Players Guide to Curse of Strahd (No Spoilers)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2019
  • This video discusses player advice and tips for the curse of strahd. Dungeons & dragons horror adventure role-play game advice. A d&d players guide to playing the curse of strahd. This video discusses general details, advice, tips, and tricks to playing in a fun and successful d&d adventure for d&d 5e. Dungeon Masters will likely want to show this video to their players. There are no spoilers that that are not revealed by a dungeon master at the beginning of play.
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ความคิดเห็น • 204

  • @HowtoRPG
    @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Please do not post story Spoilers in your comments.

    • @tombirmingham7033
      @tombirmingham7033 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I very much appreciated your walk through. "you will die" is the vibe and i really liked how you noticed the psychic fatigue. i thought it was just me. Dealing with this all consuming evil is a big thing.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@tombirmingham7033 You are welcome 😊 Thanks for the kind words.

  • @madmadame1508
    @madmadame1508 4 ปีที่แล้ว +224

    "Please remember the DM is your friend." That's so important to keep in mind. My players have mentioned a time or two that they feel I'm trying to kill them, they have no idea the punches I've already pulled just to keep them alive. Barovia is just that hostile and miserable a land. But it's my favorite module.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Curse of Strahd really strains the player and dungeon master relationship. Part of the reason I will not run it again.

    • @christiantaylor3877
      @christiantaylor3877 4 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      You have to play this game with players who trust you. Players who don't trust what their gym is doing do not appreciate the sheer amount of work we do for them. I've been lucky enough to run it with players who are really good role players and it's my favorite module hands down.

    • @FreddieMercurytheSharkWrestler
      @FreddieMercurytheSharkWrestler 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hey I know this is old but I’m running CoS with good friends of mine and it’s exactly as you said. They are convinced I am trying to kill them and enjoy them dying. I enjoy seeing them struggle but I pull so many punches that they don’t even realize.

    • @komicczz3211
      @komicczz3211 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@FreddieMercurytheSharkWrestler I wanna play curse of strahd so bad, how did the campaign go

    • @FreddieMercurytheSharkWrestler
      @FreddieMercurytheSharkWrestler ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@komicczz3211 It's still going. They're maybe about 40% done the campaign. If you can, definitely find a group.

  • @lincolny2220
    @lincolny2220 4 ปีที่แล้ว +82

    Generally what I've heard is that players won't get TPKed if they approach cautiously, roleplay, and avoid rushing straight into combat

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Yeah that helps.

    • @obsidian2404
      @obsidian2404 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Unsure if Strahd is the “Hardest” campaign but so long as you approach all the modules that way everything is totally do able. “Slow is fast and fast is slow.” Take your time, ask questions and be cautious of every encounter and take it one step at a time. You’ll come out the other end every time.

  • @WilliamSlayer
    @WilliamSlayer 4 ปีที่แล้ว +123

    Fred is not kidding when he says a shorter play. Or a play session divided up by several breaks is a good idea! The tension he talks about is created both by the player's imaginations and a Dungeon Master doing his job. I have many times while running this adventure had my players tell me they are trembling or their hands are shaking! Great guide, and a great adventure that you will enjoy thoroughly I promise!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Thanks for backing up my guide.

    • @dubiousdevil9572
      @dubiousdevil9572 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I love the long sessions

  • @revelthemad
    @revelthemad 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Me alone in a room, on a computer, with nobody else around, planning my character..... 8:28
    LMAO
    Well damn lol

    • @Misspanda2020
      @Misspanda2020 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Sameee 😂

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You are always better to do the final character draft with the group, but research is fine.

  • @anthiondel
    @anthiondel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    When I played it we were a glamour bard, an arcane trickster rogue, a hunter ranger that died and after that we got a hexblade/battlemaster and my dex-build ancients paladin. We ran away A LOT until lvl7 and then (and only then) we started actually being able to stand our ground in most fights. When I DMd afterwards it... Yeah, there are things quite worse than death for the characters

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Your experience highlights a feature to the adventure. The players characters might be fleeing,scared or dying for much of the adventure, but eventually they will get Strahd and conquer Barovia.

