converted by Timothy S. Brannan

I have toyed around the idea of bringing my two favorite game systems Ravenloft and WitchCraft together for sometime. Both games have some common ground and both groups of players share some similarities. I think both groups could benefit from looking into what the other does. For example, Ravenloft fans should add Eden’s All Flesh Must Be Eaten game to their must buy lists. Your players will never look at zombies the same way again.

So in an effort to bridge the gap, here is Ravenloft‚s most popular character, "The Devil Strahd", in Unisystem format. Plus I have always wanted to know how the titular character of Eden’s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG" would do against Strahd.

These stats are based on the d20 version of Strahd found in Secrets of the Dread Realms and converted using the d20/Unisystem conversion notes found in All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Revised Edition. I am also using a hybrid Buffy RPG / WitchCraft RPG style stats to make it easier to add Strahd to either game. To do the magic crossovers I used the conversion notes in The Magic Box Sourcebook.

Strahd’s Story: The story of Strahd von Zarovich and his fall from grace has been detailed elsewhere. But briefly Strahd made a pact with a being he called "Death". Death was to grant him the power he needed to get the one prize he desired most of all; the love of Tatyana. But Tatyana did not love Strahd, but rather his younger brother Sergei. Strahd sealed his pact, and his fate, in Sergei’s blood. Tatyana, distraught, threw herself from the castle's balcony to the river, 1,000 feet below. Over the last 4 centuries Strahd has ruled Barovia with an iron hand and has searched constantly for his beloved Tatyana.

Strahd in your World: In another of his experiments to leave the demi-plane of Ravenloft, Strahd may find himself in your (Unisystem) world. He will certainly be lost at first, but he is very intelligent and will adapt quickly. Without his powers of a Dark Lord or his allies, Strahd will start out seeing whom he can trust and use and who are his enemies. This should not take him too long to run into the Cast. The first meeting will be an awkward one for Strahd, but he will and can recover from it.

Strahd’s greatest weakness will be his loss of his spellbooks. He always keeps a small travel version with him, he has learned that the Mists are treacherous, but this book will only contain a few of his necessary spells. Strahd will attempt to find any means of learning the invocations or sorcery of his new world. He will lean towards offensive magics and necromancy. Any of the Necromancy Invocations from the WitchCraft RPG core rulebook will work fine for Strahd.

The Cast in Ravenloft: They are doomed.

Oh. You want more detail. Ok, they are doomed to die horrible deaths. If not by Strahd’s hand then someone else’s.

Actually cast members from any Unisystem game would last longer than your average Joe or Jane, that is as long as they don‚t do something stupid, like try to get rid of the master of Castle Ravenloft. Average Joe and Jane learned this was foolhardy when they were children. But it could be quite a fun challenge for WitchCraft or Buffy characters to attempt a raid on Castle Ravenloft. My advice, run the original Ravenloft module by Laura and Tracy Hickman. It is a classic for many reasons.

Hooks: The easiest is one of the cast members is the reincarnation of Tatyana and Strahd has come for her. This assures that Strahd will be paying attention and that his obsessions will cause him to make errors he otherwise would not make.

Another choice is the classic, the cast is protecting the new Tatyana. In this case the cast are merely an obstacle in the way.

Another choice would be that Strahd is seeking out the cast’s help. Think of the Strahd from P.N. Elrond’s books. Cold, calculating, but the charming host when he needs to.

Stats: I did some fudging on the stats to try to make them fit the d20 Strahd a little better. Hope I did not comit too many errors!

Name: Strahd von Zarovich
Motivation: To escape Ravenloft; to be reunited with his love, Tatyana.
Critter Type: Vampire (Ravenloft sub-type)
Quote: "I am The Ancient. I am The Land" or my favorite "I can always kill you and ask your corpse".
Attributes: Strength 9, Dexterity 6, Constitution 7, Intelligence 7, Perception 6, Willpower 6
Life Points: 98
Endurance Points: 71
Speed: 26
Essence Pool: 86
Channeling Level:
Drama Points: 5
Qualities (Mundane and Supernatural)

• Acute Senses
• Age 7
• Attractiveness +3
• Hard to Kill 8
• Hypnosis 3
• Nerves of Steel 2
• Shape Shifting (Bat, Wolf or Gaseous forms)
• Sorcery 5/7/0 (general magic / necromancy / enchantment)
• Vampire* (note: as a Ravenloft vampire, wooden stakes are only harmful to Strahd while they remain in his chest. He can become gaseous and re-corporate elsewhere.)

Drawbacks (Mundane and Supernatural)

• Accursed
• Adversary (all other Darklords, monster‚ hunters, rival vampires, some gypsies) 8
• Cruel 3
• Honorable 3
• Obsession (Tatyana) 6
• Obsession (leaving Ravenloft) 6
• Secret 3

Skills (Buffy RPG skill equivalent in parentheses where needed)

• Acrobatics +7
• General Streetwise (Crime) +7
• First Aid (Doctor) +2
• Hand weapon, sword (Getting Medieval) +7
• Hand weapon, bastard sword (Getting Medieval) +9
• Influence +6
• Knowledge +10
• Martial Arts (Kung Fu) +5
• Languages +6, though all are "Ravenloft" languages.
• Mechanic (Mr. Fix-It) +2, limited to dark ages technology.
• Notice +10
• Occult Knowledge (Occultism) +11
• Science +4

Combat Maneuvers (in Buffy RPG‚ format)

* 2 x Success Levels

Links

• Eden Studios
• All Flesh Must Be Eaten RPG
• WitchCraft RPG
• The Official Buffy RPG
• The Kargatane, home of Ravenloft on the Web

Back to Unisystem

Well, enjoy it! And if you want, you can drop me a line at fred@planetfred.net or leave a comment at the PatchComm.