The house is not at all that dangerous if your players pick the right choices. Your players will likely take Rose and Thorns request at face value, and using these encounters can cause them to realize that theyre in a ghost house too soon. I'm always a little disappointed that one of the family members isn't named Frederick. This site works best with JavaScript enabled. Luke is a list writer for TheGamer, based in the UK. Heading further up Mount Ghakis, it is also freezing cold at night. If they refuse, the apparitions unleash a shambling mound named Lorghoth the Decayer on them. From the moment the party steps into the town, they'll get a great sense that nothing is right here. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-box-4','ezslot_8',128,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-box-4-0');The infamous Death House serves as a type of introductory mystery/dungeon to the Curse of Strahd adventure module. I will definitely incorporate these ideas next time! Three of my players were able to get boosts up to the attic from the balcony outside of the master bedroom, but the fourth, a firbolg, was too big to make it up. In fact, the more good something is, the more it must be corrupted. Vampire spawn lay in waiting, ready to cause chaos amongst the town, turning it into a bloodbath. Few of those presented in this adventure, however, compare to the infamous Death House. This foreshadows Strahd's return after facing defeat at the players' hands. 9. 4. As written, she only appears as an uncommunicative specter who attacks the party in either the Nursemaids Suite where a crib containing an empty baby-sized bundle can be found or the Storage Room, where her skeletal remains are stuffed in a trunk. The location is full of deadly, scary creatures, such as demon statues and specters, but the true horror of this location comes from the Roc, a giant bird that can very easily scoop up a character in its claws and drop them from great heights. The Amber Temple is one of the most dangerous locations in Barovia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Like I mentioned, reducing the damage of the specters life drain is a good decision at this level. They will close up on them leading them to the Village of Barovia. The Essential Books EVERY Game Master Should Read, Immersive Theatre Techniques for Game Masters, Turn & Destroy Undead in D&D 5e Explained, The Ultimate Guide to Warlock Patrons in D&D 5e. Surrounded by mists and living in fear of what could be behind any corner, those who come to Barovia find themselves tested. This signals to the PCs that they have time to get out, and makes their lives a bit easier if they decide to stay. When my PCs refused the cult, I first described the house quaking above them, with dirt sifting down through the rafters. Cult Leaders Quarters.- Gustav and Elisabeth Durst are here, they are ghasts. When Death House is rejected, it gets mad. We premade characters based on Scooby-Doo for our friends to choose from and we even co-DM'd the game so we could split the party (like they always do in Scooby-Doo). Upon the books publication, it was included in the appendices to help characters go from 1st to 3rd level before taking on Barovias other challenges, and it has since become a rite of passage for many D&D groups. Avoid making it an outright execution if you can! This subreddit serves as a helpful place for anyone running the Curse of Strahd module for D&D 5e. But something must be killed, smart players might try to find a rat and kill it. You can also have Rose and Thorn possess random party members. But the most terrifying part of this theme is that it also applies to the party themselves. This video discusses the death house dungeon encounter disasters that you want to avoid in the curse of strahd adventure for dungeons & dragons 5e. Wizards of the Coast has given us the free adventure Death House to play at home last week as a preview of the Curse of Strahd book coming out this month. PCs will recognize the children. Give the party a chance to rest and level up (if they started at level 1) before they work their way to the Dungeon Level.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tabletopjoab_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-leader-1-0'); In the Dungeon Level, the party will encounter a Grick and several undead. If the PCs decide to take a long rest in the house, allow them to roll an Intelligence check to recall the relative safety of the Servants Quarters. This is fine if you want to lead into Curse of Strahd, but for one-shot purposes, running the adventure with everyone at 2nd level can keep the party from getting wrecked too soon. The Old Bonegrinder is a terrifying location that captures just how unsettling the domains of dread can be. Emphasize the sections of the house that reveal the eerie lore of the Dursts, and simplify all else. Well look over those now. I find this last bit of information a potential let down for the settings tone. The mists will dictate the places the party can visit. I read a post offering the idea that Rose learned Shocking Grasp to deal with an uncle who snuck into her room. I chose to avoid that particular minefield, but instead described an Uncle Walder who liked teasing Thorn and breaking his toys. Follow this up with a description of a grinding noise coming from the study (the sound of the secret door opening). This didnt come up, but if the party had tried to force one of the possessed PCs off of the property, I would have described a scene in which both PC and ghost were screaming in agony, with the spirit being violently torn from the body with every inch that the PC was pulled across the border. Running Curse of Strahd. Third. Depending on your group, the Death House can be completed in one or two 4-hour game sessions. (Quick side note: stop them from immediately going to the Bonegrinder. Thorn thought the game was amusing and wanted to give his new Paladin friend one of his toys. It is designed to introduce Curse Of Strahd, exploring its themes on a miniature scale, and is intended for level one players. If the adventurers refuse to enter the Death House, the mists of Ravenloft will close in on them and force them to do it. After meeting the illusions of two children, and learning there is a monster in the house, the characters are forced in by the choking mists. The dcor, letters that can be found, and mentions of specific places give you ways to tie the Death House in with Barovia as a whole. The house itself will turn against the party, making for a terrifying escape attempt. Kitchen and Pantry.