Curse of Strahd (Trouble, Terror & Trauma Awaits!) Level 9

Internet

Computer

Mobile Phone

Headphones

Microphone

Foundry VTT

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Curse of Strahd (Trouble, Terror & Trauma Awaits!)

Gothic Horror

Mystery

Horror

Fantasy

Gritty Fantasy

Imaginative

Survival

After the game ends, check-in with the group and talk about how you all feel. Have an open way for the group to decompress and encourage each other to practice self-care.

Aftercare

Intense games can cause feelings to bleed over into life outside of the game. Being open and honest of where the game ends, what feelings are the players versus bleed, and having discussions can lessen the stress of bleed.

Bleed

For long games or stressful content, having built-in breaks allows the group to stay focused and process content. This time can be used for bio breaks, conversation, or any other necessities.

Breaks

Debriefing is a way to reflect on the game. Identify possible issues, highlight the good parts, and work through potential emotional bleed.

Debriefing

The Deck of Player Safety (DOPS) allows players to anonymously signal any topics they want to avoid during a session. DOPS uses a deck of cards with potential topics that may come up during play, as well as an "Anything Goes" card. Players pass the cards of topics they want to avoid, or the "Anything Goes" card, face-down to their Game Master. The Game Master then shuffles the cards, and reviews the topics with the Players.

Deck of Player Safety

Lines and Veils set the boundaries of the games. Lines are hard limits for content the group doesn't want to participate in, this means that content will not be in game, referenced in game, or alluded to. Veils are soft limits, meaning that when the content arises it might be mentioned, but not described, or it could mean that when the content shows up, it results in a “fade-to-black”.

Lines and Veils

With this technique, when triggering content comes into play, they can discuss with the group, take a break, and express their needs or wants for how play should continue. After the discussion ends, play should continue to account for the requests.

Luxton Technique

The Luxton Technique Discussion involves having an open conversation about triggers at the table. It is not possible to identify every trigger, but this provides a good-base for the GM. In addition, there must be no pressure to go into detail or justify a trauma trigger.

Luxton Technique Discussion

This checklist is used to set expectations and content boundaries before the game starts, and allows players to select from multiple existing triggers, or add their own.

Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist

Open-Door is an assurance that anyone in the group can take a break from the game for their own safety and well-being without judgement. This should be made clear to the group.

Open Door

Session 0s are used to start the game, opening up with communication, setting expectations, and discussing any safety tools that will be used at the table.

Session 0

Stars and Wishes are used to reflect and discuss feedback in a positive way. Stars are used for things that participants enjoyed in the game. Wishes are things that participants would like to see in the future. Both players and the GM can express their stars and wishes to make the game better.

Stars and Wishes

X, N, and O Cards are check-in tools. X-Cards are used to indicate that a participant is uncomfortable with the current content, often resulting in a change, rewind, or skip of the aforementioned content. N-Cards can be used by participants if they feel content is heading towards an X card, often resulting in a change or a “fade to back”. O-Cards are used to check-in on the group and ensure that everyone is comfortable continuing with the content.

X, N, and O Cards

Curse of Strahd

Heyoo! I'm Stephen (he/him pronounced Steven, but spelled with a PH (I don't get it either!)  I’m a Professional Dungeon Master with experience guiding hundreds of players, ranging from brand-new adventurers to seasoned veterans who’ve been rolling dice long before they went digital! I hope to take you through unforgettable campaigns, spine-chilling dungeon crawls, and wildly hilarious, rule-bending one-shots!

I’ve been playing Dungeons & Dragons since my senior year of high school in 2015, when members of the disbanded D&D club joined the Yugioh club I was running I had turned my club into a Table Top games club and became the Dungeon Master for those players!

Since then, I have watched and learn about many other DMs and their  styles from Brennan Lee Mulligan, Matt Mercer, Aabria Iyengar, Chris Perkins, and Jeremy Crawford. Combining their styles with how I like to run campaigns as led me to a  genuine love for storytelling, world building, and collaborative game play. Putting Player Agency first and utmost in the drivers seat!


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