What to Expect

Curse of Strahd is an exciting, tense, fast-paced adventure. It is a vivid exploration of classic gothic horror tropes and monsters, from werewolves to vampires, ghosts, and more. It is a true sandbox, providing players with the freedom to make their own choices and build the kind of adventure they enjoy. It is an unabashedly character-driven campaign, giving your player character an incredible chance to shine and make their mark on the story your group tells.
However, Curse of Strahd is also a brutal, stressful, and alienating experience. Your characters will be trapped in a bleak, gothic land quite different from the world they know. The adventure contains several encounters and areas that will likely be far beyond your capabilities when you first encounter them. It does not provide routine or readily available loot or magical items.
For a player who’s not expecting it, Curse of Strahd can suck. If you want the freedom to engage in combat and exploration without worrying about the potential risks, this is probably not the campaign for you. Likewise, if you are potentially triggered by depictions of horror or psychologically disturbing relationships, or if you prefer a D&D campaign that features only victories or setbacks (rather than the potential for outright defeat), this may not be for you.
Here are a few pieces of advice compiled from other players to help you have an enjoyable experience:

• Intrepid adventurers and sadistic murderhobos don’t last long in Barovia. Don’t stray from the beaten path unless you have good reason to, and don’t alienate or antagonize NPCs if you can avoid it. Make more friends than enemies. Don’t go searching for treasure, fortune, or fame - doing so will probably only get you an early grave.
• Remember that you are not your character, and invest real time in developing their thoughts, personality, and motivation. Externalize failure and use setbacks or defeat as an opportunity to explore your character’s perspective and personal growth.
• Spend time engaging with the other characters, even when not discussing plans, tactics, or objectives. Learn about their fears, their perspectives, and their experiences. Build meaningful relationships, not apathetic battle teams.
• Outside goals are hard (if not impossible) to achieve in Barovia. Work with me to create a character driven to Barovia for some purpose that can only be fulfilled within its borders.
• Try to remove yourself from the “XP and loot” model of progression in traditional campaigns and video games, and instead try to enjoy the narrative progression of winning allies, fulfilling objectives, and advancing the story of the campaign and player characters.