What was YOUR experience in Berez like? Let us know down below!

@probablynotasith5355

4 жыл бұрын

Death. Mostly just death. Scarecrows and tree-houses and death.

@jesseperry9602

3 жыл бұрын

Hey LBH, I was just curious, how would you handle Baba using Arganvost's skull as her ride with also using an undead Arganvost as a defender at Tsolenka Pass like your guide for that area goes? I really like the idea of Arganvost being brought back with one of the Fane Stones, but would you just like, have his head be made of spectral energy? A replacement skull? Some sort of arcane powered prosthetic?

@LunchBreakHeroes

3 жыл бұрын

Big pumpkin, of course. I like your spectral head idea. Or a head made from mist.

@jesseperry9602

3 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes Excellent. Also, if for some reason they go to Tsolenka Pass first, it's gonna be huge foreshadowing if there is a big undead dragon with no skull flying around! Thanks!

@Yulpington

3 жыл бұрын

I made most of the scarecrows of Berez not have the paralysis ability so I could put more of them in the swamp, and surprise the party with the ones that could paralyze. I ran my session last night and the hex crawl was an excellent idea!

I expected my players to have a moral quandary on what to do with the baby, especially after I described it as have the features of a baby Strahd.. They tend to not be friendly with anybody, and attack threats on sight. Except for the tempest cleric. She tends to be the companionate one, always making sure the group helps everyone in need of helping. Always making sure to bury the dead, and say a prayer for the undead that they kill. Looking after all the lost women and children that you encounter in this adventure. She took one look at the baby, and cast call lighting onto it. When the rest of the incredibly shocked party asked what she had done, all she said was "It looked like Strahd and the witch called it Strahd".

@LunchBreakHeroes

2 жыл бұрын

At least she didn’t say, “I don’t like kids.”

You almost look like what I imagine the Abbott to look like. Switching the skull is a great idea, there is already so much going on in castle ravenloft.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Ruggedly handsome but mildly overweight? You make strange angels, sir.

@jesseperry9602

3 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes You honestly think you're overweight? C'mon man!

The skull change is absolutely brilliant!! OMG u made this have so much more sense and the fact that the skull is used by baba for evil makes for a much more appealing "rescue" mission. Thanks so much!

@LunchBreakHeroes

2 жыл бұрын

Happy to help!

Take that flesh golem baby to the old bonegrinder and bake me up a pie.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Tastes a bit... Stale.

Damn, argynvosts skull was a dope idea, too bad my party already went here and cant really change it 😂

@Frog102a

2 жыл бұрын

My biggest problem with the campaign was the dragon skull being in ravenloft and he solved it in 5 seconds

I chose the flesh golem and my party gave it to Vasilka and ordered her to care for it. It was unexpected and amazing! 🤩

How are you SO GOOD at fixing other people’s stories! You should do this for a living!! Wait... you do!!!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

I'll need a helluva lot more views for THAT to happen!

@TheDungeonCoach

4 жыл бұрын

Lunch Break Heroes putting in another plug to your video of our DM mistakes into tomorrow video!

@TheDungeonCoach

4 жыл бұрын

We’ll make it happen together!!!!!

@lucaspenades

3 жыл бұрын

Well he does get most ideas from other people's Reddit posts :p

Might I add as a suggestion. When players get close to the hut, they hear scattered feet coming from the swamps. It's dark, and hard to see, but they do see human like figures dashing throughout the trees. (These are weaker hags and are the daughters Baba) They don't outright attack the party, instead they torment the party (they don't reveal themselves, only laugh and make macabre jokes) if the party sees and attacks one of the hags, they begin laughing and cackling and one hag chants "You killed Danya, go see Mama" and the rest of the hags following suit. The party racing in a random direction, only to come face to face with "Mama"

Oh shit a baby flesh golem, now that is creepy. Great ideas my man.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I can't believe I forgot to post this comment. This is brilliant and EXACTLY what I needed as a solution for Argynvost's skull. This works so much better and makes so much more sense. Thank you so much for having a written guide for this. Bless you, sir. My party is already dealing with heavy things, the little girl from Granny's hut is still with them and I had Strahd appear and bite her. She's in the process of becoming a vampire spawn. One of the dad's in the group is also her guardian. I'm hoping the golem, whether it's flesh or not, to be another fun emotional attack--I mean quandary for them to overcome. =^-^=

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Always great to hear from you. Lemme know how Berez goes for you!

