Curse of Strahd
The vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, one of D&D’s most iconic villains, is the undisputed master of his hidden domain of Barovia. While his reign of terror breaks the spirits of his subjects, he himself is a prisoner; Barovia is a demiplane, a pocket dimension which traps both the vampire and his victims, to Strahd to possess, enthrall, or dispose of as he sees fit. Perhaps the heroes who now wander into its mists will slay Strahd and free Barovia once and for all… or perhaps they will simply die, just like all who have come before. Curse of Strahd is a gothic horror adventure module for the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Based on the classic Ravenloft by Laura and Tracy Hickman, Strahd revamps the beloved adventure with tons of new NPCs, locations, and a full history of the dark lord Strahd himself. It’s a good example of a “sandbox” or open-world adventure; while Barovia’s borders trap the heroes, there’s nothing stopping them from exploring wherever they like, and deadly danger can appear anywhere. As such, players need to play smart and be cautious, as even the devilish vampire himself can show up whenever he likes to torment them. The adventure begins with a divinatory card reading that can completely randomize the locations of important characters and treasures, so the module can even be replayed without retreading too much old ground. Heroes will need to gather allies, grow in strength, and ultimately know their enemy to resist Strahd’s charms and temptations and put him in the ground for good!
Authors: Jeremy Crawford, Laura Hickman, Tracy Hickman, Adam Lee, Chris Perkins, Richard Whitters
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Curse of Strahd Reviews (55)
See what other Game Masters and players are saying about Curse of Strahd
Brian Dombrowski
New review
Amazing Gothic Horror adventure. It has some interesting mechanics that provide different stories to be told for those who want to play through the adventure multiple times. This contains many challenging encounters that can lead to PC death, as well as put beloved NPCs at risk. This adventure also puts the PCs in moral grey areas at various times. The horror in this module can present a problem for some players, so its not for everyone. Mild spoiler alert regarding the types of horror that might be a problem below. Spoiler Alert below Children are often times at risk or harmed by villains in this story, which caused problems for some players.
Jamie D'Amato
New review
Played 10 sessions
One of the most iconic 5e modules for a reason, this adventure is full of horror around every corner. You need a great DM and a trusted group to handle the difficult topics and uncomfortable nature of a horror module, but if you have that, then the adventure is sure to be amazing in all its horrifying ways!
Nay
New review
Dark, dangerous, deadly, but super fun!
Sean
New review
Played 35 sessions
Curse of Strahd offers a rich gothic horror experience in the cursed land of Barovia. Its immersive storytelling and deep, enigmatic villain create a memorable adventure, though its open-ended design can be challenging for new DMs. Despite minor cultural sensitivity issues, it earns a solid 4 out of 5 rating.
Malek
New review
I've had a lot of fun as a player of this one. Nice sandbox experience where you are presented with a ton of choice about where you are going to go and what you are going to do. I'm given to understand from several other GMs that there is a fair amount of work for the GM running this to really flesh it out and make it shine which is why I am knocking off a star. Having said that, it is popular for a reason, and there are a tremendous amount of resources for it out there to help improve it in various ways.
Ina
New review
Ran 45 sessions
Curse of Strahd is not without reason the most popular and well received module by Wizards of the Coast. For DM's the module provides plenty of lore, interesting non-player characters and of course one of the most iconic villains in D&D history. The tools necessary for a riveting horror experience for your players are there but I always recommend DM's to read through the module at least once before running the game and also read what I consider a companion book to the module, the novel "I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire" which helps you flesh out the most important piece of the story, its villain. Curse of Strahd leans heavily on its story, characters and role-play aspect of D&D with fewer combat encounters throughout the campaign. Thanks to the Tarokka deck and D&D player-choice driven format, no campaign is the same, so there is plenty for players and DM's alike to explore and have fun with.
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Mike Schley
Over the years, Mike Schley has worked in a variety of positions, including lead designer, art director, and freelance illustrator for top-tier publishers. Their art is well recognized among fans of Dungeons and Dragons, having created art and maps for everywhere from The Sword Coast to Barovia, and countless places in between. Mike says that they "aim to ignite the viewer's imagination in a way that inspires their own creativity" with their illustrations.
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JamesRPGArt
James creates animated background scenes for TTRPGs, and releases new scenes each month. As a concept artist and digital painter, they have a great passion for running and playing a wide variety of role-playing games, creating their art and animations to add atmosphere and immersion to your favorite games.
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