Curse of Strahd

Creating your character

Character Creation Character creation is extremely important for this campaign. Before Session 1 begins, every player must have a completed character sheet approved by the DM and ready to play. Characters will begin at Level 2 and should be created directly in the Roll20 game sheets provided no imported sheets or outside character builders. For ability scores, players may choose between: Point Buy Standard Array Rolling for stats / reroll till sum is 75 or more This campaign uses the 2024 D&D ruleset as the main foundation for character creation. No third-party classes, subclasses, or spells are allowed. D&D 5.0 races/species may be allowed, but require DM approval first. Some homebrew or non-standard species may be considered if approved beforehand and if they reasonably follow the design philosophy of 2024 species. The world is dangerous, and story-driven,Adventurers are not superheroes from the start they are people with goals, flaws, fears, loyalties, and histories that matter. Backstories & “Knife Theory” Your backstory should give the DM tools to involve your character in the world and story. I strongly encourage players to use what is commonly called “Knife Theory.” A “knife” is anything in your backstory the DM can use to raise the stakes or make events personal to your character. These are story hooks, relationships, fears, obligations, enemies, mysteries, or secrets that can create meaningful roleplay and investment in the campaign. Examples of knives include: Loved ones, family, mentors, rivals, or close friends Traumas, fears, or personal failures Unsolved mysteries or unknown origins Enemies or people seeking revenge Oaths, loyalties, debts, or obligations Crimes committed or crimes falsely blamed on you Secrets your character hides Important heirlooms or treasured possessions Experiences with prejudice, war, loss, or betrayal The more well-crafted knives you provide, the easier it is for the DM to connect your character to the world of Terra and create personal story moments. A good balance is important—too few can make a character feel disconnected, while too many can overwhelm the story. Around 5–10 meaningful knives is usually a strong starting point. Variety matters. Don’t make every knife “dead family members” or “everyone hates me.” Mix personal connections, mysteries, goals, enemies, obligations, and fears to create a more dynamic character. Character Connections This campaign is heavily focused on party involvement and shared storytelling. Your character should have reasons to work with others and care about the events happening in Primain. Lone wolf characters who refuse to cooperate generally do not fit this campaign. Additionally, players will eventually be asked to create connections between their characters and other adventurers in the party. More details on this will be discussed later.

Preparing for the session

Roll 20. Discord. Message me Topaz010 TBA.

What DM Topaz brings to the table

Preparation Note if this is a PBP then some things don't apply. Before joining the campaign, players will need a few things set up and ready to go to ensure sessions run smoothly and everyone has a good experience at the table. Required A Roll20 account (free account is completely fine, no subscription required) A Discord account. Before Session 0 Seesion 0 is making shure everything is ready to go and we will also start. Before the campaign officially begins, I will spend some time vetting players through Discord voice chat. This is mainly to help build a good table environment with players who fit the tone and style of the campaign. Table chemistry matters a lot to me, and I want to make sure everyone has a good experience.

Homebrew rules

Homebrew Rules I generally prefer to stay close to the official rules rather than heavily rewriting the system. Most mechanics used in this campaign will come directly from the official D&D books, especially the 2024 ruleset, though I may occasionally use optional systems or lightly adjust things to better fit the tone and world of Terra. Players may notice differences in things like currency, economy, travel, resources, or other world mechanics. Most of these are not true homebrew rules, but rather systems, variants, or optional mechanics pulled from official material that I’ve adapted or organized for the setting. One major rule change is that death saves will be rolled privately by me, the DM. This helps maintain tension and uncertainty during dangerous moments, which fits the gritty tone of the campaign. I may also use or adapt certain mechanics from D&D 5.0 when they fit well into the world or story. Examples could include systems like Piety Points or other optional progression mechanics. Any additions or changes will always be explained clearly to the group before they become relevant. As mentioned previously: Species/race choices outside the standard 2024 options require DM approval No third-party classes or spells The game will primarily use official material and optional rules from published books Overall, my goal is not to reinvent D&D, but to create a grounded and immersive experience using the tools the system already provides.

How DM Topaz creates a safe table

Player Safety & Comfort This campaign is set in a gritty and dangerous world, and because of that, I include a wide range of content warnings for themes that could potentially appear during play. That does not mean every warning will happen or become central to the story, but I want players to understand the tone of the setting before joining. Before the campaign begins, we will have a Session 0 where we discuss expectations, boundaries, and player comfort. During this session, we will go over Lines and Veils, which will then be posted in the campaign section of the Discord server for everyone to reference moving forward. I want players to feel comfortable communicating if something is bothering them during the game. If you need a break for any reason, just let me know. We can pause for a quick 5–10 minute break whenever needed. While scheduled breaks may not always happen, player comfort is more important than forcing through a session. The Discord server itself is a shared community space beyond just this campaign. Interacting with other members outside of the game is completely optional. If you prefer not to receive private messages from others, I strongly recommend adjusting your Discord privacy settings and closing your DMs. Within my server, however, I do moderate behavior and have more ability to step in if issues arise. My goal is to maintain a respectful, cooperative table where players can enjoy a darker fantasy setting while still feeling heard and comfortable communicating concerns.