  • @sonderingkayla
    @sonderingkayla 4 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    Thank you for this! I am a player that will be playing soon and just wanted a general overview without spoilers so I can make sure my character that I'm building makes sense. I really appreciate this video!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You are welcome. Have a great time :)

    • @Elementroar
      @Elementroar 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@HowtoRPG Likewise, Curse of Strahd is going to be my 2nd longhaul campaign so I just wanted a non-spoiler peek into what I can expect and what I should build my character for. Thanks for this :)

  • @Kerplagh
    @Kerplagh 4 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    My buddies and I are several sessions into this great campaign as our maiden voyage! You're not kidding when you say it's not easy. I think someone has died or come close to dying nearly every single session (I blame booze lol). Nevertheless, still a very fun campaign that definitely puts your teamwork to the test. Liked for "down in the doobly doo" shoutout to MCDM!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      All the best with your game group. Persistence beats resistance.

  • @frostydragonfruit7729
    @frostydragonfruit7729 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Everything he talked about just makes me excited to play

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Then it's the right adventure for you.

    • @Bain6969
      @Bain6969 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It really is THE best campaign i have played. I recommend it

    • @whocares1364
      @whocares1364 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm starting it tomorrow and I'm so excited for it

    • @sebcigala273
      @sebcigala273 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      This is gonna be my first campaign

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@sebcigala273 All the best. Make smart choices.

  • @Ooittee
    @Ooittee 4 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Taking notes is essential particularly for a sandbox adventure. Thanks for the vid mate :)

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You are very welcome :)

  • @HowlingFullBlood
    @HowlingFullBlood 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    About to start this module for a new group. This only proved to boost both mine and my player's excitement through the roof. Thank you so much for this!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      lol. You are welcome. At the end of each moth I have a Curse of Strahd Live Stream Q&A and focused topic.

  • @TimeIsMine93
    @TimeIsMine93 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    This was awesome. Besides my DM, I’m the only one who has DnD experience. And I’m usually the one talking to the party, fun ways to use abilities so the DM can focus on story telling. This helped

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      I am glad it was useful Patrick. Thanks for the kind words :)

  • @bariyos
    @bariyos 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    My session 0 is today, and this video got me so exited!
    Thank you for this great guide!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for your kind words. Have a great time.

  • @anneeltervag4467
    @anneeltervag4467 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    oh man my party really fucked up on the strong connection between players point, we are a party of 6, where 3 of us had a really strong connection while the other 3 had no connection to any of the other characters. It created so many big conflicts within the group based on things that happened in Barovia, and by the end the party were so split up that my character would have no issue sacrificing half the party to save the ones she actually cared about.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      That is a shame. I am sure next time that will be something people don't repeat. Every group takes time to figure out the best way to play.

  • @garrettserrels4708
    @garrettserrels4708 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I appreciate this player's guide video! I also like that you used Pathfinder 2e art.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad you enjoyed it Garrett. I played Pathfinder, just not the new version.

  • @cedricg2640
    @cedricg2640 4 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    I played my first session today and it was great!
    Normally I DM but I finally got to play again and its just awesome. I keep a notebook and used your tips. I checked and looted about everything in the death house, giving stuff to the party as I went through it.
    My character is a tiefling cleric... With 8 AC after I lost all of my equipment. But when I was in the haunted house, I picked up plate armor and a shield so thats great

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Awesome. Have a great time.

    • @Bain6969
      @Bain6969 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds like those were a gift from ur dm. I gave my players nothing extra in Death House and killed 1 of them 3 times (beyond saving) before they managed to escape.

    • @jeffw7382
      @jeffw7382 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Bain6969 But there's a shield and long sword almost immediately upon entering the house, and loads of other stuff in the house. The point of taking their stuff is to make them scavenge.

  • @danielhanson2417
    @danielhanson2417 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Welcome to first edition! Life is hard, nothing is balanced, know your capacity to fight and know when to run, and as always the forest must burn!

