Curse of Strahd. A gothic horror campaign.
“Where the dead rest uneasily, the living endure. Strahd is always watching. Come for the adventure—stay because the mists won’t let you leave"
$30.00
/ Session
Details
1 player following this game
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 6:30 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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About the adventure
Beyond the choking mists lies Barovia, a land where hope goes to die and fear walks openly in the streets. The people live in a perpetual twilight, crushed beneath the shadow of an all-powerful lord—Strahd von Zarovich, ruler, tyrant, and eternal watcher. No one dares defy him… and those who try are never seen again. But Strahd is not the only horror that stalks this cursed realm. Whispers follow you through empty villages, allies wear masks, and even kindness may hide a blade. Can you trust anyone when darkness has ruled for generations? Is there still good left in Barovia—or has it been bled dry? Enter if you dare… but understand this: the land is watching, and it does not let go easily. Starting at level 1 is ideal for all levels of experience.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Combat Lite
Roleplay Lite
Sandbox / Open World
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Dungeon Crawl
Theater of the Mind
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(18)
3 years on StartPlaying
235 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling
Average response time: 5 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hiya, I have been playing as a DM for 7 years and am currently finishing the Strahd campaign, which has been running for over a year and a half. I played in a campaign 20 years ago which ran for 7 years. So as you can tell, I like a long campaign. My games are very laid back and very newbie friendly. I offer one-to-one chats at no charge. I like my players to feel completely comfortable before starting and screen my players to make sure the campaign is a good fit. I absolutely love DND as well as the craft side of it. I make my own terrain and models, and encourage others to share their talents on my Discord channel. I am chatty and do try to do ( awful, you are warned !) accents. So if you are looking for a fun, laid-back game where you could learn as you go, then I may be the one for you. I do offer games that are for more advanced players, too
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Usually, players already have an idea of the character they want to play. I leave that up to the group. I have a chat with each player before we start to establish whether a full session zero is needed. We get to gameplay as soon as possible. So, depending if its a completely newb group who want a session 0 to create together or people who have already got someone in mind, this will be taken into account. I am happy to go through the characters if help is needed. Shard is very intuitive and easy to use for character creation, but again happy to walk you through it.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Webcam optional ( some players feel more comfortable with voice only ) Mic Computer, tablet or phone (Shard awesome for mobile playing !). Shard access is free to use. Discord used for voice, or google meet. Other than that, just enthusiasm needed !
What Caz brings to the table
Warning, I use bad character accents ( again, enthusiasm rather than talent !) I use Shard VTT, which is very intuitive to use, with maps and audio and unique dice. I can talk you through the set-up. Combat will usually occur each game, RP is as much as you want, and the game will be tailored to you. Every game I have played, I have been lucky to have laid back, inquisitive and enthusiastic players who all play with a sense of humour. So if you like banter, laughter and some silliness, then this is the game for you! Rule of cool definitely will rear its head, along with some homebrew playing. Combat is intense, though it's not always about fighting, sometimes just maybe run away? It's up to you. Characters will be challenged by experiences, and could die, so think your options through well. Sorry, no PHB2024, Damphirs or Bloodhunters :( But open to discussion on characters. Lots of character options to choose from multiple books.
Homebrew rules
Full crit hits, so you get full damage on hits, then roll for the second. Nat 1's you get double damage. Crit passes on save, no damage, Nat 1 double damage. An inspiration point you can use to pass a death saving throw. Cleaving and flanking. Some homebrew made up depending on cool ideas from you!
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Caz creates a safe table
Players can have a debrief at any time. We have an adult consent form used to clarify what players are comfortable with. X, N, Os can be verbal or typed. I am always open to calls at any time.
Content warnings
Safety tools used