Curse of Strahd (Revamped) Game: D&D 5e Suggested player experience: Intermediate Day/Timezone: Wednesday at 7 pm EST/ 6 pm CST/ 5pm
MST/ 4pm PST Frequency: Bi-weekly (every other week) or weekly, as
desired ($15 per session fee applies) Length: 3-hour games DM: David Begins: 4/21/21 7 PM Est/ 6 pm CT/ 5 pm MT/ 4 pm PST Please note that
Roll20 is not responsible for any payment transactions and cannot enforce any
private arrangements. Game Link:
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Would be “heroes,” yoked into service by the
charismatic wiles of fate, are led to the roads between worlds. The group soon
finds themselves under the raging storm clouds that frame the ancient walls of
a castle perched high above a rustic, mountain-side village.
Thunder pounds the castle’s crenelations, and howling
winds buffet its spires. From the aging parapets, a silhouette turns its gaze
down towards the village.
Far below, yet not beyond the figure’s keen eyesight,
the party of adventurers has just entered the shadow’s domain. In a flash of
lighting, its cold lips form the barest hint of a smile.
Then, the figure is gone! Only the howling of the wind
fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for
dinner, and you are invited...
Welcome, one and all, to Barovia, a land shrouded in
grim mystery. The Gothic Horror themed adventure is the winner of the 2016
ENnie Awards. How will you navigate its immersive sandbox? What shape will your
gothic narrative take?
Disclaimer: This game is 18+ due to graphic violence,
gore, horror, and implied sexual themes; as Tracy Hickman, one of the original
authors of the 1st edition and 2nd edition AD&D Ravenloft and House of
Strahd quests put it, the vampire is “a decadent predator, an abuser hidden
behind a romantic veil.” That is the villain you should expect to find, fight,
and hopefully kill.
This game is a “grimdark” experience saturated in the
tropes of gothic horror; it is not a high fantasy adventure. The elements that
make it stand out from other campaign settings are its use of fear, horror, and
insurmountable odds. Where the typical D&D adventure is an experience steeped
in the tropes of empowerment, this campaign is steeped in the opposite (at
least at first). These are staples of the Ravenloft setting, and such games are
not for everyone!
1) Cursing is allowed at my table, but I request that
it be used as a tactic for the purpose of character building and
authenticity—in other words, in moderation. Keep the nature of your vulgarity
and the comfort of your table-mates in mind. If you are asked to tone down your
use of vulgarity or avoid a particular use of it in the future, be mindful of
that request
2) Be respectful of the time people spend in the
spotlight. Please, try to keep talking over one another to a minimum. Granted,
we will all be getting to know one another, and over time we should develop a
rapport that will avoid such issues. As a good rule of thumb, use roll20’s
typed-chat feature in between turns when initiating a moment of RP while
another party member is currently RPing; use discord’s similar feature when
speaking OOC or cracking jokes.
3) Mic check! We've all been in a game where we heard
the background of another player’s mic. This can and does diminish the fluidity
of the game as well as people’s enjoyment. No one needs to hear the crunch of
your snack between rounds of combat! Make sure to mute yourself while eating,
or else avoid eating during the game.
4) The majority of this game will be run via the rules
as written. If you want to do something on the fly that bends the rules but
does not outright break them, the rule of cool comes into effect! During a
game, my adjudication is final. You may contact me privately if an adjudication
bothers you. I may choose to alter future adjudications based on your expressed
argument, but I reserve the right to refuse to do so. Do not bog down playtime
with debate. That being said, I am fine with a “rules lawyer” helping the table
by briefly citing an arcane and often forgotten rule or trying to elevate the
game during epic moments, but once I make a call, leave contention and debate
for post-game discussion.
5) Follow “Wheaton’s Law” and have fun!
What you can expect from me: I’m an English literature
PhD candidate with private play tester credits in various 5th edition D&D
books and an obsessive passion for the structures guiding narrative,
storytelling, and roleplaying games. I have had 29 years of experience with
D&D, grew up playing 2e, and have DMed for the vast majority of my tenure
as a table-top gamer. I actively oppose the “competitive-DM” mentality. My goal
is not to best my players. Together, as a group, we will be creating an
emergent narrative. I am merely that narrative’s guide.
Conversely, actions have consequences. If you start
murdering and stealing, expect the world to respond realistically. Likewise,
Barovia is a grimdark sandbox filled with threats that are often too powerful
for a group to defeat when they are initially discovered. If you choose not to
run when the world and I both give you cues suggesting that an encounter might
be too tough for a combative approach, the results of those choices are yours
to deal with. Fair warning, no punches will be pulled and no decisions
retconned!
In the past, I have found that this setting and
campaign are greatly enhanced by a few house rules and optional rules from the
DMG. I, however, am here to facilitate your experience! As such, the following
rules will be discussed during our pre-game session. We will choose together
whether all or none of them shall be adopted:
This is pay to play. Anyone interested in joining or
who has any questions contact:
mysticvhedd#6266