  • @timkramar9729
    @timkramar9729 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    As a very experienced player, my DM let me have Strahd as a warlock patron, the Great old one. The character was unaware of his nature and would have eventually multiclassed into paladin.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      lol. Blummy.

    • @avis199
      @avis199 ปีที่แล้ว

      Why Great Old One? I mean I guess it sortof makes sense with the mind control stuff, but I'm just surprised you didn't choose Undead for Strahd. But to each their own I guess

  • @AgoodITguy
    @AgoodITguy ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks sir 🙏 going to show it to new players, going to run it again for third time. Love this adventure and yes it is challenging

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      You are welcome. Thank you.

  • @makhnolelong177
    @makhnolelong177 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for the video!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      You are welcome. All the best with your game.

  • @grizzalmighty7492
    @grizzalmighty7492 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    My character going into this has the Keen Mind feat so technically speaking the DM is my notes :) (keen mind, among other things, grants your character a perfect memory of everything they’ve seen or heard within the past month)

    • @xAnonymousComedia
      @xAnonymousComedia 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I know this is a joke. But honestly, as a DM there's nothing more obnoxious than players who show with 0 interest in the game and remember nothing of what happened.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Keen Mind is an odd Feat. I am sure your Dungeon Master loves the opportunity to take notes for you.

  • @RW77777777
    @RW77777777 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    long rests can be difficult to come by in a dangerous land
    going to sleep in the inn is usually a handwave to full HP; in a horror campaign, not so much...
    if you can get some recovery that comes on a short-rest it may very well save your lives

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      For sure.

  • @mohammedfaiq3671
    @mohammedfaiq3671 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thanks man, the video was awesome

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You are welcome :)

  • @void-bear455
    @void-bear455 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i am excited now! i love a challenge and I have a CG character ... so that will be fun.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Have fun with your game.

  • @Morticiaflava
    @Morticiaflava ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for the video super helpful

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it was helpful, Lily.

  • @simopen
    @simopen 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thanks for the warning! I'll try running something else first

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You are welcome.

  • @wvm06
    @wvm06 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good vid. Thanks for this.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      You are welcome 😊

  • @GeorgeHofmann2
    @GeorgeHofmann2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks, Fred!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      You are welcome. Sorry for the slow reply, TH-cam is sending nothing to me.

  • @nraketh
    @nraketh ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I've been playing strahd for about 7 months with my group. I wished we'd all watched this video before hand. The DM has done a great job, but the players all made seperate characters who had no connection to barovia, because our DM thought that was ok. We've made it through most of the campaign, but the big problem I've seen is that we've got zero reason to care about barovia. Our DM basically dropped a lot of the horror aspects because they weren't hitting right. i don't think anyone knew what to expect from the campaign at the begining. We're not new players, but I didn't research it as I wanted to be surprised.
    There's been like two people in Barovia we actually liked. Everyone else has turned out to be awful, so we just started assuming EVERYONE was awful. Our characters only motivations have been to escape which eventually just became kill strahd to escape. Day to day gameplay has been fun, but I really don't like the setting or the campaign.
    I think it would have been a lot better if we were barovians trying to fight against strahd, or someone with some sort of personal reason to want to be against strahd. Just being a "good guy" doesn't help, because everyone in barovai is so awful.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. The adventure is not for everyone.

    • @truffeltroll6668
      @truffeltroll6668 ปีที่แล้ว

      Unfortunately that doesn't really work either.
      Escaping seems to be the only solution and for more connected characters that is a hard choice to make.
      The writing in this module is kinda bad and has a lot of issues that a good DM should fix before starting

  • @AgoodITguy
    @AgoodITguy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for this guide Sir, would share to my players

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Happy to help, Oscar. You have run this adventure so many times. Hard to imagine I can help you.

