprentice druids in his clan, Thromlin was given to watch over, care, and aid the animals of the forest. A task he reveled in, and takes quite seriously. After many successful seasons watching over his flock, Thromlin has reached the next step in his apprenticeship, the long walk, where he must go out and make a difference in the world, must do something noble and grand to earn his place. Thromlin is very even tempered, and thoughtful. A seeker of peace and balance. He will always try and find non violent solutions to his problems, but when provoked, or witness to atrocities to the natural order, the beast is released.
2) Experience I have been playing various TTRPG's for over twenty years. I have played as a player and a DM. Have played in a few text based games on this platform as well as discord. All of which ended fairly quickly, and I would love to be involved in one that went the distance.
3) Playing Strahd I have been a player in two Strahd adventures, one that ended right after the haunted house and another that ended shortly after that.
Any restrictions on race? I ask because it feels way different with a plasmoid, minotaur, hadozee and centaur trekking through Barovia than a "traditional" party.
On that note: what kind of horror/feeling are you going for? Similar to the first question, as CoS requires a certain mindset and some parties play it like a classic Hammer horror film while others are doing Evil Dead: army of darkness.
Just asking so the party members are roughly on the same page.
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
Thinking of fighter to keep things simple. Still deciding on subclass but battlemaster or samurai looks promising. Or perchance something other but keeping it simple. Sorcerer is also in the running.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
Started with 4e, then switched to 5e for a total of 12 years now. A lot of PbP but sadly never finished a campaign due to various reasons.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Yes but one with a lot of homebrew in it. Not finished it.
I typically play the character with the dark/sad backstory. I’m currently planning on doing a Half-Elf Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline). I have Blue as the type listed, but am willing to change it if the DM wants to tie it in.
My backstory idea (I’m cool with changing it if need be) Arokas Nightshade grew up the son of a powerful draconic sorcerer. His father wanted him to be one as well, and hurt Arokas many times to try and bring out the magic. This succeeded in awakening his magic, but Aro was traumatized and ran away from home. He has been haunted by the memories of his childhood, and is afraid of become exactly what his father was.
2. Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
I’m a younger D&D player, and have had 4 years of 5e experience. I’ve played in multiple PbP campaigns and a few in-person ones, although none of them have ever finished due to scheduling conflicts, fizzling out, or just lack of interest from other players.
3. Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
I have never played, but I’m excited to do so for the first time!
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
Tall, skin on the pale end of tan contrasting with jet-black hair and a few white scars, the man who calls himself Death Wish doesn’t happen to know anything about his background at all, having suffered a blow to the head a few months before and coming away with amnesia. However, it quickly became apparent to him that he has a natural skill for punching and stabbing things. He’d begun to suspect that he worked for some sort of organized crime or assassin agency, and was headed along this road to try to find a lead to his past…
Variant human monk, planning for kensei
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
A good bit. I dm a game in real life and I’ve been playing PbP for about six months now
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
nay
posting character sheet in a moment, I HAVE YET TO SELECT A FEAT because I’m hoping that if I get picked someone will have content sharing.
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If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
Tall, skin on the pale end of tan contrasting with jet-black hair and a few white scars, the man who calls himself Death Wish doesn’t happen to know anything about his background at all, having suffered a blow to the head a few months before and coming away with amnesia. However, it quickly became apparent to him that he has a natural skill for punching and stabbing things. He’d begun to suspect that he worked for some sort of organized crime or assassin agency, and was headed along this road to try to find a lead to his past…
Variant human monk, planning for kensei
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
A good bit. I dm a game in real life and I’ve been playing PbP for about six months now
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
nay
posting character sheet in a moment, I HAVE YET TO SELECT A FEAT because I’m hoping that if I get picked someone will have content sharing.
Janek Whitmor (Fighter) Link to character: Janek Whitmor
Questions
Character summary
Although he didn't know it Janek Whitmor's family was involved with an evil cult. After his parents disappeared, his grandparents raised him and his siblings. In his late teens, his village had become involved in a war - instigated to try and put a cult member into power. During one of the battles around the town, the cult had summoned demons to aid their efforts. They did kill off their enemies, but also destroyed the town and killed many who lived there.