This got me thinking about the location of Marina's monument! I imagine, before the fog and marsh crept in, the monument was erected on a small hill, the highest point in Berez. It would've overlooked the village and therefore been the place of highest honor. It's also possible Strahd didn't want to place it in the churchyard or the mansion grounds, the places of dwelling of the two responsible for taking Marina away from him. He wanted to place her "above" and away from them, hence the higher ground.

Planning on running an alternate version of your Lazlo idea. Strahd turns Lazlo into a vampire spawn and crucifies him. He then wills the clouds and mist of Barovia to open up every day, every couple rounds or so, to shine sunlight on Lazlo. It lasts until he is almost dead. When he is just about to die, the clouds close. They remain closed long enough for him to regen to full health. They then begin again. Not only jives better with Strahd's vampire abilities and Darklord abilities. Also gives me another way to draw the PC's to Berez when they see the clouds opening and closing over and over

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Diabolical!

@roflcopterprods

4 жыл бұрын

@Natasel He does have the power to do both of these things RAW. Remember, Berez was a village until Strahd cast a landslide upon it. And the reason that the sun does not shine in the land of Barovia is because Strahd wills it. Barovia is an extension of Strahd's will. What you have to keep in mind is that Barovia is not a land where logic flies. Could Strahd turn it into an economic powerhouse? Sure, he could. Except he can't leave. And the economy doesn't benefit him. And there will always be more villagers. There are more villagers than there are souls in Barovia, and yet they keep producing meat sacks with no real individuality that still produce blood for him. Picture Strahd as being Bill Murray's character in groundhog day. Except he never gets out, and he was way more evil from the beginning. All things considered, he's likely tried being nice to everybody and making their lives great at some point. It's the same idea as a room full of monkeys and typewriters will eventually produce Hamlet, given enough time. He's probably tried turning Barovia into a utopia, just to see what would happen. Did nothing for him. Fuck it. He can't leave. Tormenting the villagers amuses him slightly. He could kill all of them, but then he'd be alone and even more miserable. So he creates this miserable fucking hellscape where everyone gets to suffer just as much as he does. This is the ultimate curse of Barovia. Strahd gets anything he wants, except for Tatyana or leaving, which are the two things which would bring him actual joy. So instead he just inflicts as much suffering as he can on the other people here without actually killing them. Because misery loves company

@roflcopterprods

4 жыл бұрын

@Natasel So the answer is very based in material that is not in the actual Curse of Strahd book, but... Barovia's true masters are these guys called "The Dark Powers." The Dark Powers are godlike beings who delight in collecting and torturing evil dudes. When they get a hold of one, they whisk him away to a demi-plane where He becomes a Darklord. Strahd is one such Darklord. The rules for being a Darklord are pretty simple. The world basically shapes itself to fit your whims and desires except for two things. You cannot escape, and you can never have anything that will actually make you truly happy. Strahd is as much a prisoner in Barovia as anyone else. More so. It's meant to be his prison. And the amount of power and control he does have over it is designed to be a bitter reminder of how helpless he actually is. He can destroy Berez with a thought, but he can't leave. He can blot out the sun, but he can't have Tatyana. If he tried to suicide in a ray of sunlight, at that moment his power would likely fail him. Strahd can't really die, because if he did, the Dark Powers would lose their play thing. And they're the ones in control here. As far as Tatyana, I don't know there was anything super special about her as a person. But her love was the thing that Strahd became a vampire for. Her death was the night his life truly ended. The Dark Powers keep bringing her back and keep dangling her in front of Strahd because that's how they motivate him to keep being active and entertaining them. Ironically, if he ever just accepted that he couldn't have her and gave up, the Dark Powers would probably let him go. They've done that at least once before when a darklord just accepted his condition and they realized that they couldn't torture him anymore.

