DDAL Here's WotC's 14-Adventure CURSE OF STRAHD Series For DDAL

The D&D Adventurers League has revealed the details of the Curse of Strahd season of adventures beginning this month. Each is based on one of the Tarokka cards, with titles like "The Beast", "The Raven", and so on. The season starts with Suits of the Mists on Sunday, 7th February, and will be available on the Dungeon Master's Guild website on March 1st (each adventure becomes widely available for sale the first day of the month after they launch). Here's the full list!

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• Suits of the Mist (Feb 3rd at Winter Fantasy; levels 1-2). Strange things are afoot in the Moonsea. The factions have called all those willing and able to investigate strange occurrences in the region surrounding Phlan. Dark whispers and unseen terrors lurk in the misty shadows between this world and someplace much more sinister. Unveil the horrors before it is too late! Part one of Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts.
• The Beast (March 3rd at GaryCon and GadCon; levels 1-4). Something strange is afoot within the Quivering Forest. So much so that even the elves of Greenhall have left their homes to seek out help from their newfound neighbors. But, their tales of a strange beast are not earning them any favor; especially among the Vistani, whom the elves suspect is to blame for their ills. Return once more to the Quivering Forest and learn the terrifying truth! Part two of Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts.
• The Hangman (March 3rd at GaryCon and GadCon; levels 1-4). The locals are spreading rumors of the emergence of an age-old relic in a remote farming village. Surely you won’t be the only one to seek it, but can you afford to not be successful in this mission? And why haven’t they claimed it for themselves? Part three of Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts.
• The Marionette (March 17th at Gamestorm and ROFCON; levels 1-4). A Vistani fortuneteller has called you out by name during the burgomeister’s private reading. She raved of an army of the dead, a delicate powder box, and a beautiful yet dangerous woman. Now the burgomeister wants to know why you’re more important than he is… Part four of Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts.
• The Esper (March 17th at Gamestorm and ROFCON; levels 1-4). The time has come to venture beyond the village of Orașnou and explore the realm of Barovia. However, in your travels, you happen across an unusual tribe of people–distrusted denizens of the Demiplane of Dread. Do the Vistani truly possess the ability to see the future, or is it simple parlor tricks and deceit? Part five of Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts.
• The Ghost (April 1st at TriCon). Old hatreds die hard, but sometimes it is necessary to set aside petty, personal disagreements for the greater good. The hag, Jeny Greenteeth, is wise and may prove instrumental in the troubles that lay ahead. Your task will not be easy, however, the dark forces of Barovia have agents everywhere, and eyes from beyond the grave no doubt watch your every move. Part six of Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts.
• The Innocent (April 7th at Emerald City ComicCon; levels 5-10).
• The Broken One (April 21st at Conclave of Gamers; levels 5-10).
• The Temptress (May 13th at ChupacabraCon; levels 5-10).
• The Artifact (May 27th at Kublacon, Hamex, and Nexus Game Fair; levels 5-10).
• The Donjon (May 27th at Kublacon, Hamex, and Nexus Game Fair; levels 5-10).
• The Raven (June 3rd at Origins, UK Games Expo, and KingsCon; levels 5-10).
• The Horseman (June 3rd at Origins, UK Games Expo, and KingsCon; levels 5-10).
• The Dark Lord (June 3rd at Origins, UK Games Expo, and KingsCon; levels 5-10).

There's also a convention exclusive at Winter Fantasy from February 3rd-7th (that's this week for those keeping track). It's called Reclamation of Phlan. "For too long, the Maimed Virulence has held Phlan in its grasp. The factions have begun to muster and sounded the call to battle throughout the Moonsea. Allies new and old will be called upon to aid in their attempts to reclaim the ancient town. Are you one of the few bold enough to answer the call to battle?"

Plus a WPN store exclusive adventure called Death House. "WPN Stores will receive a free PDF of Death House, a location based adventure that is designed to take 12-16 hours of in store play. This PDF can be run anytime after the start of the Curse of Strahd season. Death House is the name given to an old row house in the village of Barovia. The house has been burned to the ground many times, only to rise from the ashes time and again-by its own will or that of Strahd. Locals give the building a wide berth for fear of antagonizing the evil spirits believed to haunt it. Celebrate Season 4 with this special event written specifically for the launch of our latest D&D season."

