With the appetite for more Dungeons & Dragons content beyond the original game, one D&D campaign from almost a decade ago has the perfect structure to adapt as a TV show. Once relegated to the niche realm of hardcore tabletop gamers and nerds, Dungeons & Dragons has experienced a surge in growth in the past decade. Since then, Dungeons & Dragons has become Stranger Things‘ primary inspiration, gotten its own tabletop livestreams like Critical Role, which spawned its own series, The Legend of Vox Machina, and a movie adaptation, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
One of the struggles of adapting Dungeons & Dragons for a TV show or movie is the general lack of a cohesive narrative. Like video games, players themselves build the story as they go along, so by its very nature, most Dungeons & Dragons campaigns don’t have much beyond a few key plot points to build the framework. Otherwise, the story is wide open; literally anything can happen, even more than in video games.
Dungeons & Dragons’ Curse Of Strahd Campaign Has The Perfect Plot For A TV Show
It’s Straightforward & Easily Plotted
That’s exactly why the Dungeon & Dragons campaign, Curse of Strahd, is the best bet for adapting to the TV medium. The campaign was part of the 5th Edition of D&D and released in 2016. Unlike the usually pure fantasy of Dungeons & Dragons, Curse of Strahd is firmly planted in a Gothic horror setting, with some of the usual fantasy trappings of the tabletop game. It gives the campaign a unique twist in the Dungeons & Dragons canon, but that’s not the only reason it would make an excellent adaptation.
Of D&D campaigns, Curse of Strahd arguably has the most cohesive plot, which lends itself to episodic adaptation.
Of D&D campaigns, Curse of Strahd arguably has the most cohesive plot, which lends itself to episodic adaptation. Curse of Strahd finds the players trapped in the realm of Barovia, a land that’s surrounded by mysterious, deadly fog. Barovia is ruled by the ancient vampire wizard Strahd von Zarovich, who keeps a tight grip and ruthless grip on the people of the land. The players must travel around Barovia to find various artifacts, culminating in the final fight against Strahd in the Castle Ravenloft setting. It makes Curse of Strahd the perfect one-shot Halloween or starter campaign. It’s a straightforward, easily plotted narrative that naturally breaks up into perfect episodes. Plus, it’s just fun.
Curse Of Strahd’s Villain Would Be A Huge Draw For A Live-Action TV Series
Strahd Is Layered, Compelling, & Evil
A big part of the fun of the Curse of Strahd campaign is Strahd himself. Strahd von Zarovich has been around for decades in D&D canon, but it was Curse of Strahd that really made him explode in popularity for a whole new audience right as Dungeons & Dragons was also reaching new heights of popularity. He’s monstrous, his origins and motivations rooted firmly in the more horrifying, older folklore instead of the sexier, more sympathetic versions popularized by Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer. In Curse of Strahd, the vampire is very much still a cautionary tale rather than an idealized fantasy antihero. Co-creator Chris Perkins describes Strahd as such:
“[I]n Gothic horror fiction, the villain’s torment is often self-inflicted; the villain becomes, ironically, a victim of their own monstrous nature and horrible acts. […] He is a malignant narcissist trapped by his malignant narcissism – forever alone, forever feared and unable to change. He must be destroyed because salvation is beyond him. […] In horror fiction, the villain is framed as inhumanity personified, often serving as a cautionary tale: once you lose your humanity, you can never get it back. Other fantasy villains aren’t usually burdened with that kind of terrifying reality.”
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Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Memes That Perfectly Sum Up Strahd As A Character
Its great for Dungeons & Dragons players to share a laugh about Count Strahd von Zarovich, at least when they aren’t fighting him in Barovia.
With horror being such a big draw right now, a Curse of Strahd TV series could easily embrace the genre and lean into the scarier elements of the campaign, including Strahd himself. If done right, it could be a huge hit. Strahd is one of the most popular villains in a long line of Dungeons & Dragon villains that includes Vecna, and surprisingly well-rounded. With his tragic backstory, his tale of toxic, unrequited love, and his eventual transformation into an ultra-powerful darklord, Strahd could easily be one of the most compelling villains on television.
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Curse of Strahd
Curse of Strahd is a campaign designed for players level one through ten, making it perfect for new and old players equally. The campaign takes you from the dark village of Barovia to the twisted spires of castle Ravenloft, and into the throne room of Strahd von Zarovich, the very first vampire. Throughout this story, players will uncover the secrets and backstory of Strahd, all while trying to escape from his dark realm, and save those living under his rule as well as themselves from becoming Strahd’s meal. That isn’t all you’ll be doing, however. Throughout the land, you may encounter werewolves, wereravens ghosts, and more as you explore the dark lands crushed under strahd’s blood soaked iron fist.
This campaign requires no prior knowledge of any of D&D’s settings, as this story takes place in its own unique place. The adventure also holds vast amounts of replay value, as many integral quest items and NPCs are placed randomly throughout the game world of Barovia, making for a unique adventure with every replay. This campaign is a very good introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, due to its low level requirements, and replay value. -
Dungeons & Dragons
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.