@trishapellis

Жыл бұрын

@@roflcopterprods I don't understand why people will ask questions that prompt well-structured, elaborate answers, and then just up and delete their own comments (or was the account deleted? There *is* an account named Natasel...). I like your idea, especially because of the idea that the PCs will be able to see that ray of sunlight appear and disappear from all the way over in Vallaki and Krezk and it'll definitely peak their interest. I'd maybe do it just once per day though. Like Prometheus. So Lazlo can spend every morning dreading that moment, and then temporarily feel safe immediately after healing up only for that dread to start building again.

Honestly, thanks so much. I'm sitting here before every session with my books and an unreal amount of postits, jutting down every idea I like. I usually don't adapt all of them, but you've really helped me notch up the game. Thank you!

@LunchBreakHeroes

Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

A substitute for the flesh golem infant could be one of the mongrelfolk from Krezk. It can be just as disturbing choose several smallish swamp or forrest creatures nearby (toads, raccoons, cats, goats maybe some raven pieces.)

My party has become attached to the WereRavens. One of them has joined the party. So my evil plan is to have the WereRaven be kidnapped by the Scarecrows.

I will FOR SURE apply the skull change!!! I still have to read the Castle Ravenloft chapter and I already decided to move the Argynvost skull from there to another place and my first option was Berez even before watching your video, but now thanks to you it will be a perfect change!! About what to do with the baby golem... what if the players choose to give it to Vasilka? Maybe trying to convince her to have another purpose than being a Strahd's wife, she could be a "mother". Of course, this will let the players face the Abbot who would never agree with it.

That opening one line gave me whiplash oml

Oh my Morninglord! The baby flesh golem is the greatest idea ever! I can't wait to traumatize my players with it!

Did it yesterday, poor baba took a 2 for initiative, and didn't had a chance to get into the fight, but man they almost kill themselves in an argument abaout the baby!

@LunchBreakHeroes

3 жыл бұрын

Sucks for us DMs when our bosses get trounced!

@adsonchaves

2 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes I was the last to attack and killed her with a crossbow dart lol The baby's fate was a big dilemma, I also ended up killing him with a spiritual weapon from a distance when no one agreed

My party gave the baby to mad Mary when she found out that Gertrude would rather die by the devils hand than go back to her.

Yes! Another video filled with great ideas. Thank you so much! My players are getting closer to the bog area and some of your suggestions will make it much more interesting and disturbing.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Lemme know how it goes!

I'd go even further and suggest that golem having a soul and mind of an actual baby. Could be an experiment of Lysaga/Ludmilla/Abbath

Thank you so much for the suggestions. My group has been having week long moral discussions about what to with the baby flesh golem.

I will certainly be moving the skull here - makes sense. Thanks again. Also Muriel Vinshaw is one of the three fey in disguise (huntress) and she believes that Baba stole the red gem (her gem). She will not tell the party who she really is, but will tell the party that Baba has the gem and to retrieve it. She will also lead the party to the stone circle. I am enjoying your videos and making my own - streaming CoS. Thank you.

The skull idea is brilliant

"Is no fun? Is no Blinsky!" Uyup, I wyll add this to my gyame, cyause I hyate tyalking lyke Blinsky, and my players already suspect him of either being Strahd, in league with Strahd, or just... really gosh darn creepy, which in their book, is grounds for murder.

@M4DR1U5

2 жыл бұрын

Only one of my players even wanted to go visit Blinsky... the murderous Changeling Assassin. She felt bad for him and decided to bankroll his business since he hadn't been getting many sales. Then as they barrel towards Castle Ravenloft (currently in Argynvostholt) and they find more and more of his weird little dolls in the most curious of places, the rest of the party is questioning the reasoning **and** sanity of their rogue friend. Dun dunnnn DUNNNNNN :-P

This is so great! Would it be a good idea to make "baby Strahd" a real infant? Maybe the party could reunite it with its parents or take it to the orphanage in Vallaki, to give them "the tides are turning feeling"? 🤣

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

You could definitely do that! I think there's enough real children in peril in the module, though, so I wanted something that the party could bypass and not feel too bad about.

