CURSE OF STRAHD Is Available Worldwide Today

Today's the day that Curse of Strahd, the latest official adventure for D&D 5th Edition, becomes available worldwide. Those with access to preferred stores got it easy on March 4th, but as of today, March 15th, you can pick it up from anywhere. Well, anywhere which sells this sort of thing. There's not a lot more to say on the subject - I've covered the run-up, publicity, and release of the adventure in pretty exhaustive detail - so just head down to your F (or not so F, if you're unlucky) L (or not so L) GS (Friendly Local Game Store) and grab your copy; then make sure you rate it here on EN World - it's currently trending at 83.5%. And for those who take part in the D&D Adventure's League, the new season has launched!

 

[Elderbrain]

I have this now, and it's a great book... lots of meat and quite a few surprises... including a guest appearance by a famous character who will remain nameless (and no, it's not Elminster, despite the fact that the first chapter assumes you start in the Forgotten Realms.) Ravenloft purists may be upset that more details about the Dark Powers are revealed (apparently, they are vestiges), and that the book doubles down on the assertion in the DMG that the Domains of Dread (and the Dark Powers) exist in the Shadowfell, not somewhere on the Ethereal Plane.

 

[pukunui]

Now, the Curse of Strahd Players Guide listed the season ending on Aug 25, not in June like someone else posted. The next hardcover should hit WPN stores by the end of August, so yes, we are unlikely to hear anything about the new book before June.

Ah OK. Maybe they hadn't solidified the dates yet when I saw the bit about the season ending in June.

 

[Demetrios1453]

I have this now, and it's a great book... lots of meat and quite a few surprises... including a guest appearance by a famous character who will remain nameless (and no, it's not Elminster, despite the fact that the first chapter assumes you start in the Forgotten Realms.) Ravenloft purists may be upset that more details about the Dark Powers are revealed (apparently, they are vestiges), and that the book doubles down on the assertion in the DMG that the Domains of Dread (and the Dark Powers) exist in the Shadowfell, not somewhere on the Ethereal Plane.

Well, originally the Demiplane of Shadow existed in the Ethereal as well, until it "graduated" and became a plane its own right (and not unreasonably so). It's not hard to see how the Demiplane of Dread might have come along with it, or perhaps it was drawn to and combined with it later (as the Shadowfell does border the Ethereal).

 

[Goemoe]

Is there any new Character options (Spells, Subclasses, Subraces, Feats, Magic Items,...) in it or "just" the campaign?

No and I wonder why they left the chance out to hook players like me with new options. I don't care for Ravenloft as I don't care for the Realms. I did buy the last books all because of the new player options. Perhaps the next book will cover some more 'spice' for gaming.

 

[Elderbrain]

There are two new Backgrounds for PCs to choose from (and new trinkets), and several new magic items. Also some new monsters such as Mongrelfolk, Were-Ravens, and Barovian Witches, plus they finally give stats for the Gulthias tree that the Blights come from (and add a new Blight - the Tree Blight - which unlike the Gulthias Tree itself, is mobile and combative - think evil Treant.)

 

[THEMNGMNT]

Got my copy from Amazon today. It's amazing. Arguably the most beautiful book ever produced for D&D. And the writing and adventure design are rock solid. They nailed it.

 

[Tyranthraxus]

No and I wonder why they left the chance out to hook players like me with new options. I don't care for Ravenloft as I don't care for the Realms. I did buy the last books all because of the new player options. Perhaps the next book will cover some more 'spice' for gaming.

Goemoe: Those days are gone dude. They wont be coming back. You will need to get that fix from 3rd Party publishers.

EDIT: I would even say that more than any previous edition this edition is a DM focused edition. THere have been 5 hardback module releases the monster manual , DMG for the DM. THE PHB and SCAG are the only two books a player should really own.

I have NO issue with that. I applaud it.

 

[Benji]

Ah OK. Maybe they hadn't solidified the dates yet when I saw the bit about the season ending in June.

I think you're thinking of that discussion of a piece of paper spotted next to a curse of strahd preview that said "June 2016 Secret DnD -" and then was cut off. But it could refer to anything. It could be just the announce date for the next season, it could be that we're suddenly gonna get hit with another product they haven't announced (like SCAG was't announced the same time as Abyss) like MM2/Ravenloft Player's Guide/Podcast series/A new T-shirt (I ranked those in order of personal yippee factor). But given that strahd's season is listed as august, then it's unlikely we'll see a new season until the fall.

 

[pukunui]

[MENTION=6793743]Benji[/MENTION]: Yeah, that was probably it. I don't think I was the only one to make that assumption, though.

 

[Benji]

You were not, I only mentioned it because I also original put the pieces together in that way. It was only when I saw the dates of the season on the Dungeons Masters Resource that I worked it out any differently.