Play by Post (PBP) Curse of Strahd: The Crimson Thrones
Barovia no longer kneels before one vampire. It kneels before many. Who will sit the Crimson Throne when the bloodletting ends?
$15.00
/ Session
Details
1 player following this game
Play by Post (Asynchronous)
Billed Weekly / Sunday - 3:00 AM UTC
Session Duration / 2–12 hours
Campaign Length / 50–200 Sessions
0 / 6 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
Welcome to Curse of Strahd: The Crimson Thrones, a gothic political horror campaign inspired by Curse of Strahd, Game of Thrones, and Grim Hollow’s Crimson Court. In this version of Barovia, power is divided among several vampire lords, each ruling their own territory through fear, loyalty, blood, and old promises. Noble houses scheme behind closed doors, villages are caught between rival masters, and even the most generous patron may simply be deciding how useful you are. This is a campaign about politics, survival, alliances, betrayal, and difficult choices as much as it is about hunting monsters. You may bargain with one vampire to survive another, support one house only to discover what their victory would truly mean, or attempt the far more dangerous task of breaking Barovia’s cycle of tyranny entirely. There are few clean sides, and the people you trust, betray, spare, or condemn can reshape the balance of power across the valley. Expect gothic horror, dangerous exploration, faction intrigue, recurring NPCs, mysteries, personal character arcs, and moments of brutal combat. The campaign will reward players who enjoy talking to NPCs, investigating the world, making plans, forming relationships, and living with the consequences of their decisions. Combat matters, but knowing when not to draw your sword can matter just as much. This is a Play-by-Post game, so the story will unfold through written roleplay rather than traditional live sessions. Players who enjoy character-driven writing, slower-burn storytelling, collaborative worldbuilding, and having time to think through their character’s words and decisions should feel especially at home. In Barovia, every lord wants something from you and sooner or later, you will have to decide whose throne deserves to stand.
Game style
Play By Post
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Heavy
West Marches
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(38)
4 years on StartPlaying
391 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, World Builder
Average response time: 9 hours
Response rate: 67%
About me
I am a storytelling DM and love to make adventures and tales for characters. A newly abroad college student also trying to turn my passion into a job, so I hope to rise and gain better.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Characters will be created before the game begins using the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 ruleset. Everyone starts at Level 2, and all officially released D&D character options are available unless a particular option creates a major conflict with the campaign. Ravenloft: The Horrors Within will be the primary supplemental source for the campaign, especially for its horror-themed character options and Dark Gifts. Every character begins with one Dark Gift. These Gifts are not simply bonuses they are marks left upon you by Barovia, its horrors, or the powers that rule it, and they may have consequences as the story develops. Your character must also begin with a connection to one of Barovia's vampire lords. You might belong to their household, owe them a debt, have family living within their territory, secretly despise them, have earned their favor, or simply have been assigned to their service. You do not need to be loyal to your lord, but they should matter to your character in some meaningful way. At the beginning of The Crimson Thrones, the party already works together as Blood Tax Collectors. You travel Barovia collecting the blood tithe demanded from its mortal population and carrying it back to the vampire courts. This gives the party an established reason to know one another, travel throughout Barovia, encounter every level of its society, and become entangled in the growing struggle between the Crimson Thrones. When creating your character, think especially about three questions: Which vampire lord are you connected to? Why did you become a Blood Tax Collector? And when the loyalties of Barovia begin to fracture, what might finally convince you to betray the lord you serve?
What to expect
Preparing for the session
All you need is a Discord & DND Beyond Account.
What Slosh brings to the table
📚 D&D 2024 Support The campaign uses the D&D 2024 ruleset. Players will have access to approved character creation resources and guidance throughout the process. 🎭 Rich Storytelling & Planned Narrative Arcs I enjoy crafting interconnected stories filled with foreshadowing, recurring characters, mysteries, and meaningful choices. Small details often become important later, and attentive players will frequently be rewarded. ⚔️ Tactical & Meaningful Combat Combat encounters are designed to challenge players both mechanically and narratively. Expect a balance between strategic decision-making and cinematic moments. 🗺️ Custom Maps, Handouts & Visual Aids Custom maps, campus locations, NPC portraits, event posters, magical documents, and other visual aids will help bring the world to life. 🎲 Rule of Cool Philosophy Creative ideas are encouraged. If something is exciting, dramatic, and fits the story, I'm generally willing to work with players to make it happen.
Homebrew rules
Gritty Resting Rules from Grim Hollow
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer or Mobile Device
Platforms used
Safety
How Slosh creates a safe table
We will go over everything in the Session 0.
Content warnings
Safety tools used