Curse of Strahd

Creating your character

We will go over the basics of the world, table expectations and rules, and character creation during the free session zero---including which ruleset (2014 or 2024) will be used. Players are then welcome and encouraged to discuss the details of backstory, mechanics, and character vision with the DM between sessions zero and one. Characters will start at Level One, and each player will create two characters. Stats will be determined by the group. Every player will roll up a stat array through Avrae's !randchar function, and then the group will vote on which array will be used by all players. Sheets may be submitted in whichever form is most convenient for the player. Homebrew is permitted, but must be approved by the DM.

Preparing for the session

Players should have a functional Discord account, as sessions will be hosted through a Discord Voice Channel in a personal server. Players should also make a Roll20 Account, as the majority of maps and combat will be hosted through this platform.

What Luxien brings to the table

As your Dungeon Master, my goal is to create an immersive, collaborative experience that blends narrative depth with mechanical clarity. Here’s what you can expect at the table: 🎭 NPC Voices & Roleplay: Every character you meet will feel distinct. I use varied voices, mannerisms, and personalities to bring the world to life—whether it's a charming barkeep, a cryptic seer, or a villain cloaked in velvet and menace. 🎵 Ambient Sound & Music: Each scene is scored with carefully selected ambient tracks—from stormy castle halls, to dusty town squares, to eerie, fog-drenched forests, I'll have the shivers running up your spine and the immersion cranked to max. 🧠 Rule of Cool & Tactical Combat: My combats are dynamic, cinematic, and fair. I prefer to play the rules loose, and reward creative thinking and bold choices, while still offering thoughtful, tactical encounters that challenge players who enjoy strategy. If you can think of it, you can probably do it. 🧬 Character-Centric Narrative: Your backstories matter. I weave your character’s past, goals, and fears into the story’s core—so your choices shape the world as much as dice rolls do. ⚖️ Moral Dilemmas & Consequences: This is a game where choices have weight. You’ll face situations without easy answers—moments that ask not just what your character can do, but who they want to become. 🤝 Healthy Table Culture: Perhaps most importantly, I strive at my table to foster a respectful, inclusive space where everyone feels heard. Clear boundaries, session zero discussions, OOC banter, and consistent communication factor into a table culture that I take great pride in, and would be thrilled to welcome you into.

Homebrew rules

My Homebrew Rules are: 1. Critical Casting, Against spells, a Nat 1 on a saving throw counts as a critical hit by the caster. The effect will be doubled appropriately; for damage dealing spells (such as Fireball), the damage is doubled. For effect spells (such as Polymorph), the duration is doubled. 2a. Flanking: Positioning an active threat on opposite sides of a large or smaller creature will grant both parties advantage on attacks made against that creature. 2b. Surrounding: Positioning four or more active threats on distinct sides of a Huge or larger creature grants advantage to all parties. 3. Rule of Cool and Comedy, If your action is deemed absolutely badass or gut-busting comedic, it shall be allowed regardless of feasibility. 4. Spicy Crits:, Upon a critical hit, the dice that would be rolled for the normal strike are treated as max. Extra dice resulting from the critical hit are then rolled. : ALTERNATIVE: Exploding Criticals --- when rolling dice for a critical hit, if any die rolls its maximum value, an additional die is rolled. 5. Fasty Casty:, 1st and 2nd level spells that can be cast as a bonus action can be cast in addition to an action spell, at 7th and 9th level respectively. 6. Potions On Self: Action = Max Healing, BA = roll | On others: 1 minute: Max Healing, Action: roll. 7. Success at a Cost:, Upon failing a check, a player can choose to succeed, but at a cost determined between player and DM. Can only be invoked once per session per player. 8. High Ground:, In the case of elevated terrain, attacking from the high ground grants a +2 bonus to the attack roll, but only if the player says, in character, "I HAVE THE HIGH GROUND [Enemy Name]!" or some appropriate variant.

How Luxien creates a safe table

We will aim to address as many potentially triggering topics as possible through the following at Session Zero: - Lines and Veils - Stars and Wishes - An open discussion about traumas and stress-points. At my table, emotional safety is a prerequisite to fun. If there is ever any discomfort at any time, I encourage players to step away and/or communicate their needs through the X card system, and I make myself available after every session to discuss questions and concerns.