Amidst the fighting, Janek became possessed - there is much he doesn't remember, but images of the carnage he helped create still remain. It was then he learned that his grandparents and older brother were involved with this cult. His older sister too learned of these fact, and intended to turn them in. However, his brother learned of this, and was able to send the still possessed Janek to kill his own sister. A moment he still remembers, even though he wasn't in control of his actions. In the end it turned out she had gotten word out anyhow. Many members of the cult were rounded up, including his grandparents. Janek and his younger sister were also brought in, with her sister dying of injuries from the overzealous guardsmen. He himself was tried for killing his sister, found guilty, and sentenced to a life-long imprisonment. He truly felt guilty, not only had he killed his older sister but he'd allowed his younger sister's death as well.
After over a year in prison, Janek's older brother, who had escaped capture, sent others to break him out. Not wanting anything to do with his brother or his associates, Janek slipped away to get as far from his village and his past life as possible. Now he travels, generally alone, taking what work he can. His poems keep him company, and he turns to them to try to forget the things that have happened. (A bit more detailed background on character sheet.)
In terms of sub-class, I'm leaning towards Battle Master.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post My experience playing DnD goes way, way back. While involved in other role-playing activities, I had some time away from D&D before I started learning about 5e probably 3 years ago and played a tiny bit. I think I've been doing play-by-post for about 2 years now - both on the forums here and sometimes Discord. I've been both DM and player.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before? Yes, in that I've started a Curse of Strahd campaign before. Much as others have said, it didn't go very far at all. (We'd traveled somewhere and started to go through a house of some sort. Didn't even complete going through that place.) Anyhow, I really do not consider myself to have played it.
I'd like to introduce LiaraThunderbane, Mountain dwarf cleric of Muannan Duathal (Neutral good, tempest domain). I do not plan to switch classes unless something happens that would justify that (with your permission of course). https://ddb.ac/characters/92968995/rtKqKL
I have played DnD for a few months, currently I am running a DnD campaign as a DM here. For some years I have played pen and paper (mostly homebrew worlds) with GURPS mechanics, CP2020 and some others... Never played the Curse of Sthrad.
Liara's story:
It was a strange night 52 years ago. Neither stars nor moon was visible because of heavy clouds and thunders echoed in the valleys lighted up with so many lightnings even a human could have read with ease. That night I was born. Many, including my parents, took this as an omen, and you must know, dwarves take such matters quite seriously, therefore as soon as I was old enough, I was brought to the Muamman Duathal's priest, Morrin Stormcloud who took me with him so I could eventually become one too. He was quite old that time and he knew he will need someone to take his place. I wasn't the best student. I wasn't a good one either. Many times the priest tired to convince me to act a bit more like him, but I hardly ever listened. To makes matters worse, I had no problems with any of the trials and always have felt His presence. We have wandered for many years and I always liked this kind of life. Helping those who are lost, those who need us, no matter the race. I have learned a lot and managed to visit my family back home a few times. To a surprise of few, I wasn't a little sister any more. A few months ago, when we were in my home city, the priest brought me to the very cave, I was born in. There, he presented me with an amulet he made for me and in front of my whole family I was ordained a full priest. For some time we stayed with my family, but I knew it is the high time for me to move out.
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DM in Tyranny of Dragons
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
1. Doc has been build by an artificer for a noble elven family. His sole purpose was to protect, heal, help the family elders when they were sick, wounded or if any thiefs/robbers would show up at the house. A couple of weeks a go the elders died and Doc's purpose was gone. The younger once of the family weren't sure what to do with him, and in the end decided to tell him he was free to go were he liked. So Doc left the Elven city to find a new purpose or way of life so to say. That was just a few days a go, so of course when he met some people on the road he was happy to share food with them, even though he doesn't eat himself.
Doc will most likely focus on healing, as that was what he was build for but all his coming new experiences might lead to different ways of evolving.
2. Couple of years playing RL, and 1,5-2 years experience with play by post; both on hear as on rpggeek.com
3. No I never played any part of curse of Sthrad, but would love to play it as I have heard its a very good adventure.
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"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war |Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
WIP: Reborn sorceror, heading to Shadow-Magic; fleeing an uncertain past, but clearly high-born. Fled his home town after waking in the forest, gravely wounded. Actually, mortally wounded, but it did not seem to stop him. After a shaky start to his new life, he has learned to fit in and was on the road to escape whatever it was that was that seems to still hunt him when he stays in one place for too long.
Experience-levelof playing DnD, including play-by-post
Played PnP a lot, many years ago. Been on DNDB for the 2-3 years. Regular poster.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Death House only. The last game folded after that.
Lex is certain that the stories about her ancestor as just rumours, grown over decades of retelling. Sure, she lives in the castle inherited from him, and there does tend to run in her family a preference for late nights, flowing black clothing and meat on the rare side, but the actual living dead? Ridiculous, superstitious nonsense.
