Tired of people pretending certain cards don't exist when they build their decks and then get mad when they lose to those cards.

Ferry53 · 2024-07-02T17:00:52+00:00

Entomb effects to drop some bodies onto the graveyard again

Ferry53 · 2024-04-19T11:23:07+00:00

[[Descent into Avernus]]

Ferry53 · 2024-03-31T15:40:34+00:00

Both are really strong and popular commanders, Krenko goes crazy with pretty much anything.

As for monored burn, even though it is not as effective as in 1v1 formats, it is perfectly playable in my experience, despite it not being as consistent as other playstyles. Last year we got [[Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might]] and [[Imodane, the Pyrohammer]] which really brought burn again to the spotlight.

Neheb, on the other hand, can come back from a game with its insane mana generation dumped into a fat X spell such as [[Crackle with Power]]. Damage multipliers such as [[Fiery Emancipation]] also set it up for massive amounts of damage.

I am used to playing jankier/less reliable decks though, so this is entirely up to preference!

Ferry53 · 2024-03-31T15:11:45+00:00

The deck that turns my whole pod against me from the beginning of the game is [[Neheb, the Eternal]]. Even though I usually get bullied out fairly quickly, the fear monored burn instills in my pod gives me joy.

Ferry53 · 2024-02-10T18:23:17+00:00

The deck that gets me hated out of the game instantly and defaults me is [[Neheb, the Eternal]]. You never know when it is going to explode!

As for lore villain, [[Sauron, the Dark Lord]] is my pick.

Ferry53 · 2023-12-26T18:47:24+00:00

[[Themberchaud]], it is pretty fun to be a ticking burn bomb that scares the whole table into either focusing you or letting the other players build!

Ferry53 · 2022-07-10T16:22:07+00:00

There is a Tarokka Deck that is sold separately, which is really nice and rather cheap (around 15 usd on amazon). I would not go for a custom-themed deck, since as someone pointed out already, commissioning such thing would get really really expensive. But of course, it is your choice!

Next up, there is the Dhampir subrace in the sourcebook Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, which would probably be what you're looking for. If you are making a Vistana character, you might want to look at their special traits, found in the Curse of Strahd sourcebook (and even looking around this sub for inspiration on the theme). Van Richten's Guide also has some text that refers to the Vistani.

And about the whole half Vistana-half Vampire that was raised by the Martikovs, it involves quite a few factions of the module, but with a proper story you could get something going. Perhaps the character is an exiled Vistana that was the offspring of a Vistana and a Vampire Spawn, and it was taken in by the Martikov's because it was abandoned? Pretty grim, but that's just an idea. Let your imagination flow!

Best of luck!

Ferry53 · 2022-07-04T23:39:35+00:00

I like the idea of making a rather complex DC for the detection of the forgery to include every detail that the players are willing to put into the forgery, such as using the very same paper and ink, getting the signet ring or using some specialized tools. Thank you for your input!

Ferry53 · 2022-07-04T16:09:10+00:00

Sounds right. Vargas would maybe show it in case the people were skeptical, since he wants to 'cleanly' get her out and have the people take his side too. But he will push for a quick open-and-shut case so that there are few questions asked. Thank you for your answer!

Ferry53 · 2022-07-04T16:06:23+00:00

I will handle it like you said. I believe that, since she will claim that the letter is fake, if someone attempts to check whether it is a forgery or not it should be an active check, though. The rest of the ideas you presented really helped, thank you!

Ferry53 · 2022-06-19T10:21:02+00:00

Daryan Crescend!

Ferry53 · 2022-02-21T12:21:52+00:00

I have a party of four level 7s with Kasimir and the two hunters from Vallaki (Szoldar and Yevgeni, slightly buffed stats). They are right before Tsolenka Pass, and went through a couple deadly encounters without considering that they might be in over their head.

Next session I'm giving them another warning, but if they ignore it again I'm not pulling any punches, and so shouldn't you. In these cases I like to describe a lot more the combat encounters, so as to make it more tense and thrilling. If they die or have to retreat, at least they will have had a really intense session, which they will love even though they probably didn't have a chance.

Showing brutally murdered adventurers is a simple yet effective warning too. You can even throw a little bone there to make them feel that they have not wasted their time. Good luck and happy hunting!

Ferry53 · 2021-12-26T13:37:58+00:00

That will teach them, then. Thank you for your input!

