Curse of Strahd Remastered – Weekly Campaign

Creating your character

Character creation is simple, collaborative, and welcoming to all experience levels. Whether you’re brand new or a returning player, I’ll guide you through every step so you feel confident and excited when we begin. Below is exactly how the process works: 📅 When We Create Characters We create characters before the first session, not during the adventure. You’ll get: A private chat link A character-creation guide A choice of templates for beginners My help if you want a 1-on-1 build session (free) Our Session 0 includes introductions, safety tools, and final character touches. ⭐ 📜 Starting Level All characters begin at: 🧭 Level 1 This is intentional! Starting at Level 1 in the mists of Barovia helps build tension, growth, and long-term character arcs. You will level quickly through early milestones so you don’t feel fragile for long. ⭐ 🎲 Ability Scores / Stats To keep things fair and beginner-friendly, we use: 📌 Standard Array OR Point Buy (player choice) No random rolling required unless you want to roll for fun during Session 0. This ensures that nobody starts underpowered or overshadowed. ⭐ 📚 Allowed Books & Sources To keep the game balanced and focused, we use: ✔️ Allowed: Player’s Handbook (2014 or 2024) Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft Any official subclass that fits gothic or adventuring themes ❌ Not Allowed: Unearthed Arcana Homebrew subclasses Third-party sources (If you have a thematic homebrew concept, message me—we can usually adapt it.) ⭐ 🧙 Character Themes That Fit Barovia Best You don’t need to create a “horror character” to enjoy the campaign, but certain themes feel great here: Haunted souls Cursed bloodlines Exiled nobles Monster hunters Clerics & paladins with personal vows Rogues hiding from their past Rangers & druids tied to dark forests Bards researching tragic legends Warlocks with mysterious patrons If you’re stuck, I can build you a custom backstory seed. ⭐ 🎭 Backstory Expectations You do not need to write a novel. A simple 3–5 sentence backstory is perfect. Just include: Where you came from What you want or fear Why you travel into dangerous places I’ll weave your story directly into Barovia—NPCs will recognize you, your past may follow you, and Strahd himself may take a personal interest. ⭐ 🛠️ Where We Build Characters All characters are created in: 📌 D&D Beyond (preferred) You’ll receive a campaign link so all shared books, content, and tools are unlocked for you. I’ll handle the technical setup so you only focus on the fun parts. If you’d rather use another sheet system (physical sheets, PDF, Roll20-style), that’s totally fine. ⭐ 🧡 Support for New Players Beginners welcome! If you’ve never built a character before, I offer: Pre-built “plug-and-play” templates Step-by-step coaching Simple class recommendations A session 0 walkthrough so you never feel lost You’ll be 100% ready

Preparing for the session

⭐ Preparation — What You Need Before Session 1 Getting ready for this campaign is simple, and I’ll walk you through every step. Whether you’re brand new to online tabletop gaming or a seasoned player, this checklist ensures you can jump into Barovia smoothly and confidently. 1️⃣ Join the Game’s Discord (Required) All communication, announcements, character coordination, and scheduling happen in Discord. After booking, you will receive an invite link. Please: Join the server Say hello in the “welcome” channel Set your display name to your character name (or your own if undecided) If you’ve never used Discord before, don’t worry—I provide a beginner-friendly guide. 2️⃣ Create a Free D&D Beyond Account We use D&D Beyond for character sheets and shared content. Once you join the campaign link I send, all relevant books and options unlock automatically. Please: Make or log into a free account Join the campaign link I provide Begin your character (or wait for Session 0) No purchases required—everything you need will be shared. 3️⃣ Have the VTT Ready (Foundry or Owlbear) Combat maps and exploration are run on either: ✔ Foundry VTT (usually) or ✔ Owlbear Rodeo (for simpler sessions) You do not need to download anything for Owlbear. For Foundry, you only need a web browser—no installs required. Before Session 1: Test your browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended) Click the VTT link I provide Make sure your connection loads the scene If you ever have tech trouble, I’ll walk you through it. 4️⃣ Mic & Audio Setup To keep the game smooth and immersive: Minimum: A working microphone Headphones or earbuds (to avoid echo) Recommended: A quiet room Push-to-talk (optional but helpful) Webcams are optional—you’re welcome to use one, but not required. 5️⃣ Read the Session 0 Guide (Provided After Booking) This quick guide includes: Party expectations Tone & safety tools Barovia theme overview How leveling works What happens if you miss a session It takes 3–5 minutes and gets everyone on the same page. 6️⃣ Bring a Character Idea (Optional but Helpful) You do NOT need a completed character before Session 0. A simple idea is enough: Examples: “Monster hunter trying to prove themselves.” “Cleric chasing a vision that led them into the mists.” “Rogue trying to outrun their past.” “I have no idea—I want suggestions.” (Totally valid!) If you want full guidance, you can book a 1-on-1 mini-session with me for free. 7️⃣ Check Your Time Zone StartPlaying automatically adjusts times, but it never hurts to double-check. Make sure the game time displayed matches your local time so you don’t miss the first session. 8️⃣ Come With a Willingness to Play Together This campaign thrives when players: Communicate Respect the table Lift each other up Engage with the world Lean into the story No min-maxing required. No drama. Just heroic (and sometimes tragic) adventure. ⭐ If You Need Help—Just Ask