    • @AgoodITguy
      @AgoodITguy 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@HowtoRPG hahaha, im going to learn new element because im going to use other tarokka reading

    • @AgoodITguy
      @AgoodITguy 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@HowtoRPGi think this adventure has so much content and one can run different depending on the outcome of the group...i love this adventure

  • @jillianh7565
    @jillianh7565 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    My group is the exact opposite from what you suggested. Two of the players are murder hobos who barely die. Their bizarre plans always seem to work. On the other hand, there is my friend and I who have the brains behind the party and yet die often. My character, a half elf cleric noblewoman, is who Strahd hates the most in the party as do most Barovians. My friend has even joked about me being the “perfect victim” because I am a cleric, of the nobility and a beautiful (conventionally attractive) half elf. We joke about how Strahd either wants to turn me or kill me so that the party will be less effective in our quest. This may also ring true considering our dm is my boyfriend. 😂

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      There is always an exception. Nice story. lol

    • @jillianh7565
      @jillianh7565 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@HowtoRPG My dm says that despite me being the classic victim, I am quite powerful and that’s why Strahd targets me often. Our party consists of a Dragonborn fighter who has PTSD, a human sailor who is drunk 90% of the time, a living vampire with anxiety (think Morbius) and me, a half elf cleric noblewoman who is both wise and naïve at the same time. I am also the only girl in the adventuring party. To add to everything our characters act more like coworkers than friends.

    • @dubiousdevil9572
      @dubiousdevil9572 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Your DM needs to step it up then

    • @jillianh7565
      @jillianh7565 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@dubiousdevil9572 Oh he did. As of now, my character has lost just about everything she cares about including her kingdom, most of her family and more. You see my boyfriend (GM) decided to bring the politics of the Sword Coast into the game. My character is the heir to Neverwinter. She was sent to Barovia as a political pawn similarly to the situation Sansa Stark was dealing with in Game of Thrones. The rest of the party have their own troubles including a kidnapped Dragonborn child, figuring out how to not be a monster etc. What makes my character’s situation more interesting is that she has the attention of Alexander Von Roeyen, (another PC) a vampire and younger brother to Strahd and Sergei Von Zarovich. In the approximately six months since Alexander has joined the party he has gone from being a chaotic vampire to an honorable prince. His relationship with the party is complex and his relationship with Zelda (my character) is the most in depth in the game. The other vampires Evelyn and Anthony also have undergone massive character development particularly because of Zelda. In a way my story has an uncanny resemblance to that of Tatyana, though this wasn’t my intention. 😊

  • @ralfsstuff
    @ralfsstuff 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    As a new DM and lifelong Castlevania fan I want to run this sooo bad!
    But I DO understand it's probably not the best thing to.
    Probably getting the book cheap right now, read it and play it when our group has a lot more experience.

  • @darkerSolstice
    @darkerSolstice 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    My very first D&D experience was coming in as a group was finishing up CoS (before they moved on to a new campaign that I was going to join), and they handed me the sheet for a character whose player wasn't there, and expected me to just pick it up and start playing, with very little guidance or help from the other players.
    Worst gaming experience of my life. There were a lot of problems with that group, but that should have been my first clue.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds rough.

  • @pompoz1202
    @pompoz1202 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I am long years player of Vampire the Masquerade and this is going my 2nd adventure of DnD ever. I am hyped a lot after this video.
    Only think worries me is that I am not experienced, but we will see...

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds like you have done your training ;)

    • @truffeltroll6668
      @truffeltroll6668 ปีที่แล้ว

      This is a severe downgrade from the vtm chronicles

  • @mattioverla7918
    @mattioverla7918 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    20:38 awwwwee its strix!!!

  • @alexandraspring687
    @alexandraspring687 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Yep we got out of a very dangerous encounter by distracting the enemies and running away; no one died XD ... our characters are like a lil found family

  • @missyc13
    @missyc13 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lmao I'm a newer player in an experienced group except the dungeon master, it's their first time. This will be so much fun!

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      All the best.

  • @kcrad1527
    @kcrad1527 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Ive always felt COS set a good standard for good playersense during sessions and should be the bar of expectation, not an outlier.

