Castle Ravenloft + Strahds BF Stats

[MedievalMan]

My mind skips and the warranty ran out a long time ago.

Its a cool idea and what you said conveys what I have thought about a couple of times.

[MedievalMan]

Alright I edited Strahds stats to match the normal vampire and added in a bit about his mist form. Anyone see anything wrong with his stats or writeup?

[SmootRK]

My mind skips and the warranty ran out a long time ago.

Its a cool idea and what you said conveys what I have thought about a couple of times.

OK then, some ideas for expansion (trying to keep on theme):

A rival Gypsy Clan, perhaps even minions/servants of Strahd in another one of his 'homes' (like those whom served Dracula in the book). They do not get along with the other clans of gypsy people.

A deep and dark swampy area. a "Black Lagoon" complete with a horrible 'creature' fish man. Perhaps expanding on the idea, a fishy race instead like something out of Cthulhu mythos.

Castle of the Mad Re-Animator, complete with a powerful Flesh Golem 'monster'

A sylvan wood, but dark and sinister. Full of twisted Fairy types and a Black Unicorn.

The Witch of the Western Lands... scary flying monkeys do her bidding.

An insane 'operative' for Strahd (and others). Cursed with permanent Invisibility (and a severe reaction to bright light). Think Invisible Man or Hollow Man.

Hag/Witch with taste for the flesh of children. Uses Illusions almost exclusively to dress up her abode as a house of edible delights (Gingerbread House).

A small hamlet called 'Sleepy Hollow', nuff said.

A mega-dungeon (or mini mega-dungeon) where one can ultimately find a Lich's Magical Library (and the Lich too).

I am on a roll, but I need to go make some popcorn for my wife.

[MedievalMan]

I like a couple of those ideas.

I always thought Strahd needed some sort of minion down in Barovia (town) to collect his taxes. Seriously does Strahd himself go door to door? He has a huge fortune and he even kidnapped a dude to keep his books but HOW DOES HE COLLECT IT!?

So enter some oily scumbag who acts as "sheriff" or whatever pseudo-Romanian term their is for the fuzz. Dude acts like the PC's best friend when they show up, while feeding his master all the parties secrets in the mean time. And he collects the local taxes. Plot hole filled.

I would also give Donovan some sort of acolyte, just so the PC's have an extra ally they can sacrafi...I mean take with them if they need some help. I actually wrote such a character up while I was bored and had some time.

As for other locations in Barovia (county) I like what they did in Expedition. Lysaga Hill in particular had a neat gothic vibe. I myself would add some sort of crumbling monastery full of a corrupt order of monks. Depravity central man! Think of the inquisition style possibilities?

I would also expand upon the extra characters outlined in Expedition, make a "Court of the Count" as it were. Strahds more powerful lackeys he keeps around. Like the necromancer and the two powerful vampires from Expedition.

Just some ideas. I have had nothing else to think about game wise lately.

[Joe the Rat]

The impression I get is that this sort of town basically goes about its mud-covered business, with slightly less mud-covered city leaders (burgesses if you like - guild and merchant types, the slightly less poor or vaguely prominent, possibly even an elected mayor... small town America meets up-country Bavaria) running the show. If actual money tribute is collected, either Big Bad Vampire Daddy swoops in once in a while to collect from city hall, or he sends a hench-thing down to collect the coin-based tithe for the "local nobility". Who does the collecting of the other sort rather depends on how creepy you want the people to be.

City leaders make for both quest givers and foils for attempts to help the populace - they might not like having a vampire up on the hill, but so long as theirs are left alone, they'd rather not rock the boat.

Having the head of the constabulary being a bit more chummy - and working for BBVD - is a good hook.