What Mimic brings to the table

⭐ What I Provide My Players When you join one of my games, you’re getting a GM who brings energy, atmosphere, and immersion to every session. My goal is to make the world feel alive, the story feel personal, and your character feel important. Whether you’re brand new or returning to D&D, you’ll always know what’s going on and always have space to shine. 🎭 Character Voices & Immersive NPCs I use distinct voices, expressions, and personalities for NPCs so you always know who’s speaking. Strahd, villagers, allies, enemies—each character has their own tone and presence. You don’t need to do voices yourself (unless you want to), but I promise you’ll feel like you’re talking to real, memorable people. 🎶 Atmospheric Music & Soundscapes Expect cinematic background music that enhances tension, emotion, and exploration. Forest ambience, castle echoes, soft village themes, battle tracks—I choose everything to deepen immersion without distracting from gameplay. 🗺️ High-Quality Maps & Smooth VTT Experience I provide clear, thematic maps for every major location and encounter, with simple layouts and fast load times. Combat is run on Foundry or Owlbear Rodeo for easy navigation, even for total beginners. You’ll also receive visual handouts, art pieces, and thematic cues to anchor the world around you. ⚔️ Tactical Combat That Rewards Creativity My combat style is tactical but fair. Enemies behave intelligently, environments matter, and teamwork is rewarded. If you’re new, I guide you through your options. If you're experienced, I offer depth and challenge. Most importantly, I scale difficulty so everyone has fun. ✨ Balanced Style: Rule of Cool + Rules as Written Structure comes from Rules as Written, but if you come up with a clever or cinematic idea, I absolutely use Rule of Cool. The goal is always: “Fun first, fairness always.” 🧭 A Living, Reactive World Barovia remembers what you do. NPCs react, factions shift, and Strahd himself becomes an active presence in your story. Choices matter, and your character’s backstory will weave into the campaign in meaningful ways. 💬 Communication, Consent & Safety Tools I maintain a respectful, welcoming table with clear boundaries and open communication. We use safety tools (X-card, lines & veils, private check-ins) so everyone feels comfortable engaging with dark themes at their own pace. 🧡 Support for All Skill Levels Beginners get patient teaching, character-building support, and step-by-step guidance. Veterans get depth, strategy, and rich narrative hooks. Everyone gets space to contribute and moments to shine. 🎁 Extra Perks I Provide Character arc integration Optional session recaps Lore handouts and clues Thematic visuals and mood-setting art Quick rules reminders when needed

