![[PBP] CURSE OF STRAHD: Invitation to Darkness [2 weeks FREE]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fspg-images.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com%2F4a6de86f-89ad-4058-a78f-19607b89cc60&w=3840&q=75)
[PBP] CURSE OF STRAHD: Invitation to Darkness [2 weeks FREE]
After becoming lost in the mists of Borovia, you must face the infamous dark lord Strahd von Zarovich or become trapped in his dreaded land FOREVER.
About the adventure
ATTENTION: This is a Play-by-Post game (PBP). If you are new to PBP, no worries, newbies are most definitely welcome! Please read at the bottom for more info on PBP. Under raging storm clouds, the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind's howling increases as he turns his gaze down toward the village of Barovia. A cold, dark smile crosses his lips as a group of adventurers enters his domain—unwitting pawns in a game of death and desire. Curse of Strahd is a gothic horror adventure for characters levels 1–10, set in the cursed land of Barovia, a valley trapped in eternal twilight beneath the gaze of a tyrant who cannot die. The mists drag your party into this world of decaying villages, haunted forests, forgotten ruins, and the brooding presence of Castle Ravenloft. Face ancient evils, discover long-buried secrets, and challenge the will of a vampire lord who sees your arrival not as a threat—but as an invitation. Welcome to Barovia, where the dead linger and Strahd always watches. I am currently offering an introductory special--first two weeks free! Sign up today! If you have a busy schedule that makes it difficult to commit to weekly sessions then PBP might be good for you. PBP is conducted throughout the week at your own pace. These games are also great for people who are better writers than actors or people who prefer to take their time before coming up with a response to a question or predicament in game.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Saturday – 6:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
1 / 6 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
Chris
he/him
5.0
(5)
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Report Adventure
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(5)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Teacher, Creativity, Storytelling
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey everyone! I'm Chris and I love the art of story and storytelling. Away from the table, I’m a professional screenwriter and film director with some experience in acting as well. I’ve written, directed, and produced one feature film so far and I’m currently in the process of getting my follow up off the ground. I bring my love and knowledge of storytelling and performing to my games and believe my experience in those crafts helps me be a better GM. Additionally, like many of you, I have had a deep love affair with games all my life. Board games, card games, video games, and of course--TTRPGs. I grew up playing both D&D and Cyberpunk and got back into TTRPGs as an adult about 5 years ago. While I do have some experience being a player, most of my time at the tables has been spent in the role of GM.
View Profile →Reviews (5)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Teacher
Creativity
Storytelling
mark fish
My favorite campaign with Chris was Rime of the Frost Maiden. So much fun. He put everything he had into game prep and made sure we all enjoyed ourselves while we worked hard to over come challenges. Chris will be great for new players.
Lindsay Caldwell
This is my third time playing in a game run by Chris, and they have all been great experiences. His creativity really stands out, from unique world ideas to fun NPCs that feel like more than just background characters. He is a natural storyteller who is great at weaving player choices into the bigger plot. Every session feels like it matters. What really makes Chris shine is how supportive he is. Whether you’re new to D&D or just rusty on rules, he explains things clearly and creates a welcoming, low-pressure environment. If you're looking for a game that’s imaginative, story-driven, and run by someone who genuinely cares about the player experience, Chris is absolutely worth playing with.
Chulaia
I have known Chris for a while and had the fortune my playing my first D&D campaign with him as GM (Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden). As a complete beginner, he was very helpful with the ins and outs of how gameplay works, as well as playing out game remotely. I'm currently playing another campaign with the same group under Chris, and we already have plans to do another one in the future. Highly recommended.
Court
Chris is a skilled storyteller and an experienced DM who runs a great game of D&D. You can tell he loves to entertain his players and give them a great experience. He's also great with beginners. I was totally new to TTRPGs when I started playing with Chris and he was patient with me, taught me ropes, and would always give me advice or guidance when it was clear I needed it. I am now a seasoned player and have played several campaigns with Chris. I highly recommend him to all looking for a fun RPG to play!
Bear
Chris is an amazing GM! He runs an elite game of D&D, not only because of the effort he puts forth but also due to the premium materials he uses such as maps, minis, sound, etc. You can tell he puts a lot of time into preparation and that the players enjoyment is really important to him. Finally, Chris is a fantastic storyteller! His experience as a writer, filmmaker, and actor is reflected in his game and he's got a real artist's eye for detail.
Character creation
Creating your character
I will set up a time for a short call or Discord chat with the player individually, even before Session 0. We will go over a few preliminary things and I will ask the player to bring a few ideas for different characters. They will bring those ideas to Session 0 and go over them with the group. When everyone’s decided on their character, we go on D&D Beyond and build them together. Once the PC is created, players have the opportunity to go to Heroforge.com and build their custom mini, which will be used in-game. Finally, between Session 0 and 1, I ask players to write a paragraph or two on their backstory as well an additional fun little backstory exercise that really helps everyone to get to know their PC and brings the group together.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Must have accounts on the following websites (all accounts are free, no premium memberships necessary) - D&D Beyond Discord The Forge (we play pbp on Discord but for combat we will use Foundry VTT on The Forge servers. Don't worry, the combat is still pbp. Players can sign in at their leisure and make their move) Hero Forge (for mini creation)
What Chris brings to the table
Our games are an exercise in collaborative storytelling, where GM and player both make decisions that dictate the direction of the story. As the GM, I provide players with a premium and immersive experience by using high-quality animated maps, music, sounds, animations--even with a pbp game because we are still using a VTT for our combat encounters. I'm a huge fan of my players! Providing an awesome experience for them is my number one priority. And as a reward to all who play in a long-form campaign (3 months or more) from start to finish, my players will receive a custom mini of their PC that I will print, paint, and send to them.
Homebrew rules
I do use some homebrew rules. Here are just a few: Standard array ability scores are - 17, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8 Critical Hits - When a natural 20 is rolled in combat, the player will get MAXIMUM damage possible + another dice roll to add to the full damage output. 30-second combat timer - If the player has not made their decision on what they would like their primary action to be within the 30 second timer that starts at the beginning of their turn, they automatically take the Dodge action and play proceeds to the next combatant. Ranger class - I’m currently tinkering with the Ranger class to fix it. I may just be rolling with new Dungeon Dudes proposed changes, that look to be a much improved version of the 2024 RaW Ranger.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Chris creates a safe table
I will ask all players to look over the campaign's content warnings and list some lines and veils they might have. I also have them fill out the Monty Cook checklist. Then I compile these and go over some limits in Session 0 so everyone is aware. I will also offer open door breaks if needed and utilize stars and wishes as well.
