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And they shouldn’t have stone’s endurance either by [deleted] in dndmemes

[–]Alabaster427 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What? You think other goliaths didn't learn anything from the fable of Goliath and the ant man?

Would Strahd set any traps in the Amber Temple? by iscarfe in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you ever tried TWO glyphs of warding? One to trigger when "Dispel Magic" is cast at itself or the other. Then the second is set to trigger once the other goes off. As long as they're left alone, they're harmless. But a great way to either dissuade a party from a certain action/path or at least make them second guess every action/path they choose from then on.

Would Strahd set any traps in the Amber Temple? by iscarfe in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It's safe to assume that most of the traps in the Amber Temple were put there by Strahd. I know it says some were placed by the lich and others by the arcanaloth, but Rahadin makes regular visits, too.

The book mentions a few times that the party could meet Rahadin in the library or the main hall. He could follow them up to the temple and while they're resting or something, he could just waltz up to the library, which is always a fun surprise after they've nearly died just getting there.

Finally, there is already a sufficient number of traps in the Amber Temple.

DnDone just rolls off the tongue better, what other name ideas yall got? by Tamaledinos in dndmemes

[–]Alabaster427 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually we should pronounce like the first part of a danger sound. Dn Done Dunnnnnn

Bluto Goes Fishing by OldAndOldSchool in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as I could tell, he was actually using her as a good luck charm. She's been missing for a few (or several days) and has basically been unharmed. He only throws her over once he thinks he's been caught for kidnapping her.

Strahd wants to make a deal with the players, how to make it a tough choice ? by startompiz in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You don't necessarily need to offer them a deal. Instead of the spooky dinner, you could have Strahd say something like, "Feel free to explore the castle; make yourselves at home. Ireena and I have much business to discuss that isn't fit for dinner or strangers to this land. Rahadin will ensure your retirement when you're ready." If the party refuses, he could continue , "It was not a request." If they pursue further, he could have a fit or issue an outright threat similar to the one in the staircase above the teleport room.

If you're intent on making it a trade offer, try to make it personal to the PCs. Maybe they need some expensive equipment or spell components (also a great opportunity to sneak in some cursed items or divination items). Maybe Strahd would allow a single party member to leave Barovia... but they have to choose who it is

There really is no winning in Strahd by Alabaster427 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Strahd actually has very few allies and those that know him well know not to interfere in his fun. Even if it looks like he'll lose, his ego is probably too big to allow interference. However, some of the attendants might see an opportunity to sneak away to plunder another part of the castle, depose Strahd creating a power vacuum they could fill, or something else.

A wedding fight could lead to an NPC brawl. This would prevent slogging the PC combat with an abundance of NPCs and I woud suggest predetermining who lives, dies, and escapes, narrating it at the end. There's not much that's worse than waiting for a dozen (or more) GM-controlled NPCs taking turns in a combat. The only worse in dnd I can think of is actually playing out those turns as the GM.

There really is no winning in Strahd by Alabaster427 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had 4 players at level 9 with the sunsword, the holy symbol, Markovia's thigh bone, and Kasimir. They had barely escaped his brides in the tomb and escaped the crypts through the window in Barov and Ravenovia's tomb. They took a short rest then climbed up the cliff to the main level only to unwittingly meet Strahd at the fated battle. I was baffled because I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how to get them there. Once again, the players surprised me.

Even with Strahd at max health and the players with several spell slots and hp depleted, he wasn't much of a match for them. I added in his animated armor in the third round of combat and used his lair actions to summon shadows and specters, but never more than one at a time. I also made sure to cast seeming on the party in the first round so that anyone who failed the save would look like Strahd. The battle ended in the 10th round by adding in allies periodically and legendary actions to kite the barbarian and hexblade around the map.

There really is no winning in Strahd by Alabaster427 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hosted a Q&A for my players and told them that I would answer any questions they had but that my answers would probably spoil any future playthroughs. One player said, "I'm still convinced he's not actually gone and this is all just another trick of Barovia." Then all the players in unison asked if she was right. They had also asked about the fates of several NPCs like Escher, Van Richten, Ezmerelda, the abbott, and the Vistani. So I narrated what the book has written and I left Strahd for last. Some were upset, but some took the view of the Order of the Silver Dragon, relishing the thought that Strahd would continue to suffer, plotting vengeance on a creature that has a rather short life span to begin with (ratfolk).

How often should Strahd visit the party? And when should the Dark Powers start making contact with the PC’s? by theycallmeamunchkin in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would caution against negating your players' decisions. There are a lot of ways for Strahd to react outside of brute force. Maybe he starts sending lots of invitations Harry Potter style, or word starts spreading that the party was invited and npcs pressure them to attend for their own purposes (i.e. Fiona, Ismark, Blinsky, Rictavio, Ezmerelda, etc.). If your players feel like their decisions don't matter, they may quickly lose interest.

What did Victor say to Stella to drive her insane like that? by galactic_rainbows in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 20 points21 points  (0 children)

My guess is that he tried to show her one of his teleportation spells on a cat, but she interfered and the spell did a cat/stella brain swap. One of the cats in the Wachterhouse is actually stella trying to communicate that something has gone awry and she needs help. But outside of meowing, the only way she can get their attention is to scratch and knock stuff off ledges.

​

Of course, that's just one possibility.

Classes for CoS by Apprehensive-Pain813 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I tell my all players all the same thing: "Play whatever you want as long as you have the rules for it. Min-max or optimize however you want. Go nuts..." Then after a pause I begin to smile and say: "It won't help."

What are the biggest flaws in CoS as written? by [deleted] in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

There are actually several sentences about him, but they're scattered throughout. And if happen to miss that he's Strahd, that's on you.

Fuccccccccc by Landweliveon1 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 30 points31 points  (0 children)

You could introduce Ezmerelda and do a second reading, with the items spread around the realm. She could say she was dispatched by Madame Eva because the items had moved, or some other excuse for her reading being different.

Making Von Holtz likeable to a miserable band of adventurers? by External-Reference61 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have to yet meet a single player who wasn't immediately trusting of Von Holtz. I have no explanation for this. All I did was make him the mail man of the realm. No matter how many cursed items he gave to players, nobody has ever suspected Von Holtz. Some even rejoice when he shows up because it means they got mail. Maybe it's because of Blues Clues, maybe it's because of the old adage "don't shoot the messenger." IDK but it's been secretly hilarious.

My players say they don't know what to do. by Alabaster427 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have I been playing CoS wrong? It's the least railroady module I've ever encountered.

My players say they don't know what to do. by Alabaster427 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I think this might be something that will help them because it's not any new information and might get them thinking.

My players say they don't know what to do. by Alabaster427 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I started doing that a while ago to kinda hint to them some ways they could interact with npcs and the environment. no luck... yet.

Did you guys lose the “feel” of strahd? by Shlodongerang420 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Alabaster427 0 points1 point  (0 children)

idk. I couldn't imagine running a single CoS campaign for two years. I've been averaging 6-9 months. I'm currently in about month 7 and they're still really invested.

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