Great tip about the extended Dark Gifts. I will definitely be using that in the rest of our Ravenloft sessions. It is a lot more interesting than the Indefinite Madness table and less familiar Regarding life and death in Ravenloft, I can understand why a DM might want to prevent the PCs casting life-giving spells that use diamonds: Raise Dead, Resurection, Revivify and True Resurection, but excluding diamonds means that the following spells are also unavailable to the PCs: Glyph of Warding (200 gp dust), Non-Detection (25 gp dust), Stoneskin (100 gp), Chromatic Orb (50gp), Clone (1000gp), Greater Restoration (100gp dust) and Sequester (1-5000gp). None of which are actually excluded in the module and could be invaluable to them. Greater Restoration in particular is required to remove some instances of madness found in Barovia, as well as giving a party with no access to Remove Curse (implausible, but possible) a way to remove the many curses prevalent in Barovia. In addition, some of these spells are available to NPCs, who would need diamonds and diamond dust to cast them. Rather than ban diamonds, I think it might be easier just to add the revivifying spells to the list of spells that just don't work for the party whilst they are in Barovia. Anyway, thanks again for the Dark Gifts tip. Really enjoying the series and looking forwards to seeing more. Cheers, Steve
thank you! absolutely, restricting certain spells can be rough, and depending on the players you have, they may not be on board. but if you have a group that is okay with it, I say run with it haha. as always, it comes down to the group you have, and how far they are willing to go!
Your videos are awesome man! IMHO the best Curse of Strahd related content out there! Don't know why the YT algorithm seems to hate you, but keep up the good work! Can't wait for your video on Castle Ravenloft.
I like the idea that souls are trapped in Barovia Letting a character die means that the next baby born is their re-incarnation However, Strahd did not have enough of them yet He is still playing with this group and besides rolling new characters messes up the mysteries and the story progression I think I will use the dark powers to bring back players, but I will not make it optional The dark powers simply pick and choose while taunting the downed player and they simply find themselves changed with some kind of bane I will homebrew a few effects in addition to the ones listed here Good stuff man
A very interesting topic. I liked what you had to say. Lots of character death options. The video series looks very extensive. I found you now. I hope we get to chat sometime.
@@NoFunAllowed I really think you should join the Discord RUclips channel community that Wally DM discusses in his video's. There's a project in the works that might interest you and I'd get a chance to meet you over video chat.
Thanks Man! Your channel and your approach on COS is pure Gold. And just in time as i Run the Module for the first time 5 sessions in. This is so darn helpful!!
I updated Rahadin and made him a fighter assassin 6/6. Of course him being Strahd's right hand man, i gave him level appropriate magic items. He will be assassinating a PC (agreed upon by the player) in order to create tragedy and drama. It will take place inside the Burgermeisters mansion in Barovia which is currently being attacked by Strahd's minions causing terror and also killing Ismark, proving to Ireena that she is not safe anywhere except in Castle Ravenloft with her one true love.
The prisoners of the amber temple seeing Strahds interest in the players have become interested themselves. When a player dies one of the prisons will revive the player but said player receives a dark gift. These gifts slowly corrupt the player. These prisoners wish to be free and see these players a their possible escape.
@@NoFunAllowed even in death there is no escape from Barovia. If a players soul becomes too corrupt by the end of the campaign they find that they are unable to return from Barovia curse to reside the for eternity.
Did you consider the new unearthed arcana content? The reborn specifically ? Coming back as an undead or zombie ? Even female characters killed by the hags can come back as half witches I guess Characters killed by vampires can come back as actual vampires In addition to the werewolf transformation from the dm guide The only issue is that these r one time transformations I'd love to have your thoughts on that
all prefectly valid and awesome! as always, it comes down to the players you have. some want to play invincible superheroes, others are okay with that sort of stuff. you really need to sit down the the individuals to see what they are willing to accept. I dig all the fun stuff of changing pcs!
