5e Dungeon Masters Guide - Curse of Strahd - [Preamble] [Ch. 1] [Ch. 2] [Ch. 3] [Death House]

[@carljoosepraave2102]

I feel many share this sentiment, but this has helped me enormously in preparing as someone with ADHD

[@lcamacho398]

Finally modules as audiobooks, this guy deservers more subs

[@davidhollowelljr949]

So it's basically an audiobook of Curse of Strahd? ...aight, I'm about it.

[@xpyright2935]

I highly suggest you put on some fireplace and rain/thunder ASMR while listening to this.

[@AF-tv6uf]

This is exactly what I was looking for and didn't know it existed. Nice.

[@Packermanice97]

as someone who would like audio book version of adventure books as a dm i aprrove

[@ademiranda2]

I am getting ready to run this next week and decided to watch this video in preparation while I wait to get the guide I just ordered. I also decided to go all out and order the tarokka deck. This video is going to help me a lot in getting ready. Thanks!

[@StyrofoamCancer]

I rarely comment on videos, but THANK YOU so much for this wonderful resource. I'm preparing to run CoS (after having played it) and listening to this at work is helping me mentally prepare in a big way. Incredible work, really.

[@Shimloo]

Can't say enough how big of a help this series is - best guide I've come across and it's a huge aid to a new DM

[@Marcel2278]

As someone with ADHD and the ability to read the book but not in one sitting, this immeasurably helpful in helping me get through the content relatively quickly so I can always go back and double check if I need to later. This works so much better for me and you have no idea how thankful I am for this, and I can't imagine how useful this for other people with similar disorders or issues.. Again thank you and dope quality and editing!

[@alphasia91]

Thank you so much for doing this! I struggled through reading the book but I still feel like I’m lacking in so much. This is really helpful!!

[@musicloverfromA45]

Thank you for this video, makes working with the book easier for my game. your a real champion for posting this.

[@cwesley2005]

Please do more of these! They are extremely helpful and entertaining! Thank you very much!

[@FD-lo8xr]

THANKS!!!! cant wait for part 2! when will u be uploading it??? great job man!

[@YourPocketGM]

Thanks for the nice comment, this is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@kalebmantegani5922]

Helps a lot to have your narration as I’m reading the book, thanks!

[@bytecode5834]

Fantastic video, thanks for the gift!

[@stevenmayes2958]

This has made learning CoS so easy! I can follow along in the book and make notes as you read it and explain. Thank you so much for this! How can we contribute to your success for doing this??

[@paulcoy9060]

5:28 On page 15, it says "Inspire. While within sight of Strahd, this character grants inspiration to one player character he or she can see." It doesn't mention a Per Encounter maximum, and I would rule that this ability is usable once per Round, because Strahd is no push-over, and the PCs will need a hell of an ally to win the war.

[@christhompson7662]

Super helpful for me. I was following along in the book and listening here. Helped me a ton, so thank you.

[@BoundScyth3]

Awesome in depth guide, it’s got me even more excited to transition my players into it in a few weeks 😎

[@fintandeconnachta5525]

Holy crap dude you're a lifesaver. This was extremely helpful. I have been a homebrew DM ever since I started playing. Never once ran a premade module. Tried once, when I first started learning 5E just to help me figure out how it works in comparison to the *coughsuperiorcough* more number cruncy Pathfinder and 3.5 I started with. Frankly, I don't get it. It seems a lot more difficult to follow something someone else wrote than just making it all up on my own. But...my group wants to play Curse of Strahd, the actual horror version (Three have played but the DMs ran it a horror comedy or a fricken BDSM porno because degeneracy.) So now I have no choice...plus, seems interesting. That said...I have to point out, that a lot (if not all) of the pictures between 3:07 and 3:33 are in fact cannon Pathfinder characters. The one in the first image is Seelah, a Paladin of Iomedae. The Arabic influenced one is Kyra, a cleric of Sarenrae, The orcish looking one in the red cloak is Imrijka, an inquisitor of Pharasma The female with the highly revealing robes is Seoni, a sorcerer and Pharasma worshiper Kind of warms my heart.

