It’s the most wonderful time of the year – spooky season. If you’re a Dungeon Master like me, you can feel the mists of Ravenloft calling to you as soon as the leaves change. But the much-lauded Curse of Strahd campaign for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition has been out since 2016! Many have run or played it, so how can we breathe new life into it for our players and ourselves? That’s where DMsGuild and Roll20 come into play! In this blog I share 6 outstanding additions for your Curse of Strahd campaigns, whether you’re running your game in person or virtually.
Without further ado, let’s sink our teeth in…
BEWARE: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS
1. The Interactive Tome of Strahd
Starting out with a bang, this supplement by The Aciduous Adventurer was the single best addition to my most recent runthrough of Curse of Strahd. Not only does it make the Tome of Strahd a useful magic item on par with the Sunsword and Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, it incorporates Ravenloft lore from a variety of sources. Those who dare to read are transported into Strahd’s recording of his own past and even play parts within it. Successful readers may even get a few new spells for their trouble. It’s a fantastic way to get your party members invested in the world of Barovia and the various NPCs of the past and present! If your group doesn’t have time to read all of P.N. Elrod’s I, Strahd, then this will certainly give them enough to get immersed in Strahd’s story.
2. Ravenloft Trinkets & Treasures
A common complaint of players is that Curse of Strahd is a little lacking on the loot. Why not provide some trinkets full of character for your players to find around Barovia? Some of these items are wholly original while others are inspired by Ravenloft modules of the past like Feast of Goblyns and When Black Roses Bloom. Authors include Ben Doherty, Gene Brode, Jr., Joanna DeLaune, Jon Connor Self, Kari Jo “Kage” Freudigmann, and Meaghan J.
These items can also serve as mist talismans if you want to continue your adventures in the domains of dread à la Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. From a werebadger pelt to a scarab of death, Ravenloft Trinkets & Treasures has it all.
You can get this supplement for your Roll20 game and/or pick up the PDF when you purchase on DMsGuild!
3. The Wedding at Ravenloft
What, oh what, to do with Ireena? If she’s not busy being kidnapped, she’s – well, she’s in all likelihood been kidnapped. But at least in this supplement there’s some payoff to it! I love that this alternative for an epic campaign conclusion has her front and center along with the entire cast of (surviving) NPCs! And your party is not there simply to watch, oh no. The party can go full Red Wedding if they wish or play it cool until they find the perfect moment to strike. Take your party’s assault on Castle Ravenloft to new heights! If you’re a fan, author Wyatt Trull recently compiled all the Curse of Strahd Companion pieces into one!
Check out D&D Content Creator Ginny Di’s video about this supplement below!
4. Bloodied & Bruised and Monster Loot: Curse of Strahd
Yes, I’m cheating a bit by grouping these two together, but both these superb supplements are written by Anne Gregersen!
Curse of Strahd already has replayability thanks to the Tarokka reading, but Bloodied & Bruised changes things up for players and DMs alike during and after combat. Inside are new features for the NPCs and Creatures when they hit half health or get reduced to 0 HP. My personal favorite is that after a particularly grueling fight, Baba Lysaga’s Creeping Hut can fall over in a randomly determined direction – including on the characters!
With Monster Loot, you can add gritty survival horror elements to your game by letting your characters loot the monsters they slay for valuable/dangerous bits and bobs à la The Witcher! Let’s say you “accidentally” slay a wereraven; it’s happened to everyone, right? Not only can you pick up some crossbow bolts but you also have the potential to gather some of their blood which will have unexpected results when consumed.
You can pick up the PDFs of both Bloodied & Bruised and Monster Loot on DMsGuild as well as the Roll20 versions!
5. She is the Ancient
As soon as I finished reading this reworking of Curse of Strahd, I knew that I was going to use it for my next runthrough. Genderbend your Strahd with She is the Ancient by Beth the Bard! What I love about this rewrite is it really refreshes the adventure for you and your players. The changes aren’t limited to Strahd herself either – the whole story gets a complete facelift! Even folks who have played through the entire campaign multiple times will find new things to discover from more complicated relationships among the major NPCs to new goals for the frightful and tragic Countess of Barovia.
6. Tessa Presents 113 Maps for Curse of Strahd
The official maps for Curse of Strahd are beautiful and atmospheric, but there are so many possible locations for both story and random encounters. Tessa Maps has our back here. From the Church of St. Andral to Lake Zarovich, you’ll be prepared for anything your players throw at you. The Roll20 version is even set up with ready-to-go Dynamic Lighting!
TLDR
📕 The Interactive Tome of Strahd opens the door to Strahd’s past, inviting you to become part of his twisted history.
👛 Ravenloft Trinkets & Treasures fills the loot void with unique items inspired by the domains of dread.
👰 The Wedding at Ravenloft offers a dramatic alternative to your campaign’s conclusion
👹 Bloodied & Bruised and Monster Loot introduce thrilling combat changes and survival horror elements that will keep players and DMs on their toes.
🧛♀️ For a truly transformative experience, She is the Ancient presents a genderbending twist on the classic tale, breathing new life into the narrative.
🦇 113 Maps for Curse of Strahd ensures you’re prepared for every twist and turn, complete with dynamic lighting to set the mood.
Trust me when I say that these additions have the power to make your Curse of Strahd campaign an unforgettable story for you and your players. Venture forth, brave DMs, and let the darkness of Barovia embrace you. May your adventures be as fang-tastic as you are. 😉
Where to Buy Curse of Strahd
You can pick up the Roll20 version of Curse of Strahd on DMsGuild and Roll20. It comes with a full virtual Tarokka deck and topdown versions of Castle Ravenloft! You can bundle it together with Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft to extend your stay in the dread domains.
Other Awesome Additions
🩸 Bump in the Night Bundle – David North bring his unique token art style to the denizens of Ravenloft!
🩸 One Night Strahd – Don’t have time to run a multi-month campaign? Try this!
🩸 Weekend at Strahd’s – For all your comical Ravenloft / 1980s reference needs
🩸 Reddit: /u/MandyMod – Reddit user expands on the module with Ravenloft lore of the past, introducing a way to take the land back from Strahd
🩸 Vistani Recommendations – Compiled basic resources from a Rromani person (Rue Dickey) on how to improve and edit the Vistani.
🩸 Real Housewives of Ravenloft – Fleshes out Strahd’s brides and puts you at the center of their drama