Best starting modules

[MonsterMash]

I'd vote for Wizards Amulet/ Crucible of Freya with the usual caveats about the risk of TPK. Lost City of Barakus is well thought of and takes characters from 1st level up to about 8th IIRC, but is more of a mini campaign than a module. Otherwise some of the Goodman Dungeon Crawl Classics start at lowish levels or Morrick Mansion from Necromancer can be started by 3rd level characters.

 

[johnsemlak]

There are lots of Kalamar adventures so check them all out. Stand and Deliver is a 3.5 adventure.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

RPGnow has a really cheap ($2.00) modual from Goodman Games called The Dragonfiend Pact. It is for 1-3 level characters and is really very good. It has a nice mystery, some challanges appropriate for low levels and is fairly straightforward.

 

[PurplePCEater]

Again, recommendations for Sunless Citadel, Nemoren's Vault, and Death in Freeport. Had a great deal of fun playing, reading and scheming, and running these. Wasn't so impressed by Crucible of Freya/Wizard's Amulet - nice introductory scenarios, certainly, but they didn't grab me as much.

But then, I'm not so fond of dungeon crawl-esque adventures on the whole as I find them a bit limiting. That said, even the players who didn't like crawl-type scenarios loved Nemoren's Vault - maybe because unlike some crawls there's a semi-plausible plot hooked into it that they got their teeth into. The web extra allows a nice lead into other things as well.

The Freeport stuff is also very good - I'm just beginning Death with a new group, though the setting has had to be tweaked considerably to fit it into my home world - the port city is fine; I've just had to tone down the piratical theme somewhat which means I probably won't be able to make as much use of subsequent parts. Still, there's certainly stuff to plunder (no pun intended) for future sessions (if the group doesn't want to move on from the local environment).

 

[diaglo]

B1 In Search of the Unknown
B2 Keep on the Borderlands
B4 Lost City
T1 Village of Hommlet

 

[LeapingShark]

I love the threads about module suggestions!

Sunless Citadel is a perfect first adventure, doesn't get any better than that.

Of Sound Mind is pretty good too.

My favorite adventure for "newbie" gamers is Gordoldand's Gauntlet by Richards (come on CD-ROM with Dragon mag a couple years ago), it's got some very unique encounters, and alot of cool and fun mental puzzles. It's a great transition into roleplaying.

My favorite intro adventure of all time is The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. It's for 2nd Ed, but easily convertable. The adventure has some of the most memorable NPCs ever, switches scenes to several unique stages, and has great atmosphere overall. One of the best features is the ever-expanding dramatic plotline, which the players slowly unravel.

 

[diaglo]

My favorite intro adventure of all time is The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh. It's for 2nd Ed, but easily convertable.

U1 was for 1edADnD.

 

[mhensley]

B1 In Search of the Unknown
B2 Keep on the Borderlands
B4 Lost City
T1 Village of Hommlet

Bah, what with all this noob garbage? The best 1st level adventure was the one that came in the Holme's version of Basic.

 

[scadgrad]

....My favorite adventure for "newbie" gamers is Gordoldand's Gauntlet by Richards (come on CD-ROM with Dragon mag a couple years ago), it's got some very unique encounters, and alot of cool and fun mental puzzles. It's a great transition into roleplaying. ...

I too have ran this obscure little gem and recommend it whole-heartedly. I've ran it twice and both groups loved it.

I've also ran Crucible of Freya w/ Wizard's Amulet twice and I think it's a gem. PCs will have to know that some encounters require a quick retreat or it could get ugly, so you may need to warn them upfront.

I'm currently running Lost City of Barakus and actually started the campaign with The Queen with the Burning Eyes from Dungeon mag. I've ran that one twice really and neither time did I set it in Eberron (sp?). It's a very fun little mod w/ just enough intrigue and betrayal to make it more than a Dungeon Crawl. Lost City of Barakus, like the majority of Necromancer's product is, is superb. Also from Necromancer (I am an admitted Necromancer Games FanBoy) is the very moody Tombs of Absythor which I think is very underated.

The Sunless Citadel will probably become the Keep on the Borderlands of 3.X, so you probably should check it out, if you haven't already ran it. I really enjoyed the entire series, in spite of the TPK that awaits your PCs in the Heart of Nightfang Spire <shudders>. But of course, by that same logic, B2 still holds up very well and you & you're players will be able to join in the "shared experience" that makes great modules so much fun.

 

[DragonLancer]

Check out the Adventure Path series from Wotc, and pretty much everything by Necromancer Games.