[@chrisstewart3961]

This video is a godsend

[@sammeads7696]

Hey bro, great guide, very helpful, the bookmarks are a godsend, keep up the great work

[@DaerianAntilles]

Love the use of Diablo 2 and 3 music. Perfect tone.

[@stevemoreso5610]

Thank you for this it got me back into cos, can’t wait to run it again!

[@taylorwebb732]

Please upload more it helped so much

[@YourPocketGM]

Yes, sorry for the delay. This is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@CassassinCatto]

I'll be running this myself soon! With an Assassin's Creed flavour to it. Thanks for the TED Talk! Will there be a Part 2?

[@YourPocketGM]

Yes, sorry for the delay. This is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@bouzburaz6149]

tip: just watch these videos in 1.5 speed, its so much faster and better

[@martinprzybylek3961]

Great content. Really helps ne to prepare my game while driving

[@solidscorpion]

This was great! Listened to it at work and got me ready for running this adventure. Thank you!! Any plans on doing more adventure modules?

[@briancherry8088]

Yeah, I have the book. I was looking for more of a ... I dunno.... guide. I do like the Diablo soundtrack in the back. It fits perfectly.

[@bastienmillecam3183]

Playback speed x1.5, and it's perfect!

[@TZM676]

Thanks!

[@CireLepeod]

I was riveted the entire time

[@johnrambo6265]

great work man

[@garciariosfranciscoantonio9698]

muy buen video explica muy bien como narrar la campaña y pues a pesar de no estar en mi idioma lo agradezco

[@YourPocketGM]

Traductor de Google: Gracias por sus amables palabras. Me encantaría tener varios idiomas, pero lamentablemente apenas puedo hablar inglés. :)

[@obedmeneses2311]

Thank you so very much!

[@klits732]

This is great can you do more books?

[@tutekstarkiller827]

Man, u are awesome.

[@jackcrowley2640]

Thank you for this!

[@gangrail]

Yes this is awesome I want to run it and a racenloft game badly

[@stevemoreso5610]

That was really good video. How long till you get part 3 out?

[@stevemoreso5610]

I know I already said it but I really really like these videos, they helped me get back into curse of Strahd!

[@gamesandplayallnightandday8724]

Thanks for this.

[@Nick-gq7uy]

1:19:53 saving time for later

[@kevind6723]

I found the skip to message very confusing. It said skip to 12:35:30. This isn’t a twelve hour video, so where am I supposed to go?

[@YourPocketGM]

Very sorry! This was a typeo on my part. The random encounters are supposed to be at 1:25:47 .

[@maggoli67]

Does Barovia have seasons? Do things (kind of) grow year-round?

[@matthewjohnson3473]

I love it. Anyone know if it's legal?

[@Grimlore82]

When do we get a part 2?

[@YourPocketGM]

This is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@daltonwelch6149]

Question chapter 1: into the mist- Do you tell the players all this information about Strahd?

[@rachelhughes8487]

Absolutely not all this information is for the DM. Players are supposed to know virtually nothing and discover everything while playing

[@joaobatina7417]

when is the part 2 coming

[@murtamp9828]

4 months later

[@dimofamo]

@@murtamp9828 so he's about to release it! Nice!

[@googleaccount846]

Murtamp nah

[@YourPocketGM]

Thanks for waiting, this is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@GEONEgaming]

59:00 Bildwrath only sells items worth LESS than 25 gp on the adventures gear table, not 25 gp OR less. If an item costs exactly 25 gp, he does not sell it.

[@Grimlore82]

I use that song too! Lol.

[@connorsmith1005]

No part 2?

[@YourPocketGM]

This is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@ryankatcha2037]

quipts iykyk

[@Jakeaddicts]

When are you releasing part 2?

[@YourPocketGM]

This is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@unlimitedkaka3865]

"sergee"

[@jamesalvarez6251]

Compare the market :P

[@aronagerton2909]

I have ADHD and its unmedicated. I have a really hard time DMing modules because of it because its hard for me to read long form. But I listen to audio books and can watch long form tv shows and podcast just fine. This video has been a huge help to me. thank you so much for making it.