  • @Infected_Apple
    @Infected_Apple 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    The advice to make characters to resist turning to evil might be taken wrong because it is part of the engagement to struggle with the bleak and hopeless

  • @SerpentineSeiđr
    @SerpentineSeiđr หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for the video! I've just finished my 2-year tenure being the DM in my group (we just wrapped up Tomb of Annihilation last week) and one of the group is stepping up to run CoS, and I finally get to be a player!
    I was wondering a few things since I'm currently making my character, regarding background. I haven't looked into Barovia as a setting because I want to avoid spoilers, but from what I can tell it's in some sort of dimension of its own outside Faerûn, but it's still technically in the FR setting? As in, people can end up there finding themselves trapped. We played the Death House as a one-shot last year (gave me the week off DMing lol) and our characters all appeared in the grounds of the house, which was surrounded by mist that magically prevented you leaving, and then Strahd appears at the conclusion to welcome you to Barovia.
    We've been told to make different characters, that we can't play the ones we used in the Death House, and I trust the DM has his reasons for that! So, making a new character, I hadn't even considered making them from Barovia. I was going to have them somehow find themselves there and be unable to escape, and meet the other characters in session 1. As I said, I don't know enough about Barovia to have a character be a native, and I'd be too wary of spoilers to research it.

  • @grendelkhan3082
    @grendelkhan3082 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Being a bodyguard in this campaign is what I'm currently dealing with. I was not warned of what I was walking into but as an Artificer, Warforged....This is starting to play a lot like Goblin Slayer or Doom. I must protect my master.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      All the best with your game.

    • @avis199
      @avis199 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hopefully you enjoyed it atleast, assuming you're campaign has ended by now after 2 years

    • @grendelkhan3082
      @grendelkhan3082 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@avis199 Oh yes. But we did not succeed the campaign. Tragedy. But I did my job loyally until the end.
      I used myself as a shield countless times including spike pits. Almost died many times.

  • @Toffeecup
    @Toffeecup 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Not me, a lv 4 cleric, running off to Strahd's castle because he took Lucien, who I made my adoptive dad.
    By myself.
    I'm rerolling a new character right now, preemptively, in case I die.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Fair enough. That is a good idea.

  • @wilheiminplatz
    @wilheiminplatz 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    so far on my group's venture
    - breezed through the death house that it completely ruined our expectations from then on lol
    - the term "the dark souls of dnd" has been thrown around
    - we've essentially almost had someone die or be close to dying every session
    - we've ran away basically every time since
    - my party have been kicked out of vallaki
    - about every week someone of random gets close to assuming the dm is trying to kill us, only for the dm in question to admit at the end of the session they pulled about 300 strings to save us or at least not get us to run into a brick wall
    - everyone has made at least 3 character sheets as backup

  • @mikesands4681
    @mikesands4681 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Spoiler free guides for players are remarkably rare, but focus on dm assistance.

  • @lymiluu6486
    @lymiluu6486 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My fiance and I are doing this just me and him. I've made 4 characters and one of those is my main. Out of combat he will control the rest of the party, but it control all 4 during combat. I prefer doing it like this over with a party, I don't have the patience for other people 😅

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      All the best with your game.

  • @WightPirate
    @WightPirate ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My party and I shall be starting CoS soon, by the looks of it we are all already "dark side" so that side of the story could be fun. We are the new evil to overthrow the current lol

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      lol. The new Sith have arrived.

  • @xyphious
    @xyphious 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I disagree with the idea that the players can’t meet for the first time in a tavern. Some inter-player conflict can be great for RP and it fits into dark the world of CoS. My current CoS group started this way and the uneasy alliance they’ve built and worked on has been brilliant.
    That said, I’d agree with your statement if it’s a set of new players

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We can disagree, groups are not all the same.

    • @jeffw7382
      @jeffw7382 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Having them be strangers having to survive when they first enter "The House" really plays to the horror themes, ups the tension and uncertainty, and leads to a lot of great roleplay.

    • @dubiousdevil9572
      @dubiousdevil9572 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah in my CoS campaign some of our best RP we've ever had has been character/party conflict. Hell just last night my paladin freaked out on the wizard because he tried sacrificing an innocent person to get away from a monster, literally pushed somebody running away with us in front of the monster.
      My paladin insulted him, called him a coward, etc... about ready to just leave the party
      Afterwards everybody applauded the RP and we had an amazing session.
      People just gotta learn to separate game world from real world and not take it so seriously, it's not that hard.

