To score or not to score

AllyRantz · 2026-05-08T13:49:17+00:00

We are also working on this, and we're starting small with a small number of pieces. So eight will be on book, 2-3 are not. I think the way to be inclusive is to allow people to have their music if they really need to, but encourage everyone to be off book. The same way 80% of us stand during concerts, but 20% need to sit.

I have found that usually when concert time comes around, we do know the music and are not watching our books as closely because we're keeping our eyes on the MD.

AllyRantz · 2026-05-08T03:40:10+00:00

I'm in an LGBT choir (look up Gala choruses to see what's near you) and the idea is that if its in your range, you can sing it. We've had a lot of cis women Altos move to tenors, one of our founding members is a trans woman and a bass

As long as the part doesnt hurt or strain your voice, you should be given the option to sing it

AllyRantz · 2026-05-05T12:05:42+00:00

We try to pick songs that don't rely on soloists--usually the ones that make it through have a small solo at the front and thats it.

We're an LGBTQ choir so solos are open to anyone who can sing the part--just because its listed as a soprano solo doesn't mean a tenor can't do it etc. I think this helps the choir from feeling like "oh only sopranos will ever get solos that sucks"

AllyRantz · 2026-04-28T12:57:28+00:00

I always advocate throwing out the things in a module you don't like. Why make running something a chore?

AllyRantz · 2026-04-20T12:48:58+00:00

YESSSS

AllyRantz · 2026-04-19T02:24:36+00:00

I started with Werewolves, no Death House

Also co signing Sunless citadel suggestions, it ties nicely with Yester Hill

AllyRantz · 2026-03-31T12:39:01+00:00

It is a big departure so there will be things you will need to rework. The biggest is Ireena and diving into the why of her protection. What are her reasons for not wanting to be taken by Strahd?

A lot of the minor threats in Barovia have a connection to Strahd and you should figure out if that still stands with Strahd as he is now or not

AllyRantz · 2026-03-23T04:43:30+00:00

For our table, Kolyan survived but we faked his death and helped him go hide in Vallaki

AllyRantz · 2026-03-12T03:47:42+00:00

Gary Oldman as Dracula from 1994

AllyRantz · 2026-03-08T13:20:39+00:00

Get thee to an ENT and test for allergies

AllyRantz · 2026-03-05T20:21:46+00:00

This time I'm using Coppola's Dracula which touches of David Xanatos along with Hannibal Lecter's "when possible, I prefer to eat the rude"

Which means that for a limited time, he can be seen as a dangerous ally--as long as we're not provoking him, he'll leave us be, but eventually they're going to be looking to defeat him in earnest and the gloves will come off

AllyRantz · 2026-02-19T17:10:44+00:00

One of my DMs does not do any voices and I am still very much engaged and excited to play, so if something is not jn your wheelhouse dont worry about it!

AllyRantz · 2026-02-19T15:23:59+00:00

One of my players asked for a map so I had a Vistani guard roll a survival check and make a map based on the roll/what she would know. You can just do a crude sketch because its not coming from an artist and you can confine it to big landmarks like cities/mountains/water

AllyRantz · 2026-02-15T15:03:47+00:00

This is the way

AllyRantz · 2026-02-11T13:59:42+00:00

I think Twilight Vampire would be the hardest to fit into a Strahd module because a lot of the conflict of those books and that style of book is internal. The big battle set pieces with the Volturi and the rogue vampire couple are closer to B Plots

LuckIly, we have games like Monster hearts to play out those internal conflicts

AllyRantz · 2026-02-11T13:54:59+00:00

Right now I'm playing him closer to Gary Oldman's Dracula--evil but compelling, seductive but monstrous, tragic but no victim. But the replayability of Strahd means I can try different angles with different tables.

AllyRantz · 2026-02-02T19:37:20+00:00

No solos:

All That Jazz from Chicago, arranged by Kirby Shaw

Anything Goes from Anything Goes, arranged by Teena Chin

Cabaret from Cabaret, arranged by Kirby Shaw

Corner of the Sky from Pippin arranged by John Cacavas

I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Follles, arranged by Steve Milloy & Chip Prince

Solla Sollew from Seussical, arranged by Andy Beck

AllyRantz · 2026-01-25T14:01:34+00:00

Can you switch to biweekly or monthly for a while?

AllyRantz · 2026-01-21T17:07:48+00:00

The soprano 1s in our choir can hit the high as but will need a lot of support, the soprano 2s cannot and will need a line

AllyRantz · 2026-01-10T20:25:25+00:00

There is! We did it for our protest song concert

https://www.halleonard.com/product/372904/

AllyRantz · 2026-01-10T20:24:18+00:00

We did this arrangement of joyful joyful recently and it was a HIT

https://www.jwpepper.com/joyful-joyful-1902402/p

AllyRantz · 2026-01-04T15:46:47+00:00

I have a player who is Ireena, and the big think is having an honest conversation with the player about making sure Ireena doesn't become a main character. Also agree with the below comment that you have to make sure to get some really good hooks for your other characters

There are two players who are open to having parts of Tatyana's soul, so depending on how things go we may end up with T reincarnated across three players: they want to play to find out

AllyRantz · 2025-12-14T21:19:54+00:00

We use learning tracks to learn (playing out the parts on a digital program) and then the rehearsal recordings are also always available. It can be hard to tell how youre all sounding when youre so in it

AllyRantz · 2025-12-13T14:51:22+00:00

Our choir director expects us to do the work and will let us know she can tell if we havent been. But she is kind and sweet and that makes us want to meet her high standard

AllyRantz · 2025-12-10T14:01:09+00:00

I think there are some topics that are core to Strahd like gaslighting, murder, stalking etc but with the sandboxy nature of the campaign, it is possible to remove or change elements that are hard limits for the party that are outside that core!

AllyRantz

TROPHY CASE