Curse of Strahd | Vampires, Dark Romance, and Dread
A deadly fog drags you into a cursed land ruled by a powerful vampire. To survive, you’ll need to face monsters, uncover dark secrets, and decide what
$16.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 7:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
2 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
2/5
About the adventure
Barovia is a land of mist, sorrow, and old wounds that never truly healed. Beneath its crumbling castles, haunted forests, and silent villages lies a story of obsession, grief, power, and love twisted into something monstrous. At the heart of it all stands Strahd von Zarovich: a vampire lord whose gaze reaches across the land, and whose hunger is not only for blood, but for the impossible promise of love and possession. This game is for players who enjoy gothic horror with a strong emotional core: tragic romance, dangerous beauty, uneasy desire, and the feeling that every kindness or cruelty echoes through the dark. Curse of Strahd is a story of monsters, yes, but also of longing, manipulation, devotion, and the terrible things people do when they cannot let go. Expect a world full of memorable NPCs, tense encounters, dark fairytale atmosphere, and choices that feel personal as well as perilous. My GM style is immersive, roleplay-focused, and deeply interested in character dynamics, emotional tension, and story-rich moments. I love creating games where players can connect with the world, build meaningful relationships, and feel the weight of their choices. While Barovia is a dangerous and tragic place, I still want the table itself to feel welcoming, collaborative, and supportive. Expect a balance of roleplay, exploration, combat, atmosphere, and dramatic character moments, with music and ambience to bring the setting to life. If you’re looking for a gothic horror campaign full of vampires, tragedy, romance, dread, and unforgettable story moments, this game should be a great fit. Whether you come for the dark fantasy, the emotional storytelling, or the chance to walk willingly into the mists and see what waits for you there, Barovia is ready to open its gates.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(5)
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Teacher, Storytelling
Average response time: 6 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
I’ve been playing tabletop RPGs since 2019 and running games since 2021, both online and in person. Outside of TTRPGs, I’ve worked as a software developer for the past four years, and I’m also a big reader. A lot of the books I love influence the way I run games, especially when it comes to character relationships, emotional moments, and that sense of being completely swept up in a story. What I love most about tabletop RPGs is the chance to roleplay, tell stories with other people, and create memorable moments together. I especially enjoy character interaction and romance in storytelling, and one of my biggest goals as a GM is to create D&D stories that capture some of the same feelings that my favourite books do. Most of my experience is with D&D 5e, both as a player and as a GM, and I’m very comfortable running games online using Roll20, Discord, and D&D Beyond. I aim to create welcoming, inclusive, and engaging games for both newer and more experienced players, with a balance of roleplay, exploration, combat, and character-driven moments. I also play Vampire: The Masquerade and would love to run it in the future. I also have two cats, who are very supportive of my tabletop hobby from a distance.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will happen during Session 0, we’ll be starting at level 1, and characters can be created using D&D Beyond. We’ll be rolling for stats, and I’m happy to talk through character ideas with newer players or help people build something that fits both the story and the group. I’m generally open when it comes to race and character options, but if you want to play something a little unusual, I’d like to talk it through first so we can make sure it fits the tone of the campaign and the party as a whole.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Before the game, players will need to have Discord and Roll20 accounts set up, as we’ll be using Discord for voice and Roll20 for the game itself. A Discord invite link will be provided before Session 0. I also recommend making sure your microphone is working and that you’re able to access Roll20 ahead of time, so everything runs smoothly when we start. If you’re new to either platform, that’s completely fine, I’m happy to help people get set up before the game.
What Drew brings to the table
I provide a welcoming, beginner-friendly, and immersive game experience with a strong focus on story, roleplay, and memorable character moments. I use music and background ambience to help support the mood of the game and make scenes feel more alive, whether that’s a lively town, a tense dungeon, or a more emotional story moment. My games aim to balance roleplay, exploration, combat, and character-driven choices, and I like to create space for players to interact with the world and help shape the story through their actions. I also like to use the rule of cool where it fits the moment and adds to the fun, as long as it doesn’t break the game or take away from other players’ enjoyment. My goal is to make the table feel collaborative, engaging, and like a place where players can really settle into their characters.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Drew creates a safe table
Player safety and comfort are very important to me, and I want the table to feel welcoming, respectful, and supportive for everyone. During Session 0, we’ll go over expectations, boundaries, and the general tone of the game, including my own yeses and nos as well as anything players would like to avoid or keep off-screen. I use X, N, and O safety tools, and players are always welcome to use them during the game if something becomes uncomfortable or if they want to check in on the tone of a scene. I’ll also keep a shared safety document that everyone can update at any time if anything changes or if new boundaries come up during the campaign. Alongside that, I like to do regular check-ins after sessions so players have space to raise any concerns, mention anything that did or didn’t work for them, or just let me know how they’re feeling about the game. My goal is to make sure everyone feels safe, heard, and able to enjoy the story together.
Content warnings
Safety tools used