  • @CalebJusticeHarding
    @CalebJusticeHarding 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    this is the first DnD 5e game i'm gonna ever play
    I'm gonna make a tiefling warlock with charisma main stat.
    I don't know what i'm doing but eh i'm sure i'll be okay with my party helping me learn

    • @Klaital1
      @Klaital1 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Heh I just started playing in a new CoS campaign week ago and am also playing Tiefling Warlock.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      I hope all went well.

  • @Anjure_Danjure5092
    @Anjure_Danjure5092 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    i threw a horse at a mugger, my dm was like .... how do i calculate horse damage

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      lol. Thank for the story.

  • @mikesands4681
    @mikesands4681 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I very good but vague anticipation of the campaign. Forewarned is forearmed.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks Mike. A difficult video to make.

  • @ollikoskinen1
    @ollikoskinen1 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Strahd campaign: "Hey! Come to the Dark Side! We have cookies!
    My Rogue: "No thanks, I am already lawful evil!"

  • @Ikefiction0
    @Ikefiction0 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i am playing a gold dragon bloodling scorcerer who is a changling... i have 20 hp at level 2, i crit the first enemy we fought with a firebolt and melted off its groin pad... i have only 3 less hp than our ac tanks hp

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      All the best.

  • @JohnTalbane87
    @JohnTalbane87 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Well, now I get why friends give me that look/sound when I mention that my dm wants to run us newbies through it. At time of writing our session 0 will be in a few hours and this is already sounding like a Reddit horror story lol.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Ask lots of questions about the adventure and what to expect. Honestly, reddit horror stories are not to be considered fact.

    • @JohnTalbane87
      @JohnTalbane87 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@HowtoRPG will do. Thank you for posting a spoiler free video, I’m not a fan of meta gaming but like I said my more experienced friends had me a little concerned. We’ve already had 2 players drop about a week ago which kinda put me on edge.

  • @scyobiempire4450
    @scyobiempire4450 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think I'll be fine against Strahd if he tries to shift my alignment, I'm Chaotic Impure (6x6 alignment).

  • @CelticAugur
    @CelticAugur ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Jeez a year long campaign I’m a fairly experienced dm and my party made it to Vallaki already whoops Any more tips on how to trap the players or put them in more stressful situations?

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ignore the adventure advice, the DMG, WotC and anyone else on TH-cam. Crank up the threats till the players feel it. Homebrew. Good luck.

  • @kaitoudark1
    @kaitoudark1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Because this is a reboot of a first edition module, players and DMs should NOT go into this lightly. CoS is a dark, dreary mess from a significantly more skewed point in the game's history. The deck is 100% deliberately stacked against your players. Some of this is intentional, some of it is a slog due to poor revamps. The story is heavily focused on, and... Well. Being honest, by nature, 5e is designed to drive combat; but CoS is not at all keen on this, as most of the content is hit and run Scooby Doo or tacky B rated madness.
    It CAN be a rich gothic adventure, I'd You have slow paced or level headed players. This is NOT a module for XP based levelling. Combat is not likely to be fair, or even viable to win at. Milestone leveling works much, much better because of all the above points.
    Absolutely do not spend silver. Trust me on this.
    CoS lends itself well to multiclassing. You'll always need more resources, so choose carefully. Given that it's a gothic survival horror, expect armies of undead. If you're new, bring radiant or fire damage to the table. Always bring light somehow (spells, torches, etc.)
    Find a way to barricade yourself.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  • @wh3nderson95
    @wh3nderson95 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I thought about making a Variant Human, with the Healer Feat., with the Hermit Background, and be a Path of the Zealot Barbarian.
    Is this is a good idea?

    • @poundtownlegend1564
      @poundtownlegend1564 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Why the healer feat? I feel like while it might add some form of role play flavor (not that I know what your going for) ,but its pretty situational. I also feel like there are a decent number of other feats that might not be thematic in what you want ,but would make going variant human worth it.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Try it out.