Alternate baby idea: it is a real baby baba has kidnapped from Krezk and has been warped by magic to look like Strahd. When the party listens in on Baba you can here her say something like "oh baby Strahd aren't you the cutes... What!? Your nose is too low!" And she painfully transforms the baby a little more. There you go. Dark, twisted, and no dead babies and a horrifying implication for the lady who has to raise strahd once the baby is returned

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

That could definitely work. I did consider a kidnapped baby, but I figured there was enough kidnapping and abuse of real/living children already.

@ryanestes7331

4 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes that's certainly true, though I feel that Baba's build a baby workshop might push my players over the edge lol

I actually am considering putting a false hydra into Berez. Make it an ungodly terrifying place, that made its home in the bowels of the once great city. Everyone believes Berez was destroyed in a great flood... but the actual story was it devouring folk 1 by 1. It has since moved beneath the mansion and made its nest there, and only 20 survivors remain. The only reasons Baba has survived is because shes a powerful creature in its own right, one the FH knows not to go after. Also, because Baba has grown near deaf in her old age, so she easily evades the FH. Idk if anyone else has had this idea, but would love to see your take on it!

I really like this idea, especially the mansion and church aspects.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

103rd Platinum Division reporting for Duty. This is honestly probably my second favorite video of yours, thank you for your creativity and effort

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! What's your favorite? If you've said it previously, I forget.

@TheRepublic4

4 жыл бұрын

Lunch Break Heroes probably the Abbey honestly between that and the Dream pastries personally

My players are heading to Berez at level 6. I'm not feeling confident about their chances but they were warned. I am using all of these ideas BTW!

@dinohuntr851

10 ай бұрын

My players will enter the swamp at level seven. How was your experience?

WOOHOO! Praise be to this coming out

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

PRAISE BE!

I've noticed that pretty much every time something in one of these areas involves "go into Castle Ravenloft, find X, bring X out of Castle Ravenloft to Y and stuff happens" plotlines, you suggest changing it to "X is now somewhere other than Castle Ravenloft." I fully support this. Castle Ravenloft is not supposed to be the local magic Wal-Mart where the players go every time they need a magic thingamabob. Especially given that most of the time, the reason for going into the castle is to get something that...makes it easier for them to go into the castle and fight Strahd. Meaning that they have to get in, pray Strahd doesn't catch them, get out, and then pray Strahd doesn't notice that his prized X has been stolen and shore up his defenses. Contrast what you've done here with the Hag's Eye quest. First, you have the party doing it as essentially a penalty for losing the fight--that is, they do the dangerous thing as a price for not suffering a TPK. Secondly, they're not going in to steal some prized trophy or prisoner or valuable from Strahd, but something from Cyrus Belview. Something that if the party is clever, Strahd won't notice they took (and if they blunder into someone else and escape them, then that person might well keep silent to keep from having to admit they screwed up). Alternatively, if Strahd does figure out what happened, he won't fly into a "you have _trespassed_ upon what is _mine_ " fashion but instead chuckle over their audacity and plug up whatever hole in his security let them escape just in case they try the same trick twice while simultaneously making notes about their abilities that he can use against them later.

I like the idea of the skull of Argynvost being in the swamp, I found that idea too late to be able to use it (after the dragon had already told the players that "My skull lies in the fortress of my enemy")... Because, especially with Baba Lysaga's changes in this guide, I just didn't consider it likely that she would steal from Strahd nor that Strahd would give her the skull just like that. For my next CoS game I'm modifying the dragon's quote to point directly at the swamp. My players got really attached to the Martikovs, though, so I just had the scarecrows kidnap one of them during one of their attacks on the vineyard.

i used that baby idea in a campaign last week because i saw it ok reddit and it took my party an hour and a half to decide what to do and they finally agreed the female sorcerer would care for it

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Well, at least they came to a decision.

The baby flesh Golem is a stroke of genius. Thank you

The timing on this is perfect, the next session is gonna take them tot Berez. Already thought you swap the skull, but your idea of a Hex scroll is superb. I was wondering on how to make such as big place feel as empty and dangerous as it should be.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Lemme know how it goes!