I like the idea of a character with a very dilute dhampir lineage, but which emerges with exposure to Barovia, so she's learning what she is over the course of the game. Druid, to lean into the turn-into-bats-or-wolves and influence-over-animals type vampire tropes, and circle of stars to tie into the nocturnal nature and because she's scientifically minded and would probably try to figure out where they are by the constellations (and because a vampire can occasionally sparkle a little, as a treat).
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
First played red box in the 80's, but most played 3.5 and pathfinder (a lot of play-by-post pathfinder society) and then 5e. Have played several PbP games on these forums, though most have fallen apart, and am currently DM for two groups of Spelljammer Academy here.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
No, though I have heard some parts played on actual play podcasts, so know a couple of the plot elements. I'm pretty OK at separating player knowledge and character knowledge, though.
What would be the posting frequency? Will it be once per day or something else?
I would hope that people can post once per day, sometimes maybe more frequent, but of course things sometimes slip over weekends or holidays.
Actually, I should add for transparency: I am very committed, and will try to post daily. But I do occasionally have family commitments, and sometimes have work days 8am to midnight. So there will be days with no posts from my side too, but probably no more than most PbP campaigns.
Some fun characters already. Thanks all! As per the original post, I'll leave this thread open until the 31st before making any selection. Just to give everyone a fair chance.
Ivan is a lvl1 Lunar sorcerer. I plan to stick with sorcerer for the foreseeable future. Ivan is very charismatic and friendly he is a strange light in the otherwise bleak Brovia. He is a wildhunt shifter, when he changes he becomes more boar like and his teeth form Tusks. Ivan finds thrill in the study and capture of all manner of monster,beast, and humanoid.
I've played dnd for 4or 5 years now no experience with this forum.
And I've only ever heard things about Curse if Strahd I haven't played.
EDIT: Reopening recruitment, as we unfortunately had a lot of unexpected drop-outs.
The group so far has navigated most of the Death House and is is about to enter the final level of the dungeon. For story purposes, any new characters were driven/lured to Barovia like the rest, but arrived a little later and will meet the existing characters as they emerge from Death House back into the village.
If you want to read the campaign so far to get a feeling, please have a read through the campaign thread so far.
Character creation should follow the same guidance as below, but starting on Level 3. Please let me know if you would like to join.
________________________________
Original recruitment thread:
________________________________
I want to run a Curse of Strahd campaign and am looking for some players. This is my first time DM-ing play-by-post, so while I while do my very best please accept my apologies in advance for any minor hiccups.
The adventure hook is:
If you would like to join, please post a link to your character, and also please answer the following questions:
Some general rules for character creation:
I will leave the thread open until 31 May, and then choose a party of 6. So don't rush, as this will not be first-come-first served. If there are too many good characters (which I suspect will be the case), I will have to make a selection - and I apologise in advance if not everyone can make the cut.
I tend for the play the "collector" type, a failed pawnbroker or merchant who has decided the only way he's going to make a living is to join up with others. Explorers, and is constantly barteeing stuff. Skill sets are usually high in the intelligence and wisdom so he knows about stuff, can identify it, estimate its value. He's more of a backline support role.
At level two I usually multi-class and again at level three to pick up all three cleric, rogue, and sorcerer. Typically his clerical background is first (knowledge domain), having been raised monastically in an offshoot of worshipers of Oghma, that interpret that relationship differently than the mainstream (isn't that always the case with spinoffs). They tend to believe that items of power should only be held by the trustworthy so they actively seek to find and secure anything that if it fell in the wrong end would be bad. This is the underlying "divine" premise to support him having been a pawnbroker in the past. Seems a lot of people seek out of church that fits their beliefs, and that's exactly what he did.
If allowed to pursue the multiclass later, then he learns as he goes, constantly practicing different things at night before the group goes to bed, or during his shift on watch. That's how he eventually picks up his rogue skills, and finally uncovers an innate sorcerer power that he didn't know he had at first. (Shadow magic origin).
2. Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
Go about 40 plus years, mostly as a dungeon master. The original D&D, basic and expert, then second edition, skip third and 3.5, and have played a lot of 4th and fifth edition. Tons of other game systems too.
