Image by Ben Oliver
Ravenloft: Curse of Strahd
The Mists envelop and whisk you away to a forlorn land of nightmares. Fight against the hopeless darkness and the cursed vampire Strahd at its centre.
$30.00
/ Session
Details
4 players following this game
Weekly / Friday - 12:00 AM UTC
Aug 28 / Session 1
Session Duration / 2.75–3 hours
4 / 5 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
Report Adventure
StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee
If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy
Schedule
Meet your party members
4/5
About the adventure
"I am the Ancient, I am the Land. My beginnings are lost in the darkness of the past. I am not dead. Nor am I alive. I am undead, forever." - Strahd von Zarovich An epic gothic horror campaign where: ◆ Fate draws you in ◆ Heroes are utterly consumed and killed ◆ Cowards suffer an anguishing slow death ◆ Saviors are wholly tormented and perish ◆ Survivors might live and might escape The Mists keep you trapped with ONLY one way out: ◆ Drive a wooden stake through Lord Strahd's heart Curse of Strahd is a fully immersive Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) gothic horror experience with a rich, compelling story arc, with YOU at its center! As you gather your strength and explore Barovia, you must tread carefully or risk angering Lord Strahd. Numbed by the passing of centuries, he has no mercy. He will gleefully bring your end should you raise her ire. You'll need teamwork, a mix of the right skills, and the proper tools to succeed. Curse of Strahd demands exploration, relationship building, diplomacy/duplicity, evaluating threats, and carefully managing finite resources. Every decision comes with the weight and knowledge that one poor impression, a lapse in judgment, or bungled encounter could be your last. Do you have what it takes to embrace your fate and make an escape? Curse of Strahd is a gothic horror-themed campaign full of gritty realism. Countless generations of Barovians have only known Strahd von Zarovich as their Lord. He has many, many friends and few enemies. Less moved to brutish displays of raw power as in his early years, the Lord has had nearly 500 years to practice the subtle arts of influence, subterfuge, and terror in Barovia. His bloody grip on the land, Barovia, and its people have, after all, lasted centuries. Experience the ultimate D&D story in what is, in my opinion, the greatest setting Wizards of the Coast has ever released. Join now as Lord Strahd waits for no one.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(206)
5 years on StartPlaying
1485 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Sets the Mood, Inclusive
Average response time: 4 hours
Response rate: 71%
About me
Hail and well-met adventurer! I'm Chris, a long time Game Master (GM) here on Startplaying.games focusing on my lifelong passion: Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). For over 36 years, the fun of leading the heroic good guys through adventure and the endless possibilities therein has drawn me to D&D. Join me! Let's build an epic cooperative story together!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
◆ Dungeons and Dragons: Player's Handbook [a.k.a. 2024/5.5](PHB) ◆ Dungeons and Dragons: Ravenloft: The Horrors Within (R:THW), ◆ Dungeons and Dragons: Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn Player Expansion (FRHoF) ◆ Dungeons and Dragons: Eberron: Forge of the Artificer (E:FotA) [artificer class features/spells only]. ◆ Make a 1st-level Player Character (PC) by either Standard Array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) or 27 Point Buy. ◆ Level that character to 2nd level using static class Hit Points (No rolling for Hit Points) and your starting wealth is 200gp. ◆ After accounting for your starting equipment, your remaining wealth may be kept as gold or used to purchase non-magical equipment from the 2024 Player's Handbook (including potions of healing, PHB p223, 228) or used to buy select magic items from my curated magic item list on my Discord server. ◆ Feats and multiclassing are allowed. ◆ Your character's back story should fit handwritten on one side of a 3”x5” index card. ◆ I'm pretty fair in character creation, but I reserve the right to approve/decline player characters anytime.
Open to join anytime with very welcoming players. All characters are 2nd level. 2nd level - black dragon dragonborn - sorcerer 2nd level - drow elf - ranger 2nd level - halfling - rogue 2nd level - tiefling - 1st level druid/1st level bard
What to expect
Preparing for the session
💻A computer capable of running web-based programs 🌐Decent internet access, ideally using Chrome/Firefox/Edge browser 🎙️🔉Audio input/output (a headset/good microphone) 🎮Discord account (free download or browser-based) 🐲DnDBeyond account (free) 🦉🐻Owlbear Rodeo VTT account (free)
What Chris Kelly brings to the table
📔Shareable content in DnDBeyond 🦉🐻A super simple and intuitive VTT that simulates in-person play 🗺️Full-color maps throughout 🧙♂️Animated spell effects 🎼Professionally produced music, ambiance, and sound effects 🌲A living, dynamic world to explore that reacts to your interactions 💖My passion for playing Dungeons and Dragons and being a humble Dungeon Master
Homebrew rules
Modified Critical Hit Damage (Crunchy Crits!!): For example, if you score a critical hit with a dagger, take the maximum of the first die (which is 4) and roll a 1d4 for the damage rather than roll 2d4, and then add you're relevant ability modifier. If the attack involves other damage dice, the modified critical hit damage DOES NOT apply, such as from the rogue’s Sneak Attack feature; you just roll those dice twice and add the damage.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Chris Kelly creates a safe table
Scenes of Violence Coarse Language Mature Themes I will go over safety tools and consent in Session 0 and in an ongoing basis. I regularly check in with my players and try to meet their needs to insure everyone is safe and having the best time possible.
Content warnings
Safety tools used