Running Strahd questions

[dragonwarriorfan]

So I ran a 4e converted Strahd (down to level 11) and some of his powers were a bit confusing. He has three forms, but each has separate HP values. How do you handle HP tracking if he is switching between forms. I was thinking probably giving all forms the same HP for ease and tracking that way? This is important for the purpose of bloodied powers and/or reducing to 0.

The other question is with one of his powers: Strahd's Choking Fog. The power reads: "The burst creates a zone of poisonous vapors that lasts until the end of Strahd's next turn. A creature that enters the zone or that starts its turn in the zone takes 1d10+5 poison damage, and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends)." He can sustain it minor or move by subbing his move and its and area burst 5 within 10.

My problem was the save ends. Does the save apply to just the ongoing, not the zone, or both? So if a PC finds himself inside, he takes 1d10+5 the first round, then gets a save at the end of his turn. If he succeeds, no ongoing the next round, but still 1d10+5 if he stays in or does that save also work for the 1d10+5? What if he is out of the fog for a round then reenters but has saved?

I'm sure there's a simple answer, but I'm very confused.

 

[MerricB]

So I ran a 4e converted Strahd (down to level 11) and some of his powers were a bit confusing. He has three forms, but each has separate HP values. How do you handle HP tracking if he is switching between forms. I was thinking probably giving all forms the same HP for ease and tracking that way? This is important for the purpose of bloodied powers and/or reducing to 0.

Hmm - I haven't Open Grave with me, but the online version has only one HP value (930 for L20). That's what I'd use.

The other question is with one of his powers: Strahd's Choking Fog. The power reads: "The burst creates a zone of poisonous vapors that lasts until the end of Strahd's next turn. A creature that enters the zone or that starts its turn in the zone takes 1d10+5 poison damage, and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends)." He can sustain it minor or move by subbing his move and its and area burst 5 within 10.

My problem was the save ends. Does the save apply to just the ongoing, not the zone, or both? So if a PC finds himself inside, he takes 1d10+5 the first round, then gets a save at the end of his turn. If he succeeds, no ongoing the next round, but still 1d10+5 if he stays in or does that save also work for the 1d10+5? What if he is out of the fog for a round then reenters but has saved?

The save only applies to the ongoing damage. Each time he reenters the zone (or stays in it at the start of his turn), he gets affected by the "ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends)" condition. Saving will end it, but it can be reapplied by being within the zone.

Cheers!

 

[dragonwarriorfan]

Thanks - I'd forgotten about Open Grave. I have it here and will check as well. Since I'm one-shotting a game for the setting, I think I'll start the PCs higher so I can run Strahd as intended in OG.

 

[Herobizkit]

You could be really evil and give him separate HP for each form...

 

[D'karr]

You could be really evil and give him separate HP for each form...

And he heals from form to form...

I've run a conversion of I6 ported to 4e. It was a one-shot so I created all the PCs, and gave each one equipment that though not optimized would help them get out of particular situations. We played at 10th level and Strahd was a Level 12 Solo, IIRC.

It was awesome. I did not use the published Strahd but did a "thematic" conversion using the original from I6 and a lot of inspiration from Hammer Pictures.