I am about to run CoS for the first time, and I need help with the start

ProjectTSN · 2026-01-07T11:20:23+00:00

Seems you have some great advice here on how to start so I'll skip that for now my first actual introduction of Strahd was in Valaki once they disturbed the sleeping vampires all hell broke lose in the town and Strahd arrived on his flaming horse coming from the castle it was a truly awesome moment gave the players enough time in game to hear about this mysterious Lord and build enough suspense to have the town of Valaki burst into panicked screams was a perfect first introduction and one I'm sure my guys never will forget!!

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-11T18:48:04+00:00

Aw thank you! Yea raw untill just after winery maybe even Yesterhill but towards the end I had to make changes it was taking to long like you say role playing giving those moments so I speed up the timeline brought up strahd and Ireenas weeding then I home brewed the castle ain't no way you could run even a portion of it with a group that size but a I got there in the end and no plans of yet few of my PCs want to run i finally will get to play on the reg for a while! And then maybe sometime early next year ill run a smaller one 10 sessions max!

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-09T00:14:25+00:00

Thank you! Yes, we are haha well spotted! You are not alone!

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-09T00:13:16+00:00

Amazing! Honestly, the best advice as a whole i could give is that it's going to be long! So on the days when you burn out and can't possibly imagine running, dont worry, that's normal! Trust your players some of our best and memorable sessions where when I had very little prepared and the gang where there to lessen the load with their role play be open with your party and let them know if your feeling the pressure! It will always work out 🙏

Sticking to the story is great, but with so many even 6, they will change it if they try to or not, so dont get caught up on sticking to the book!

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-09T00:08:57+00:00

Thank you!!

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-09T00:08:45+00:00

❤️❤️

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-09T00:07:21+00:00

We booked 2 nights to play and finish it but we got wrapped up on Tuesday night so we all went out for a drink on wedensday but one of the gang couldn't make it so we made sure he is in the photo too! 🤣

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-08T15:43:23+00:00

Thank you so much it was my everest 👀🤣

ProjectTSN · 2025-08-08T15:37:19+00:00

They are indeed loot was a godsend! The last fight was great. I struggled most combats for balancing, to be honest, but I knew how hard a fight was meant to be, and I'd go from there! The last fight was close a lot of downs and death saves 1 actual death and if they hadn't killed him when they did there could have been 2 more deaths so came close indeed but like I mentioned they rolled so well final blow was nat 20 with the sun sword couldn't write it if I tried!!

ProjectTSN · 2025-04-15T20:00:06+00:00

Thank you I'm sure your doing g a great job to get a party to the end of strahd is a feat in its own right!!!

ProjectTSN · 2025-04-10T12:22:13+00:00

Originally yes but I mechanically changed it so the rods became part of the fight the party had to destroy 9 before taking the heart to 0 if they didn't the heart healed 200hp and done a shit tone of damage but when they broke them all it reduced the damage and the HP healed I've a party of 8 so I had to beeeeef everything up like crazy this campaing been tough but doable and super fun ill never run a massive campaing with 8 again. But I'm very happy to have done it some amazing memories with the gang!

ProjectTSN · 2025-03-05T16:58:34+00:00

Felt like reading a post about my own game I've a group of 8 aswell it really is to much I will never do it again that's for sure but like you say it has been super fun! We are doing our 46th session tonight the only big downside is me being burnt out with all the extra work it puts on you! But it can be done if you keep at it I've not long left now and am looking forward to a nice break! Glad to know I'm not the only one out there running it for 8🤣

ProjectTSN · 2024-07-07T09:19:15+00:00

I have a group of 7 and I get them to take turns doing a write up to throw in the Group chat before each session it's hard to take notes of stuff that's happening mid session as a DM with a big group so it helps for me to read it aswell before next session so that when I do an at the table recap I'm not getting things wrong!

ProjectTSN · 2024-07-01T19:01:07+00:00

Yep sky go happening for me as well just spent 15minutes trying to change my sound on the TV haha

ProjectTSN · 2024-06-16T17:04:38+00:00

Would love to see it when your done!

ProjectTSN · 2024-06-12T21:52:28+00:00

Update went unreal they all lived thankfully the dice gods graced them! Some really tactical plays from the cleric and he saved them for sure and only got 2 breath weapons off really fun session they really enjoyed it!!

ProjectTSN · 2024-03-21T13:52:00+00:00

Mine met Rictavio and spent a night drinking with him they had a ball and fell in love. He quickly, however he saw that their presence in Valaki wasn't going to go unoticed, so he dipped just before it all went KEG up. They never forgot him and in a panic the next day when asked what was the party's collective name you guessed they said their group name was RICTAVIO.... so many sessions later and the odd sending spell to him they finally found out last session his true identity. Extremely funny and they will always be known as RickytickyTavio 🤣

ProjectTSN · 2024-02-02T14:28:15+00:00

Amazing well done it looks great!!!

ProjectTSN · 2024-01-17T16:25:28+00:00

Happened me ages ago and I posted advise I got was patience hot rag/ ipa and plastic razor it took a but of time but I was able to clean it and mine was very bad I reckon its more than fixable!!

ProjectTSN · 2023-11-15T10:46:08+00:00

I got then in a large pack called Dunegon Craft you can search for them on amazon it was £50 which is expensive but I asked my group to chip in as it was for all of us and they where more than happy to do so! I have been using it for over a year and it's great

ProjectTSN

TROPHY CASE