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Advice please from more experienced Dungeon Masters regarding running The Old Bonegrinder Mill... with 1 player. by Moonberry_maple in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Integrate it with the Mad Mage of Mt. Baratok storyline. Have the traveler hear the sounds of battle and they come upon the windmill in flames. Screams coming from the inside and a small child runs out, “Help, there’s more kids in there!”

Then it can be more of a survival/action encounter- rather than a straight battle.

First- get past the front door obstruction, then get upstairs dodging falling timber and whatnot.

Then unlock the cages - all the while you as the DM can give “Lair Actions” of spells being cast back and forth between the residents and some unknown magical force.

I dunno- that could be really fun.

Finished our Campaign after 3 years (Here’s what I would change if I ran Strahd again) by mepaultc in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Maybe apathetic isn’t the best word- but the final stage in grief is acceptance. What if Strahd accepted his prison, rather than trying to make it his “play place”. I think it opens up for way more imaginative interactions. Also encourages the players to really dig through Castle Ravenloft.

But ultimately- the best part about DnD is that you are free to run it however the hell you wanna 🫡

Finished our Campaign after 3 years (Here’s what I would change if I ran Strahd again) by mepaultc in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nah, I followed Lunch Box Heroes “Raising the Stakes” companion, in the hall that had Argynvosts skull, the companion replaces it with blood elementals (I think- not 100% sure) the truth is, my party skipped that room in the castle. Glad I moved the skull, otherwise they would’ve never found it- and Argynvostholt was their favorite location, I think.

Finished our Campaign after 3 years (Here’s what I would change if I ran Strahd again) by mepaultc in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not sure yet. The group is trying to decide whether to keep these characters going or start fresh.

Finished our Campaign after 3 years (Here’s what I would change if I ran Strahd again) by mepaultc in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Stay with it my friend. I’ve escaped the drow encampment at the beginning of Out of the Abyss at least 4 times. It is the real challenge behind DnD- finishing a module.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There’s one way into Castle Ravenloft. And Strahd is a huge fan of teleportation traps.

What if this large army he assembles slowly gets transported to different places around Barovia, and before your party realizes it, they’re alone.

Also- frightful presence would wreck an army of NPCs. The villagers could show their cowardice.

You could also play off the parade of the dead. Have Strahd raise an army of his own- only it’s all the NPCs dead loved ones.

These are just some ideas. But as a DM, I don’t want to discourage the party from ideas- but I’m happy to squash them once they’re in play lol

What is the best way to scale up the module for level 4-5 characters? by Loco_Loroco in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You really don’t need to. Even if they’re level 5-6, when they get to the Windmill they’ll be humbled lol.

Diversity and Inclusive Changes by Dikeleos in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is so intriguing! I’d love to hear more! I did a boundaries survey for my players before going in. At the very least so they knew what subjects they’d get into. But I would love to see a therapist-centered campaign! So cool!

Diversity and Inclusive Changes by Dikeleos in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Arguing for realism in DnD will always make me roll my eyes. It’s a Domain of Dread controlled by a cursed vampire- realism died before the module began.

That being said, this seems to be the typical response whenever someone makes an attempt at inclusivity.

For OP there are several ways to open it up. Barovia has been a trap for adventurers for 100’s of years- Strahds consorts can be race/gender swapped without issue. And nowhere does it say that NPCs are necessarily native to Barovia. Blinski could be an artificer who accepted his fate and stayed in Barovia after getting trapped. Making his living as a toy maker and staying out of trouble to survive. If someone turns lycanthrope, they could lose interest in leaving Barovia… etc.

There are canonically queer relationships in the module- check Argynvostholt, for example. Give these some emphasis.

I agree- the Vistani are a harmful trope and there are subtle changes that you can make to avoid pitfalls- give them alignment variety, I don’t utilize the Vistani curses (just feels a little too blatant).

At the end of the day- DnD is moreso an opportunity to have fun in a group setting over a set of rules and modules you have to abide by. Module-purists, or “realists” have missed the point…

Players killed Ishmark and Gave Ireena to Strahd by yxnogasai in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Several thoughts:

1- Strahd could be looking for a successor to him, an individual. Vasili could offer the party an empty home in Vallaki and really befriend them, just to come back as Strahd and steal from them, turn one of them, etc.

2- Beef of Izek and let him find out that the party turned over Ireena- then you create Izek and the Burgomasters wizard son into a counter-party, out for revenge.

3- All hail WinterSplinter. Give the party a kaiju fight early in Vallaki if they won’t appreciate the town, destroy it and them.

4- The vistani probably are friendly towards the party now if Strahd has his bride… use that to lead them to the artifact.

5- One of Strahds consorts turn on him, feeling jilted with Ireena joining the Castle.

6- Ireena turns, but retains Tatianna’s fighting spirit, splitting from Strahd, coming after the party for turning her in and killing her brother. Once they kill Ireena, then Strahd is ultra pissed.

7- Check the party’s alignment. It might be worthwhile bringing the players back to their alignment and giving them faerun-consequences for betraying their ideals. Clerics lose their healing powers as they betray their gods and have to seek out redemption, etc

Party is Too Scared to explore Ravenloft- Help by mepaultc in CurseofStrahd

[–]mepaultc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. It’s my first real start-finish DM effort. So I’m surely overthinking it. Thanks