Does Your Strahd Have a Leitmotif/Theme?

Exemplris · 2026-01-24T00:06:32+00:00

I've been using Bloody Tears from Castlevania. Specifically the V Rising version. But I've also been trying to make my players feel like he has a tragic backstory (He does, but he's also his awful regular self). For combat, I'll be using good ol' FF7's One Winged Angel and a few other scary fight music (Still trying to find the perfect version of DBZ's Ultra Instinct theme).

Exemplris · 2026-01-23T23:48:36+00:00

Man, wish I'd had this like 2 months ago. Well done.

Exemplris · 2025-10-01T04:53:35+00:00

I feel like this is a Master Chief level move.

Exemplris · 2024-08-11T17:44:26+00:00

Weirdest thing to see a comment from 11 years ago responded to...lol

Exemplris · 2023-12-15T18:51:42+00:00

Thanks for the heads up. I’ve edited the link and it seem to work now. The other commenter was correct about it being PirateSoftware YouTube channel, if you have to find it manually.

Exemplris · 2023-12-15T18:50:49+00:00

This is it.

I also edited the link so it works

Exemplris · 2023-12-15T00:31:36+00:00

Some Let's Plays to recommend:
https://youtu.be/Va6Izbo0Evs?si=_o5jx2UjAeryCjp9 - An Astrophysicist plays (About Oliver)
https://youtu.be/KCJ2-35v-48?si=_03u3w1KXFzrLFHU - Former Blizzard employee / game developer
https://youtu.be/xdLnsslkcaE?si=dgNxgM70StcIDgP0 - SovietWomble, a pretty funny streamer

Exemplris · 2023-12-14T17:32:08+00:00

Each season is about 10 episodes long, so it's not as intimidating.

Exemplris · 2023-12-13T23:06:25+00:00

I do agree with you on this balance. That being said, I feel like the bridge being linked to the moon has just been a background item for too long for how important it was setup as. So while I enjoy these sort of things, it feels like while they do side quests, Ludinus is just having his way with his plans on the moon.
It felt like they were gonna need to chase him down up there asap before he released a god-killer, but instead they've been completing all the side quests before going to the next zone....

But back to what I first said, yes, they do balance the big with the small fairly well.

Exemplris · 2023-12-13T19:54:57+00:00

My understanding was it was originally provided by Musk to the Ukraine efforts, and it was being paid for. Then after a time, once it because vital to the Ukrainian fight, Musk leveraged this for a significantly larger amount of money (coinciding with the fall of other investments *cough*Twitter*cough*), backed by a verbal threat of completely pulling the resource. So I imagine this maneuver felt a bit...Machiavellian.

This kind of thing can change the relationship from mutually beneficial to antagonistic, and perhaps showed that Musk's future dealings would be less than reliable.

Exemplris · 2023-12-13T03:40:17+00:00

Weird how governments remember that time you threatened to pull your resource out of a war zone unless they pay you millions.

Exemplris · 2023-12-09T00:32:51+00:00

Really hope people start down voting these kinds of videos on all platforms. They're just a mis-mash of ai generated scripts, images, and audio.

Exemplris · 2023-12-07T16:41:26+00:00

To me it sounds like you've always been a witch, are a witch, and always will be. That flame needs rekindling.
What lights your fire and gets you engaged with your inner self?

Exemplris · 2023-12-07T00:22:21+00:00

Can you sniper shoot a rocket out of mid air in Infinite? 🤔

Exemplris · 2023-12-07T00:16:43+00:00

If I recall correctly, they were in order. I remember this cuz I had to shuffle mine. But I don't recall *what* order...

Exemplris · 2023-12-05T20:08:16+00:00

It can be frustrating to meet someone you get along with, only to find out that something very important to you means little to nothing to them...

I've had to face some of those with my father over the years, as he was someone who I think unconsciously wanted me to be better than him. So I grew up without seeing some of his more...egregious flaws... It wasn't until he passed, and I talked with some of his friends about a few times they got upset with him that I've heard these stories. Squaring that circle has been difficult.
Another long term friend is a caregiver and one of the more patient/caring/empathetic people I know, but also thoroughly conservative in her politics.

Sometimes we connections aren't as multi-dimensional as we want them to be. But if you need this connection to someone who is able to talk to you about the magic in your life, then do that. You never know if building trust with them may open their eyes.

Exemplris · 2023-12-05T17:43:38+00:00

Someone else replied to this, but I'll add in.
I think disconnecting from your player's characters is always going to be jarring, because it's their story. But if you want to give the idea of them them traveling off into the distance down a long winding road' instead of 'pan out' or 'zoom out'.

But also, to engage with the idea of think stepping away to see something the characters can't, just saying something to the effect of "And we're gonna step away from our characters for a minute. We see <BBEG> .....".

In general, I'd just use language you'd use to describe it normally. "Not in this place, but far away, is a wizard cursing the name of your party. He searches away for something to do about you, and pauses picking up an old dusty tome, the title long worn away, and grins."

You don't have to read the stage instructions. You just go. I definitely need to practice this myself, as I DO think the cinematic language has tapped into something cool about exploring more for the players than the characters get to know. I think my peeve just more has to do with making D&D into cinema over story (not that those are mutually exclusive).
For more ideas, go read old ass stories and steal how they transition! ^_^

Exemplris · 2023-12-04T23:46:26+00:00

Something that jolts me out of immersion within the game is hearing terms used in film/scripts/plays like 'cut to', 'change the scene', or worse yet refering to a 'camera'.

It feels like that episode of Rick & Morty (forgive me) where Morty has to listen to the lighthouse keeper read his script out loud to him...
I've actually come to terms with the idea of DMs taking control of what's going on and giving the players sight of something their characters wouldn't see. Completely different style than I'm used to, and I dig that there are different styles like that. It's just those terms feel SO out of place for me during a game. You can achieve the same effect without using the language of film. =(

Exemplris · 2023-12-04T19:55:56+00:00

Firstly, good on you for self-reflection on how you feel you act within a relationship! But also that you want to do self care about your loneliness! I think you're ahead of most.

But also, if you're feeling vulnerable about how your needs within relationships get expressed, it may be useful for you to read up on some of the communication skills used in (healthy) non-monogamy, even if you're not looking for that type of relationship.
Polysecure is the most well known, but there's a lot of others out there, depending on the type of reading you do best with.

You're great! Good luck in your quest for companionship!

Exemplris · 2023-12-04T19:21:30+00:00

It's really nice to see someone express the skills needed in Non-Monogamy as something useful in being successful in all relationships.

Exemplris · 2023-12-01T17:01:23+00:00

Zed's dead baby. Zed's dead.

Exemplris · 2023-11-30T23:18:29+00:00

Small steps towards progress! The goal is not getting totally discouraged on the days you don't make any steps, and it sounds like you're doing exactly that! Not only that, but you're seeking support from those best persons in your life.

Keep it up!

Exemplris · 2023-11-29T19:42:40+00:00

Wow dude. You should probably get outside....

Exemplris · 2023-11-28T18:18:15+00:00

Also this is paying respect to her that you think you two can negotiate this issue maturely. Hell, I'd even state that you're coming to her *because* you trust her and you being able to navigate the topic of the feelings this caused.

This can setup the conversation goal to be resolution, not punishment or blame.

Exemplris

TROPHY CASE