I definitely recommend traveling out of your own area for rpg inspiration.

I definitely recommend traveling out of your own area for rpg inspiration.

I definitely recommend traveling out of your own area for rpg inspiration. I’m in Albuquereque, NM for work and have seen some very different things than I’m used to seeing! This picture is my favorite though! I snapped it (totally unintentionally) as the beer truck was driving past!

Here’s a Curse of Strahd starter I threw together on my lunch break.

Here’s a Curse of Strahd starter I threw together on my lunch break.

Here’s a Curse of Strahd starter I threw together on my lunch break. I did it from memory and was rushed, so it’s not perfect! I’ll work on it some more when I get the chance.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwGZKblpJGgYZzBGY2pjdjBtVHc/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwGZKblpJGgYZzBGY2pjdjBtVHc/view?usp=sharing

I played Fiasco for the first time in ages a few days ago and it got me thinking about world building.

I played Fiasco for the first time in ages a few days ago and it got me thinking about world building.

I played Fiasco for the first time in ages a few days ago and it got me thinking about world building. I realized that you could blend the methods used in Fiasco with the Discern Realities questions, so I created a 6d6 DR World Building table with that in mind.

I was told yesterday that someone had already beaten me to the punch (Dirk Detweiler Leichty) and he did something I hadn’t considered: He had you roll 8d6 and use the two left over dice to determine what was going on in the opening scene. It added a new layer of choice because you might try to save the higher values to get a better opening position! I liked that a lot, so I modified it a little and added it in.

Here’s the table I came up with, and I’ll work on more in the future. It’s a really quick collaborative world building that you can customize to your own tastes!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1386zTBEhFCOgM4SAG2SNWqWRsTXq8k4tK8-oPW2pxH8/edit?usp=sharing

Preparing for the final showdown in my Strahd’s Salvation campaign (if you haven’t seen it here before, the…

Preparing for the final showdown in my Strahd’s Salvation campaign (if you haven’t seen it here before, the…

Preparing for the final showdown in my Strahd’s Salvation campaign (if you haven’t seen it here before, the characters are Strahd’s friends and allies, attempting to lift the “curse” and free Barovia). Within the next 2 sessions the party should have accomplished everything they need to make sure when they kill Strahd, he stays dead and the mists surrounding Barovia lift for good (allowing them to die and stay dead as well).

Here’s the move, which is nearly identical to Jason Cordova’s Labyrinth Move (and, in true G+ fashion, I’m not able to tag the correct Jason Cordova, so if someone can I’d appreciate it). I have a Strahd Encounter on 3- because Strahd likes to play with the party to learn about their capabilities and then escape.

When you search Castle Ravenloft for Strahd von Zarovich, describe your path and how you search, and roll + STAT. The GM will tell you which STAT to use based on your description.

12+, Hold 2

10-11, Hold 1

7-9, Hold 1, plus Ravenloft Encounter

4-6, Ravenloft Encounter

3-, Strahd Encounter, plus lose all Hold

Any time you are not engaged in an encounter you may spend 1 Hold to discover a Ravenloft Treasure (describe the room you found it in) or 4 Hold to find Strahd for a final showdown (describe the room you found him in, and how you were able to track him here).

This works for Strahd’s allies searching the castle as well as anyone else because, while they know the castle very well, they don’t know where Strahd will be in the castle.

All tweaks and comments welcome!

I’m starting a Curse of Strahd campaign this weekend, but I’ll be running it as “Strahd’s Salvation”, wherein…

I’m starting a Curse of Strahd campaign this weekend, but I’ll be running it as “Strahd’s Salvation”, wherein…

I’m starting a Curse of Strahd campaign this weekend, but I’ll be running it as “Strahd’s Salvation”, wherein characters are Strahd’s “friends” and allies, seeking to lift the curse so they can all (including Strahd) die in peace, and STAY dead. This will mean the characters will know Strahd’s full history, which I’ll tweak in places, and be quite familiar with Barovia. Both of these are fine, because despite the setting being already written, I’ll allow plenty of opportunity for the players to customize the world through some carefully crafted questions (which I have not carefully crafted yet, but when I do I’ll post them).

My concern right now is starting level. They have been around for centuries and could conceivably be 10th level, but I don’t think it would be satisfying to start a campaign at level 10.

What I THINK I’ll do is let my players pick a standard DW playbook, level it to 10, and then have the character die and be “reborn” as skeleton, mummy, ghost, etc. (one of the Awful Good Games playbooks). The characters will then start the game with 10 levels of something, and then start over at level 1 with an undead playbook (keeping all of their level 10 moves and stats). BUT I DON’T KNOW IF THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT.

What do you think is the best way to represent characters that have been around for centuries (who may have died a time or two) to start my “Strahd’s Salvation” campaign? (No amnesia lol)

Thanks in advance!

Did i see (somewhat) recently that someone here had done a Dungeon World treatment of Curse of Strahd?

Did i see (somewhat) recently that someone here had done a Dungeon World treatment of Curse of Strahd?

Did i see (somewhat) recently that someone here had done a Dungeon World treatment of Curse of Strahd? I’ve been searching, but can’t find it, so maybe I’m imagining it. I’m thinking about doing my own and wanted to compare my own thoughts to it.

Last night my players asked if we could do an evil campaign.

Last night my players asked if we could do an evil campaign.

Last night my players asked if we could do an evil campaign. I told them I don’t have a problem playing an evil campaign, but I don’t like the idea of making a bunch of “normal” characters and slapping the evil alignment on them.

So I asked what they thought about playing a coven of hags, and they replied with a resounding “YES”.

Does anyone know of any good Witch or Hag playbooks out there?

Holy cow, I just listened to this episode and Logan Howard spent most of his time talking about my Session Zero zine!

Holy cow, I just listened to this episode and Logan Howard spent most of his time talking about my Session Zero zine!

Holy cow, I just listened to this episode and Logan Howard spent most of his time talking about my Session Zero zine!! Thanks Logan, I’m speechless!!!!!!!!

Originally shared by Jason Cordova

After a short hiatus, I’m pleased to present Episode 47 of Discern Realities! In this deluxe episode, we are joined by some special guests: Stephen Karnes, the winner of our Shrine Contest, and the runners-up, Logan Howard and Daniel Fowler. We talk about their entries in the contest, the Wizard’s Ritual move, pitfalls when running the game for new players, Brian Holland’s Session Zero zine, and more!

Enjoy!

http://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/discern-realities/episode-47