Café de Nuit

Another thing you should give thought to is something I just touched on. Using other PC's stories. Chasing after the girl is the overall story but you'll need things to add in for difference and contrast. Random adventures that occur are fun once in a while but nothing ropes in a player's attention like giving their character the spot light. Try once in a while to have a villian from the PC's background (or just an event effecting them) happen. Let that PC's story develop occassionally.

If you wanted you could tie some of the PC's extra bonus stories into the 'Missing Girl' over plot. Perhaps one PC has been having strange dreams and over time it is revealed they are the reincarnated form of Sergei, Tatyana's true love. Or maybe a PC is seperated from the party for a little while and finds something out about another PC -a secret that is deeply disturbing but must keep secret for the moment as he researches a way to stop him.

Prophecies, Re-occurring NPC villians, Twists and conspiracies. It can all be used.

To be continued?...

I just read the Sergei idea and I must say this is excellent! A lot of ideas suddenly spring to mind...will definmitely use this. You have already helped me very well....I really enjoy reading your tips.
Btw, is it known what Sergei was in terms of D&D? A simple fighter?

I don't think there were any official stats for him (and I certainly don't recall any 3rd Ed. stats).

I'd make him a simple fighter or perhaps for a religous twist part fighter with paladin levels (a secret he kept and holds some bonus against his evil brother). Dream sequences are good for foreshadowing such reincarnation twists -just be careful not to give the game away to fast (also dream sequences should be uncommon to rare so to maintain them as 'special' and important in a player's mind).

Morrigan's Claw wrote: Btw, is it known what Sergei was in terms of D&D? A simple fighter?

Well, he was about to be proclaimed high priest of the religion that Barovia initially followed, so I would say that he would have had a few levels of cleric. He also had learned how to wield a sword (as nobles would, especially in times of war) so you could give him a few fighter levels too. I would avoid paladin levels, as he chose love over duty when he pledged himself to Tatyana.

I suppose it depends on one's interpretation of what a Paladin is. In my mind they are holy warriors are 'fighters with religion'. I never liked the idea of saying 'you are duty bound to a god.'

I say go for the paladin levels or a cleric with powers born from an unknown source (later revealed).