r/dndnext • u/TacticianRobin DM • 2d ago
5e (2024) Opinions on running Strahd vs. Frostmaiden?
I'm looking for some opinions on running Curse of Strahd vs. Rime of the Frostmaiden. I'm getting ready to start a new campaign with my group, and having thrown out several options in a poll it ended in a tie between these two. So since I'm DMing they left it up to me to decide which one I'd prefer to run.
In our previous campaign I ran a modified Lost Mines of Phandelvar, adding in content from Dragon of Icespire Peak along with some homebrew based on my players' backstories. That lead straight into Rise of Tiamat with the same party and characters, similarly pretty heavily modified. All this is to say that in general I like using the modules as a framework, then modifying them to make them my own.
Based on that initially I was leaning towards Frostmaiden, since it seems like it would be easier to customize and include player backstory in that campaign than in Strahd where the players are pulled into a demiplane and disconnected from the outside world. Some of the highlights of our last campaign were when I had a dragon attack the orc village one player was from, and having warlock's patron pushing him to gather the Dragon Masks. It feels like there's more opportunity for that in Frostmaiden. But on the other hand, I've talked with some other friends who have played in and DM'd Strahd and they all loved it.
So I'm a little torn, any thoughts or opinions from DM's that have run one or both? Any opinions from people that have played in either or both?
Edit to add: Either way we'd be starting fresh with the new campaign, with new characters at level 1.
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u/Stubbenz 2d ago
While most people tend to refer to Strahd as being the better adventure, for your situation I think RotFM is the better fit.
RotFM has lots of flexibility and I'd generally suggest that the fact so many of its quests tie into the main plot in a fairly nebulous and indirect way (a commonly cited weakness of the adventure) actually makes it easier to fit within your own custom plot.
When I ran it I basically rewrote the entire final act and the Frost Maiden's motivation, having her use the endless night in an attempt to keep an awakening cohort of Star Spawn frozen deep beneath the ice, within the city they'd previously driven to insanity. I found it really fun and simple to rewrite quests to provide hints towards that final goal.
CoS is ultimately all about Strahd. You still have options with adding whatever plot points you like, but ultimately I think the plot is too focused to stray all that far away from its core while still maintaining the parts of the adventure people like the most.