D&D 5E A good one-shot adventure?

[Quickleaf]

I'll be running a 3rd-level one-shot adventure one evening (2-4 hours) next week. Any adventures you would recommend?

The group will probably be between 4 to 8 players, depending who can make it. Players will include 2 people entirely new to RPGs, 2 lapsed gamers, and 4 experienced gamers busy with kids.

Looking for something fun, not too dark, not too rules-heavy, good for introducing new players, nice mix of interaction/exploration/combat. I'd prefer minimal prep (i.e. just reading adventure, printing any maps & gathering any minis), but I may be able to make pregen PCs with a simplified/easy-to-use layout.

Tentatively, I've been considering The Ghost and the Peddler as one possibility.

 

[jrowland]

Have you hear of "The Orc and The Pie"?

Too short?

 

[Ath-kethin]

The Primeval Thule adventure "Cavern of Golden Tears" is short and sweet and designed for levels 2-4 - making it easy to scale up for the larger party size. My group (which was admittedly only 3 players) had a blast with it. It also indirectly involves Jann, so there are interesting avenues you can go down as a follow-up if you want.

 

[Quickleaf]

The Primeval Thule adventure "Cavern of Golden Tears" is short and sweet and designed for levels 2-4 - making it easy to scale up for the larger party size. My group (which was admittedly only 3 players) had a blast with it. It also indirectly involves Jann, so there are interesting avenues you can go down as a follow-up if you want.

Sounds awesome! Unfortunately I can’t find an option to buy the adventure anywhere on Sasquatch Games website. Maybe it was a Kickstarter only thing?

 

[Sacrosanct]

I've got a handful of one page adventures designed for just this scenario here. They're all free

 

[Ath-kethin]

Sounds awesome! Unfortunately I can’t find an option to buy the adventure anywhere on Sasquatch Games website. Maybe it was a Kickstarter only thing?

D'oh! It's in the Primeval Thule Campaign setting book. I forgot that I printed it out separately when I ran it. Oops.

 

[Li Shenron]

I'll be running a 3rd-level one-shot adventure one evening (2-4 hours) next week. Any adventures you would recommend?

The group will probably be between 4 to 8 players, depending who can make it. Players will include 2 people entirely new to RPGs, 2 lapsed gamers, and 4 experienced gamers busy with kids.

Looking for something fun, not too dark, not too rules-heavy, good for introducing new players, nice mix of interaction/exploration/combat.

In case of a one-shot, I usually pick up one of the old 3ed free web adventures from WotC, and convert it on the fly. They are not so easy to find online anymore however...

I'd prefer minimal prep (i.e. just reading adventure, printing any maps & gathering any minis), but I may be able to make pregen PCs with a simplified/easy-to-use layout.

Would you like to try my custom character sheets? http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpgdownloads.php?do=download&downloadid=1415

 

[PoJo72]

I have done some single-session games for people interested in D&D. My go-to adventure is actually Part 1: Goblin Arrows of the Lost Mine of Phandelver in the 5e Starter Set.

Obviously it is part of a larger adventure, but I find that it works great on its own. Being part of the starter set, it is designed for those just learning 5e (or D&D) yet it has elements that keep it interesting for those with experience. It has traps, combat, NPCs, and a cool dungeon with opportunities to explore and make some decisions about where to go. And the starter set even has pre-gen characters to go with it. Easily played within a couple hours.

 

[Christopher Olson]

I have done some single-session games for people interested in D&D. My go-to adventure is actually Part 1: Goblin Arrows of the Lost Mine of Phandelver in the 5e Starter Set.

Obviously it is part of a larger adventure, but I find that it works great on its own. Being part of the starter set, it is designed for those just learning 5e (or D&D) yet it has elements that keep it interesting for those with experience. It has traps, combat, NPCs, and a cool dungeon with opportunities to explore and make some decisions about where to go. And the starter set even has pre-gen characters to go with it. Easily played within a couple hours.

I agree 100%. The Start Set as a whole is the best money you can ever spend. Right now its only 15 dollars on Amazon and it has provided me with well over 30 hours of gameplay.

 

[Burnside]

I ran the one-shot "Bad Apples" by Dan Coleman last week for a group of six 3rd level players. Lots of fun, super easy to run, varied mix of encounters, and not too dark in tone. We had a great time with it: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/198662/Bad-Apples-Level-3-PCs