  • @Celestial-rn4vm
    @Celestial-rn4vm ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i have a question,
    if a party member is drawn to the evil side, and he is now a follower of strahd as you said,
    how will the game work?
    Will the player of that character actually get seperated from us, but plays his character without us knowing what he does.
    Or will his character be taken away from him, and is controlled by the DM?
    So that player has to create a new character.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Depends on the Dungeon Masters decision and what is discussed with the group of people playing.

    • @viiy9429
      @viiy9429 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The guide gives actual tips for that. Like not many but idk I read through thr adventure a few times now (not played it yet currently preparing as dm) if you wanna know what I personally as a to-be-strahd-running-dm read spoilery below:
      Strahd gets bored by it. He finds the characters to be enticing and interesting when they enter but he gets quickly bored by "his little play things"

  • @thedoomking7101
    @thedoomking7101 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ha my character has been chaotic evil from the beginning

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Good luck.

  • @dubiousdevil9572
    @dubiousdevil9572 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    "Modern movies just go for jump skiiers. The jump skier isn't that scary"

  • @Cbev1994
    @Cbev1994 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    How would an artificer(current UA) do in this campaign?

    • @JoakimWaern
      @JoakimWaern 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It works great! Barovia has a bit of the steampunk atmosphere (with a gothic touch) that surrounds the artificer. The Artificer Gnome in my campaign has heard of the inventor who's clockwork man haunts the castle Ravenloft and wants to find out more.

    • @Cbev1994
      @Cbev1994 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JoakimWaern fascinating. What what was the subclass? I was thinking battle smith, myself

    • @ThePoketroller
      @ThePoketroller 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      What is the optimal party number for this? The plan is just for us to have 2 players other than the dm

    • @Cbev1994
      @Cbev1994 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ThePoketroller 4 is the general recommended size but there are NPCs in CoS that can fill party gaps

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Just try it.

  • @Einherier1994
    @Einherier1994 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    soo...if i play a LE character..the dm will try to twist my character into good? xD

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Unlikely you will get to start with LE.

  • @lorenzogarese9601
    @lorenzogarese9601 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You sound exactly like the youtuber Nilaus. Are you a different person?

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I have turned myself into Agent Smith from the Matrix. I am everyone. lol.

  • @fhuber7507
    @fhuber7507 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Might be the DM... might be something else.
    Its been too easy so far in 5e compared to the original Ravenloft.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes the 5E version is easier.

  • @dubiousdevil9572
    @dubiousdevil9572 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    And then there's me, who would run CoS 1000 times because it's that great and I love horror. At the end of the day it's game and your decisions have no effect on the real world lol

  • @kurniawandwiseptian
    @kurniawandwiseptian 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Okay, i won't hold back min maxing my character then

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      No I wouldn't do that, lol.

  • @MrIdleknight
    @MrIdleknight 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Some good points, but I don’t necessarily agree with groups designing their characters together. While there are technical advantages, its not a computer game. Flaws in the group create role playing and its a role playing game. As said there will be character deaths and party changes so it the group will evolve through the campaign.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Thank you. There are reasons beyond technical advantages when building characters together, that have more to do with managing player and party conflict.

  • @BiologyIsHot
    @BiologyIsHot 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I don't like that you tell people not to split the party. It a group wants to, it should be allowed. It's an element of horror. Seems too meta for me.

    • @BiologyIsHot
      @BiologyIsHot 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Or to tell them to avoid being evil.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You can disagree with me but it changes nothing about my advice.

  • @jaimetheone9150
    @jaimetheone9150 ปีที่แล้ว

    Why the pathfinder artwork?

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Why not? It gets the message across.

    • @jaimetheone9150
      @jaimetheone9150 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@HowtoRPG would it be too spoilery use COS art?

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jaimetheone9150 Maybe, but I had used up all the Curse of Strahd artwork on 23 other videos. lol

    • @jaimetheone9150
      @jaimetheone9150 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@HowtoRPG OIC variety.
      We're gonna be forced to use stable diffusion.