As for PBP, I started playing that way before the internet existed and we had to use dial-up modems and Bulletin Board Systems, exchange game turns by email. Still play a lot of PbP now, on a lot of sites. LolH
3 Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Oh yeah, tried to. Failed a lot. Never had a group make it out of the first village. multiple times even including the old Ravenloft original. I suppose I forgotten most of it, but wouldbe thrilled to find another chance to actually get through it for once. PbP is so slow, it's just hard to hold a group together, all with the same posting frequency. Good news is my job is very flexible so, I can usually post between 4 and 10 times a day... That seems to be well above the general average of asynchronous gaming as a whole.. some of the games I'm in are once a week, you're lucky if it's once a day.
Edit: oops, forgot to include a link. This character is a WIP because he was already third level and I'm backing him back down to first... So I have to clean him up, remove some of his gear, and rework his spells, but.... Here is the link
https://ddb.ac/characters/100551927/0Z1pKP
Hello I am Interested in joining,
https://ddb.ac/characters/101077492/7Teze1
Character summary
Remnant Two Mask, Grave Cleric. They were born to a traveling tabaxi troupe, but their birth was surrounded by ill omens. Fearful, the troupe convinced their parents to leave them with the local temple. They were raised as an acolyte and tended to the temple cleaning and burials - things that kept them out of the way of any high-class visitors. They are a humble devotee of guiding the dying to their rest, and when they came of age, the head priest of their temple charged them with going out into the world and proving their devotion. It settled their wanderer's spirit, allowing them to roam where they would, helping the dying and the grieving, and putting wandering spirits to rest. Above all, they respect the sanctity of death as the natural end.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
6 years playing Dnd; 22 years of text-based roleplay.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
I have not, though I have long been wanting to.
Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/101079042/WOy1S3
No Longer ActiveWhat would be the posting frequency? Will it be once per day or something else?
Character Sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/101569574
Character Summary:
Kiara Strongbow, Variant Human Fighter/Champion (with possible multiclass into Ranger or Paladin after level 4)
Born of a commoner stock, Kiara is no stranger to hard work. With no brothers to help him, Kiara's father relied on her to help him tend to the family farm. She grew up strong and hearty, which is probably why she survived the sickness when so many others did not.
Since the farm lease passes from tenant farmer to eldest son, Kiara had a choice, a marriage of convenience or the life of a vagabond. She's been on the road ever since.
Experience Level: Played mid-eighties through the early 2000's, mostly 2e. Started playing 5e and PBP in January, both in the forums and on Discord.
Curse of Strahd Experience: None. I'm vaguely aware of the Ravenloft setting and briefly ran a Ravenloft flavoured, homebrew campaign as a duet at the specific request of my player.
Hey! Sounds like fun, I would love to join!
1) Character Summary Thromlin Treesinger, Firbolg druid (Moon). Thromlin is a quiet, peaceful, lover of the natural world. As one of three apprentice druids in his clan, Thromlin was given to watch over, care, and aid the animals of the forest. A task he reveled in, and takes quite seriously. After many successful seasons watching over his flock, Thromlin has reached the next step in his apprenticeship, the long walk, where he must go out and make a difference in the world, must do something noble and grand to earn his place. Thromlin is very even tempered, and thoughtful. A seeker of peace and balance. He will always try and find non violent solutions to his problems, but when provoked, or witness to atrocities to the natural order, the beast is released.
2) Experience I have been playing various TTRPG's for over twenty years. I have played as a player and a DM. Have played in a few text based games on this platform as well as discord. All of which ended fairly quickly, and I would love to be involved in one that went the distance.
3) Playing Strahd I have been a player in two Strahd adventures, one that ended right after the haunted house and another that ended shortly after that.
Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/101085498/YpVJEh
Any restrictions on race? I ask because it feels way different with a plasmoid, minotaur, hadozee and centaur trekking through Barovia than a "traditional" party.
On that note: what kind of horror/feeling are you going for? Similar to the first question, as CoS requires a certain mindset and some parties play it like a classic Hammer horror film while others are doing Evil Dead: army of darkness.
Just asking so the party members are roughly on the same page.
Thinking of fighter to keep things simple. Still deciding on subclass but battlemaster or samurai looks promising. Or perchance something other but keeping it simple. Sorcerer is also in the running.
Started with 4e, then switched to 5e for a total of 12 years now. A lot of PbP but sadly never finished a campaign due to various reasons.
Yes but one with a lot of homebrew in it. Not finished it.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
(placeholder to remind me to enter a character)
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
Sounds fun!
1. Character summary
I typically play the character with the dark/sad backstory. I’m currently planning on doing a Half-Elf Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline). I have Blue as the type listed, but am willing to change it if the DM wants to tie it in.
