Vasili von Holtz! Thanks!! I've tried to remember that name for a few months! Thanks!! Off-hand: note that Vasili sounds like "vassal" as in "someone who holds a land for another." Similarly, if you take the accent into account, "Vasili" becomes "Wesley" which is a very popular Western name. For those of us who love "The Princess Bride," having Wesley turn into a vassal does change the overall story plot -- and it makes the climax that much more awesome!
Vasili can be such an interesting plot twist in Barovian campaigns, and allows Strahd to become close to their targets and foes, before finally revealing his identity!
Excellent display of Stradh history. Without a doubt, Barovia is one of the best and most interesting domains to play. I find it awesome the comparison you made about the appearance of Count Stradh along the supplements, comparing it with different know vampires. I had held in my hands a lot of different supplements over the years but had never made this association. Well Done!
Count Strahd Von Zarovich is my favorite Dungeons and Dragons villain. The fact he's based off of Dracula is awesome. I prefer his classic look over his new Dracula Untold look. Mainly because as a kid I grew up watching the original Bela Lugosi film. Then as a teenager my father introduced me to the Hammer films of horror and Christopher Lee's Dracula. So the stereotypical Vampire look is my favorite look for the Lord of Barovia. But don't get me wrong the 5ED look is cool looking. But the inner classic horror fan in me leans toward the Bela Lugosi/Christopher Lee look. I never met him in the game, But I've read the first I Strahd, then Vampire of the Mists, along his guest appearance in Knight of the black rose. The fact he's a master manipulator and an Ultimate Opportunist makes him deadly and cunning. He's not stupid. If he can manipulate Soth to take out Gundar's son for his own gain, that's says how intelligent he is as a lord and general of war. I can go on but this video says it all. Thank man 🤘🤘🤘
Thanks! Strahd is indeed one of the greatests and most iconic villains of D&D. I also prefer the classic vampire look, although it is a little anacronic to the medieval setting of Barovia. I also like the Curse of Strahd version, but I am not a big fan of his depictions on the Van Richten Guide to Ravenloft.
Played and Dmd this module back when it first came out for 1s5 edition. Always been my fav. Have to admit, it caters more to a human party and was hard for me to DM with demihumans in the party. Undead and lyncathropes worked differently on demihumans back then and that made sense to me. Cant picture dwarves, gnomes, half orcs playing in this universe.
The main sources are the books of older editions. Some parts of it are from the novels Vampire of the Mists, I' Strahd, and I' Strahd, the War Against Azalin, and a good part of it is from the Ravenloft Gazetteer I from 1st edition. There are a few bits of information also in the novel Lord of Necropolis and the two final modules of the Grand Conjunction, House of Strahd and House of the Gryphon Hill.
Hey man this is AMAZING!!! Do you mind if i use this video in my campaign and in turn on my channel?! Im going to pretty much write the Tome of Strahd, and this video perfectally captures the story 😍😍😍😈😈😈
For your consideration: the suffix for -ich means "son of." Simlarly, the suffix for -ov means "son of." That means that the suffix -ovich means "son of the son of," or literally "the grandson of," or figuratively "of the family of." Proposing a slightly different spelling of Czarovich: would "Zarovich" properly be "the son of the son of the Czar"?
Yes! I read all of the novels in the setting a few years ago. My favorites are Vampire of the Mist and Dance of the Dead. Have you read them? What is your favorite?
@@HouroftheRaven I have all of the classic ones, none of the newer ones that came out years later. I like the War Against Azalin and Kinght of the Black Rose the best.
As much as I enjoyed playing this adventure with my friends it didn''t quite live up to my expectations of what Ravenloft should be like. Being the only player who was familiar with the old campaign setting. Perhaps it was simply how my dm depicted the story but Strahd came off as a very pathetic incel like character and the tones of the plot overtly feminist which is a fine interpretation turning Irena into a heroine of sorts but I felt my boy Strahd was done dirty in terms of characterization. From her perspective (the dm) I don't think she knows the full original backstory going with his depiction in this current edition so I am not too surprised. One aspect of his character was of course his obsession and unrequited love ie the Incel part but what she didn't understand was the doomed and tragic figure he also is as someone who sacrificed much of his life in order to keep his people safe during the war with the Tergs (not mentioned in this version) and essentially selling his soul to insure victory and safety but seeing his younger brother enjoying the fruits of his labor. My version(non canon). Part of his bargain for power was the sacrifice of his love and being tormented by being so close to what he's lost and driving him into the obsessive monster we know him now. A tragic fall for a hero turned villain. I bought the new Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft and I sadly feel its much of the same with a lot changed from the original setting to appeal to a more "woke" crowd. The maps are nice to have, very little given about the characters wishing there was converted stats included rather than a paragraph of description. Most of these new characters particularly the Dark Lords don't even hold a candle opting more of the same of what I mentioned above. Replaced by very Mary sue like counterparts. There is actually so much from previous editions that could have just been converted and here was the opportunity to flesh out the Campaign setting further and fill what was missing previously but instead it feels like they took a step backwards in terms of information given and that is not helpful resources for us dm's trying to run the setting.
