MostlyHarmless42
Adventurer
Honestly? If you are viewing Ravenloft as just a "few levels side plot" I wouldn't even bother running it as part of a different domain. I would take the castle and put it into your world in a random valley. Make Strahd just a random lord that is a vampire. Play him ruthless and calculating, but play it up more a "night in a spooky castle" type affair.
Have the players forced to go to the castle. Perhaps they are seeking am item he has? Maybe heh invites them to dine with him and offers them a job? Maybe it's it's a dark and stormy night and they get chased there by a large pack of werewolves/dire wolves?
I would not bother even having the village of barovia at all to be honest. Play it up more like a murder mystery than the I6 module. If not? Stick to I6's setup.
Have the players forced to go to the castle. Perhaps they are seeking am item he has? Maybe heh invites them to dine with him and offers them a job? Maybe it's it's a dark and stormy night and they get chased there by a large pack of werewolves/dire wolves?
I would not bother even having the village of barovia at all to be honest. Play it up more like a murder mystery than the I6 module. If not? Stick to I6's setup.
