RAVENLOFT: Early Access Encounters | The River Dancer
Hop into the world of Ravenloft by battling (Or dying) against some of the most horrifying monsters in D&D before their official release!
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Friday - 10:30 PM UTC
May 22
Session Duration / 1–3 hours
0 / 6 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
These one-shots are purely horror-themed combat encounters. your party will be up against challenging monsters of dread as we dive through the catalog of horror monsters within the new Sourcebook Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. These monsters and sourcebook have not yet officially been released to the public but may be featured in D&D's new "Dungeon Masters" Actual-play campaign. these combat scenarios will not be the same as what you watch in the campaign and will have plenty of tactical opportunities that your team can take advantage of, or be subject to in devastating ways. This series is going to be fun for all experienced players who enjoy the high stakes of tough and improvisational combat with the risk of character death or even a total-party-kill. your characters will not have any previous knowledge or experience with the monsters, and finding their behavior patterns, resistances, and vulnerabilities will be entirely subject to how your character chooses to approach combat.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Tactical / Crunchy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
46 games hosted
Highly rated for: Sets the Mood, Creativity, Teacher
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey. I’m Joseph-- a professional Dungeon Master and the author of several bestselling adventure modules on the Dungeon Masters Guild. I bring years of experience and contributions to the game—both as a storyteller and as a guide—crafting adventures that are immersive, emotionally resonant, and deeply respectful of the players who walk through them. My specialty lies in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting, particularly Curse of Strahd. I’ve spent years researching and expanding Barovia’s lore, and have developed a rich, compelling version of the campaign that honors the original module while introducing impactful twists, expanded character arcs, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re a first-time adventurer or returning to the Mists for another round, you’ll find something new to love. But I’m more than just a DM—I’m a worldbuilder, teacher, and director. I believe that every table should feel safe and inspiring. I strive to create a space where players feel seen and heard, where creativity thrives, and where every session feels like a story worth remembering. When you sit down at my table, you can expect professionalism, structure, flexibility, and above all: care. You’ll feel welcome, supported, and excited to explore the world we've built together. Most importantly, you'll feel confident you can simply just enjoy the game you're paying for. Looking forward to telling great stories with you. Take care, friends. ❤️
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Players will be invited to a D&DBeyond campaign where they will have shared access to my content (And offer to contribute what they may have). Character creation will be sourced from 5.5e content only; this includes the options in the PHB but 5.5 expanded content as well such as Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun and more.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
we'll be utilizing three platforms outside of SPG. -Discord for voice and *cam -D&DBeyond for Character tracking and VTT -Syrinscape for Ambient sounds and effect* *These are optional.
What Joseph (OTheophylus) brings to the table
I'll be bringing my A-game to try and deliver a truly remarkable horror experience. Using digital sounds, voices, improv descriptions, and a well-developed encounter that may includes various types of terrain, environmental objects, timed events, and high-level combat tactics, I hope to create a very immersive session; and since it's mostly combat, you can believe every aspect of the action economy, turns, rounds, rules in combat, as well as monster statistics and tactics will be well-prepared as to not slow down the game.
Homebrew rules
I always allow a singular home-brew rule, in that: a character can utilize their heroic inspiration to potentially implant a "Rule of Cool" scenario; Things that may otherwise be too challenging to do may become possible or 100% effective if using heroic inspiration. this is of course subject to player creativity and DM arbitration.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Joseph (OTheophylus) creates a safe table
There will be no PVP in this series as it is a Party VS Adversary combat experience. I utilize an open door policy and post-session check ins. Players have the opportunity to take a break as needed with no questions asked.
Content warnings
Safety tools used