Curse of Strahd | Level 1 | D&D 2024 | NEW PLAYERS++

Creating your character

We will build our characters together at the start of our first session, so don't worry if you are new to the process—I will be there to guide you step-by-step! Here are the guidelines for crafting your hero: The Toolkit: We will use the character builder on my Roll20 account. You will have full access to my shared compendium, which includes Ravenloft: the Horrors Within, the 2024 Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, plus Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun and Eberron: Forge of the Artificer. Starting Level: All characters begin at Level 1, with the opportunity to advance to Level 8 (or beyond!) by the end of the campaign. Ability Scores: We use the Standard Array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) as outlined on page 38 of the 2024 PHB. This ensures every hero starts on a balanced, equal playing field. These scores will be modified by the Background that you choose for your character. Playtest Material: D&D 2024 Unearthed Arcana (UA) options are fully permitted. Come With a Name: The only homework you have before our first session is to brainstorm one or two unique names for your character. Coming up with a great name on the fly can be tough, so having a few ideas ready will give you a great head start. If you're not sure what name to use, try running your favorite plant, animal, etc. through a fantasy language translator of some kind and see what sounds fun!

Preparing for the session

Greetings Adventurer! I'm greatly looking forward to being your DM and sharing glorious adventures with you! Now that you have fallen into my clutches, please join the "City of Doors (D&D 2024)" Discord server here - https://discord.com/invite/qydH7M32jj Roll20 is the Virtual Table Top (VTT) that I have the most experience with. I also use their character sheets for campaigns. Please join "Ravenloft: Curse of Strahd" campaign on Roll20! - https://app.roll20.net/join/21901977/V5tncw If you've never used Roll20.net before, this video is a good overview of how it works - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTuOa2Ba2_w&list=PL2rm5MsGSGyUzMXvEC3h6b3Z1I9Q9UB1Z Completely new to D&D 2024? Here is one of my favorite YouTubers (Ginny Di) with an excellent overview of how to play - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNNBjVmNbQI&list=PL2rm5MsGSGyUzMXvEC3h6b3Z1I9Q9UB1Z&index=3 If you haven't already, feel free to message me on StartPlaying/Discord and say hi! I'm looking forward to helping you build your new character for D&D 2024, so let me know what class/species combinations you're thinking about trying! Paul (lady_0f_pain)

What lady_0f_pain (Paul) brings to the table

-A Fully Loaded Virtual Tabletop: You will have full, shared access to my Roll20 compendium to build your characters. This includes the 2024 Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual, plus Eberron: Forge of the Artificer and Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun. (I am also open to expanding this library as the group's needs grow!) -Rules-As-Written (RAW) Reliability: I stick closely to the 2024 ruleset. Knowing the rules empowers you to play your best, and it gives the game world a predictable, fair physics system that you can rely on when making plans. -Flexibility: D&D 5e is designed to encourage creativity and homebrew content and we will do so as we have need - a little RoC (Rule of Cool) for balance! -Tactical Support: I am here to help you master your character's abilities so you can strategically support your allies and overcome tough encounters. -Balanced Gameplay: You can expect an even, well-paced mix of roleplay, combat, and exploration. No single pillar of play will overshadow the others. -A "Fan of the Characters" Philosophy: I am a supportive DM who wants your hero to succeed! While I will use everything in my power to challenge you (and you will absolutely hate my villains), my ultimate goal is to give you the thrill of overcoming those obstacles and feeling like a true hero by the end of the session. As a DM, I don't compete with players, only try to challenge them. -Seamless Organization: I run a tight, mechanically organized table. For this adventure, all maps and tokens are prepped and ready to go, providing you with rich visual aids even during our "theater of the mind" scenes. -The Full Force of my 33+ years experience as DM: I never leave the D&D multiverse and am always consuming content to become a better DM. I love teaching the game and introducing the world of D&D to people.

Homebrew rules

Currently I have two Homebrew rules: 1. Initiative Tiebreakers - the Initiative Tracker on Roll20 uses decimals to help manage ties. If multiple creatures are still tied, their turns occur simultaneously and each character still gets to act, even if killed or incapacitated by anyone else matching their initiative result. 2. Component Pouch - in addition to it's usual features, spellcasters may 'pay into' the Component Pouch to produce material components needed later. For example, you stock your Component Pouch with 100gp worth of components and later realize that you need a 50gp gem to cast Chromatic Orb, so you take 50gp from the value of the pouch and produce the component for your spell.

How lady_0f_pain (Paul) creates a safe table

As the DM, my goal is for everyone to feel comfortable at the table and to walk away from each session having had a great time. However, I run games set in the classic D&D multiverse, which means the world can sometimes be a harsh place. To ensure we are all on the same page: Classic D&D Themes: We will be playing with established D&D lore. This includes themes of fantasy violence, grit, survival, evil factions (like Drow/Goblin/Orc raids), and historical rivalries between fantasy species (like Elves and Dwarves and Orcs, etc.). With that being said, I am an inclusive person who does not tolerate intolerance (you won't be bullied at my table). I fully support diversity, including the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as neurodivergent players. Please check the content warnings on this module, however to ensure it is a good fit for you. The Session Zero Checklist: Before we roll any dice, we will go over a checklist where everyone can outline their hard boundaries and tolerances. This helps me tailor the established lore to fit our specific group. Open Communication, No X-Cards: I do not use visual "X-Cards" as sudden visual pop-ups disrupt my focus and the flow of the game. Instead, I rely on open, direct communication. If you ever feel uncomfortable or dysregulated, you are always free to take a break, step away from the mic, or send me a private message in Roll20 or Discord. I won't judge you, as I sometimes experience moments of overwhelm myself. Always Available: My door is always open. I am available after sessions if you need to discuss the game, process the experience, or if we need to adjust how we handle certain content moving forward. D&D can be an emotional, living game and I'm happy to help!