My backstory idea (I’m cool with changing it if need be) Arokas Nightshade grew up the son of a powerful draconic sorcerer. His father wanted him to be one as well, and hurt Arokas many times to try and bring out the magic. This succeeded in awakening his magic, but Aro was traumatized and ran away from home. He has been haunted by the memories of his childhood, and is afraid of become exactly what his father was.
2. Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
I’m a younger D&D player, and have had 4 years of 5e experience. I’ve played in multiple PbP campaigns and a few in-person ones, although none of them have ever finished due to scheduling conflicts, fizzling out, or just lack of interest from other players.
3. Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
I have never played, but I’m excited to do so for the first time!
Character sheet link: Arokas Nightshade
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[A]
Tall, skin on the pale end of tan contrasting with jet-black hair and a few white scars, the man who calls himself Death Wish doesn’t happen to know anything about his background at all, having suffered a blow to the head a few months before and coming away with amnesia. However, it quickly became apparent to him that he has a natural skill for punching and stabbing things. He’d begun to suspect that he worked for some sort of organized crime or assassin agency, and was headed along this road to try to find a lead to his past…
Variant human monk, planning for kensei
A good bit. I dm a game in real life and I’ve been playing PbP for about six months now
nay
posting character sheet in a moment, I HAVE YET TO SELECT A FEAT because I’m hoping that if I get picked someone will have content sharing.
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/101106668
If I haven’t offended you, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get to you eventually.
Janek Whitmor (Fighter)
Link to character: Janek Whitmor
Questions
Character summary
Although he didn't know it Janek Whitmor's family was involved with an evil cult. After his parents disappeared, his grandparents raised him and his siblings. In his late teens, his village had become involved in a war - instigated to try and put a cult member into power. During one of the battles around the town, the cult had summoned demons to aid their efforts. They did kill off their enemies, but also destroyed the town and killed many who lived there.
Amidst the fighting, Janek became possessed - there is much he doesn't remember, but images of the carnage he helped create still remain. It was then he learned that his grandparents and older brother were involved with this cult. His older sister too learned of these fact, and intended to turn them in. However, his brother learned of this, and was able to send the still possessed Janek to kill his own sister. A moment he still remembers, even though he wasn't in control of his actions. In the end it turned out she had gotten word out anyhow. Many members of the cult were rounded up, including his grandparents. Janek and his younger sister were also brought in, with her sister dying of injuries from the overzealous guardsmen. He himself was tried for killing his sister, found guilty, and sentenced to a life-long imprisonment. He truly felt guilty, not only had he killed his older sister but he'd allowed his younger sister's death as well.
After over a year in prison, Janek's older brother, who had escaped capture, sent others to break him out. Not wanting anything to do with his brother or his associates, Janek slipped away to get as far from his village and his past life as possible. Now he travels, generally alone, taking what work he can. His poems keep him company, and he turns to them to try to forget the things that have happened. (A bit more detailed background on character sheet.)
In terms of sub-class, I'm leaning towards Battle Master.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
My experience playing DnD goes way, way back. While involved in other role-playing activities, I had some time away from D&D before I started learning about 5e probably 3 years ago and played a tiny bit. I think I've been doing play-by-post for about 2 years now - both on the forums here and sometimes Discord. I've been both DM and player.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Yes, in that I've started a Curse of Strahd campaign before. Much as others have said, it didn't go very far at all. (We'd traveled somewhere and started to go through a house of some sort. Didn't even complete going through that place.) Anyhow, I really do not consider myself to have played it.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Hi!
I'd like to introduce LiaraThunderbane, Mountain dwarf cleric of Muannan Duathal (Neutral good, tempest domain). I do not plan to switch classes unless something happens that would justify that (with your permission of course). https://ddb.ac/characters/92968995/rtKqKL
I have played DnD for a few months, currently I am running a DnD campaign as a DM here. For some years I have played pen and paper (mostly homebrew worlds) with GURPS mechanics, CP2020 and some others... Never played the Curse of Sthrad.
