About This Read-Along
This companion guide walks through Curse of Strahd chapter by chapter, providing DM prep notes, common pitfalls, suggested modifications, and pacing advice. It’s designed for DMs who have read the module at least once and want to run it with confidence.
How to Use This Guide
Each chapter includes:
- Overview — what happens in this section and why it matters
- Prep checklist — what to have ready before the session
- Common pitfalls — mistakes DMs frequently make
- Modifications — popular community tweaks and enhancements
- Pacing notes — how many sessions this section typically takes
Recommended Supplements
This read-along references several popular community resources:
- Lunch Break Heroes — excellent maps for key locations
- MandyMod’s Fleshing Out Curse of Strahd — the gold standard for expanding the module
- DragnaCarta’s Curse of Strahd: Reloaded — comprehensive rewrite with improved pacing
Before You Begin
Read the entire module cover to cover before your first session. Yes, all of it. Curse of Strahd is a sandbox where events in one area ripple across the entire valley. You need the full picture to improvise effectively.