Homebrew rules

⭐ Homebrew Rules I use a small number of carefully chosen homebrew rules that make the game more cinematic, more heroic, and more engaging—especially in a gothic horror campaign like Curse of Strahd. These rules are beginner-friendly and will be explained clearly during our Session 0. 🧪 Potions as a Bonus Action Drinking a potion takes a bonus action. Feeding a potion to another character still takes an action. This keeps combat flowing and helps support-style characters shine. ⚔️ Cinematic Critical Hits Critical hits deal maximum damage on the dice + a roll. This makes crits feel exciting for players without making monsters overwhelmingly lethal. 💀 “Last Breath” at 0 HP When you hit 0 HP, you gain a brief narrative moment—one line, one thought, one plea, or one memory. It adds emotional weight without changing mechanics. Death saves remain standard 5e rules. 🛡️ Heroic Inspiration (Session-Based) Instead of Inspiration being easily forgotten, you’ll earn Heroic Inspiration during dramatic moments, great roleplay, clever plans, or big character choices. You can spend it on: Advantage on a roll Turning a failed death save into a success Resisting fear or charm This encourages bold play without breaking balance. 🕯️ Light Matters Light sources grant small situational benefits in Barovia. Examples: A lantern may reveal a hidden detail Holy light may weaken certain illusions Bright light can give advantage on checks to resist fear in dark areas These are narrative bonuses, not major mechanical buffs. 🎲 Skill Checks That “Fail Forward” A failed roll doesn’t stop the story—it complicates it. For example: You pick the lock, but attract attention You find the clue, but misinterpret something This keeps the plot moving while preserving tension. 🩸 “Dark Bargains” (Optional Player Choice) In certain moments, Barovia may tempt you with a “dark bargain”—gain a short-term benefit at the risk of long-term consequences. Examples: Advantage now for a point of exhaustion later Temporary hit points for accepting a curse Players always choose; nothing is forced. 🗡️ Monsters Fight Intelligently, Not Ruthlessly Enemies work together, use terrain, and behave like thinking beings—but they don’t deliberately kill unconscious characters unless narratively appropriate (certain bosses may be exceptions). This keeps danger real without feeling unfair. 📘 Optional Subclasses / Themes Some Van Richten’s Guide subclasses and dark gifts may be allowed with Session 0 approval. I ensure everything fits the tone without creating imbalance.

How Mimic creates a safe table

⭐ Safety This is a gothic horror campaign, so dark themes, fear, tension, and mature scenarios are part of the experience. That said, everyone deserves a table where they know the boundaries, understand the tone, and feel comfortable speaking up if something crosses a personal line. I keep safety tools simple, clear, and unobtrusive so the game stays immersive without becoming overly sanitized. 📌 Session 0 Basics Before we begin, we’ll briefly cover: Tone (dark fantasy, horror, tension—not torture or shock content) Player expectations (team-focused, respectful, cooperative) Campaign elements you can and cannot expect Any quick red lines you want me to avoid This takes just a few minutes and ensures we all start on the same page. 📄 Lines & Veils (Short Version) I provide a short list of common lines & veils in Discord. You can add anything privately or publicly. No essays, no deep dives—just clear boundaries. Lines = Not included. Veils = May appear, but only off-screen. This keeps the campaign intense without crossing genuine comfort limits. 🛑 X/N/O Tools (Simple & Quiet) I use a minimal, discreet system that does not interrupt the game: X = “Hard stop, skip this, move on.” N = “Not loving this direction, adjust a bit.” O = “All good, keep going.” You can message me directly or drop the letter in Discord. You never need to explain why. No dramatic pauses. No long discussions. Just a quick correction and move forward. 🧭 Respect at the Table I expect everyone to: Respect each other Avoid PvP unless explicitly agreed Keep character conflict in-character only Use mature judgment when dealing with horror themes This is a dark story, not a toxic table. ⚖️ Horror With Control Curse of Strahd includes dread, danger, and intensity—but I do not use: Graphic gore for shock value Sexual violence (hard line) Torture scenes Misery for misery’s sake Horror should feel engaging and dramatic, not exploitative or uncomfortable. 💬 Aftercare (Lightweight) After each session, I open a quick check-in channel where you can: Ask questions Clarify moments Mention anything that didn’t land right Celebrate cool character moments It’s optional and brief—no group therapy, just communication. 🎭 Player-First, Not Player-Coddling You’re adults at this table, and I treat you like it. Barovia is dangerous, the tone is dark, and Strahd is an active, intelligent villain—but you are the heroes, and the game is built to challenge you, not to break you. You will always know the boundaries, always have a voice, and always be part of a respectful, engaging experience—without diluting the gothic horror that makes this campaign special.