The Reach of Strahd (aka "Curse of Strahd 5.5e")

Creating your character

Create a 1st-level character via Discord with the DM. We will use a 4d6-drop-the-lowest, put-em-where-you-want-em approach and, then, allow the player to reject a character that is unplayably bad; going to standard point-buy at that point. Players should collaborate (within the larger strokes of character design) to build a well-rounded party. This will be prior to Session Zero. Characters will start with 150 experience points. Session Zero will be free and cover the events leading up to the start of Curse of Strahd. This will give players a chance to “kick the tires” as it were: getting to know their character as well as how they gel with the other characters. Expect some combat, maybe some diplomacy.

Preparing for the session

Players need to create an account at https://www.forge-vtt.com/ and inform the DM what their account name is so they can be emailed the official invite link. To play, you will need: * A Forge-VTT Account * A Discord Account (Used for voice chat and the occasional texts if Foundry VTT has any hiccups) * To Join the Free Discord Server, “Sylvan Studios” * An idea of what sort of character you would like to create.

What Sylvan brings to the table

I will provide ambient music where possible, all encounter maps, and pre-generated characters (if you would rather not build yours from scratch but would like to develop your take on a classic Class and Species that has been developed for the campaign). I am fond of doing voices and the like but will admit to still being a bit stage-shy; I do this for my own home groups but may take a little bit to get started as I get to know new players. Combat encounters are only moderately tactical and there are frequently ways to avoid fighting with clever role-play or cunning solutions. I generally run Rules As Written but think that our collaborative story must be king so, Rule of Cool will definitely apply in some situations!

Homebrew rules

A list is kept at “House Rules: Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e”: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QX9l_lHns48PKZjb0PF08_fLqgPcx2fagF_r5CmaSf0/edit?usp=sharing These house rules include: The “Bloodied” Condition, Degrees of Success, Desperate Measures, and Hybrid Leveling & Non-Combat Experience Points. In-game rulings may become additional house rules later, but not without conferring with players, first.

How Sylvan creates a safe table

* The DM is gay and neurodivergent. Hard line, here: intolerance —of any sort— is not tolerated as per philosopher Karl Popper’s “Paradox Of Intolerance” ideas. * Players should mention sensitive topics to the DM and provide suggestions or workarounds that would meet the player’s needs. * No homophobia, kink-shaming, racism, religious intolerance, sexism, transphobia will be tolerated. Violators will be given a chance to apologize and make reparations (depending on the severity of the infraction). * While romance or intimate situations may occur in the course of a story, they will always be of the “fade to black” variety: without salacious implications, greater-than-PG descriptions, or other uncomfortable details. If a player feels that such a scene is happening, they should inform the DM and the DM will end it immediately and seek remediation to make sure it doesn’t happen again. * No harassment, teasing, or bullying will be allowed. This may be extended to in-character interactions if the receiving player feels it personally. A player violating this rule will be given a written warning, privately, via Discord and must stop the behavior. Any future violation may result in expulsion from the game, permanently. * If a scenario or situation makes the player uncomfortable, they should let the DM know, as well as other players that the uncomfortable player feels are involved. The DM, at the uncomfortable player’s request, can anonymize the situation for other players to keep the uncomfortable player’s privacy.