Curse of Strahd (Dungeons & Dragons)

I mean, do I really need to write a review? This is one of, if not the best 5e module I have run as a Dungeon Master. The whole feeling of the story if nice and dark, which is a nice change of pace over the normal heroic fantasy adventure many adventures provide. The big bad here is cunning, evil, and very well fleshed out. The cast of characters all make sense and are also fleshed out. Overall, this will always be my favorite adventure to run!

Everything was as advertised

"Curse of Strahd" for Dungeons & Dragons is an absolute masterpiece that deserves a full five stars for its depth, complexity, and sheer fun.Immersive Storytelling:The story is incredibly engaging, plunging players into the eerie and atmospheric realm of Barovia. The narrative is rich with lore, suspense, and mystery, creating a compelling and immersive experience from start to finish.Complex Villain:Strahd von Zarovich is one of the most well-crafted villains in D&D history. His presence is felt throughout the campaign, and his complex personality and motivations make him a formidable and memorable antagonist. Players will find themselves both intrigued and terrified by his character.Atmosphere and Setting:The gothic horror setting is beautifully detailed, with hauntingly vivid descriptions that bring the world to life. Every location, from the foreboding Castle Ravenloft to the mist-shrouded villages, is meticulously crafted to enhance the eerie atmosphere and sense of dread.Varied Encounters:The campaign offers a fantastic mix of combat, role-playing, and puzzle-solving encounters. Each session feels fresh and exciting, with plenty of opportunities for players to shine and make meaningful choices that affect the story.Player Agency:"Curse of Strahd" excels in giving players the freedom to explore and interact with the world in a meaningful way. The sandbox nature of the campaign allows for a high degree of player agency, making every decision impactful and memorable.Replay Value:With multiple paths and outcomes, "Curse of Strahd" has excellent replay value. Different groups can experience entirely different adventures based on their choices, ensuring that no two campaigns are exactly alike.Comprehensive Guide:The book itself is well-organized and easy to follow, with clear instructions and helpful tips for Dungeon Masters. The included maps, NPC descriptions, and plot hooks make preparation and running the campaign a breeze.Conclusion:"Curse of Strahd" is a must-have for any Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast. Its immersive storytelling, complex villain, atmospheric setting, varied encounters, player agency, replay value, and comprehensive guide make it a standout campaign. It's a thrilling adventure that will keep players on the edge of their seats, earning it a well-deserved five stars!

I am familiar with every 5e adventure up through Tomb of Annihilation (and I have DM'd Out of the Abyss, Storm King's Thunder, and Lost Mine). In my opinion this is the best, though the best parts of OOTA are at this level. I was skeptical about running a horror-themed adventure b/c my group is sort of into traditional swords and sorcery, but the story was so good that this objection was quickly swept away. What I like (and the below includes spoilers that are inappropriate for any non-DMs):1) The overall atmosphere is wonderfully spooky, with lots of superb little touches -- a pool of water that reflects a character's face but much older, abandoned children's toys, dead people hanging mysteriously from a gallows beside the road, villagers who are afraid to speak to the PCs, a duplicitous invitation to Strahd's realm to kick things off, a tower with a huge live heart beating in it that causes the tower to shake and tremble, and that explodes in blood when attacked.2) Strahd is a wonderful villain -- it is fun for everyone the way he is supposed to escalate his attacks on the players. First he might just watch them, or send his spies to gauge the characters' powers (which is itself a spooky encounter), then he might change shapes (a lost dog scratching at the door, an orphaned child) to try to lure the players to allow him to come close. Then as they become a true threat he tries to kill them, most likely in his castle, which contains all sorts of areas ripe for an ambush. As the DM, you control Strahd and get to cook up his murderous schemes, but the book also gives you plenty of ideas and guidance. It is also fun to have him identify particular players that he particularly likes or hates; I had him try to kidnap a player he fell in love with, and another player he tried to destroy above all others (after first charming that player and trying to chop off his hand, in full view of the others).3) The basic structure is straightforward to run, and the players are never left to feel that they are wandering around pointlessly (as occasionally occurs in SKT); they have a clear objective, which is to escape from the valley controlled by Strahd, and which can be done only by killing Strahd. Such a simple plot, but so many twists along the way. To succeed the players have to (a) visit two towns, both of them fully brought to life and invested with dread in dozens of little ways, with great NPCs, (b) visit several locations to obtain magic items that will help them defeat Strahd, and then (c) go to Strahd's castle to kill him. The locations with the magic items are determined by a tarot card reading -- a really great and spooky thing in and of itself. Of course I rigged the card reading to pick my favorite locations, e.g., a mill where children's bones are ground up into pastries sold by night hags, or an abbey run by a lunatic, full of his gruesome Frankenstein-like creations, including a bride to be offered to Strahd and made from dead bodies....4) There are some great fun traps -- eg a doorway that can be opened only by mimicking the body positions of the stick figures etched into the lintel, in the order indicated by a line connecting the stick figures. Strahd's castle is just excellent in every way, full of wonderful NPCs, and far from the standard hack and slay D&D climax.5) The writing is excellent. This adventure has gone thru multiple iterations, and it has the feel of a classic that has been improved and deepened and broadened several times. Chris Perkins is the writer for pretty much all the best D&D modules, and he said this one he wrote easily and quickly -- I think he really got in a groove and did a great job adding on to the older versions (which were justly celebrated in their own right).