Side note: we are starting to treck into CoS so these are good infos. Also, after watching lunch break heroes' vids on like tsolenka pass...I've decided to replace the Vraks not as he said with gargoyles...but with Nabrassu. By the time my players get there they'll be around LV 11-12 so it's on the balanced scale for my encounters lol.
Hmmm interesting. The game I am playing has lots of gems in Barovia. I figure they are the remnants of adventurers that have come to Barovia as Strahds play things and died.
Since this is a gift not a curse I wouldn't let it. Your parents might seem to be a curse but if they aren't actually morally and/or ethically bad people you'll see them as a gift later on. Plus it's not fun mechanically. A wish spell? More like. You can always find alternate, creative ways around the problem, like regenerate for the eyes, or like divine intervention, the hallow spell for example. If you want to use this expanded, use it, don't pussy out. Alternatively just don't use it but I think that's either an easy mode for resurrection, basically plot armor or creates a more visceral experience which is good...but also you'll need to find a way to bring the player back if they want to roll up a new character and that's more work for you as the death mast...I mean dungeon master.
Would you think it's a danger that more powergamery players would see what happens when you use the dark gifts and purposefully die to gain benefits? And how might you justify the dark gifts turning away higher level players or not responding during fights against Strahd?
all the dark gifts have a detriment, so you can always use those against them. and when they get too powerful, other beings have their eyes on the party and the dark powers shy away!
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Great tip about the extended Dark Gifts. I will definitely be using that in the rest of our Ravenloft sessions. It is a lot more interesting than the Indefinite Madness table and less familiar
Regarding life and death in Ravenloft, I can understand why a DM might want to prevent the PCs casting life-giving spells that use diamonds: Raise Dead, Resurection, Revivify and True Resurection, but excluding diamonds means that the following spells are also unavailable to the PCs:
Glyph of Warding (200 gp dust), Non-Detection (25 gp dust), Stoneskin (100 gp), Chromatic Orb (50gp), Clone (1000gp), Greater Restoration (100gp dust) and Sequester (1-5000gp). None of which are actually excluded in the module and could be invaluable to them.
Greater Restoration in particular is required to remove some instances of madness found in Barovia, as well as giving a party with no access to Remove Curse (implausible, but possible) a way to remove the many curses prevalent in Barovia.
In addition, some of these spells are available to NPCs, who would need diamonds and diamond dust to cast them.
Rather than ban diamonds, I think it might be easier just to add the revivifying spells to the list of spells that just don't work for the party whilst they are in Barovia.
Anyway, thanks again for the Dark Gifts tip.
Really enjoying the series and looking forwards to seeing more.
Cheers,
Steve
thank you! absolutely, restricting certain spells can be rough, and depending on the players you have, they may not be on board. but if you have a group that is okay with it, I say run with it haha. as always, it comes down to the group you have, and how far they are willing to go!
Or you can just spend a certain number of Hp or hit dice to cast said spell.
Your videos are awesome man!
IMHO the best Curse of Strahd related content out there!
Don't know why the YT algorithm seems to hate you, but keep up the good work!
Can't wait for your video on Castle Ravenloft.
thank you! I'm sure the yt algorithm just takes its time haha
I like the idea that souls are trapped in Barovia
Letting a character die means that the next baby born is their re-incarnation
However, Strahd did not have enough of them yet
He is still playing with this group and besides rolling new characters messes up the mysteries and the story progression
I think I will use the dark powers to bring back players, but I will not make it optional
The dark powers simply pick and choose while taunting the downed player and they simply find themselves changed with some kind of bane
I will homebrew a few effects in addition to the ones listed here
Good stuff man
And I will use it through the whole campaign
No level cap
awesome stuff and thank you!
A very interesting topic. I liked what you had to say. Lots of character death options. The video series looks very extensive. I found you now. I hope we get to chat sometime.
heck yeah! I'm down to talk anytime!
@@NoFunAllowed I really think you should join the Discord RUclips channel community that Wally DM discusses in his video's. There's a project in the works that might interest you and I'd get a chance to meet you over video chat.