@DriesCornillie

4 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes My player's hadn't done a hexcrawl before and they loved that for the first time in their adventuring career, they became lost and couldn't rely on a map. I did make sure to put some random encounters in there because they voted that one player would be the guide and if the rest can't do anything they would become bored. Eventually they found Baba and her hut but do to a low initiative roll, they all got a hit on her before she schapeshifted into a swarm of insects and went into her skull. Because both my wizard and rogue took the feat that they could ignore 3/4 cover they could keep hitting her. That's when the hut attacked to keep the melee guys busy. Although one of my players tried to take the clay golem hostage (didn't use flesh because my players hadn't been to Krezk and I would like to keep the flesh suprise for then) all he got was a finger of death, or would have if the wizard didn't have luck with her counterspell. At the end they were smart enough to look for the gem to take it or use dispel magic cause they had no hope of defeating the tree. When that was done they attacked the skull who came tumbling down and the almost dead Baba didn't survive the fall. I'm not upset that baba didn't do more, she died of falling damage wich is in line with my filosofy of every choice has it's results.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

That's sounds great! I'm glad they had fun. Did you do Lazlo and Grigor too? If so, how'd they work out?

Thanks for all of your help with CoS! Its def helping a new DM make this a memorable campaign!

@LunchBreakHeroes

3 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help!

I came here for your take on combat and I get a solution to my Argynvost's Skull problem! My party is headed there right now, they are invested in getting the gem back. I also intended for one of the players to become seperated while moving through the ruins and encounter Deathhouse as part of her own sidestory. Your foggy hexcrawl idea gives me the perfect way to facilitate this :) Thanks for doing these videos!

@LunchBreakHeroes

2 жыл бұрын

Happy to help!

Baba Lysaga actually rides around in the giant skull. It reminds me of Baby Bowser, and is actually pretty funny to me.

One of the best YT channels to watch when running CoS. Big fan!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Dude, your content is great, I can't wait for your video on the Castle, I'm really looking forward to that

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Running this one tomorrow, hope it goes well. These guides are actually so clutch, thank you!

@LunchBreakHeroes

3 жыл бұрын

Good luck!

Great content as always, and improving quality every video! Cheers from Brazil!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

That's the goal!

This is all really fantastic. I had the same issues with the giant flying skull and how to handle Argyenvost's skull. I'm am totally using this when the party heads to Berez. Thanks a Million

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@gawby

3 жыл бұрын

I just ran this part of Berez today. I used the hex grid, and all the creepy stuff to build excitement and mystery. I'll be honest, It wasn't easy getting the tone set just right even with the party that are really willing to buy the suspense and horror. It went really well. Keeping in mind to not drag on at all. I wish I could have made a few humorous things in the random roll tables though. Having a little humor helps to build and release tension. All in all, it has been going really well. Thanks for this.

@gawby

3 жыл бұрын

To wrap up the second part of our adventure in Berez: The battle went really really well. It was difficult so I had to give the both the party and the adversaries an Ace-in-the-hole. The party had reinforcements who followed them in the swamp. Baba Lysaga had her witch daughters fly about on brooms casting cantrips (chill touch and acid splash) and of course the hut came into play after 3 rounds and starts stomping about. A fantastic battle went down to the wire. Baba was defeated but asks to spare her life in exchange for help with venturing forth to defeat Strahd at long last. She opted to polymorph the party into stealthy mice and send them to castle Ravenloft to get a Hag's eye and in return. She would give them a trinket that protects them from divination... and her staff of power. She will then take a raft down stream with her baby Strahd and never return.

Brilliant -- every one of these videos is a treasure trove of great ideas and wonderful enhancements. Thank you! I have a feeling by group will go for the flesh golem. But we'll see how they're doing when we actually get to that part.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Lemme know how it goes!

A bayby flesh golem, that gave me chills!!!

My players are braving the swamps of Berez Monday. Love your idea about placing the skull of Argynvost there. Stealing it! Thanks a bunch!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

You cannot steal what is freely given! Have fun, and lemme know how it goes!

Very helpful as my party just got to Berez and this session theyre going to confront Baba. I love the skull idea but im going to run with her Pestle and Morter for this campaign, but definitely using that for the next one!

