Chris Perkins reflects on Curse of Strahd’s influence on D&D a decade later

When Chris Perkins sat down for a video interview to mark the 10th anniversary of Curse of Strahd, he held a creepy Strahd doll made by Holly Conrad from the Dice, Camera, Action actual play show. That season, which featured Perkins as Dungeon Master, helped reignite players’ interest in D&D, and among many fifth-edition fans the module is widely regarded as the best adventure of the era.

Published in 2016 and designed by Perkins with Richard Whithers, Adam Lee, and Jeremy Crawford, Curse of Strahd sends players into the misty valley of Barovia to confront the charismatic and ruthless Strahd von Zarovich. A decade on, it has become rare in D&D history: an adventure players return to long after finishing it once.

Perkins traces the module’s strength to its roots in the 1983 Ravenloft, written by Tracy and Laura Hickman, which shifted the hobby toward villain-focused storytelling.

chris perkins, d&d, strahd, barovia, ravenloft, tracy hickman, laura hickman, dice camera, jeremy crawford, adam lee