Curse of Strahd Reloaded | Gothic Horror | D&D 5e (2024)

Creating your character

Character Creation Characters will be created before the campaign begins and will start at Level 1, using the 2024 D&D rules. Your final character will be set up directly within Foundry VTT, and I’m happy to help new or experienced players through the entire creation process. Ability Scores Roll 4d6 and drop the lowest die for each ability score. Character Options Official D&D character options are welcome as long as they are appropriate for the campaign. If you're unsure about a species, class, subclass, background, or other option, just ask and I'll help you get everything set up. D&D Beyond & Foundry VTT You may create your character through D&D Beyond. Your final character will be set up in Foundry with their features, spells, equipment, attacks, and abilities ready for play. Create Someone Worth Fighting For Curse of Strahd Reloaded is a character-driven Gothic horror campaign. Characters with strong motivations, personal fears, meaningful relationships, unfinished business, or something they refuse to lose work especially well. Your backstory matters. I encourage players to give me characters with people, places, regrets, ambitions, and secrets that can become part of their journey. Party-Friendly Characters Barovia is dangerous enough without the party fighting itself. Your character can be flawed, secretive, frightened, or morally complicated, but they should have a reason to cooperate with the group. New players are welcome. You don't need to know anything about Barovia or Curse of Strahd. In fact, this adventure is often better when you enter the mists knowing as little as possible. Create someone you care about. Barovia will do its best to change them.

Preparing for the session

Preparing to Enter the Mists Before your first session, there are a few things you'll need to prepare. Once the mists close behind you, there may be no turning back. Discord Join the campaign Discord server for voice chat, announcements, scheduling, and communication between sessions. Please have a working microphone and a reasonably quiet place to play. Foundry VTT through The Forge The campaign is played through Foundry VTT using The Forge. You do not need to purchase Foundry or download any software. I’ll provide everything you need to connect. Computer & Browser A desktop or laptop with a modern browser and stable internet connection is strongly recommended. The campaign uses dynamic lighting, automated combat, spell and attack animations, visual effects, music, and atmospheric audio. Have Your Character Ready Your character should be created before your first session. I’ll help with character creation and make sure your sheet, abilities, equipment, and other features are properly set up in Foundry. Come Ready for Gothic Horror Curse of Strahd Reloaded is a story-driven campaign featuring exploration, mystery, difficult choices, dangerous combat, and heavy roleplay. Pay attention to the people you meet and the things you discover. Small details can become important later. Avoid Spoilers Please do not read Curse of Strahd, Curse of Strahd Reloaded, or look up Barovia's locations, characters, monsters, maps, or story. Discovering the secrets of Barovia is a major part of the experience. No previous knowledge of D&D, Foundry, or Ravenloft is required. New players are welcome, and I’ll help you get everything ready before we enter the mists.

What GM: Vale brings to the table

What I Provide My goal is to make Barovia feel like a living Gothic horror world rather than a collection of static battle maps. I handle the technical side of Foundry so you can focus on your character, the story, and surviving what waits beyond the mists. Beneos Animated Maps Explore Barovia through detailed animated maps by Beneos, bringing locations to life with moving environments, atmospheric effects, lighting, fog, weather, and other immersive details. Automated Combat Foundry handles much of the repetitive combat bookkeeping, including attacks, damage, saving throws, conditions, effects, and several house rules. Combat stays moving instead of getting buried in calculations. Animated Spells & Attacks Weapons, spells, abilities, healing, and magical effects feature animations. Swords strike their targets, arrows fly across the battlefield, and spells come alive during combat. Dynamic Lighting & Vision Darkness matters in Barovia. Foundry's lighting, walls, vision, doors, fog, and environmental effects allow you to explore locations without knowing what waits around the next corner. Atmospheric Music & Audio Locations, exploration, roleplay, and encounters are supported with music and environmental ambience designed to reinforce Barovia's Gothic atmosphere. Prepared NPCs & Encounters Important NPCs, monsters, encounters, tokens, journals, handouts, and locations are prepared ahead of time so sessions stay focused on playing rather than waiting for setup. Curse of Strahd Reloaded This campaign uses the expanded Curse of Strahd Reloaded experience, with an emphasis on stronger character motivations, interconnected stories, meaningful choices, exploration, and roleplay throughout Barovia. Rule of Cool I follow the rules, but creative solutions are encouraged. If you want to attempt something unexpected that makes sense for the situation, tell me what you're trying to accomplish and we'll determine how to make it work. You bring the character. I'll bring Barovia to life. Just remember that the mists rarely give back what they take.

Homebrew rules

House Rules of Barovia We primarily use the 2024 D&D rules, with a small collection of house rules designed to make combat faster, teamwork more rewarding, and the dangers of Barovia feel meaningful. Exhaustion on Revival Exhaustion only occurs when your character dies and is brought back to life. The Exhaustion is applied after combat ends rather than immediately during the fight. Death in Barovia leaves its mark. Brutal Criticals Critical hits deal maximum normal damage plus an additional damage roll. This applies to both characters and enemies. Foundry VTT automatically calculates and rolls critical damage, so there is no additional math required from players. Potions Drinking a healing potion as a Bonus Action rolls the healing normally. Using your full Action grants the maximum possible healing from the potion. Flexible Initiative Players may voluntarily lower their initiative to coordinate turns and strategies with other party members. In Barovia, working together can mean the difference between survival and becoming another grave along the Old Svalich Road. Stealth Stealth checks are only required when there is a realistic chance of being detected. You won't need to repeatedly roll simply because you're moving quietly. Martial Scroll Use Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, Rogues, Barbarians, and Monks may use spell scrolls, allowing more characters to take advantage of the magical treasures they discover. Safe Long Rests A full Long Rest requires reasonably safe conditions. A secured room or protected settlement may provide sanctuary. A forgotten crypt, haunted forest, or monster-infested ruin may not. Rule of Cool Creative solutions are encouraged. If you want to swing from a chandelier, collapse a doorway behind you, distract a monster, or attempt something the rules don't perfectly cover, tell me what you're trying to accomplish and we'll determine how you can attempt it. Barovia is dangerous, and your enemies play to win. Think creatively, rely on your companions, and never assume you're safe simply because the door is closed.

How GM: Vale creates a safe table

Player Safety & Table Culture: - Inclusivity & Respect: Player comfort and enjoyment are my top priorities. I want everyone at the table to feel welcome and respected. Before the campaign begins, we will align our expectations during Session 0, covering character creation, campaign tone, themes, and any individual boundaries. - Open-Door Policy: I run a strict open-door policy. You are always free to step away from the table, mute yourself, take a break, or privately message me if you become uncomfortable for any reason. No explanations are ever required. Real life and player comfort always come first. - Safety Tools: Because Curse of Strahd: Reloaded includes darker themes and psychological horror elements, we will establish clear Lines and Veils before the campaign begins. My goal is to create tension and atmosphere within the story while ensuring everyone at the table remains safe and comfortable. - Scheduled Breaks: To prevent fatigue and keep everyone sharp, we will take a 10-to-15 minute break halfway through every session to stretch, grab a drink, or step away from the screens. - lay-by-Post Continuity: Our Discord server features active play-by-post channels between live game days. This allows you to roleplay minor downtime activities, chat in-character, look over clues, or plan your next moves at your own pace throughout the week without taking up valuable live session time. - Open Communication: I encourage continuous feedback. If something isn't working, or if adjustments need to be made, I want you to feel comfortable bringing it up. At the end of the day, we're here to tell an unforgettable story together and ensure everyone enjoys the journey.