    • @jaimetheone9150
      @jaimetheone9150 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@HowtoRPG Do you have any class-subclass suggestions to go through this nightmare?
      I'm somehow willingly entering that demonic realm in a couple of weeks.

  • @truffeltroll6668
    @truffeltroll6668 ปีที่แล้ว

    If this is the best 5e has to offer, I will stay with the Pathfinder APs.
    It's not horror. It lacks everything that makes horror that.

  • @yototrash
    @yototrash 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What accent is this :)

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      New Zealand.

    • @yototrash
      @yototrash ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@HowtoRPG beautiful

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@yototrash Thanks 😊

  • @AA_AlegriaApenas
    @AA_AlegriaApenas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I just wanna go back in time and say to myself, don't play this!

  • @Fishcrab
    @Fishcrab 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    666 likes

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Don't read to much into it.

  • @MrRed9393
    @MrRed9393 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I really wanted to enjoy this adventure but after one TPK and three individual character deaths (other party members, I only died once in the TPK) I just couldn’t subject myself to it any longer. Heard tons of great reviews for the campaign but honestly it felt like a shallow D&D knock off of Dracula and every NPC/combat encounter did an excellent job of making the party feel unwelcome and feeble. I’ve not finished it and I’ll never touch the campaign again.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      The adventure is not for everyone. Everything you describe is the designers intent. It requires a DM to approach character death very differently to the traditional, make a new character.

    • @toshomni9478
      @toshomni9478 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It is a meat grinder but can be lots of fun if approached with the right attitude.

    • @kestrel1234
      @kestrel1234 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@RW77777777 Name calling? After 35 years? C'mon.

  • @jackhartford521
    @jackhartford521 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Lol I fail to see how a 56 minute video player’s guide isn’t a spoiler free environment.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Did I really present Spoilers. I see more people posting Spoilers in the comments that I delete if I see them.

  • @mpalfadel2008
    @mpalfadel2008 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    4:36 in
    This version of D&D does not play like a video game😂 😂😂😂😂😂
    Jesus, is that what 5th edition did to D&D?

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      It start at 3e.

    • @mpalfadel2008
      @mpalfadel2008 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@HowtoRPG I’ve been collecting since 1st edition
      Which was 3e? Was that the version that included the expansion for Dark Sun?

    • @mpalfadel2008
      @mpalfadel2008 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@HowtoRPG thanks for the reply btw

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mpalfadel2008 You are welcome.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mpalfadel2008 Not sure what you mean.

  • @mpalfadel2008
    @mpalfadel2008 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I appreciate your work and all of those like you
    But
    I HATE anything after D&D 2nd edition
    I’m probably alone in this opinion
    Thanks for the vid
    Cheers

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You are welcome.

    • @kestrel1234
      @kestrel1234 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Why even go on a 5e vid?

  • @wesleygee1062
    @wesleygee1062 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Strahd is only hard to kill, if you're bad. Played a Paladin who killed him in one round of combat, not even truly mid maxing. We just knew what we were doing and knew how to cooperate in character. We had a life cleric with Warding Bond, ranger who's favorite enemy was undead, an arcane trickster and a divination wizard. The module thinks dnd characters are scared of zombies and werewolves but because the module is poorly written (so much of the module is very pointless and has no relation to Strahd, and none of the quests gives you any motivation to do anything, in fact the module discourages you from doing any side quest except because you need exp and levels, which is bad writing). People say that you can't fight everything but with honest characters, no homebrew and no rolling for stats, its very easy and that's excluding initiative rolls and good/bad rolls. New players will have a problem but experienced players will just steamroll this module unless the DM heavily modifies the module. Again, Strahd is a bitch, disrespect him all you want, once you get your mcguffins which are not hard to find then disrespect him all you want, what's he going to do? Kill you because he can't do that.

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We can disagree. Experienced players will find it easier, but there are a lot of factors.

  • @blingwraith6951
    @blingwraith6951 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I just joined a game in progress, I'm 2 sessions in and my fighter is already about to die 🥲

    • @HowtoRPG
      @HowtoRPG  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      With any luck your fighter will stay dead if they die. Death is just another door 🚪