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The Curse of Strahd - Prison of Despair

The Curse of Strahd - Prison of Despair

The master of Ravenloft is having guests for dinner … and you are invited! He has walked his land for centuries. Can you finally end his dark reign?

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

1–13

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
FULL
$20.00

/ Session

Details

2 players following this game

Weekly / Saturday - 4:00 PM UTC

Jul 4 / Session 8

Session Duration / 2.5–3 hours

5 / 5 Seats Filled

Top Game Master

One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.

Magic Gemstone

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Schedule

Sat, Jul 04 | 4:00 PM – Session 8

Sat, Jul 11 | 4:00 PM – Session 9

Sat, Jul 18 | 4:00 PM – Session 10

Sat, Jul 25 | 4:00 PM – Session 11

Sat, Aug 01 | 4:00 PM – Session 12

Sat, Aug 08 | 4:00 PM – Session 13

Sat, Aug 15 | 4:00 PM – Session 14

Sat, Aug 22 | 4:00 PM – Session 15

Sat, Aug 29 | 4:00 PM – Session 16

Sat, Sep 05 | 4:00 PM – Session 17

Meet your party members

5/5

About the adventure

The road ahead vanishes into the mist, and your journey descends into darkness. Enter Barovia, land of black forests, unquiet dead, and ancient horrors. Wolves watch from the tree line. Church bells sound over empty streets. The castle, high on the cliff, looms over all. This game leans into the gothic horror. Fear, horror, madness, temptation, hard choices, broken people, and creeping dread. Strahd is not just a monster at the end of the road. He is a constant presence, and the longer you remain in Barovia, the more of his attention you will gain. My take on Curse of Strahd Reloaded keeps the story richer and the threads between locations stronger, while still ensuring that your character's choices lead the way. This is for players who want dread, tragedy, and small flames of hope in a very dark place. If you want a story that really sinks its teeth into you, join us for an undying classic.

Game style

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Roleplay Heavy

Combat Heavy

Meet the Game Master

4.9

(52)

TOP GM
DMs Guild Writer
Streamer
Podcaster
Published Writer
Game Designer

1 year on StartPlaying

824 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Sets the Mood

Average response time: 5 hours

Response rate: 100%

About me

🎲 “Hold on, let me roll Persuasion first… success!” Hello, I’m Tyler — a storyteller, designer, and lifelong gamer with decades of experience behind the screen. My players describe me as Immersive, Supportive, and Masterful. I’ve guided hundreds of players through unforgettable games at conventions, on streams and podcasts, and in home campaigns across North and South America. I’ve collaborated with publishers like Onyx Path, Free League, Chaosium, and Helmgast, and I’m also a published writer and designer with credits in both indie and professional TTRPG projects. Whether it’s your first session or your hundredth, my goal is always the same: create a safe, inclusive space where your story matters. I invite you to explore my reviews and join a game to see why so many players return to my tables again and again.

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Character creation

Creating your character

Character creation is a collaborative process. We will work together to create your character prior to your first session. As a game designer, I will personally work with you to ensure your character's concept, backstory, and motivations have a meaningful and satisfying impact on the campaign's narrative. I recommend starting with the 2024 D&D Player's Handbook and the Ravenloft campaign world supplements. Other books available to use with DM approval.

The current party

The game is in progress but now is the perfect time to join! The party just hit level 3 and completed the intro haunted house adventure. They will move into the mists of Barovia next so join now and you won't miss any of the main story! The party currently consists of a monk, a pugilist, a ranger and a barbarian.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

Bring a microphone, a spirit for collaborative storytelling, and a taste for adventure! You will also need a free Foundry account. You will connect in your web browser and you do not need any Foundry knowledge ahead of time.

What Tyler brings to the table

I’ll provide a fully prepped Foundry VTT with maps, matching tokens for all players using art you provide or I provide as you choose, and an atmospheric soundtrack to sink you into the story. Expect a narrative style that keeps the tension sharp. PDFs will be available for reference. My focus is on deep immersion, collaborative storytelling, and player-driven narratives. You can expect rich worlds, dramatic twists, and characters who feel alive. I also provide a community discord server with its own private category just for members of this campaign and public channels to spend time with other fellow TTRPG lovers.

Homebrew rules

Any special rules for our game will be discussed at the first session. Otherwise it's rules as written, but always the Rule of Cool.

Equipment needed to play

Microphone

Safety

How Tyler creates a safe table

Player safety is always my top priority. Part of the first session of the campaign will include a disussion about the safety tools in use, any topics people don't want to see come up, setting expectations for play, and answering any questions about content. If at any point a topic comes up that makes you feel uncomfortable, there will be tools in place for you to immediately stop the scene and the offending content will be treated the way you indicate, no questions asked. This flagging is anonymous. There will be a short scheduled break about halfway through the session. This will be a good opportunity to go to the bathroom, have a quick snack or a drink, or message the DM about any concerns you may not have felt comfortable bringing up in the moment. I am also always available for a DM about anything you want to discuss in private.

Content warnings

Alcohol Use
Animal Death
Blood
Character Death
Cults
Death
Deep or Large Bodies of Water
Devils / Demons / Fiends
Emotional Abuse
Fire
Forced Blood Draining
Freezing
Hangings
Language/Cursing
Mental Illness
Murder
Mutilation of Corpses
Snakes
Spiders
Violence

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions