Tips for Running Curse of Strahd

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Snake
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Tips for Running Curse of Strahd

Post by Snake »

Hey everyone,

I looked around the board and didn't see this thread for this, but maybe I missed it. Basically though, it looks like I'll be running CoS in the near future, and I have been reading the adventure for months now taking notes for whenever I would run it and planning for it, but figured I'd ask those that have already or are running it, what are some tips you would give to a fellow DM running this campaign?

The players have been playing D&D for a long time, but mostly 3.5 and are new to 5th edition and Ravenloft, which I like and hope makes the campaign even more enjoyable for them. The group will be starting out at level 3, and I don't plan to do the Death House, though maybe I'll take some ideas from it and make my own thing; haven't decided yet.

Ken
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Re: Tips for Running Curse of Strahd

Post by Skyrock »

Over on Reddit someone ran a really good series of GM advice for CoS:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... _curse_of/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... _curse_of/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... _curse_of/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... _curse_of/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... _curse_of/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... _curse_of/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... of_strahd/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheSc ... of_strahd/

I second especially the bit about the Allies and Old Bonegrinder.

The allies are definitively not creatred equal, and some are more trouble to keep alive then worth seeking out and collecting inspiration from. Consider either ramping the weaker ones up (at least in HP and saves), or to limit the drawings to those who can keep up on their own (van Richten, Esmeralda, the assassin etc).

Old Bonegrinder is an area that is a guaranteed TPK if played straight. Be sure to drop plenty of warnings about the dangerousness of the hag circle, and give the PCs chances either to resolve it diplomatically, to break in stealthily to steal the treasure (if it is placed in the mill), or to take some of the hags out with wasp sting ambushes as they mill about the map. Open combat with all hags at home will see no survivors among the PCs.
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Snake
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Re: Tips for Running Curse of Strahd

Post by Snake »

Good stuff thanks so much! I have heard several times now about the Death House, Old Bonegrinder, and the Coffin Maker encounters so not surprised this review/tips says similar things.
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Re: Tips for Running Curse of Strahd

Post by Nirnel »

Hi, I'm thinking about running CoS with a few options from the DMG.

Of course, Fear and Horror tests are first in my list.

In order to make a gritty campaign, I would use the healing varints "Healer's Kit Dependency" and/or "Slow Natural Healing". I like the "Gritty Realism" option too and lingering injuries, but the party could take forever (in campaign time) to live through the campaign.

This said, I'm pretty much against leveling in the middle of an adventure and it would force the characters to have a few off days once in a while. At any rate, if I use this option, I would only roll for a random encounter 1 time per route, or every day at most.

I am thinking about running an introductory adventure so the players start at level 2, or even more, in Death House (they would not level in mid-dungeon under any circumstances). I might even have the PCs level beyond 10 if the module is too hard. I plan on using milestones for leveling.

What do you think? Is it excessive? Will my PCs go from scared adventurers all the way to hiding in a hole instead of facing Strahd?
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Re: Tips for Running Curse of Strahd

Post by Snake »

So it looks like the first session of this is finally happening this Sunday on the 30th but my one slight concern is the number of players. Its at a gaming club so there could be as many as 8 PCs which is around double what they recommend I think all starting at level 3. So I am just wondering if anyone has any helpful tips? I'm thinking there are simple ways to make it harder for them such as at the church in the Village of Barovia for Father Donovich maybe he has a son and daughter locked up in the basement instead of just the one son. The Old Bonegrinder seems hard enough as is so maybe not much change needed there. As for party composition there seems like there will be a paladin and at least one, maybe two clerics, a monk, and the others filling in the other classes such as warlock, rogue, wizard or sorcerer, etc.
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