[@Marcel2278]

Dude 100%, I've never felt so prepared to DM a session in my life!

[@Jachord]

Same here this is lovely :)

[@GeekandGlory]

I was so happy when I found out this was basically an audio book. I can listen to this at work and it is so much easier to digest than reading through the actual book.

[@rockboy12346]

I have ADD and have the same problem reading modules but absolutely love dnd. Could not get through the castle part of the module at all so this video is a big help.

[@greenman13131313]

lmao I'm not even listening to the video because of my ADD. I'm down here in the comments instead XD

[@lc9604]

Curse of Strahd: the Audio book. Nice.

[@davidhollowelljr949]

Shit I was late af on that joke

[@Locolupine4144]

I still followed along with the physical copy of the book and it gave me a chance to pause the video and take notes of how I would use different features for some of the campaign since I'm running a game for newer players

[@Locolupine4144]

And the pieces of information about Ireena and Rudolph all give the DM (me in this case) even more knowledge without reading all the way to chapter 3/5 right away to find out where these characters are once the campaign starts. That ultimately means I'll get to run this campaign even sooner!

[@Yohmama1988]

You got a patreon or someway we can support you? Because this helps me out so much and this seems like alot of work. I feel bad not giving you something lol.

[@Wndrlnd9]

This! ^^^

[@vtecnick89]

I just started dm'ing and I find this video so helpful since I wanna run this campaign for my friends who are newish players. I wholeheartedly agree

[@alexanderbarlow8155]

I was literally just searching for Curse of Strahd videos, and this popped up ("2 minutes ago"), loved your work the Lost Mines video.

[@bonesdnd8716]

This was extremely helpful and very informative. I was reading over the official book when I stumbled across this. Studying the module can be monotonous but listening to it like an audiobook is actually pretty entertaining. I really appreciate how much work you've put into this video and really hope to see more content like this in the future. Thanks a ton.

[@doctorbubonic1956]

This has saved my life. I'm very dyslexic and I'm currently running this campaign for my friends. It took me a long time to read the module and I barely understood it.

[@paulh3892]

Thanks for posting another well produced in depth campaign setting guide. It’s no wonder everyone speaks so fondly of this module. What a cool theme

[@irnbru5496]

Thankyou so much for doing this I am dyslexic but always wanted to DM I found the books really daunting to read without a general overlay now I can watch these videos as prep and I have a rly good idea what to do as the characters move about.

[@music4note]

you can just read the book...in the same amount of time....exact same since he is reading the book to us...

[@irnbru5496]

Y4 H you could just read my comment...

[@joaobatina7417]

As another dyslexic, thanks mate. Waiting for the next

[@jamesvandevender7975]

Y4 h can you yourself NOT read? Read his initial comment. 😑

[@wingscancer]

also dyslexic here, i want to DM as well. ill back you up on this Will Grant 👍

[@BonScott1995]

Its a shame you didnt continue doing video's like this, they are REALLY good!

[@YourPocketGM]

Sorry for the wait, this is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@joshuawalker8624]

As someone with a bit of an issue when it comes to reading extensive lore due to poor attention span, having an auditory aid while reading kept me turning pages and absorbed what's being said. I plan on running this in a few weeks and this really helped keep focus.

[@toasty5296]

the letter to the players: please come to strahd also I've been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty

[@biornr.4031]

I own the book, but your narration makes it even better. Your tone also really fits the setting/mood. This also allows me to continue without having to sit down at a desk and read through it all. Great job, I really appreciate it

[@ltGargoyle]

I have to agree.

[@heroscape-legends5067]

Every time I watch I fall asleep in like 5 minutes. It’s very relaxing

[@esperthebard]

Well done! If only I'd listened to this before running CoS, I would have felt overall more familiar with everything.

[@YourPocketGM]

To have impressed such an accomplished bard I am quite smitten.

