My First Impressions of the Module

“Gothic horror works best when players forget they’re sitting at a table and start leaning into the candlelight.”

Death House is strong as written, and at first I planned to run it straight from the book. But like most DMs, I wanted to put my own twist on it. Also, my son doesn’t think I can be scary. I took that as a personal challenge.

I’ve loved haunted houses since I was a kid, so getting the chance to run one in D&D was a dream. The Durst house is packed with small, unsettling details—carved paneling, hidden symbols, and that slow build of tension on the first two floors. All of it creates a perfect atmosphere for suspense.

A few small touches help set the tone early: the animated armor, the broom jump scare, and the lack of early combat. These moments keep players alert while still easing new players into the rhythm of roleplay and mechanics. By the time they reach the lower levels, the group is fully engaged and ready for the real horror.

My Party

With the exception of my son, I had never played with anyone in this new group. Two of them—my son’s friend and his sister—had never played D&D before. Their dad played during the AD&D era but not since. The final player, his older daughter, had some previous experience.

Because of that mix, I decided to treat this as an introduction for everyone. My son would enjoy helping his friend learn the game, and having a familiar player at the table helps the others relax.

Session Setup

To set the tone:

• Lights off
• Room lit by candles
• Minimal screens
• A curated playlist from Spotify made for Death House

I also asked for a volunteer cartographer to keep the group present at the table. Hand-drawn maps slow the pace in the right way and help immersion.

For combat, I’m using printed paper maps and homemade tokens made from washers and printed images. You can check out my post describing how I made them here:

How to Make Simple RPG Character Tokens for Your D&D Game

The Changes I Made to the Adventure

Durst Manor, Not Death House

The name Death House makes no sense for anyone to willingly enter. So, I renamed it to Durst Manor—a believable name for a haunted estate that still carries weight and mystery.

The Adventure Hook: Mysterious Visitors

“Death House doesn’t need big changes—just enough personal flavor to make your table lean forward.”

The Mysterious Visitors hook gave everyone a chance to roleplay right out of the gate. When players arrive for the session, I hand each of them an invitation to dine with the Duchess.

During dinner, they introduce their characters, chat in character, and warm up before the real story begins.

Dinner With the Duchess

After the meal, the Duchess leads them to the drawing room and asks for their help dealing with unwelcome visitors outside of town. This naturally sets them up to visit the Vistani camp and keeps the story moving forward.

The Dancing Fire

At the Vistani camp, Stanimir’s story becomes a ritual. As he tosses things into the fire, the flames flare and shadows dance. Secretly, he’s fueling a teleportation spell.

I’ll ask the players for a group Wisdom saving throw (DC 20) for dramatic effect, not for success or failure. When they bed down for the night, the ritual will bring them into Barovia.

“When the fire flared and Stanimir whispered the curse, the players had no idea the ritual was already working.”

Moving the House

The book places the house in the village. I moved it outside, along the Svalich Road, so the players are guaranteed to encounter it without forcing them down a specific street.

They’ll wake in Barovia, confused by the fog and dim light. No matter which direction they choose, the atmosphere guides them toward the Gates.

Along the way they will:

• Encounter wolves
• Discover Dalvan Olensky’s corpse
• Find Kolyan Indirovich’s letter

At dusk, Rose and Thorn appear to ask for help. From there, Durst Manor waits.

Final Thoughts

Death House is a classic for a reason. Small adjustments tailored to your group make it unforgettable. My goal wasn’t to rewrite the adventure—just to enhance tension and elevate the atmosphere.

If you’re adapting Death House for your table, lean into the elements that excite you. Your voice shapes the story as much as the module does.

link to Behind the Screen.

I’d love to hear how you adapted Death House for your campaign. Post in the comments below.

More from the Shadows & Sacrifice Prelude

Curious where this whole idea came from? Start with
👉 A Haunting New Beginning.

Ready to see it in action?
👉 Dinner with the Duchess — Session 1 Recap.