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Here is the music Strahd should be playing on the organ when the party arrives.

For ambient music throughout the castle, I highly recommend picking up the Vampyre album by Midnight Syndicate. I’ve gotten a ton of mileage out of this soundtrack. I especially enjoy the Graveyard and Winged Fury tracks.

Before heading into the castle, I highly recommend studying the maps closely, especially where the doors lead to between levels, and especially in the towers. It’s not always obvious at a glance where those stairways go to, and taking some time before the game to figure it out will save you a hassle at the table.

Finally, figure out what Strahd’s final monologue will be. Just as importantly, figure out what his strategy during combat will be. Remember, he can Disengage for free and run through walls.

Strahd doesn’t want to die, and he’s a brilliant tactician. Your players will have to be both smart and lucky if they hope to beat him in his lair.

Good luck!

Our next session is this Saturday. I think before the end of the session they should be at the Tser Pool for the card reading. I've purchased a tarot deck (https://www.amazon.ca/Golden-Tarot-Kat-Black/dp/1572814349) for the ready and have assigned meanings.

I'll be performing a card reading for immersion purposes but I have picked out the locations of the treasures. For the Ally, I've selected several interesting ones that will be chosen at random. I didn't really want the locations to be chosen at random. I much prefer a more thematic approach to the locations. I'm also considering for the "where you'll find Strahd" to just be a random location where they will definitely run into him during their adventure rather when the last battle will be.

I've decided to have them find the Tome at the winery, the Holy Symbol in Argynvostholt, and the Sunsword in the Amber Temple. I can't remember off the top of my head which of the cards I selected from the High deck to represent each place.. I think maybe Justice for Argynvostholt and Death for the Amber Temple?

I wanted them to find the Tome early on but have the more powerful items for later levels. I'm still debating whether or not I want the Holy Symbol in Argynvostholt or the Werewolves den though. I really want them to go to Agrynvostholt. If they don't, I'll likely come up with another reason for them to go then just for finding treasure.

Try that: LEGO Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

https://www.amazon.ca/LEGO-Fantastic-Beasts-Grindelwald-Grindelwalds/dp/B07BKQXCZR/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541639633&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=lego+fantastic+beasts&dpPl=1&dpID=51LA8cUuYvL&ref=plSrch

Find black hair and gray or black clock. Bonus you have a free Nightmare (strahd's mount) and a caravan for madam Eva ;-)

I did something very on the nose and stole a few excepts from I, Strahd and read them for the players as the PCs were sleeping, telling them they had a dream, expanding on what they learn from the Tome.

Once again, it's very on the nose, but I think it worked great to get the players to understand why Strahd is acting the way he is. If you want to relay more information to the players you could always use the same method, as if the dreams are given to the PCs by the dark powers.

I was just looking into this yesterday. One way you could do it is by printing the images from the CoS book on normal paper and cutting then gluing them to a normal deck of cards. It might not be pretty but the effect would work.

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You could print the images onto nice card stock/ paperstock at a copy/printer place and cut everything to make your own deck.

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The other option I suggest is buying them off amazon for $10. Link https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Strahd-Tarokka-Wizards-Team/dp/0786966580/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3GBR4SPF73USA&keywords=tarroka+cards&qid=1563817910&s=gateway&sprefix=tarroka%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-2

Sorry I just saw you said the items are expensive where you live. But maybe this link will help others too.

Hope this helps

The D&D Castle Ravenloft (original inspiration for CoS as noted in the Introduction) Board Game is my answer as well. Almost all ~40 miniatures can be used at one point in the CoS campaign, which works out to a fantastic price per mini ratio (a little over a dollar per).

The only downside is that the Strahd mini isn't EPIC enough, so I purchased a separate mini just for him.

Amazon Link

Painted Castle Ravenloft Minis

I worked off the following recipes (with a few changes here & there):

• Mini sausage pies (I suggest browning/cooking the sausage filling first before putting it into the pie)
  
• Potato and herb
  
• Sweet squash
  
• Apple
  
  I baked them in mini mince meat pie tins, so that my players could eat them easily at the table. The sausage and apple were the clear favorites.

Good advice here. Also, if you're going to continue painting, consider investing in one of these. It makes a huge difference when painting in small areas and tightening up lines.

FYI this is a pretty standard price, it's only a little more than a dollar off the usual amazon price.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Curse-Strahd-Dungeons-Sourcebook-Supplement/product/0786965983

Books are just more expensive at the local store and it sucks. I want to support my local gaming shop, and I do buy my dice, minis, paints and special-edition books there. But it's a little unreasonable to spend almost double on a standard book because of goodwill. The first of the new waterdeep books is $49.99 at my local shop, but on Amazon BOTH books together costs about $58.

The miniature that he used can be found here.

If you're not much for paint and would like some of the work done before you dress him up a bit, you could also try this.

I got a big easel-sized graph paper and draw out my maps with marker and colored pencil. Sometimes I will scale a map up from a digital version to print out if it's important and details matter (i.e. the Coffin Maker's Shop).

Do you mind if I ask what country you're from?
You can get them off of Amazon in the UK. Not sure about other countries though, sorry.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dungeons-Dragons-Dungeon-Masters-Screen/dp/B01ETU6T24/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550021357&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=curse+of+strahd+dm+screen&dpPl=1&dpID=51Wg4LV7DHL&ref=plSrch

BYOB: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H03M95I

If the Halloween stores are open near you yet, they may have something similar to this in stock.

There is an official Strahd mini

And these vampire hunters are blatantly Van Richten and Ezmerelda

I found them all here

https://www.amazon.com/Strahd-Memoirs-Vampire-Ravenloft-Covenant-ebook/dp/B00BABT0W2

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Support the author, she's still around. And from what she's written in the Ravenloft Facebook group, piracy's been kicking her ass.