It's a missed oportunity, in my opinion. I understand that they are aiming at a new public, that didn't know the previous setting, but I feel that, in most cases, the new domains are simplified versions at best. There was a rich an deep lore, but they choose to erase it.
@@HouroftheRaven Agreed on a missed opportunity. I would think that anytime a company would bring back an existing intellectual property they would try to appeal to those already familiar first. One of the reasons reboot movies fail at the box office. The simplified versions I think is something I call the cardboard box approach to gaming/fun. You know when you turn a carboard box into a race car, rocket ship, tank, bunker, house, etc. Leaving the dm and players to do most of the heavy lifting in terms of the game. Not realizing we buy into these campaigns because we want something (lore) and some game mechanics already there for us to use. Otherwise what was the point of spending the money? It's like reading a book half written and the author telling you to finish it..
Vasili von Holtz! Thanks!! I've tried to remember that name for a few months! Thanks!!
Off-hand: note that Vasili sounds like "vassal" as in "someone who holds a land for another." Similarly, if you take the accent into account, "Vasili" becomes "Wesley" which is a very popular Western name. For those of us who love "The Princess Bride," having Wesley turn into a vassal does change the overall story plot -- and it makes the climax that much more awesome!
Vasili can be such an interesting plot twist in Barovian campaigns, and allows Strahd to become close to their targets and foes, before finally revealing his identity!
Excellent display of Stradh history. Without a doubt, Barovia is one of the best and most interesting domains to play. I find it awesome the comparison you made about the appearance of Count Stradh along the supplements, comparing it with different know vampires. I had held in my hands a lot of different supplements over the years but had never made this association. Well Done!
Just found my 2 nd edition, and modules. I remember having fun with my brothers and sisters exploring Ravenloft.
Count Strahd Von Zarovich is my favorite Dungeons and Dragons villain. The fact he's based off of Dracula is awesome. I prefer his classic look over his new Dracula Untold look. Mainly because as a kid I grew up watching the original Bela Lugosi film. Then as a teenager my father introduced me to the Hammer films of horror and Christopher Lee's Dracula. So the stereotypical Vampire look is my favorite look for the Lord of Barovia. But don't get me wrong the 5ED look is cool looking. But the inner classic horror fan in me leans toward the Bela Lugosi/Christopher Lee look. I never met him in the game, But I've read the first I Strahd, then Vampire of the Mists, along his guest appearance in Knight of the black rose. The fact he's a master manipulator and an Ultimate Opportunist makes him deadly and cunning. He's not stupid. If he can manipulate Soth to take out Gundar's son for his own gain, that's says how intelligent he is as a lord and general of war. I can go on but this video says it all. Thank man 🤘🤘🤘
Thanks! Strahd is indeed one of the greatests and most iconic villains of D&D. I also prefer the classic vampire look, although it is a little anacronic to the medieval setting of Barovia. I also like the Curse of Strahd version, but I am not a big fan of his depictions on the Van Richten Guide to Ravenloft.
Played and Dmd this module back when it first came out for 1s5 edition. Always been my fav. Have to admit, it caters more to a human party and was hard for me to DM with demihumans in the party. Undead and lyncathropes worked differently on demihumans back then and that made sense to me. Cant picture dwarves, gnomes, half orcs playing in this universe.
Indeed. Ravenloft works beste with a low fantasy setting.
Excellent narration and comprehensive. Bravo. Keep them coming.
Perfect video! Thank You so much
Thanks! Glad you like it!
He looks like Vigo Ghostbusters
Indeed! It was a long time since I watched the second Ghostbuster, but the new Strahd indeed have a similar look to Vigo.
