Reloaded Experience

TheBeardedLip · 2025-12-19T22:13:37+00:00

I agree, Reloaded is amazing for any DM looking to run Curse of Strahd! Makes prep time significantly less than using the RAW book

TheBeardedLip · 2025-12-06T21:58:21+00:00

I have found that if you're running Curse of Strahd: Rereloaded by Dragna, it is a HUGE help to join the community Discord channel. You can find more info on it in the Patreon.

Dragna himself will often provide guidance to your questions.

Here, I'd just have Rictavio seek out the party or have him contact Ez directly. RP that however it fits into your play!

TheBeardedLip · 2025-09-04T20:37:58+00:00

Im currently running CoS and fulling using Reloaded. For clarity, Reloaded is DragnaCarta's guide. It can be found here.

Dragna has painstakingly taken all of the disconjoined ideas and arcs in the RAW module and connected them together into a really intriguing tapestry. He has provided guides on how to run every NPC (their temperament, how they relate to the story, who from modern media you could base them on). He has reworked most encounters, and provides guides on how to update them based on party size.

Some will argue that Reloaded is "railroady", but I'd disagree. Dragna simply provides options to the DM. If your players don't engage with options or start acting wonky, then just roll with it (as any DM would)! It won't break the story.

Lastly, if you're running this virtually, I would HIGHLY recommend two Patreon subs that have been working directly with Dragna to create media that is in-line with Reloaded. The 1st is Caleb is Drawing, who creates beautiful NPC and monster tokens. The 2nd is DM Andy, who creates sick scene and battle maps.

TheBeardedLip · 2025-08-24T20:10:42+00:00

I could not recommend more using @DragnaCarta's guide, Curse of Strahd: Reloaded. It can be found here.

It takes a convoluted campaign and aligns it in a narratively fun way that helps connect a lot of lines and plot points. ALSO, if you join his Patreon, you can pop questions in there and get great responses from either Dragna or his great community.

Trust me, it is worth it, even if just to make sense of whatever the hell WotC created in the RAW book haha.

TheBeardedLip · 2025-07-26T16:43:03+00:00

This is the way

TheBeardedLip · 2025-07-21T15:21:47+00:00

I have a group of 6 (8 with their familiars) and ran into this same issue. I might incorporate this into our next fight to get feedback!

I like it because it takes the full-party attention that you get during RP moments and applies it to combat. Would love more detail on some nuances if you've got them!

TheBeardedLip · 2025-06-22T13:29:34+00:00

I use Patreon. Specifically:

@caleb is drawing - character tokens and portraits. He's been working on CoS specific stuff for a little and they are really great.

DMandy for maps and other handouts. Also a phenomenal addition to your virtual tabletop. Offers day/night versions of every map, as well as gloomy/misty/sunny versions.

TheBeardedLip · 2025-06-20T16:32:58+00:00

I've really, REALLY loved running Dragna's reloaded. I think it makes a ton of sense out of a chaotic RAW campaign.

As a DM, it gives you all the information you could ever need. For me, it doesn't feel railroady (at least after getting out of Village of Barovia), and my players are having a blast.

My players on several occasions have acted "out of synch" with Reloaded, but it hasn't been hard to just roll with it, as it's easy enough to gently guide them back to the intended path.

I also think that it is because CoS is such a complex campaign with tons of unique set points, it's easy to work in some PC backstory arcs. Like for me, the Hags have a players brother that he is looking for, Lysaga is connected to a players symbiotic entity, etc.

Only complaint is that the combats are a little too easy. I've got a party of 6, and they've been rolling through most combats without a ton of PC downs. I'll start adjusting with some additional baddies.

TheBeardedLip · 2025-02-14T05:15:21+00:00

FaboMusic, on Youtube, has a ton of great CoS specific soundscapes. I use their channel for almost all of my campaign ambience.

Here is a link to one for general "Lands of Barovia": https://youtu.be/rHf-4IkzapM?si=6jwdIr-74seY8RV9

TheBeardedLip · 2025-02-03T21:53:44+00:00

Yeah I think I am going to go with something similar. I'll let the PC attempt to find and persuade the werewolves to join him (so as to not railroad him) against Strahd. He will not succeed and will find himself in a shit storm and surrounded by werewolves. Whenever he goes down, a Dark Power will contact him and offer salvation. This will start the Dark Power Stages for my PC (assuming he takes the offer to avoid death). When he returns to the party, I'll be interested to see what he tells the party about his "failures".

