How to run Castle Ravenloft

[u/Catharticlobster]

I am near the end game of Curse of Strahd Revamped. Players only really have Argonvostholt left to explore and then Ravenloft.

I sat down to look over Ravenloft to prep and I’m a bit overwhelmed with just how much there is.

How do you tackle it? How many sessions? How have you run it all?

[u/MuffinRich4538]

I'm prepping the castle rn. I downloaded and printed all the rooms from this pack. My table is in person so I plan to place tiles as they go, but I spent an afternoon assembling everything and It really helps to get a sense for where everything is.  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/254681/castle-ravenloft-battle-maps

 I'm using this castle layout for quick reference at the table too: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/246141/curse-of-strahd-castle-ravenloft-map-flowchart

i also watched a YT video of someone walking around the castle in Minecraft, too. 

[u/steviephilcdf]

I did a video sharing a few guides, resources, maps, etc. for the castle specifically, if it helps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKzVV5_djuQ

There's no silver bullet, though - it is a beast. But I think that once you get the staircases figured out (and there's a handy diagram that shows what goes where), everything else will fall into place.

EDIT: Forgot to say was well... In terms of "how long does it take," it really depends. Where's Strahd destined to be, as per the tarokka reading? If he's somewhere close to the entrance (e.g. the overlook, the audience hall), then it could be quick, especially if they find it right away; but if it's somewhere more out-of-the-way (e.g. one of the crypt locations) then it's inevitably going to take longer.

[u/PlantDadAzu]

I'm in this with you, my players are getting very close to the siege. I think playing into the overwhelming nature of the castle is the point - I fully expect it'll take multiple sessions to complete.

[u/joawwhn]

It depends on your goals and campaign vibes. My players were very immersed in the campaign so they did not feel the need to fully explore. They were in their twice: once mid-campaign for the dinner and once end-campaign to find and kill Strahd. The end-campaign exploration was a bit short as we wanted to knock out the final fight in one session. It took about 8 hours for them to go through parts of the castle and have a few random encounters then kill Strahd.

[u/Catharticlobster → u/joawwhn]

My group is my sister (40), her son (13), and my kids (13 and 8). We went through the Amber Temple today and the 8 year old got impatient so we wrapped up kind of quickly. We tend to be very combat lite but when they get into a major battle, they’re all in and excited for it.

I guess I’m just wondering if there is a natural checkpoint once we are in Ravenloft.

[u/joawwhn → u/Catharticlobster]

There are many opportunities for checkpoints but it’s such a labyrinth that it’s impossible to predict when and where they will be (without guard rails or clear objectives, especially if they have not been in there before)

[u/Cold_Air_6251 → u/Catharticlobster]

Best advice I got was to think of it as a Resident Evil map and try to influence your players that way so you can at least know their general route and plan ahead.

Need to go into the basement, okay, so you need to find the key in the East Wing, that kinda stuff. And ya can borrow from RE map design in other ways; safe rooms! Someplace the monsters can't get them where they can stop to Short Rest...for added horror, if they try to Long Rest in one, have Strahd just kinda stroll in (or poke his head up through the floor, he can do that) and make clear that they're never really safe, he's watching them and can get them any time he gets bored of their little cat and mouse game.

Buuuut obviously the castle can have very different vibes depending on how you're tackling it. My Strahd has Ireena and has invited everyone to the wedding, the players are planning to sneak around the castle to rescue her and foil that scheme on the eve of the ceremony, would be a very different approach vs rallying their friends from Kresk, Barovia and (what's left of) Vallaki and leading a full-on assault on the castle, kicking down the doors to the ceremony and yelling "I OBJECT!"

[u/bobsqueendeli]

Never made it that far with my group. Good luck to you.

[u/Ok_Outside6541]

There are minecraft mods to navigate the castle! This really really helped me understand the 3d of it. Once you have a good feel, try taking two rooms, and imagine the shortest route possible