D&D 5E Volo's Monsters in Barovia

[pukunui]

Has anyone given any consideration to incorporating content from Volo's Guide to Monsters into their Curse of Strahd campaign?

The section on hags, for instance, seems like it could be useful for spicing up Morgantha's coven and/or Baba Lysaga.

 

[Charles Rampant]

Curse of Strahd is pretty cautious with its theme. Other than Neferon in the Amber Temple, and a couple Imp familiars, there are not many Outsiders, for example. No Aberrations that I can think of. Mainly Undead and Constructs.

The Bodak (coming up soon(tm) in the Let's Read) is one solid shout. Can pretty much just toss one into the Dungeons of the Castle whenever you like, in my opinion. I'd be tempted also to include Meenlocks and Darklings; they're off-tone as Fey, but nevertheless seem appropriate for the setting. I'm not sure if Fey live normally in both the Feywild and the Shadowfell?

Despite it being vampiric, probably best to leave the Death Kiss to one side...

 

[gyor]

Some Fey do live in the Shadowfell. I'd use the death kisses, the mists can suck in all kinds of stuff, and I can Strayd keeping them around.

I could see Fallen Aasimar Fiend Pact Warlocks, desendants of that evil Deva.

 

[pukunui]

Chris Perkins says he'd consider giving Baba Lysaga a froghemoth as a pet!

 

[Charles Rampant]

The Yeth Hounds should be a solid shout: their deacription even mentions working for Vampires. Similarly, the Shadow Mastiffs are an excellent match, thematically.

 

[77IM]

I wouldn't mind seeing some goblins (but not hobgoblins or bugbears) in Barovia. Some of the goblin-y creatures from European folklore were really nasty and terrifying. Hags aren't the only ones who like to eat children, you know.

Also, there really ought to be a troll living under a bridge. A disgusting, slimy, CR5 troll, of course with the "loathsome limbs" trait in full force.

 

[pukunui]

I've been thinking about having Morgantha create a banderhobb to go after the PCs.

Anyone else got any ideas?

 

[hastur_nz]

I've always wanted to include Redcaps in my campaigns, have only used them once back in 3.5. I'm not sure Volo's Guide gives them a full enough treatment (there's only one type, fairly tough), but it's an idea... (e.g. minions of Baba Lasagna). Especially if your players mistake them for goblins...

And I'll second Yeth Hounds - again, something I've earmarked to include in another campaign.

Both are Fey, but so are Hags, and both are a decently tough challenge if you have a few of them.

 

[pukunui]

I'll have to read up on the yeth hounds then. (Haven't gotten that far in Volo's yet.)