- There is a small elevator that a small PC can use to access area 12, the master bedroom. When they'll get a good idea of how Barovia works. Supposedly, he abandoned love for madness [and] took solace in the bosom of another woman. What of the nursemaids point of view? 34. Kind of disappointing that this is the kind of thing appearing now. Awesome article! Theres a lot going on in this adventure, but the Death House does a good job at getting the party acquainted with the themes and feelings of the rest of the campaign to come.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'tabletopjoab_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_25',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tabletopjoab_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); I cant say that its perfect for every group. Looking over the dolls by the handful, each one showed an expression of pain and fear. The GUIDE index for Curse of Strahd and other related articles can be found here ! Death House rebuilds itself if burned down. Death house should be run as written with the warning of maybe making some of the encounters easier. Required fields are marked *. Results will vary depending on your groups disposition and alignment. If you already have level 3 players you can jump right into the action of Barovias encounters. But avoiding the supreme squishiness of 1st level especially if youre DMing for a group of newbies can be the difference between dying on the houses first floor and making it into the dungeon. It is described in this subheading under "Alterations to Magic" on p. 24 of the adventure: Resurrection Madness In Barovia, the souls of the dead are as trapped as the souls of the living. Well, not entirely anyway. Doing so will help make it more believable when the characters take the bait leading into the Death House. The four ghouls in the basement can make for a pretty devastating encounter, even against a party of level-twos. Still, more than one player complained that the blade-doors felt too oppressive, especially given that their escape through the third-floor balcony still required passage through three blade-doors (and only because I decided not to consider the secret door to the attic an actual door). Death House is a meat grinder meant to kill low-level players. It is also included in the Curse of Strahd adventure module on page 211 under Appendix B. 12. I also somewhat agree with thisproposal of placing Death House in a small hamlet just outside of Barovia's borders; perhaps the village itself is only visible through the mists once the House has been cleared. Even just traveling around Barovia can be a spooky experience. Dress Up This October With This Month's Free Subscription Perks! Death House says the children know theyre dead, so run with that concept. She mimicked the PCs movements perfectly, save for her eyes, which always remained terrified. Give little clues or observations that are simply meant to unnerve the players. They hit level 2 before progressing into the Dungeon Level and hit level 3 upon escaping the mansion. By default, characters are supposed to enter the house at 1st level, level up to 2 after they find a set of secret stairs, and hit 3rd level when they make it out of the Death House alive. Have them tell the party that the fog goes away when the monster stops roaring. Id greatly recommend also checking out my article on running horror in your own D&D 5e games! The smoke worked great as a way to keep them moving. Now, railroading isnt a bad thing, especially for a newer group. Perhaps she legitimately loved Gustav and hoped to free him from the cults influence. What font did you use for Strahd when you were making these? Jeremy Blum (@PixelGrotto) is a journalist, gaming blogger, comic book aficionado, and fan of all forms of storytelling who rolled his first polyhedral dice while living in Hong Kong in 2017. From gaming trends to the latest blockbuster anime, DualShockers keeps you ahead of the curve. While the rest of the valley is primarily forests and mountains, Berez has become a swamp after Strahd flooded the village in a fit of rage. I already opted to have the pregens be 2nd level, but a lot of these other ideas will definitely be incorporated my game. There are plenty of deadly combat encounters that can take place here, from giant spiders to undead revenants and phantom warriors. Created by the house to lure in victims, the illusions drop vague hints about a monster in the basement and the sins of their parents. There's a disappointing truth to Death Housethe prologue to Curse of Strahdand it's that it's alternative ending "The Cult is Denied" is just a dull series of rolls.Each character rolls against poisonous smoke. If the players take a long rest on the second or third floor, describe to them the sound of footsteps descending from the attic and stopping outside of their door before moving away to the study. Yes they are still illusions but appear too be real children and wont vanish. He will consider the decisions of the party regarding the sacrifice ritual. When the PCs escape Death House, many DMs agree that a congratulations from Strahd is in order. Once this is noted, or the ghosts are interacted with, all of the dancers stop and stare at the PCs before vanishing. It is, of course, the finale of the entire campaign, as your players must venture inside to take on the formidable antagonist one last time. It was amazing. Death House comes with a beautiful map, but for a quick Halloween game, its faster to avoid all of the deliberations that occur whenever players see a selection of rooms for them to explore. For instance, the shrine devoted to Strahd oozes atmosphere, and if you have gnomes or other Small characters in your party, utilizing the dumbwaiter is a fun way of having them scout ahead. Be careful. The land is grim and desolate. As written, its a fun and challenging (almost too challenging!) PCs can find a Cloak of Protection as treasure, plus a spellbook. So theres a certain level of are we going to play D&D? here. Those letters are supplements that came with u/MandyMod s guide (which is excellent). 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