Strahd “defeated” with hugs
Also a general update of sorts
I’ve been DMing Curse of Strahd since August 2018. My players JUST finished the whole campaign Friday night. They hugged Strahd. I’ve never as a DM witnessed several grown ass men - all veteran players - decide to use friendship and compassion on a villain and bizarrely succeed. And I’m so proud of them.
There was still a battle with an aspect of a Lovecraftian outer god though, which is homebrew - though I’m seeing some DMs do similar.
They obviously didn’t just hug him and it was all better. The whole time players had been talking about various ways in which they’d kill him. So for that not to happen was like...did you just reverse uno card the DM into a wholesome ending? It’s a long story and one I’d like to tell in small parts, as the build up to why and how this worked is important. I know some DMs might not like this choice and that’s fair, but I prefer the world to respond to the culmination of players choices, rather than “Well he is evil anyway so nothing you do matters.” I am careful to do justice to Strahd as a villain, but with the players working so hard to rp so well, roll well, show up to every session online during the pandemic. Bro. Just let them solve this with compassion. We need more of that in the world. So, CoS stories to come! DROW STUFF TOO. Yes I know. I have been severely lacking in my drow content quota and I will repent for these sins. I’ve just been in a very different headspace lately. And then 2020 came in flexing how much of a fucknugget it could be. But I think my mana has replenished. Here’s a sneak peek WIP of hugged Strahd.



