Clay Gollum is for blinski! Flesh maybe mad Meary?

Another great video! Thanks so much! I was worried about how to get my players to venture into Berez and placing the dragon skull there makes so much sense. I also like the turning into mice idea if they fail. Gives me an idea of doing a mini campaign inside the campaign where the group turns into very small woodland creatures. Great ideas always! Thanks!

Amazing ideas! Especially the one about swapping out the giant's skull for the skull of Argenvost (because I had already done this before watching your video, lol)

Nice video man! Thank you for sharing.

Your content is amazing. Thank you

Genius swapping the skulls. omg it's so obvious!

Truly great videos man! I'm guessing your next video will probably be about the Werewolf den, but could you do a video at some point about playing Strahd (good moments for encounters with the party, actions he can take to isolate Ireena, etc...)? I know many things depend on the actual party you are DMing, but as a person who has never been anywhere close to abusive relationships, I find it hard to translate to the game. I love the theme of the campaign being a vision of that and I want to do it justice. I just started my CoS campaign am I am sooo grateful I found your channel in time! Props again

to add to the list of things giant related, there is the Roc, which, as i understand it, originally made as a giant's mount

You have the mists of Ravenloft drop the party into the middle of the Swamp.

Definitely switching the skull out when my players get there. Really solid idea. My party are for sure going to adopt the baby golem

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Lemme know how they fare with their new pet!

Wow great timing and briliant ideas as always! My party might try to go to Berez soon, stealing all of these ideas

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Lemme know how it goes!

Good stuff, this will come in handy

Top tier content as usual! Thanks

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

You know, just a thought, but shouldn't there be more animals in the woods of Barovia? Like, the module makes it very clear that there is a large population of wolves roaming the woods, ready to be called upon by Strand or the Werewolves at any moment. Wolves need to eat, and I'm pretty sure Strahd doesn't have enough enemies to feed them constantly to feed them all. There's supposed to be a lot of rats too, but could the entire population of wolves survive solely off of rat meat? I would add a population of deer and rabbits to explain how the wolves feed themselves. Like there's still grass and small shrubby plants in the forests for them to eat, so they could certainly survive there. Super paranoid prey animals like that wouldn't really like the vibe of Barovia one bit, and maybe you could even depict them doing things like freaking out at times when the party encounters them (some animals do weird things when they get scared, see sheep falling over with terror for proof). I would also add some more birds beyond just the ubiquitous ravens. Owls are spooky, so there should be a population of them as well, especially with all the rats running around everywhere for them to feed on. Then maybe even some hawks and eagles could join in too, and certainly vultures. Vultures would be everywhere in Barovia. Maybe the birds of the region could even serve the roc as their master or living god or something. Like, you could give the roc a special action where it can caw loudly and then in a basically reskinned version of the vampire master's "children of the night" ability, 1d4 turns later, a huge flock of various birds arrives and starts swarming around the roc's enemies. It'll just help the immersion if Barovia has enough biodiversity to make it seem like a real, lived in place (especially if you happen to have a barbarian, druid, or ranger in the party who cares about that sort of thing).

really like the ghasts idea. so far ive run them as slightly more intelligent chompy boys but to have the party get some crucial/disturbing info from one would be very interesting.

All of your content is always so well thought out. Thanks for all you do! Love the ideas of the flesh golem for maximum creep / horror

I think it was suggested from MandyMod to have Jeny Greenteeth on the road to Berez to instruct the players to freeing her sister (one of the fanes)

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

If you're doing the Fanes, then that makes a lot of sense.

This is your best work yet. Very impressed.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I think so too. Shame the view counts don't reflect my own assessment.

@HowtoRPG

4 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes Every channel is having a drop off in views and revenue on KZread right now. Play the long game and wait a few years.

@onepebbleofmany

3 жыл бұрын

To be fair, Berez is just low on the priority list of DMs to prep in CoS. (I know that I, for one, am coming here only after watching most of your other videos in the series.) If you measure quality by “value added”, then this video is fantastic. Not your fault Berez is less exciting than a dinner with Strahd!

