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For one, there's nothing that says the players CAN'T enter the castle multiple times. In fact, there are several places throughout the adventure where completing quests requires the players to fetch something from the castle - for instance, returning the dragon skull to Argynvostholt, or using...

Not to get too off topic, but a Great Modron March 5e conversion can be found here: http://www.dmsguild.com/product/183573/The-Great-Modron-March-5e-Conversion?src=slider_view&filters=45532 Regarding the OP, we're actually going to be starting a Planescape campaign soon. There's been an...

As mentioned above, the best defense is to talk around it. Just because you can only speak the truth doesn't mean you have to spill your deepest secrets. Shiroiken has some great ideas - circle speak, answering questions with questions, changing the topic, simply keeping your mouth shut - it...

There is a whole thread around here somewhere about ways to "enhance" Death House. It's got some really great ideas in it, and really helped me out when I ran it. Especially when it comes to running the basement, there's a number of things you can do to make it a bit more interesting. A quick...

Actually, spoiler alert, but it IS explained in the book. The Morninglord and Mother Night are the deities worshipped by the Barovians, but neither one of them is responsive. And while divine classes still gain their spells from their deities, a more direct connection to those deities is...

Just a month or two ago, someone posted a template for Magic Set Editor (MSE) that was really excellent. Just do a forum search for "magic item template", it'll pop right up. I've been using MSE for years for various cards. In 4e we made cards for our powers and our magic items, and have...

Yep, this is almost exactly how it works in the Adventurer's League. Basically when you die, you are given the option to accept a "Dark Gift" from the powers-that-be. If you decide to take it, you roll on a table for what (generally) horrible thing happens to you when you revive. It's not...

Side note, but keep in mind: 1) Just because they are going to the castle doesn't mean it has to be the Final Battle. Lots of groups go to the castle multiple times before the showdown. 2) It's not necessary to have all three artifacts in order to kill Strahd, unless you want it ot be. It's...

I'm with @DEFCON 1 on this. They can have their giant final battle with him there, but it doesn't mean he needs to be defeated there. My group is supposed to meet him in Sergei's Tomb, and they will. They'll also find him in several other places around the castle before they get there. It's...

One thought is that he doesn't necessarily have to tag along with the group throughout the entire adventure. You could leave him in the Village of Barovia to "tend his flock", but he can be a resource that the players can go back to for healing, possibly removing curses, or other things as...

I agree with DeFcon1, don't make killing Strahd the goal. The point of Strahd is to be a recurring antagonist over the course of a campaign who takes time to turn into a proper villain. If the point is just to show up, bump a couple levels then kill a vampire, you don't need Strahd for that...

Yep, whatever works for you! Let us know how it goes!

Hi All, I'm developing our next campaign, centered on the idea of Fey Court Intrigue. The PCs will be mortals, but during the course of the campaign, will be caught up in fey shenanigans, with the options to help or hinder any of a number of fey factions trying to gain or exert influence on the...

True. Ravens are "good" guys in CoS. Bat would be a better option, thmatically. Better yet, multiple giant bats. My experience with solo fights in 5e is that they tend to be very one-sided. Your PCs will just spread out on the stairs and shoot arrows or spells at it till it's dead. You...

The book references though the Barovians are mistrustful of "outsider" humans... and downright standoffish to demi-humans. Monstrous characters are going to be shunned at best, and lynched at worst. It's cool to have that character, but that's going to be part of the "horror" of the setting -...

The trick is not to TRY to roleplay him as scary. Roleplay him as a normal guy - who is so far above the level of the PCs that he isn't remotely concerned about them. As others mentioned, his actions speak louder than his words. have him standing by while something else (zombies, wolves, etc)...

Without spoilering anything here, I would encourage your DM to review the two items in Strahd's stat block that come after "Shapechanger", particularly the one immediately after it. For the OP, keep in mind that in order for the paralyzation to work, first Strahd has to fail a saving throw...

And THAT is why you stack the deck but don't tell them. :)

That's about it, from what I've seen. However, WotC has repeatedly said they don't announce stuff very far in advance, basically just a month or two ahead of when it comes out and the marketing push starts. So we're unlikely to hear about things being released until they are basically ready to...

That sounds great! These look wonderful, can't wait for the finished product.