Liara's story:
It was a strange night 52 years ago. Neither stars nor moon was visible because of heavy clouds and thunders echoed in the valleys lighted up with so many lightnings even a human could have read with ease. That night I was born. Many, including my parents, took this as an omen, and you must know, dwarves take such matters quite seriously, therefore as soon as I was old enough, I was brought to the Muamman Duathal's priest, Morrin Stormcloud who took me with him so I could eventually become one too. He was quite old that time and he knew he will need someone to take his place. I wasn't the best student. I wasn't a good one either. Many times the priest tired to convince me to act a bit more like him, but I hardly ever listened. To makes matters worse, I had no problems with any of the trials and always have felt His presence. We have wandered for many years and I always liked this kind of life. Helping those who are lost, those who need us, no matter the race. I have learned a lot and managed to visit my family back home a few times. To a surprise of few, I wasn't a little sister any more. A few months ago, when we were in my home city, the priest brought me to the very cave, I was born in. There, he presented me with an amulet he made for me and in front of my whole family I was ordained a full priest. For some time we stayed with my family, but I knew it is the high time for me to move out.
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Doc; Warforged life cleric
https://ddb.ac/characters/72315503/g1fBRy
1. Doc has been build by an artificer for a noble elven family. His sole purpose was to protect, heal, help the family elders when they were sick, wounded or if any thiefs/robbers would show up at the house. A couple of weeks a go the elders died and Doc's purpose was gone. The younger once of the family weren't sure what to do with him, and in the end decided to tell him he was free to go were he liked. So Doc left the Elven city to find a new purpose or way of life so to say. That was just a few days a go, so of course when he met some people on the road he was happy to share food with them, even though he doesn't eat himself.
Doc will most likely focus on healing, as that was what he was build for but all his coming new experiences might lead to different ways of evolving.
2. Couple of years playing RL, and 1,5-2 years experience with play by post; both on hear as on rpggeek.com
3. No I never played any part of curse of Sthrad, but would love to play it as I have heard its a very good adventure.
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war | Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
Alcazar Tremayne; Sorceror
Character summary (We start at lvl 1, but please include what direction are you thinking of heading into in terms sub-classes)
WIP: Reborn sorceror, heading to Shadow-Magic; fleeing an uncertain past, but clearly high-born. Fled his home town after waking in the forest, gravely wounded. Actually, mortally wounded, but it did not seem to stop him. After a shaky start to his new life, he has learned to fit in and was on the road to escape whatever it was that was that seems to still hunt him when he stays in one place for too long.
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
Played PnP a lot, many years ago. Been on DNDB for the 2-3 years. Regular poster.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
Death House only. The last game folded after that.
Character summary
Alexandra Frid, Dhampir druid (circle of stars)
Lex is certain that the stories about her ancestor as just rumours, grown over decades of retelling. Sure, she lives in the castle inherited from him, and there does tend to run in her family a preference for late nights, flowing black clothing and meat on the rare side, but the actual living dead? Ridiculous, superstitious nonsense.
I like the idea of a character with a very dilute dhampir lineage, but which emerges with exposure to Barovia, so she's learning what she is over the course of the game. Druid, to lean into the turn-into-bats-or-wolves and influence-over-animals type vampire tropes, and circle of stars to tie into the nocturnal nature and because she's scientifically minded and would probably try to figure out where they are by the constellations (and because a vampire can occasionally sparkle a little, as a treat).
Experience-level of playing DnD, including play-by-post
First played red box in the 80's, but most played 3.5 and pathfinder (a lot of play-by-post pathfinder society) and then 5e. Have played several PbP games on these forums, though most have fallen apart, and am currently DM for two groups of Spelljammer Academy here.
Have you played Curse of Strahd before?
No, though I have heard some parts played on actual play podcasts, so know a couple of the plot elements. I'm pretty OK at separating player knowledge and character knowledge, though.
I would hope that people can post once per day, sometimes maybe more frequent, but of course things sometimes slip over weekends or holidays.
Actually, I should add for transparency: I am very committed, and will try to post daily. But I do occasionally have family commitments, and sometimes have work days 8am to midnight. So there will be days with no posts from my side too, but probably no more than most PbP campaigns.
Some fun characters already. Thanks all! As per the original post, I'll leave this thread open until the 31st before making any selection. Just to give everyone a fair chance.
Ivan is a lvl1 Lunar sorcerer. I plan to stick with sorcerer for the foreseeable future. Ivan is very charismatic and friendly he is a strange light in the otherwise bleak Brovia. He is a wildhunt shifter, when he changes he becomes more boar like and his teeth form Tusks. Ivan finds thrill in the study and capture of all manner of monster,beast, and humanoid.
I've played dnd for 4or 5 years now no experience with this forum.
And I've only ever heard things about Curse if Strahd I haven't played.
https://ddb.ac/characters/101152813/go8AOG