@@HowtoRPG I am very much interested haha!
I had Ismark offer the party some family heirlooms as a reward for getting him and Ireena to Vallaki,
and two of the items were diamond rings
Just started the game. You are a huge help
Thats the goal! I want to help people with these massive modules because theres a lot to digest!
Thanks Man! Your channel and your approach on COS is pure Gold. And just in time as i Run the Module for the first time 5 sessions in. This is so darn helpful!!
thank you! CoS is a blast and I love hearing awesome stories from it!
I updated Rahadin and made him a fighter assassin 6/6. Of course him being Strahd's right hand man, i gave him level appropriate magic items. He will be assassinating a PC (agreed upon by the player) in order to create tragedy and drama. It will take place inside the Burgermeisters mansion in Barovia which is currently being attacked by Strahd's minions causing terror and also killing Ismark, proving to Ireena that she is not safe anywhere except in Castle Ravenloft with her one true love.
Scary stuff haha! Nowhere is safe in these lands!
Your videos have been super helpful, thanks man
thank you!
The prisoners of the amber temple seeing Strahds interest in the players have become interested themselves. When a player dies one of the prisons will revive the player but said player receives a dark gift. These gifts slowly corrupt the player. These prisoners wish to be free and see these players a their possible escape.
dark gifts are always a scary prospect!
@@NoFunAllowed even in death there is no escape from Barovia. If a players soul becomes too corrupt by the end of the campaign they find that they are unable to return from Barovia curse to reside the for eternity.
Did you consider the new unearthed arcana content? The reborn specifically ?
Coming back as an undead or zombie ?
Even female characters killed by the hags can come back as half witches I guess
Characters killed by vampires can come back as actual vampires
In addition to the werewolf transformation from the dm guide
The only issue is that these r one time transformations
I'd love to have your thoughts on that
all prefectly valid and awesome! as always, it comes down to the players you have. some want to play invincible superheroes, others are okay with that sort of stuff. you really need to sit down the the individuals to see what they are willing to accept. I dig all the fun stuff of changing pcs!
My friend just died in his campaign it was pretty heart breaking
as it should be! pc death sucks, but this campaign certainly allows for a work around!
The AL expanded...oh yeah. My players would expect nothing less from me.
Side note: we are starting to treck into CoS so these are good infos.
Also, after watching lunch break heroes' vids on like tsolenka pass...I've decided to replace the Vraks not as he said with gargoyles...but with Nabrassu. By the time my players get there they'll be around LV 11-12 so it's on the balanced scale for my encounters lol.
Hmmm interesting. The game I am playing has lots of gems in Barovia. I figure they are the remnants of adventurers that have come to Barovia as Strahds play things and died.
which makes total sense! lots of adventurers have been swept up in the mist, and I'm sure a ton of them would have had some good loot on them!
I picked up the PDF! How do you feel about the gifts being removable by a simple Remove Curse spell?
really depends on the tone of your game! do you wnat high or low fantasy!
Since this is a gift not a curse I wouldn't let it. Your parents might seem to be a curse but if they aren't actually morally and/or ethically bad people you'll see them as a gift later on.
Plus it's not fun mechanically.
A wish spell? More like.
You can always find alternate, creative ways around the problem, like regenerate for the eyes, or like divine intervention, the hallow spell for example.
If you want to use this expanded, use it, don't pussy out. Alternatively just don't use it but I think that's either an easy mode for resurrection, basically plot armor or creates a more visceral experience which is good...but also you'll need to find a way to bring the player back if they want to roll up a new character and that's more work for you as the death mast...I mean dungeon master.
Would you think it's a danger that more powergamery players would see what happens when you use the dark gifts and purposefully die to gain benefits? And how might you justify the dark gifts turning away higher level players or not responding during fights against Strahd?
all the dark gifts have a detriment, so you can always use those against them. and when they get too powerful, other beings have their eyes on the party and the dark powers shy away!
there will be deathhhh
Haha sometimes you have to get the pcs to fear one way or another
Thank you 😭
thank you!