Slight Change of Plans

[Kain]

So, after talking with some players last night at Andy's game, I decided, due to several issues to postpone the epic level game only a little bit. However, in place I am going to run "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft." I'm really in the mood, at the moment, to do a Ravenloft game, and this pre-made campaign would offer a good short Ravenloft game; plus I want to try it out. I've read several reviews on it, and everyone seems to like it quite well. I'm still working on getting the actual campaign setting book, which should be sometime this week or next week.

Hopefully this isn't a great disappointment to anyone that was going to be in the epic game; which will happen after this game. I know most of us really like Ravenloft and this campaign looks to be very enjoyable. Anyone who is in the epic game is welcome to be in this one as well. I haven't been able to look through the campaign book at all because I cannot find it for download, so I have to wait for my paycheck to pick it up. Once I get it I will let you know more details, but from the readings I've done on it, it would seem to start at level 6.

So go ahead and make a level 6 character that can be any base race. Check with me if you use something that isn't base; I'll explain later why you can use more races in this campaign than you normally would be able to. If anything needs to be changed because of the nature of the campaign setting I will let you know.

[Kain]

I'll let everyone know asap what day we will be starting. I'm going to try my best to start this Sunday the 10th. If I don't have the setting by then, perhaps I can make up planning until I can get it for the next session.

[exiled]

Sounds good to me.

[Reno]

If this mini-campaign goes on long enough, maybe I'll be able to join the 20th level one.

[Kain]

True enough

[Kain]

OK, so I got the book earlier today and I absolutely love what I have read so far. So go ahead with a level 6 character. With this setting we will assume you, and Barovia for that matter, are from Faerun. Also assume that Barovia IS NOT yet a part of Ravenloft. The basic story you know is that a noble woman by the name of Helene is asking a group of adventurers to find her missing husband, Jeref, who has gone missing. He went into Barovia three months ago and never returned, and no sign of him has come about. You guys answered the call for your own reasons including financial gain if you wish. You have been promised great rewards for Helene's husbands return. Should he be dead, his wedding ring will suffice. You are being sent to a remote and secluded valley in the eastern reaches of the Galena Mountains in Faerun.

I know I'm messing with things here, but I have to do so, to get this scenario to work because this campaign was originally written before Ravenloft was a setting.

Sound good?

[exiled]

Well there is the wonderous question of equipment and money.

[Kain]

Go with 13,000 gold. Since you came from Faerun, I'll allow full gold. No magic items yet. Though, you can do +1 to your weapon or armor with no magic enchantment though; that much is ok. Buy your gear with the 13,000 gp and roll your stats 4d6 drop the lowest number yadda yadda yadda. You can re-roll ones and get one complete re-roll. Also I want to pre-warn the group; someone be a cleric. I know we have a Paladin, but he will be overwhelmed with no Cleric. Just a friendly GM hint.

[Kain]

Also, for whoever decides to go Cleric. Just use any Faerun native, etc. Deity you want. I'll rule that because Barovia just recently entered Ravenloft, the Dark Powers haven't completely locked Deities in/out yet. So Clerics can still pray to Deities outside Ravenloft. This way you don't have to lose contact with your Deity when you enter Barovia.

[Reno]

The Faerunian deity Lathander is the Morninglord anyway, by the way.

[Kain]

Ah didn't know that so there ya go.

[Kain]

I've been reading over this campaign book as much as possible to make sure I don't miss anything important. I just wanted to say that you'll have to forgive me if I pause in the middle of the game to read some notes from the book. I'm not sure how far into the book we'll get in one session, but I think I've read far enough ahead to delay as much downtime as possible.

[Kain]

We'll shoot for starting around noon. I have to end around 7:30/7:45 so I would like to start earlier so we get enough playing in. I'm not into rushing things either, but I don't want to take an hour break from the game for food. Going to get food and bringing it back and eating at the house is perfectly fine, but I've seen anything but fast trips for food that caused 1 to 2 hour delays in the game.

[Kain]

In fact, if you can get food before we start that would be best.