One of my gaming groups is getting back together again after about a year without playing. I'm going to be running them through a single day 4e version of Ravenloft. We had played the 3.5 version up to the castle itself, with a few encounters in the castle before our year break.
So my reason for writing is thus:
What three to four encounters best captures the feel of Ravenloft? How would you outline a good Ravenloft single night 4e adventure? When you played Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, what three or four encounters are most memorable to you?
This is my idea so far:
Encounter 1: Courtyard. The party enters the inner courtyard of Ravenloft and fights the following:
2x Battle Wights (800)
2x Flameskulls (350)
4x Vampire Spawn Bloodhunters (500)
Encounter 2: Skill Challenge: Navigating the Castle.
The party has to use skills and wits to get through the horrors of the castle.
Encounter 3: The Coven. The Three Hags, resurrected from their slayings in the swamps of Barovia, summon a horrible demon in the depths of the castle.
2x Bog Hags 1000
Howling Hag 300
Mezzodemon 350
Encounter 4: Strahd's Tomb. Skill Challenge. The party must defile the sarcophagus of Strahd before facing him. If they fail, Strahd is more powerful.
Encounter 5: Strahd's Sanctum
High in the towers above Castle Ravenloft, Strahd faces the party himself.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich
Level 11 Solo Vampire Lord
Init: +7; Speed 8
570 hitpoints / 285
AC 27 Fort 26 Reflex 25 Will 30
+5 saving throw
2 Action Points
M: Strahd's Chilling Caress: +16 vs AC; 1d8+5 cold and target is weakened; save ends.
Vermin Form: Move action, recharge 5,6; shift 8 through opponents and do 3d8+5 damage.
Dominating Gaze: Minor; +15 vs Will; target creature is dominated; save ends; aftereffect; target is dazed
Strahd's Violet Blast: Standard; +15 vs Reflex; 3d6+5 damage
Frightful Presence: Standard; Burst 5; +15 vs Will; Target is stunned until the end of Strahd's next turn. Once per encounter.
Blood Drain: Standard; Requires Combat Advantage; Recharges when adjacent enemy becomes bloodied; +15 vs Fort; 4d10+5 damage and target is weakened and Strahd gains 50 hit points.
Howl of the Night: Standard; Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 4d8+5 necrotic damage and push the target 2 squares. Once per encounter.
Bloodied Howl: Immediate when bloodied. Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 4d8+5 necrotic damage and push the target 2 squares.
Blackstorm: Standard, range 10, +15 vs Fortitude; 4d10+5 necrotic and target slides 6 squares. Once per encounter.
Lance of Black Ice: Standard; range 10; +15 vs Reflex; 4d10+5 cold damage and target is immobilized; save ends; once per encounter.
So my reason for writing is thus:
What three to four encounters best captures the feel of Ravenloft? How would you outline a good Ravenloft single night 4e adventure? When you played Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, what three or four encounters are most memorable to you?
This is my idea so far:
Encounter 1: Courtyard. The party enters the inner courtyard of Ravenloft and fights the following:
2x Battle Wights (800)
2x Flameskulls (350)
4x Vampire Spawn Bloodhunters (500)
Encounter 2: Skill Challenge: Navigating the Castle.
The party has to use skills and wits to get through the horrors of the castle.
Encounter 3: The Coven. The Three Hags, resurrected from their slayings in the swamps of Barovia, summon a horrible demon in the depths of the castle.
2x Bog Hags 1000
Howling Hag 300
Mezzodemon 350
Encounter 4: Strahd's Tomb. Skill Challenge. The party must defile the sarcophagus of Strahd before facing him. If they fail, Strahd is more powerful.
Encounter 5: Strahd's Sanctum
High in the towers above Castle Ravenloft, Strahd faces the party himself.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich
Level 11 Solo Vampire Lord
Init: +7; Speed 8
570 hitpoints / 285
AC 27 Fort 26 Reflex 25 Will 30
+5 saving throw
2 Action Points
M: Strahd's Chilling Caress: +16 vs AC; 1d8+5 cold and target is weakened; save ends.
Vermin Form: Move action, recharge 5,6; shift 8 through opponents and do 3d8+5 damage.
Dominating Gaze: Minor; +15 vs Will; target creature is dominated; save ends; aftereffect; target is dazed
Strahd's Violet Blast: Standard; +15 vs Reflex; 3d6+5 damage
Frightful Presence: Standard; Burst 5; +15 vs Will; Target is stunned until the end of Strahd's next turn. Once per encounter.
Blood Drain: Standard; Requires Combat Advantage; Recharges when adjacent enemy becomes bloodied; +15 vs Fort; 4d10+5 damage and target is weakened and Strahd gains 50 hit points.
Howl of the Night: Standard; Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 4d8+5 necrotic damage and push the target 2 squares. Once per encounter.
Bloodied Howl: Immediate when bloodied. Close Blast 5; +15 vs Fort; 4d8+5 necrotic damage and push the target 2 squares.
Blackstorm: Standard, range 10, +15 vs Fortitude; 4d10+5 necrotic and target slides 6 squares. Once per encounter.
Lance of Black Ice: Standard; range 10; +15 vs Reflex; 4d10+5 cold damage and target is immobilized; save ends; once per encounter.