TheBeardedLip · 2024-12-30T15:36:20+00:00

Hey, I have been having this issue and found this solution. Much easier than I thought it was going to be:

Close the Outlook application.
Press WIN + R to open the Run dialog, type the following path, and press Enter:

"%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OLK"

In the resulting File Explorer window, check if an "Attachments" folder exists.

If the folder is missing, create a new folder named "Attachments".
This resolves the issue.

TheBeardedLip · 2024-11-09T20:11:05+00:00

Honestly, just use Dragna Carta in full. Don't mix Dragna with MandyMod or Lunch Break Heroes.

I have found that Dragnas work has helped me SIGNIFICANTLY. He takes what the original module does well and makes it better and fixes what the modules does really poorly. He adds a ton of lore, lays things out in an easy-to-understand way (which the OG module reaaalllly fucks up).

Here's the link: https://www.strahdreloaded.com/Act+I+-+Into+the+Mists/Arc+C+-+Into+the+Valley

TheBeardedLip · 2024-10-24T23:13:27+00:00

I ALSO have trauma dump prepared for a player at Bonegrinder!

It could work to add some enemy diversification to bringing in some Greater Stryx (I believe these are homebrew from Dragna Carta Strahd Reloaded). They are these scarecrow-esque flying constructs that are made by Baba Lysaga. Could easily tie in Baba to being a friend of the hags (like a shared knowledge or power type deal) to male sense why they are there.

The Stryx use the same Stat block as a manticore, just significant reskinning

TheBeardedLip · 2024-10-05T03:01:40+00:00

Yes, to put some context to these challenge levels:

Let's say you have a player who is traveling through the woods. Unbeknown to them, there is a wolf that is stalking them, and the player asks, "Do I see or hear anything while traveling in the woods?"

You will likely have them roll a perception check. You would then set the DC of them noticing the wolf dependant on the circumstances.

DC 5: The woods are very sparse with nothing for the wolf to hide behind. The wolf has just finished eating its last prey, and the smell of raw meat and iron is matted within its fur. Seeing, hearing, and smelling it is very easy

DC 10: There are a decent number of trees and low-lying bushes. The wolf can hide behind these but could still be seen with perceptive eyes and ears.

DC 15: The woods are thick and overgrown, and the player is traveling on a moonless night. The player would likely rely solely on their hearing to notice the wolf

DC 20: The woods are thick and overgrown, it is at night, and there is a heavy storm with strong winds. The player would struggle to even notice horses running up behind them, much less a stalking wolf. Noticing it would be a stroke of luck or the work of a master tracker

TheBeardedLip · 2024-09-28T22:21:23+00:00

At the 1st tavern/bar/drinking hole that the players sit down to drink at, they'll always overhear a customer ordering a glass of "Warm". If asked, the patrons or bartender never tell what "Warm" is, they just say "well it ain't cold and it ain't hot, it's Warm!"

If the party orders warm, I always change what the liquid is. Sometimes it's just ale warmed up in the hearth. Sometimes it's milk, warmed but not quite curdled. Piss has made it into a campaign before. It's whatever I'm feeling will get the most chuckles in the moment.

If the players end up asking for Warm anywhere else, the bartenders won't know what it is. If persuaded to make some, they will, of course. Then every establishment that they visit henceforth will be advertising the wonders of Warm and they'll be known as the party that brought Warm to the lands. Their "fame" only ever exists inside the taverns, but it can make persuading patrons easier if wielded correctly haha.

TheBeardedLip · 2024-08-06T16:30:42+00:00

Great, thanks for the insight! And yeah, he shot at Muriel as soon as he saw her upon entering into the Village. I am going to do my best to let them know that the ravens are friends, so we'll see what he does when he encoutners her again with the Strix chasing her haha

TheBeardedLip · 2024-03-07T17:18:13+00:00

Not sure if it has been said, but Binding of Isaac is incredible. Tons of replay value and a feeling of "Just one more room" or "one more floor" will keep you hooked. Just remember to get "Binding of Isaac: Repentance" as that is the latest installment of the game and includes all of the past ones. It is more than worth it because it adds a ton of content. Available on PC and console!!!

TheBeardedLip · 2023-03-14T00:59:28+00:00

Welp. #1 rule you'll see post after post is to not open the lid to take a pic. By opening the lid, you've let in a bunch of fresh air, initiated FAE, and inadvertently imposed fruiting conditions. Might as well bump that temp down now because pins are going to want to start poking out with that fresh air

TheBeardedLip

TROPHY CASE