Sample file Elven Tower presents Curse of Strahd DMs Guide Author Derek Ruiz Cover Artist: SampleJack Holliday file Illustrations authors/ artists: Strahd CR17 Stat Block - James Plunkett (dave2008@enworld) Derek Ruiz – All the other illustrations, maps and pictures DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast. ©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. 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All other original content material in this work is copyright (2016) by Derek Ruiz and published under the community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild Page 2 Table of Contents -All About Strahd I Bio and personality 5 II Dinner Invitation 9 III Fighting Tactics and Strategy 12 Chapter 1 – Introduction to Ravenloft 19 Chapter 2 – Lands of Barovia 22 Chapter 3 – Village of Barovia 25 Chapter 4 – Castle Ravenloft 28 Chapter 5 – Town of Vallaki 32 Chapter 6 – Old Bonegrinder 35 Chapter 7 – Argynvostholt 37 Chapter 8 – Village of Krezk 40 Chapter 9 – Tsolenka Pass 43 Chapter 10 – Ruins of Berez 45 Chapter 11 – Van Richten’s Tower 47 Chapter 12 – The Wizard of Wines 50 Chapter 13 – The Amber Temple Sample file 53 Chapter 14 – Yester Hill 58 Chapter 15 – Werewolf Den 61 Epilogue 63 Appendices Running the Death House 66 Traveling in Barovia 69 Extra Encounters 71 Dark Gifts Dialogue Compendium 74 Thank You Page 78 Page 3 Foreword avenloft was originally published their job correctly in setting the scene and finding by TSR in 1983. It was released as a information when needed. stand alone booklet for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. Written by Tracy and Laura Hickman, it was a Rsuccess back then. The result was On horror themed gaming that it got remade and readapted to different forms. There’s a campaign setting of the same name, lots Something that is not said often is that Curse of of small adventure modules. In 2006 WotC released Strahd is not for everyone. It sadly is not. The “Expedition to Castle Ravenloft” which is a small game peaks when the elements that make it good campaign with the castle and some added material are actually used in the game. Factors like fear, from the setting for 3.5 edition. There is also the creepiness, insurmountable odds and horror are the board game released in 2010, “Castle Ravenloft”. staples of the Ravenloft setting. And the reason I’m writing this and you’re reading this, is 2016 Curse of Strahd, an adaptation to the If you play with your friends, my personal original module released by WotC for 5th edition. recommendation is that there has to be a session zero where this information is laid down. Fear The important thing about Curse of Strahd is that and horror must be an important part of the we have to understand that we’re practically playing game. Maybe your players (and unavoidably the a different game, it’s not the hack and slash game adventurers) will feel this real fear of the vampire you play every Friday. It’s not a roleplaying heavy Strahd. Or maybe they won’t, as it is a fictional game with lots of politics and city factions and what game, but they will be experienced enough role- not. It’s a different thing, it’s a horror game. Or it players and they will role play their PC’s fear. should be, but more on that later. I’ve seen it happen, nothing sours a game like One of the most important and almost occult detailsSample this file as bad as telling a lewd joke to Strahd. Or is hidden in page 2, in the credits section, right making inappropriate remarks directly to Strahd where it says Creative Consultants. We see the only to make everyone in the table laugh. If this familiar names of Tracy and Laura Hickman. Bravo happens, and there is no feeling of dread. The ! to WotC. main element of this module is lost. I’ve seen some groups abandoning the game before level 5 Time after time we see in movies, book, series and because they didn’t find it appealing. It was just RPG games that a new adaptation is launched. not their game. But I believe anyone can play it and The new product pretends to be better than the enjoy it if it is talked through with the players in original or they give it enough spin while retaining advance. There has to be a general consensus of the original’s most important qualities but the the type of experience that is wanted and how to result is not what everybody expects. It usually achieve it. Don’t take my words as if to say humor happens when the original creators or directors is not a thing, the book suggests humorous breaks are not included in the new products. But this is from time to time are good (page 7). But there are the art business. And art depends on artists, be moments of dread that should be respected for the it writers, creators, directors or graphic artists. integrity of the table’s experience. The fact that they consulted Tracy and Laura Hickman for the making of this book can be seen in the modules general vibe and assumptions. I’ve had awesome experiences running CoS in 5th edition. Also the editing and layout of the book is far superior to previous published adventures. Compared to previous modules like OoTA or PotA the book is a better resource in helping DMs do Page 4 All about Strahd - I Strahd Von Zarovich he module Curse of Strahd Federovna has evolved after long years, now it is just naturally revolves around Count wild desire and anger. Maybe it is just a wish to win Strahd von Zarovich. The spot light against the dark powers that curse him. Maybe it is on him during the entire time, is just madness. But from Strahd’s perspective, it is everything in the Valley of Barovia still love. Tis as it is due to him. There are many ways to roleplay Strahd. Much has been said It is the same for his brother Sergei von Zarovich, about his motivations and personality. This long he hates him for stealing Tatyana’s attention from chapter of the guide will deal with how to approach him, but he loves him dearly and regrets killing him, everything that has to do with the Lord of Barovia. even if these feelings only surface from time to time, The chapter includes different alternatives for most this is shown in the adventure in two parts in the stuff and general advice on how to run the game book. If the card reading for Strahd’s location in the and Strahd himself (Some of this advice disregards castle will occur in area K85 (Sergei’s Tomb). In the the guidelines for running Strahd in page 10, there card’s description (King of Diamonds page 17) it says he is portrayed as more of a senseless monster and Strahd is “haunting the tomb of the man he envied not so “alive”). The aim of this guide is to make above all”. But if we visit the room description (page Strahd a memorable persona, a hated enemy, a 93) It says that Strahd is found lying across Sergei’s ruthless overlord, a sad stricken lover and the Coffin weeping. This is something the players can darkest figure in the setting. see, and they should see it. Another example is found on page 200, in Yester Hill. There’s a wall Strahd von Zarovich is a very complex individual, of mist that not even Strahd can cross, but this it’s easy to think that this BBEG is just an evil one shows a mirage through the mist. A far realm overlord, that is to say, the quintessential can be seen through the mist, it is the Zarovich’s representation of evil. If it were like this, then family ancestral realm. Strahd comes to the hill Strahd would be predictable. But Strahd like aSample real on file occasion to see it, tantalized. Strahd, in all his person, comes in layers of history and moments of undead existence, is as alive as the PCs, he’s a living success and failure. He should never be portrayed being full of failures and regrets. He is evil, but as an always evil, always ruthless, always savage not plain evil, there is a depth that probably no PC individual. Yes, he can be all that, but he is also would imagine at first. many other things. Exploring what makes Strahd what he is, the DM and players should learn how he is not so different A note on Barovian history from them, he’s evil. But just in a way that anybody else could be. It is this similarity which causes fear, because in all the malignant being that he is, The story of Strahd is explained in page 9, but it maybe you’re not so far from him as you though at omits an important detail, the calendar.