D&D 5E Curse of Strahd - What am I missing? (Possible spoilers?)

[toucanbuzz]

Out of curiousity, how is the Tome of Strahd supposed to help the PC's? It's great that they found the truth behind Strahd's sordid past, but I don't know how that helps...

It's up to the DM to incorporate understanding Strahd's personality into the story. Otherwise, the book's only listed power is to piss Strahd off and tag whoever is carrying it as his favored target.

As earlier, in my campaign, understanding Strahd's obsession was key to undoing him. This meant, in some form or another, taking Ireena from him, and doing so in such a way that his rage would be instant so that he would abandon his "invincible tactic" (of running through walls, healing up, then repeat).

 

[Retreater]

…. you don't want Sunblade to be found too early).

So my party discovered the Sunblade was held in a location they are directed to visit early in the campaign (level 5-6) - the Wachter House. They just completely botched their attempt to get it in a failed assassination attempt and raid on the home - with half the party and no real plan. So it would make sense while they are licking their wounds for it to be removed and re-hidden?
I'm considering having the Wachter's Vistani allies camped in the woods take the Sunblade and put it elsewhere. Any suggestions of a good location: challenging to get to and that's thematically appropriate that the Vistani could get it there?
And additionally - what the heck does it do? It's not statted up in the module besides a personality in the magic item appendix.

 

[Charlaquin]

So my party discovered the Sunblade was held in a location they are directed to visit early in the campaign (level 5-6) - the Wachter House. They just completely botched their attempt to get it in a failed assassination attempt and raid on the home - with half the party and no real plan. So it would make sense while they are licking their wounds for it to be removed and re-hidden?
I'm considering having the Wachter's Vistani allies camped in the woods take the Sunblade and put it elsewhere. Any suggestions of a good location: challenging to get to and that's thematically appropriate that the Vistani could get it there?

Does Lady Wachter know the PCs are our to kill Strahd and need the sun blade to do it? If so, the place it would make the most sense to take it would be directly to Strahd. Then he could put it in the treasure vault in Castle Ravenloft. If you don’t want it to be quite that difficult to find, you could have it get intercepted by some Silver Dragon Knights on the way to Castle Ravenloft and be brought to Argynvostholt instead.

Note that it is ok if the players never acquire it. It’s helpful against Strahd but not essential to defeat him. Much like Breath of the Wild, you don’t need to do any of the plot stuff to beat the final boss, it just makes it easier if you do.

And additionally - what the heck does it do? It's not statted up in the module besides a personality in the magic item appendix.

Other than the personality, it’s just a sun blade. Stats in the DMG.

 

[Retreater]

Does Lady Wachter know the PCs are our to kill Strahd and need the sun blade to do it? If so, the place it would make the most sense to take it would be directly to Strahd. Then he could put it in the treasure vault in Castle Ravenloft. If you don’t want it to be quite that difficult to find, you could have it get intercepted by some Silver Dragon Knights on the way to Castle Ravenloft and be brought to Argynvostholt instead.

Note that it is ok if the players never acquire it. It’s helpful against Strahd but not essential to defeat him. Much like Breath of the Wild, you don’t need to do any of the plot stuff to beat the final boss, it just makes it easier if you do.


Other than the personality, it’s just a sun blade. Stats in the DMG.

Yeah. The party has made it pretty clear they want to kill Strahd. They told her in their first meeting with her.

 

[Guest 6948803]

So my party discovered the Sunblade was held in a location they are directed to visit early in the campaign (level 5-6) - the Wachter House. They just completely botched their attempt to get it in a failed assassination attempt and raid on the home - with half the party and no real plan. So it would make sense while they are licking their wounds for it to be removed and re-hidden?
I'm considering having the Wachter's Vistani allies camped in the woods take the Sunblade and put it elsewhere. Any suggestions of a good location: challenging to get to and that's thematically appropriate that the Vistani could get it there?
And additionally - what the heck does it do? It's not statted up in the module besides a personality in the magic item appendix.

Charlaquin ideas are sound.
However, Sun Blade gives HUGE boost against vampires. In my campaign, vampire fights went from "thank to the Morninlord, we prevailed" to "geee, I wonder when Counts runs out of Spawns." Take that into consideration.

Spoiler: Possible CoS story spoilers!

Btw, in my campaign, Wachter Brothers stole Sword from the Rictavio wagon, while freeing tiger, and players tried to steal it back, but instead stole Wachter's dead dad. Then they managed for exchange of goods with Lady Wachter (sword for dead husband). We had ton of fun!

 

[Grogg of the North]

If I was the villain I would take the sword apart and scatter it all over Barovia. Put the blade in the Castle Ravenloft crypts, toss the hilt over the Tser Falls, and put the scabbard in the Amber Temple. Or, you know, give it to some of the Vistani and have them leave it somewhere safe outside of Barovia. Why would I keep such a weakness near me?

 

[Retreater]

If I was the villain I would take the sword apart and scatter it all over Barovia. Put the blade in the Castle Ravenloft crypts, toss the hilt over the Tser Falls, and put the scabbard in the Amber Temple. Or, you know, give it to some of the Vistani and have them leave it somewhere safe outside of Barovia. Why would I keep such a weakness near me?

I'm assuming he doesn't have the power to destroy it?

 

[Mistwell]

I'm assuming he doesn't have the power to destroy it?

I mean, he COULD hide it in some random place not near anyone buried in the middle of nowhere

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I mean, he COULD hide it in some random place not near anyone buried in the middle of nowhere

Someone would randomly find it and move it elsewhere (curtesy of the Dark Powers).

 

[Eltab]

If I was the villain I would take the sword apart and scatter it all over Barovia. Put the blade in the Castle Ravenloft crypts, toss the hilt over the Tser Falls, and put the scabbard in the Amber Temple. Or, you know, give it to some of the Vistani and have them leave it somewhere safe outside of Barovia. Why would I keep such a weakness near me?

If I Was The Evil Overlord ...
That Sword would go in my safe deposit box at the bank, wrapped against prying eyes, with a (mostly-true) cover story about being a family heirloom.
The bank of course has coated the vault of safe deposit boxes with the requisite 3" of lead, and taken the other precautions against magical intrusion, so I don't have to.