Curse of Strahd as a one shot

[Jimbro]

So I really want to run Curse of Strahd to get a fix of that sweet, sweet gothic horror, but I also don't want to stop the games I'm currently running for a few months to run something else since my players and I are invested in those stories. I had an idea for running Strahd as a one shot that I posted on my blog, but the idea is basically outlined below.

Have your players make level 9 PCs that have already been living in Barovia for months or years and have some reason to hate Strahd and then begin the game with them in a Vistani carriage on their way to Castle Ravenloft. Madam Eva is in the carriage with them and does a modified Fortunes of Ravenloft card reading with a limited tarokka deck (so all items and allies are inside Castle Ravenloft). Essentially the PCs just play through Chapter 4 - Castle Ravenloft of the adventure.

I know this isn't as deep or satisfying as running the whole thing, but I think it's a good way to get a taste and doesn't ruin a later play through of the whole adventure, since Fortunes of Ravenloft makes everything a little more modular. What do you think?

 

[dave2008]

I think it definitely sounds fun, but I don't know that it give you the taste of gothic horror. I think that it impressed upon players at lower levels and it travels with them. Dumping 9th level players (pretty powerful) into the setting your really relying on your players to make up the gothic horror feel. However, I still think it sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[Jimbro]

I think it definitely sounds found, but I don't know that it give you the taste of gothic horror. I think that it impressed upon players at lower levels and it travels with them. Dumping 9th level players (pretty powerful) into the setting your really relying on your players to make up the gothic horror feel. However, I still think it sounds like a lot of fun.

That's a good point about the gothic horror. Maybe I should begin the story by telling them how many people they've seen die horrible deaths in Barovia to set the mood...

 

[dave2008]

That's a good point about the gothic horror. Maybe I should begin the story by telling them how many people they've seen die horrible deaths in Barovia to set the mood...

Maybe just kill one of the PCs off the bat and make them roll a new character