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Curse of Strahd - Beginner Friendly [5.5 Rules]
Trapped in cursed Barovia, you must face ancient horrors and survive the attention of its immortal master: Count Strahd von Zarovich.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
1 player following this game
Weekly / Monday - 6:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
0 / 6 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
The mists have swallowed you. Beyond them lies Barovia, a cursed land of haunted forests, crumbling villages, ancient secrets, and things that hunt in the night. Watching over it all from Castle Ravenloft is Count Strahd von Zarovich, an immortal vampire who has taken a personal interest in you. Curse of Strahd is D&D's legendary Gothic horror adventure, blending mystery, exploration, roleplay, and cinematic combat into a story where your choices matter. Strahd isn't just a villain waiting at the end. He will watch you, speak with you, test you, and perhaps even offer you exactly what your character wants most. This campaign is new-player friendly, and no previous D&D experience is needed! I focus on character-driven storytelling, memorable NPCs, creative problem-solving, and exciting combat rather than expecting you to memorize a rulebook. Whether you're brand new or a longtime player, I'll help you create a character who belongs in the story and learn everything you need along the way. We play on Foundry VTT with animated maps, dynamic lighting, music, atmospheric effects, and Discord for voice/video. Expect a cinematic, immersive adventure with plenty of roleplay, dangerous monsters, dark humor, and moments to become the hero of your own Gothic fantasy story.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
About me
I've been a GM for over 20 years and have GM'd thousands of games. I have a master's degree in theatre arts administration which I think is the perfect cross section of theatricality and management that being a GM requires! I have a deep understanding on classic D&D lore (Forgotten Realms, Faerun and beyond) and have DM'd a dozen full adventure modules, in-person with different home groups, from start to finish. Some of these adventure modules include Curse of Strahd (4 times!), Wild Beyond the Witchlight (2 times!), Tomb of Annihilation (2 times!), Rime of the Frostmaiden, Descent into Avernus, Vecna Eve of Ruin, and more! I've also GM'd hundreds of one-shots for different groups. That being said, my first game as GM was at the age of 12 using the Palladium Fantasy RPG System! The good ol' days~
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
I will work with you to create a character privately before the first session. Characters and ability stats will be manual rolled on DnDBeyond. All 2014/2024 official character options will be available, with guidance. No Homebrew or Third Party character options.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
We will be using 3 primary websites/applications: Discord, Foundry, and DnDBeyond. It is recommended to have an account on all, but all will be contained in the web browser. You do NOT need to purchase Foundry. All programs are free. I will provide content sharing on DnDBeyond.
What Spencer Smith brings to the table
Immersive Roleplay: Distinct voices, accents, memorable NPCs, and a world that reacts to your choices. Cinematic Foundry VTT: Animated maps, dynamic lighting, music, and atmospheric sound bring Barovia to life. Dynamic Combat: Tactical enemies, interactive environments, and encounters designed to be more than "I attack." Rule of Cool: I know the rules, but creativity comes first. Clever ideas and cinematic moments are encouraged! Your Story Matters: Your character's backstory, relationships, and choices become part of the campaign. Beginner Friendly: New to D&D? I'll teach you everything you need to know as we play.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Spencer Smith creates a safe table
*Horror should make your character uncomfortable, not you.* Before we enter Barovia, we'll use Session 0 to discuss the campaign's darker themes, table expectations, and everyone's Lines & Veils. Boundaries can always be added or changed as the campaign continues. Then, during play, we will use digital X, N & O cards and an open-door policy. You can pause, redirect, fade out, or step away from a scene at any time, and you never need to explain why. After intense sessions, we'll might take some time to decompress and check in. Above all, my table is welcoming and respectful. We'll make Barovia scary- but the table stays safe.
Content warnings
Safety tools used