Your the One punch guide to curse of strahd

Good stuff!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Van Richten spoke of Ravenloft golems as inevitably filled with a spirit of destruction...it ain't a baby, it's an automation of death.

More than likely my first group will kill the baby flesh golem without much thought . The second group will deem it to me against Lathander and kill it

Damn man.... I have to salute you. this is awesome! My party will go th Berez in 2 sessions and you give me alot of good Ideas. But I have bad feelings about going to this place haha Thanks so much!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome. Lemme know how it goes!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Lemme know how it goes!

Dang hearing how you did the swamp makes me long to play curse with another dm, our party killed her so fast, she only power word stunned one member and then shortly died while we were only 4th level. The giant's skull was only used as stairs, and the illusionary baby even stayed for some reason, and the house never moved. The most anyone got hurt from the swamp was me taking 5d8 from the chest.

Thank you I just started running COS using a lot of your ideas in the campaign. I still feel a bit lost on all the connections of the items and characters. I have been reading the book but find it easier to use it as a supplement to yours.

@EdieCournoyer

4 жыл бұрын

skidmoda I’m doing the exact same thing. @lunchbreakheroes Please keep making these stellar videos! I’d be lost without you 😂

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Oh for sure; more to come!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

This is definitely a highly-interconnected module with a ton of obscure stuff in it. I'm very glad that these videos can help guide you through it all!

Just figured I’d report back my results with your hex crawl suggestion for Berez. I really loved the idea of it as well as running it. However, in a feedback survey I sent to my players, they said they didn’t feel very strongly about it either way. One said he wasn’t a huge fan of the random aspect to it, which surprised me. I thought getting lost in the swamp would be exciting. All good though, different strokes for different folks. Also, my players went through the obscured fog directly to Baba’s hut in the center (where Muriel told them it would be), which caused them to miss literally everything else in town. That’s not a big problem for me since they’re going to need to return for Baba’s heart eventually (using MandyMod’s guide for the fanes). I think I’ll ditch the hex crawl and justify the super thick fog as a result of some dark magic from Baba that has since faded away.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the feedback!

I love so much of what you offer here! I joined your Patreon and got the PDF. I love the idea that Strahd set up Lazlo and Grigor to be indefinitely tortured for undermining his plans with Marina, and the creep factor of them looking to have Marina marry Lazlo is great. One question: When you speak of Lazlo and Grigor being "undying ghasts" what do you mean? Are they ghasts that can't be killed?

knowing my party, i bet they are going to cast illusion and then adopt the flesh golem

Give the golem baby to mad Maggie

Damn I really like the ghoul idea but what if there's an item at the shrine? He's the one who knows😊

My party would absolutely crush that baby's skull. They did that to Walter trapped in the shambling mound in Death House and they pushed Vasilka off the walls of the abbey down the cliff hundreds of feet after killing the Abbot. They aren't good people lol

@LunchBreakHeroes

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like they fit right in to Barovia.

Very good ideas!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Loving what you did with a foggy hide and seek - golem - and Drag skull - I was always worried players would not find it or purse what to do with it.... But REALLY LOVED what you did with content from "I Strahd... " Your work here will definitely enhance my game. You have built better connection. As always your presentation of the ideas as a communicator is absolutely fantastic.... Gotta go Patreon now - just to support your show and work.... this is high level stuff and the game - intrigue mechanics of it all make sense - as does "morale dilemma." I am working at turning the "Tome Of Strahd" to be much more significant a magic item tied and operated to "the Fates" - while that's another whole ball of wax - the entries that I have prepared as hints, distractions, or insights will include the Berez history... as a mystery to be solved. Perhaps with rewards... I'm chopping key entries into tiny bits that can only be accessed once a day... because of its dizzying or draining effects. So your material will play very well with connections into this. I am further developing story and entries from "I Strahd" into the story elsewhere and even making room for an evidence of Janthar Sunstar's short presence within Barovia - "From Vampire of the Mists" Some of your other material will work into "encomplete entries" that I am going to write and manufacture - that don't give anything away but will give keen players more mysteries to solve.

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

I'm glad I could help, and thank you SO MUCH for your support!