The half hour of the Raven.. 😂❤
Hahaha, indeed! Almost none of my videos reach 1 hour. Perhaps the one from Lord Soth is the longest one.
@@HouroftheRaven that's my favorite video so far. Thank you!!
Where did you find this information of his history?
The main sources are the books of older editions. Some parts of it are from the novels Vampire of the Mists, I' Strahd, and I' Strahd, the War Against Azalin, and a good part of it is from the Ravenloft Gazetteer I from 1st edition. There are a few bits of information also in the novel Lord of Necropolis and the two final modules of the Grand Conjunction, House of Strahd and House of the Gryphon Hill.
Hey man this is AMAZING!!! Do you mind if i use this video in my campaign and in turn on my channel?! Im going to pretty much write the Tome of Strahd, and this video perfectally captures the story 😍😍😍😈😈😈
Sure, go ahead! I hope your players also like the video and my Strahd voice impersonation!
@@HouroftheRaven dude its great! Your accent only improves the passage 😈
For your consideration: the suffix for -ich means "son of." Simlarly, the suffix for -ov means "son of." That means that the suffix -ovich means "son of the son of," or literally "the grandson of," or figuratively "of the family of."
Proposing a slightly different spelling of Czarovich: would "Zarovich" properly be "the son of the son of the Czar"?
Further consideration: "Czar" is a corruption of "Caesar" so Strahd would be "a descendant of Caesar."
Cool! Never thought about the etymology of the name Zarovich! Very interesting possibilities and ideas!
Keep,up the great work! Have you had the opportunity to read the Ravenloft novels?
Yes! I took a long time, but I finally grab them all on ebay, a few years ago. My favorites are Vampire of the Mists and Dance of the Dead.
Yes! I read all of the novels in the setting a few years ago. My favorites are Vampire of the Mist and Dance of the Dead. Have you read them? What is your favorite?
@@HouroftheRaven I have all of the classic ones, none of the newer ones that came out years later. I like the War Against Azalin and Kinght of the Black Rose the best.
As much as I enjoyed playing this adventure with my friends it didn''t quite live up to my expectations of what Ravenloft should be like. Being the only player who was familiar with the old campaign setting. Perhaps it was simply how my dm depicted the story but Strahd came off as a very pathetic incel like character and the tones of the plot overtly feminist which is a fine interpretation turning Irena into a heroine of sorts but I felt my boy Strahd was done dirty in terms of characterization.
From her perspective (the dm) I don't think she knows the full original backstory going with his depiction in this current edition so I am not too surprised. One aspect of his character was of course his obsession and unrequited love ie the Incel part but what she didn't understand was the doomed and tragic figure he also is as someone who sacrificed much of his life in order to keep his people safe during the war with the Tergs (not mentioned in this version) and essentially selling his soul to insure victory and safety but seeing his younger brother enjoying the fruits of his labor. My version(non canon). Part of his bargain for power was the sacrifice of his love and being tormented by being so close to what he's lost and driving him into the obsessive monster we know him now. A tragic fall for a hero turned villain.
I bought the new Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft and I sadly feel its much of the same with a lot changed from the original setting to appeal to a more "woke" crowd. The maps are nice to have, very little given about the characters wishing there was converted stats included rather than a paragraph of description. Most of these new characters particularly the Dark Lords don't even hold a candle opting more of the same of what I mentioned above. Replaced by very Mary sue like counterparts.
There is actually so much from previous editions that could have just been converted and here was the opportunity to flesh out the Campaign setting further and fill what was missing previously but instead it feels like they took a step backwards in terms of information given and that is not helpful resources for us dm's trying to run the setting.
It's a missed oportunity, in my opinion. I understand that they are aiming at a new public, that didn't know the previous setting, but I feel that, in most cases, the new domains are simplified versions at best. There was a rich an deep lore, but they choose to erase it.
@@HouroftheRaven Agreed on a missed opportunity. I would think that anytime a company would bring back an existing intellectual property they would try to appeal to those already familiar first. One of the reasons reboot movies fail at the box office. The simplified versions I think is something I call the cardboard box approach to gaming/fun. You know when you turn a carboard box into a race car, rocket ship, tank, bunker, house, etc. Leaving the dm and players to do most of the heavy lifting in terms of the game. Not realizing we buy into these campaigns because we want something (lore) and some game mechanics already there for us to use. Otherwise what was the point of spending the money? It's like reading a book half written and the author telling you to finish it..