Image by Anna Podedworna
Curse of Strahd || The Horrors Within || 5.5e Content || 🏳️🌈
Step into Barovia in this classic tale of gothic horror. Survive this cursed land, its haunted souls, and the gaze of Count Strahd von Zarovich.
$18.00
/ Session
Details
3 players following this game
Weekly / Sunday - 7:00 PM UTC
Aug 2 / Session 4
Session Duration / 2–4 hours
4 / 5 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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Schedule
Meet your party members
4/5
About the adventure
• Starts at level 1 and ends at level 10. • Explore Barovia, a land lost to time and the mists of the Shadowfell. • Haunted villages and forgotten ruins await you, all under the ever-present watch of Castle Ravenloft. • High stakes! Get it? Because vampires- Nevermind. Shortly after you arrive in dreary Barovia, Madam Eva, a Vistani fortune-teller requests the honour of your presence. Whether you believe her or not, events will unfold, setting you on a dark course that will take you to many corners of Barovia, all the while trying to stay alive. Horrors exist around every corner, and traversing this domain will inevitably draw the attention one horror above all: Count Strahd von Zarovich. But while Barovia is dark and unforgiving, hope still flickers; you may yet find allies here. Stand alongside famed monster hunter Rudolph van Richten and his protégés, Ez d’Avenir and the Weathermay-Foxgrove twins. Defeat Strahd, and you may leave. Fail… and you will remain trapped here forever. If you even survive.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Heavy
Rules as Written (RaW)
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(20)
2 years on StartPlaying
253 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Sets the Mood
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
I have been playing D&D for over seven years and running games for the past five. It's my passion (read: obsession), and I aim to introduce more to this fantastic hobby, because it really should be shared with as many people as possible. My games usually contain a healthy amount of roleplay (as a voice actor, I just can't resist), tactically challenging combat, and I like to make sure that exploration is rewarding for each player.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Will be covered in Session 0. • D&D Beyond used for character creation. Roll20 can be used as an alternative if preferred. • Starting at level 1. • "Standard Array" or "Point Buy" for attributes. • Most sourcebooks allowed aside from certain ones due to setting: Critical Role, Free League, Avantris etc.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
• Discord account and microphone. • D&D Beyond account for character creation. • Roll20 account for virtual tabletop. Prior knowledge of D&D is recommended, but not required.
What Samuel brings to the table
• A comprehensive collection of official WotC and 3rd-party compendiums on D&D Beyond. • High-quality maps, tokens, and handouts for immersive visualization. • Thematic music and ambience to deepen immersion further through Watch2Gether. • A light selection of homebrew rules favouring players for more tactical gameplay.
Homebrew rules
Combat • Consuming a Potion of Healing is a Bonus Action. However, if you consume one as an Action, it will restore the maximum amount allowed by the dice. • Flanking grants a +2 bonus to your attack rolls in melee. General • The rules rely on good-faith interpretation. • No PVP. • Don't be a murder-hobo.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Samuel creates a safe table
Safety Tools: Triggers and content sensitivity can be discussed openly or in private. General D&D violence and gore is a part of the game and cannot be avoided. X and N cards can be sent privately or said openly, depending on player preference. Breaks are taken at natural points, but in extreme cases (ie. character death), they will happen immediately after to check in. Session 0: Introduction to the Domains of Dread and Barovia as a setting, character creation, and discussion of any homebrew rule changes.
Content warnings
Safety tools used