I think it would be cute, if someone runs this, and delivers the flesh golem baby to Vasilka. :D

What I’m wondering is how did Baba get the parts for a baby flesh golem? Maybe she went looking for spare parts at Old Bonegrinder. And now that’s a thing that went on the internet.

@LunchBreakHeroes

2 жыл бұрын

You should be ashamed of yourself. I’m proud of you, but you should be ashamed. 😝

I always figured the original flying skull was some mutated bastard ancestor of Sangzor.

So, can anyone think of how Baba might have got her hands on the skull of Argynvost? Her and Strahd aren't exactly on the best of terms...

I dunno about the skull... Ravenloft make sense since the Silver Knights can't go there but Berez? Baba Lyzaga would had been fighting Reverants constantly... which could be fun but is not a "simple replacement"

My party would either kill the baby or just leave it. (Note: My party killed Piddlewick II with no hesitation and proceeded to use it’s limbs as weapons against Strahd’s animated armor). I’m the only person in my party to even consider taking the child with us and taking care of it.

Hey Guys. Next week my group will be playing the runies of Berez. I like your tips for this area and I will adopt them. The only thing that puzzles me is what when the group wants to keep Baby Golem. Can a Golem Grow and Have Feelings? Thanks in advance.

@LunchBreakHeroes

3 жыл бұрын

It cannot. It will never be anything more than it is now.

Heyo, great content per your usual! I’m at the pre-prepping stage for Berez right now (my players aren’t aware of the swamp yet but I like being ready). Do you have any map recommendations for the hex crawl idea? I’m playing on Roll20 with the module-provided, but as someone who has no idea how this works in practice I’d love to hear your thoughts and get an idea where I can find resources. I’m also already a patron so I’m looking over the pdf. Thanks!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

You can download the transparent PNG file from the description, and overlay it on the map of Berez with the photo editor of your choice-Photoshop, Gimp, etc. I’m not allowed to republish the actual map, or else I’d totally have one ready to use!

In my band of unfortunate party members, their psuedo-leader (vampire hunter turned vampire, Father Francis Hawthorne) would... Probably kill the "baby" without batting an eye, honestly. Now, Lina, the maternal eladrin with like 20 fucking kids (5 of which made the mistake of following her into Barovia...) on the other hand...

my party decided, after resscuing Arabelle to take one of the row boats down the Luna River because they thought it would get to the winery faster from Vallaki (mistake no.1, lol). They navigated past Arrvengosholt and didn't stop but kept going (mistake no.2). My last session's cliffhhanger ended with me describing how the river now turned into marsh and the fog grew thick. They not only allied themselves with the Martikov's and Rictavio but also aquired the Sun Sword from Kasimir and activated him despite his warnings of prying eyes (mistake no.3). Guess who was scrying when they did this? Yep, Baba Lysaga. Now they came to her, allied to her mortal enemies: the wareravens, and possessing a weapon of incredible poer that can cause serious harm to her "son". This will be fun.

Stab the baby

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

That is definitely an option

@ericdimarzio5756

4 жыл бұрын

TFS reference

My party started killing undead babies, and the youngest player missed out entirely and wants to kill a baby herself...

This is amazing, im running the interactive tome of strahd (which has father grigor as izek strazni, any suggestions i could do with him? I like that it shows people of the past and that ireena isnt the only one who reincarnates, but how could izek and father grigors ghast exist at once? Or do i have to scrap that part all together?

Thank you for another very useful video! Do you have an idea of how much your reVamped book will cost or when will it be completed? I am really looking foward to buying it!

@LunchBreakHeroes

4 жыл бұрын

I haven't settled on a price just yet. But probably $9 or less.

@jamesklassen6554

4 жыл бұрын

@@LunchBreakHeroes Don't shut up but take my money...

For my party they didn't kill Baba, they stole the Tome of Strahd, ripped out the heart of her hut and she escaped still with the dragon skull. Then along the way they encountered the hags of the old bonegrinder and the main one escaped. A/w their return to Berez where Baba has been planning a second engagement now with a new ally of circumstance....

Give the baby to mad Mary in Barovia.