In the vast and unpredictable world of tabletop RPGs, no two groups ever play the same campaign the same way. One of the most iconic examples comes from a recurring discussion on Reddit where players recount the shocking moment they killed the Burgomaster of Vallaki in the ‘Curse of Strahd’ campaign. This infamous incident has sparked countless stories, debates, and memes within the Dungeons & Dragons community. Whether through accident, rebellion, or calculated strategy, the Burgomaster’s untimely demise represents one of the many ways player agency can reshape a carefully designed narrative into something entirely unexpected.
Who Is the Burgomaster of Vallaki?
A Controversial Figure
Baron Vargas Vallakovich, more commonly referred to as the Burgomaster of Vallaki, is a complex NPC found in the popular ‘Curse of Strahd’ module. He rules the town of Vallaki with an iron grip masked by forced optimism. His mantra ‘All will be well’ is plastered across town events, posters, and festivals. To him, joy is the only defense against Strahd’s darkness, even if it’s manufactured and enforced at swordpoint.
This makes him a divisive figure for players. Some see him as a tragic product of fear and pressure. Others view him as a tyrant hiding behind absurd rituals and cruelty. It’s this polarizing nature that has led so many Reddit groups to declare, often proudly, that their party killed the Burgomaster of Vallaki.
Why Players Kill the Burgomaster
Player Frustration and Moral Dilemmas
One of the main reasons players end up killing the Burgomaster is the moral conflict his actions create. Despite claiming to protect Vallaki, the Burgomaster uses imprisonment, torture, and public humiliation to maintain control. His violent outbursts, such as threatening to arrest townsfolk who don’t smile, are often seen as crossing a line, prompting players to take matters into their own hands.
Unintended Escalation
In many Reddit posts, players describe scenarios where combat was never the plan. Tensions rise during discussions, and one wrong move whether it’s a failed persuasion check or a poorly timed spell can lead to chaos. Once battle starts, retreat becomes difficult, especially if the town guard or the Burgomaster’s right-hand man, Izek Strazni, joins the fray.
Roleplay-Driven Decisions
Some players, fully immersed in their characters, choose to assassinate the Burgomaster for roleplay reasons. Perhaps they see him as a corrupt ruler who poses a greater threat than Strahd himself. Others may play characters who simply don’t tolerate oppression. When a DM encourages deep roleplay and moral choices, this kind of outcome becomes not only possible but narratively satisfying.
The Fallout of Killing the Burgomaster
Immediate Consequences
Once the Burgomaster is dead, things in Vallaki change quickly. The town might descend into chaos without a clear leader. Izek Strazni, the Baron’s monstrous enforcer, may seek vengeance or claim power. Alternatively, Lady Fiona Wachter another powerful NPC might step into the power vacuum and push her own dark agenda.
Players often post on Reddit about how their group accidentally ushered in something worse than the Burgomaster. Others describe how freeing the town allowed them to rally the citizens against Strahd’s influence. These diverging paths show just how reactive the Curse of Strahd module can be when players go off-script.
DM Reactions and Adaptation
For Dungeon Masters, this kind of unexpected event can be both a challenge and a gift. Many Reddit DMs share stories of scrambling to rewrite storylines or flesh out new leadership structures. However, some also note that the death of the Burgomaster opened up more personal, localized storytelling opportunities. It pushed the players to take greater responsibility for the world around them.
Some DMs even use the event to make Strahd himself more engaged, having the vampire lord take notice of the power shift in Vallaki. This reinforces the theme that the players’ actions echo throughout Barovia and matter in the larger struggle.
Community Reactions on Reddit
A Widespread Phenomenon
There are countless Reddit threads with titles like Our Party Just Killed the Vallaki Burgomaster, or Did Anyone Else End Up Executing Vargas Vallakovich? These posts are usually followed by other users sharing their similar stories, trading advice, or discussing the aftermath in their own campaigns.
Here are a few recurring themes in these discussions:
- Players often feel conflicted but justified in removing the Burgomaster.
- Some groups regret the chaos that follows and attempt to fix the town afterward.
- Many DMs embrace the shift and use it to deepen the campaign’s tone.
- There are often humorous retellings of how fast things went wrong.
This shared experience has become something of a rite of passage for Curse of Strahd players. The Burgomaster’s death isn’t just a random event it’s a statement about how players interact with morally gray narratives.
Lessons Learned
From these posts, both players and DMs have gathered valuable lessons:
- Prepare for NPC death at any time.
- Offer consequences, not punishment, for player choices.
- Encourage character-driven decisions rather than binary good vs evil thinking.
- Use player actions to deepen world-building, not derail it.
Alternative Paths: Peaceful Outcomes
Can You Avoid Killing the Burgomaster?
Interestingly, while many Reddit threads focus on the Burgomaster’s death, there are also players who managed to change Vallaki’s future without bloodshed. By aligning with Lady Wachter, influencing Izek, or even convincing the townsfolk to resist, some parties have succeeded in dethroning the Baron through intrigue and diplomacy.
These approaches often require careful planning and social skill checks but can be incredibly rewarding. They allow the group to remain morally clean while still reshaping the story. These rare posts remind us that, in D&D, there’s often more than one solution even for difficult situations.
The phrase players killed the Burgomaster of Vallaki has become a kind of running joke and badge of honor among those who’ve run or played the Curse of Strahd module. It reflects both the unpredictable nature of tabletop RPGs and the emotional investment players bring to the game. Whether the decision to kill him is born from righteous justice, sheer chaos, or simple miscommunication, the result is always memorable. On Reddit and beyond, these stories serve as proof that Dungeons & Dragons is at its best when players make the story their own no matter how wild the path may be.