I don't know about anyone else, but now that these adventures are all going to be available for sale and download to everybody, DDAL is feeling more and more akin to WotC's approach to Paizo-style adventure paths. I can imagine that many folks will use them in exactly the same way.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

What tier is this for?

It's a Tier 1 adventure, for levels 1-4. It's also the end of the Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts story arc for the DDAL adventures. The remaining 8 adventures(DDAL4-7 to DDAL4-14) are part of the next story arc and are all Tier 2 adventures.

 

[skerritthegreen]

It's a Tier 1 adventure, for levels 1-4. It's also the end of the Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts story arc for the DDAL adventures. The remaining 8 adventures(DDAL4-7 to DDAL4-14) are part of the next story arc and are all Tier 2 adventures.

Its the end of the tier, but there is only one story arc.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

Its the end of the tier, but there is only one story arc.

So DDAL4-7 to DDAL4-14 aren't a connected story arc? That's kind of lame. I thought that this season's DDAL adventures were comprised of two story arcs, 1-6 and 7-14, meant to be run consecutively.

 

[skerritthegreen]

So DDAL4-7 to DDAL4-14 aren't a connected story arc? That's kind of lame. I thought that this season's DDAL adventures were comprised of two story arcs, 1-6 and 7-14, meant to be run consecutively.

No, its just one arc, 4-1 through 4-14 that spans two tiers. Its not two stories, its one. They are connected. I think we are just using different vocabulary.

 

[Motorskills]

Tell me about the anticipated starting levels and anticipated advancement for the Death House adventure. (I understand it is expected to take 12-16 hours of playtime to complete, is that correct?). Would a L3 character be too strong, even if legal?


Can characters already in the Domain of Dread take part, or do they have to start in the Plane of Mundane?

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

No, its just one arc, 4-1 through 4-14 that spans two tiers. Its not two stories, its one. They are connected. I think we are just using different vocabulary.

Possibly. What I meant by "story arc" was referring to Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts being a story arc, and then 4-7 through 4-14 would be another one with its own name. The two arcs would be the halves of a greater storyline. I just figured that since there was no descriptions listed for the second half of the season, the AL Team was waiting until the end of the MF&AH arc to release the details of the second half of the storyline and the name of the story arc.

 

[skerritthegreen]

Possibly. What I meant by "story arc" was referring to Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts being a story arc, and then 4-7 through 4-14 would be another one with its own name. The two arcs would be the halves of a greater storyline. I just figured that since there was no descriptions listed for the second half of the season, the AL Team was waiting until the end of the MF&AH arc to release the details of the second half of the storyline and the name of the story arc.

Ah, that assumption would be incorrect. Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts is a single, 14-part story arc. All one story. The finale is 4-14, not 4-6. The blurbs for the second half has not been released so as to limit spoilers that might be derived from those blurbs. We usually do this, releasing the second half of the season's blurbs once the first half has been premiered.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

Ah, that assumption would be incorrect. Misty Fortunes and Absent Hearts is a single, 14-part story arc. All one story. The finale is 4-14, not 4-6. The blurbs for the second half has not been released so as to limit spoilers that might be derived from those blurbs. We usually do this, releasing the second half of the season's blurbs once the first half has been premiered.

It all makes sense now. Perhaps the descriptions for the second half could have at least the "Part X of MF&AH" line added for now. That way people seeing it for the first time can tell that all 14 are meant to be played in order.

 

[skerritthegreen]

Not a bad idea. Its also explained here: http://dndadventurersleague.org/moonsea-mists/

 

[Motorskills]

Tell me about the anticipated starting levels and anticipated advancement for the Death House adventure. (I understand it is expected to take 12-16 hours of playtime to complete, is that correct?). Would a L3 character be too strong, even if legal?


Can characters already in the Domain of Dread take part, or do they have to start in the Plane of Mundane?

Edit: i.e. I already have a character in the Ravenloft world (now at L3), having done two of the AL modules. I will be playing Death House in due course, wasn't sure if it was better to generate a fresh character for Death House, either for thematic reasons or for eligibility reasons.