[IC] Strahd 2024

Interest Check: Are there at lest 5 players interested and committed for the following

Details:
This is an early NY resolution for me. Those who know me as DM know I am lawful DM, meaning I take law enforcement role of DM too serious and story teller too casually. I want to try to change that with:
1. Run game using DnD PHB 2024 I did not yet read myself
2. Never tell a player "you can't do that" in a game thread, only discuss rules discord. I am learning rules with you.
3. Run game based on Curse of Strahd, skipping the intro mission that is a supplement in the module. Instead start with LVL 3 PCs
4. Invest heavily into NPCs, developing their personality details and role-playing them

Question/Suggestions?
Please ask me anything. I may still be open to change some of this.

I am very interested to join, but am sadly new to D&D 2024 rules. But I have heard of Strahd a LOT and dearly wish to play!

Happy Holidays! I would be interested in joining. I do not intend on owning the 2024 books so free rules are fine with me (I don't own the 2014 books either, although I own most of the D&D 1, 2, 3 books - I spent a lot more money on this hobby back then. :) I've never played or read Strahd and have been interested in giving that a try.

I believe the free rules only include 4 backgrounds, so you may want to consider including all of the PHB published backgrounds to give the players a few more options on that. That doesn't introduce new rules, just different combinations of feats and stats. You could consider also for subclasses, but that opens things up quite a bit more, so maybe not.

Posting interest. 2024 free rules would be great.

I'm also interested in trying both Curse of Strahd and the 2024 rules.

Sometimes, restrictions breed creativity, so I think it will be interesting to see what we can do with the limited options of the free rules. In particular if we go for RP over optimization.

I am interested as well. I do have the 2024 rules so I would be all set. I can also commit to the post and I am on discord.

That's 5 already. Wonderful. You can expect recruitment thread by the end of next week. Meanwhile feel free to ask other questions and/or share ideas/suggestions for how to better adopt 2024 and Strahd to fit each other and for PBP format.

@runestone that's the player attitude I am looking for! You earned a heroic inspiration for your first character in game when we start it. Don't get over exited though I plan to give those inspiration lightly in the game. That's my another new year resolution.

@DrifterDwarf have a point though. 4 background for 5 PCs not good. I think I can design one more and help players to choose unique ones. It will have Origin feat Skilled from free rules and the rest will be Curse of Strahd themed.

I see what you both mean. It would have been nice if they had included just a few more origins and origin feats in the free rules.

If we want a few more options, we could introduce a few more origins from the PHB.

Alternatively, allow players to customize the four origins from the free rules a little. An option could be to allow players rename the origin and change on skill and one ability. For instance:

Disclaimer: I have not thought this through. It might be too much. The flexibility would certainly make it easier for e.g. paladins and monks.

Thanks for ideas. Nevertheless for only-4-background issue I have got a solution that I'm happy about. Will share details in game
I am looking forward to hear of other issues I may need to fix before we start

Certainly the flavor of the background can be changed. A soldier does not need to be part of an army, the could be a town guard, militia member, merchant guard, or even a guard at a religious temple. A thief can easily be a spy, scout, or just wayward teen who has since found some more direction.

I do not think you will have much trouble adapting the new rules. Although I do not have them, I've watched a lot of different discussions on the changes and character options. Nothing seems terribly breaking, although some of the weapon masteries seem like they could really wreck low level encounters if characters are optimized to take advantage of them. I do not see them as any worse than some other builds in the old rules which could do that.

You have not mentioned multi classing, but I'm assuming for simplicity we will be going single class at least from the start. That gets everyone to their subclass.

I have the 2024 book and the backgrounds don't really improve. They seem very limiting but they suggest in the DMs guide that the DM can pretty much allow customizing as they see fit.

What class is everyone thinking of playing?

One thing I completely dislike about the new rules is the origins. Having the feat and stats tied together feels like a huge step backwards in customization, especially after Tasha opened stat bonus up to anything you wanted. Its like they dangled having a feat at first level to everyone and then locked it behind a choice you might not want to make.

For this game the 4 we have is fine, but long term I agree most people will want to customize their choices.

I'm thinking of playing Monk or Rogue - both classes I never play - trying to force myself to try something new. Recently tried druid for the first time. Leaning toward the new Monk. In either case, I'll probably take Criminal as the background.

I lean into dwarf fighter, but would be flexible. If I’m ultimately selected, of course.

I think they tried to copy from pathfinder 2e but botched it. LOL

I would most likely play a rogue or sorcerer ...leaning towards Rogue .. Halfling for a rogue and Human for a sorcerer

Throwing my hat in, if it's not too late. I like the idea of using the simplified rules, and I always wanted to play in Ravenloft ever since I read 'Vampire of the Mists'. I'm thinking of a compassionate Elven maiden right now, likely a bard, but I can come up with something else if it will be a better fit for the party.

- if anyone dislike 2024 rules, please don't apply to this game. I believe enough DMs are still open to use old rules
- if anyone have an a specific reason in mind why using only free rules (instead of full 2024 rules) would be a problem - let me know, I may try to fix it
- it is not late to show interest. It keeps me motivated, thanks for post. But you will have to post again in a recruitment thread once I post it

All rules have pros and cons - please don't take any of my comments as statement that you shouldn't use these rules or that I don't want to play under them. Just making some observations about them. I'm perfectly happy to play under the free 2024 rules and see where it takes us. I really don't expect you to have any issues adapting to them.

I look forward to your recruitment thread.

The rules are fine overall .. I like the weapon mastery that was well done....some stuff should have had more play testing but like with every edition there are some good or some bad.
I am OK with using the free rules....