About the adventure
Delve into the mists of Barovia in the first chapter of the "Curse of Strahd" 5e campaign module. Feel the tension mounting as you explore the forgotten recesses of this haunted manor. Who knows what horrors you will discover within... "Death House" is the opening of the "Curse of Strahd" campaign, and a perfect encapsulation of the tone for the rest of the module. This one-shot will follow a group of first level adventurers as they explore this claustrophobic and macabre setting. This one-shot will have guide players from 1st to 3rd level, and typically takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete. I have run this scenario many times, and can tweak the tone and difficulty to fit players both veteran and new alike! Would you like a session dripping with malice where death awaits around every corner? Done. Do you prefer something more akin to "Scooby Doo" than "Sinister"? Absolutely. I will be running these sessions for free for a limited time, and if you are interested in the full campaign I will be opening up full "Curse of Strahd" campaigns in the future.
Game themes
Free
Details
Once / Saturday – 12:00 AM UTC
Feb 8
3–4 Hour Duration
1 / 4 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
Val
they/them
5.0
(6)
Schedule
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(6)
2 years on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Creativity
About me
Looking for adventure? Excitement? Want a knowledgeable game master who cheers when you succeed and encourages you to do whatever ridiculous idea comes to mind? Then look no further! I've been running ttrpgs for over 10 years now - both privately and on my twitch channel. I've worked with all kinds of players, and all kinds of games. The thing that makes me happiest as a GM is seeing my players have fun, and telling a thrilling story from start to finish. Whether it's running a game for a party of high-minded adventurers looking to save the world, or a gang of morally ambiguous criminals carrying out deals in neon-lit, seedy nightclubs, I've done it all at this point. Player-first, story-driven campaigns are where I thrive, but if you're looking for some gritty, tactical, and engaging combat encounters, I can deliver on that too. My goal is to give my players what they need - at a safe and friendly table. I've run many different systems, and I love learning new ones. I feel most comfortable running D&D 5e, Powered by the Apocalypse based games (Monster of the Week, MASKS, Apocalypse World). Recently, I've also run Parselings, Dragon Age, and Good Society. The story I'm telling is always paramount to the system, and I'm willing to learn any new system I need to deliver my the players the game they desire. So, if this all sounds like something you'd enjoy, and you're a friendly and open-minded person looking to tell a good story, reach out to me! I'd be happy to facilitate that story for you. I run most of my games using Role and Roll20, and utilize discord and Zoom for video and audio. I'm never against rolling some good-old, physical math-rocks either.
View Profile →Reviews (6)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Inclusive
Storytelling
Creativity
Sid
Val is a creative, fun, and inclusive GM with a knack for bringing all characters to the forefront for their moment to shine (or sweat, depending, lol!) They have a great talent for keeping the action moving while still allowing for players to pause for roleplay moments and shenanigans. They always employ safety tools and check in regularly to make sure everyone feels safe and valued at the table. And if you are the type of role player who likes to leave gaps in your backstory for the GM to incorporate and surprise you with down the line, Val will knock your socks off. Val is one of my favorite GMs, and any game that they put together will be engaging, hilarious, and meaningful all at once.
Walle
I've played with many people and I can say Val is one of those DMs who can perfectly weave a story from start to finish where each session leaves youe head spinning because time flew by so fast from all the fun
Alex
Val has several years' experience playing in and running a variety of games and campaigns. They are great at weaving character backstories into the overarching narrative, but can also easily manage a chaotic one-shot.
Ryan
Val is easily one of the best GMs I've ever had. It's tough to find GMs who have a clear vision for a story & are able to marry that with player spontaneity, but Val delivers every time. I've always felt free to go nuts and simultaneously safe in games run by Val. I've witnessed Val display the strength of character to both set and enforce clear boundaries for table behavior; toxicity has always been addressed directly and immediately. You can relax. Val is funny. Dramatic. Intentional. You're going to love playing in their games. I promise.
Savannah Palmer
Val is a talented GM with lots of experience under their belt. They are always down to try new things, to let their players do the most ridiculous stuff, and generally are a joy to play with.
RJ (RJ)
Wonderful to work with and an incredible story teller, Val puts a lot of time and care into their campaigns and works with the players and their characters to drive a well put together narrative driven game. Highly recommend picking them up as a GM!
Character creation
Creating your character
All officially licensed Wizards of the Coast content is allowed for this game. Currently I am running games utilizing the D&D 5e (2014) ruleset, however I am open to using the new D&D 5e rules with everyone's agreement. Homebrew will only be allowed with consent from both the DM and the rest of the group. Characters will be created prior to the session for experienced groups, and at the beginning of the session for newer players. I have pre-made characters ready on request. Stats will be determined via the standard "point-buy" system for this one-shot for consistency. All characters will begin at level 1 and advance to level 3 by the end of the session.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
You will need a Roll20 account - a free account is fine. I will provide all the necessary assets. You should have a working microphone and camera and minimize distractions during the game session.
What Val brings to the table
I will provide the module, virtual tabletop (Roll20), and digital game assets. I will also be able to share most of the core rulebooks and expansions. You are free to bring your own as well. I use either Spotify or Roll20 digital audio for background music to set the mood for the session. I run most combat encounters as theatre of the mind to keep them fluid and dynamic, and save tactical battle maps for large scale and epic encounters. Character voices, costumes, and props are welcome at my table. I encourage full character immersion from my players, but I'm always happy to step back and have a good out of character laugh or discussion. I minimize homebrew rules for the sake of consistency, but I am willing to bend the rules (rule of cool) for the sake of a fun experience for all players.
Platforms used
Safety
How Val creates a safe table
I will be sending links out to all players for lines and veils prior to the initial session. All responses will remain anonymous. During the session we will utilize X, N, & O cards which can be privately messaged to me utilizing the game chat in Roll20. If you have never used safety tools during a tabletop game, feel free to reach out to me and I will happily explain any of the above.
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