[@ademiranda2]

I keep coming back to this video since I have been watching it in parts. I am learning a few things as I go along. This is my approach in preparing: 1)I am trying to read through the whole thing cover to cover. However, I am going slow because I am reading and rereading the areas that I’m about to run. I highlight what I consider important as I go. I also use Post it notes to remind me of sequence of presenting scenes, encounters, and NPC’s. 2)As I go through reading an area, I make index cards of all the NPC’s in that section and possible monsters the PC’s might encounter. Nothing kills the immersion more than stopping everything to look up stats in a book. My philosophy is that books are resources to be used between game sessions, not during game sessions. 3)It’s important to read the Appendix D: Monsters and NPC’s section at the back of the book. I found that it helped clarify a lot of the sub plots and made me understand the important NPC’s motivations a lot better so I could role play them correctly. This is important because it will help move the story along. This is a great campaign and a lot of fun to DM so far!

[@YourPocketGM]

Yes it can be quite hard to run especially if you're a first time GM. I would recommend just memorizing 3 random monster encounters and just run them as you feel appropriate for the moment. Trying to memorize every encounter will overwhelm you. It is far better to have 3 fast, exciting and memorable encounters than 20 slow, tedious and forgettable ones! Remember that you can always 'revise' the campaign notes in between sessions as opposed to trying to have it all ready at session 1. :) Good luck!

[@tothesimplethings9685]

Video is very helpful, helps for first time running the adventures. You should do tomb of annihilation next

[@ATerafinLoyalty]

I am interested in the quote at the beginning about the Gothic novel as detective story by Horace Walpole. Do you remember the specific source of the quote, where he wrote it? Edit: it looks like that quote can be found in an introduction to "three gothic novels" edited by E. F. Bleiler.

[@Trappolacida]

Thank you so much! english is not my first language, so i follow with the sub. Its funny youtube translate Barovian with Peruvian. So i follow all the adventure with this Peruvian all around. It's Curse Of Strahd, but in Peru.

[@VeritechGirl]

I was thinking - what if a DM ran this campaign with characters that are native to Barovia? Instead of having characters "sucked into" Barovia, they are just young heroes who were born and grew up there (maybe their parents were adventurers from another realm?) Would this idea be feasible?

[@Yoderstein666]

I would say it’s entirely feasible if very unlikely. Especially if it gets revealed any of the characters have no soul. That would make them being people of will very difficult.

[@thunderdragonish]

More recent modules are better about providing a table of important people (dramatis personae) and how to pronounce their names, but it would have helped this video immensely to have done some research on Slavic pronunciations. I couldn’t help but cringe at every mention of “sur-gee”. (It’s pronounced Ser-gay.)

[@_leontheprofessional]

Going to make a part 2? Would be a huge help!

[@blackunoichi]

Is it ever coming?

[@YourPocketGM]

Thanks for the support, this is coming soon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XCZ4aJqKyeeLc

[@ademiranda2]

Good job on keeping you voice gothic. Nothing would have been more anti climatic than a high pitched, animated, excited voice.

[@ryanversecodp]

I can't thank you enough for your content. I'm a chef, so finding time to do anything is a challenge. I listen to your videos while I'm prepping and cleaning, it really makes the time fly by.

[@dm_guru2408]

I love Curse of Strahd and it's one of my favorite campaigns I've ever run and I so very much wish that this video existed when I started preparing it years ago. This was great! Awesome images/effects.

[@fraserhardy7430]

These episodes are some of the (if not THE) best GM prep content I've ever heard. As a relatively new DM, listening to these before picking up Strahd gave me so much more freedom over my ability to guide the story and ideas to implement. Previously unclear motivations and interactions laid bare, and your connecting of npcs across the land with historical insight is brilliant- what I'd give for these guides for other campaigns 😩😩

[@chrisnash8825]

I love that 'reading the campaign book' is the best prep content for the campaign....

[@travails3829]

@@chrisnash8825 How on Earth this isn't copyright infringement I'll never know.

[@mrkojak-ci1zm]

Sounds like "Diablo l " sound track. Awesome

[@YourPocketGM]

Good ear! Diablo 2 as well. :)

[@ryanrizzo4869]

That's what I thought. Good choice. I use these soundtracks in my games often.

[@mariajuliafernandes3659]

I have been using microsoft edge for audiobook this book, iam so happy this existi, my dyslexia is very happy kkkk

[@jackobrien1716]

Really loving your work so far dude, hopefully, you'll put another one of these out on the Dragon of Icespire peak!