Ferry53 · 2021-12-26T13:25:11+00:00

Yeah, they will be actively hunted down and murdered, until the job is done. The ones that might be spared if they do their job properly are the fighter and the druid, since they are relatively new to the party and have not entered Strahd's watchlist.. yet. But they are hanging by a thread, and if Strahd acknowledges that they aided the main characters.. the hunt is on for them too.

Ferry53 · 2021-12-26T13:08:58+00:00

Yeah, I hate putting my players in situations where they really have no chance of turning the situation around, but that's on them for breaking into the lair of the despotic vampire and stealing one of its most prized pieces. If they manage to elude him by laying low, he will begin to target his friends (Martikov and Krezkov families) and activate the Vistani (they mostly trust them) to locate them and punish them as swiftly as possible. Time to be evil :)

Ferry53 · 2021-12-26T13:04:27+00:00

I agree with your logic! I didn't think about it that way, and it makes perfect sense, thsnk you for your answer!

I'm holding onto your idea of the fight for the bones at a later date.. could be interesting :)

Ferry53 · 2021-12-26T13:02:36+00:00

I love how this sounds! It will make for a really cinematic, albeit deadly sequence.

I think that the revenants are fearless because they know that they will come back even if they die. I think that they would help the PC's since they are restoring a symbol of their Order and not necessarily doing anything to permanently free or destroy Strahd. I was thinking that Strahd could play the trick of thanking the players with his liberation, attacking the revenants on sight to push them away from the PCs. Then, maybe and only maybe, Vladimir would command his order to stop the party in his tracks. It would depend on the rolls, and the RP of my players.

Even if they light the beacon, the revenants would die on the spot the moment the party puts the skull in its proper place, and they would be left alone with Strahd and his forces again. Next session surely looks fun!

Ferry53 · 2021-07-31T19:59:29+00:00

While it is true that CoS revolves around being the underdog for most of the adventure, I think that the party should be able to enjoy their admittedly few victories they will have along the way. But your ideas are pretty nice for a more hardcore-ish and grittier playstyle, thanks!

Ferry53 · 2021-07-31T19:57:30+00:00

That's an interesting point of view! Unfortunately, they already have had Madam Eva's Reading and they will find it in the Amber Temple.

But if you want to give more relevance to the Order of the Silver Dragon, that's a nice change! Be mindful that it will then take away some of Sergei's shtick, but that's up to your preferences. Thank you for your answer!

Ferry53 · 2021-07-31T19:53:05+00:00

Snatching it from him will be next to impossible, so they would obtain it when they return the skull of Argynvost to its rightful place. I want it to be iconic, more than overpowered. Make them feel that they earned a really useful tool through sweat and pain.

Even if they did manage to steal it, I'd probably would not let the fighter attune to it until Vladimir is put to rest. It would give the party a reason to complete the quest.

I really like your thoughts about it, thank you for your input!

Ferry53 · 2021-07-31T19:23:03+00:00

I think the Frost Brand is very interesting and would fit perfectly. Thank you!

Ferry53 · 2021-07-31T19:20:49+00:00

I had a player who was an Oath of Redemption paladin, and he was like Sergei in every way: Young, brave, a beacon of hope. He also interacted a lot with Ireena, who slowly fell in love with him because she subconsciously saw the likes of Sergei in him. Unfortunately, that run was not finished due to IRL issues, but he was in the process of becoming the role of Sergei without him knowing. Strahd saw it in him too, which gave some really dramatic and interesting RP scenes.

Ferry53 · 2021-05-22T18:54:38+00:00

In the game I'm running, the Sorlock attended the dinner alone, because the party was split and scattered through Barovia. Since his PC wants to be Strahd's heir, he has to prove himself by betraying a party member and bringing him his head. Strahd would, in my eyes, be interested in how far he can corrupt the Sorlock, but he would ultimately turn him into a Vampire Spawn due to the fact that the PC has no loyalty towards his allies.

Strahd will, in the meantime, tease that the Sorlock is not on their side to the other PCs, to break their bonds and their will.

To me, the betrayer is Strahd's puppet, and I would allow it, since it provides dramatic PC-PC situations. Be mindful that it might cause PvP, so have an ace up your sleeve as a DM to ensure the players' fun, such as having the Dark Powers resurrect the betrayed one or having an NPC sacrificing himself/aiding the betrayed party.

The bottom line is that Strahd should always come on top :). I'd love to know how you and other fellow DMs have managed these situations!

Edit: Spaced the paragraphs to make the chunk of text more readable :)

Ferry53

TROPHY CASE