[@nickvalentin3646]

Ool

[@JJSeattle]

Why isn't this on Audible? Great audio, solid narrating, great voice to listen to. Next should be Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Thank you for all your hard work. PS You should send demo's around to agencies for audio books narration employment...after you finish Icewind Dale ;)

[@jackhartford521]

This is such a great video! I am going to be running curse soon and I am loving being able to listen to it in addition to reading it. Random question. I’ve always wanted to make KZbin videos, I love dungeons and dragons, and I’ve been told I have a good sounding voice, would you be willing to help me do this? To make just audio videos? I know it’s probably a decent amount of work, I would gladly pay you for your time.

[@YourPocketGM]

Sorry, I am still learning myself and I am entirely self taught with tutorials on KZbin. If it helps I use Audacity to record audio and Hitfilm Express to edit videos; all I can recommend is to make a small 1 minute video and then build up from there, good luck!

[@vsaucerinokripperino7223]

Top tip, put this on 1.5x and it's much better. (You have a great voice btw, bet it's perfect for DMing)

[@YourPocketGM]

2.0x if you're a pro! :)

[@bwilson774]

I'm definitely basing my rp of the burger master on randy from trailer park boys. Frig off strahd!

[@SwedenMupp]

Your voice is amazing for reading its so captivating yet smooth

[@pseudonym9599]

This is my first time running a module. Having this in audio makes notes and prep so easy. The ideas flow as I listen. Thank you so much for posting this.

[@SquiddlyInk]

This was so cool. Thank you - your voice is so nice to listen to.

[@asherscottL]

THANK YOU for the visual map explanations. I was able to figure them out, but flipping back and forth between the map and the descriptions for exhausting. I really appreciate the extra work

[@thomassierp5583]

Is this running at half speed?

[@martinmaydana2418]

At first I was thinking to myself: "what's the point in listening to hours of video?, I'm just looking for quick tips...." That was like 6 videos ago. Congrats, man, unique style and content.

[@adamjacobrogers9155]

Ravenloft is fantastic. The original had detailed maps, backstory, atmosphere, with a card reading system designed to use as a gypsy witch fortune telling. I have played through as a PC and DM 'ed later on, both roles were equally fun and engaging AF. Classic module in a series of fantastic adventures.

[@joshshin6819]

5e is just like the original n is amazing as well. Def depends on the DM but it's a great story.

[@adamjacobrogers9155]

@@joshshin6819 I have to admit I've yet to play any version past... Say.. 3.5 maybe? 5th edition seems fairly easy to grasp I just don't have the materials, resources to obtain said materials, or ppl who can actually commit to it as a consistent thing..

[@adamjacobrogers9155]

@@joshshin6819 I used to play through my Step - Dad 's collection of modules and played some classic ones, Keep at Borderlands, Hommlet, Ravenloft, the Oasis of White Palm trilogy, Queen of the Demonweb Pit. Great fun and good times.👍

[@andreagarton5535]

Hey! Thanks for helping me build my character - gold Fizbain’s treasurery of dragons dragonborn wild magic sorcerer who literally fell into Barovia when she was 5. Thanks so much for this video. 😊

[@magerious2150]

This video was Immeasurably valuable to me, I am GMing this next week I felt unprepared until now

[@animouse2354]

Been so terrified of doing a premade campaign because of the amount of reading and dyslexia is a big b word this helps so much ❤

[@frederika.h.1004]

Just saying, this really helps. You have no idea ! I love the books, and i love having them, i love skimming and reading the sections i need to know. But when it comes to actually reading a whole book or for extended time, no matter how much i want... its just difficult. So thank you. You got my sub, and all the likes i can give ! Definitely gonna use this for other moduls !

[@manyPotions]

Thank you very much for this great video.

[@Yandarval]

Listening to this. it sounds very much like the OG Ravenloft adventure. No changes at all. just stat blocks I imagine.

[@FailAries]

I am all about the audiobook style dm guides! You got a patreon my friend?

[@_frogerino]

this is exactly what i have been looking for