Campaign Suggestions?

[malantha]

I have decided to take the plunge into D&D DMing. I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion as to a good campaign that will be good for a beginning DM, yet still fun for the players.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Are you looking to use published adventures, or do you have the time and inclination to work up stuff for yourself? (Or somewhere along the spectrum between. I, for example, have extensively used published stuff for my Eberron game, but as it heads toward an ending, I'm finding myself creating most of it.)

Are you going to use a home-brew world, or a published setting? If the former, is it "default D&D" in tone, or something a little different? If the latter, which one do you have in mind?

Answer these questions, and you're likely to get many responses.

A very general tip: As a new DM, don't be afraid to rule ruthlessly in favor of keeping your PCs alive, especially if the players are relatively new to the game also. It can be difficult to judge lethality without experience (I've been DMing for 22 years, and still make occasional mistakes), and nothing kills enthusiasm faster than a TPK.

 

[malantha]

Are you looking to use published adventures, or do you have the time and inclination to work up stuff for yourself? (Or somewhere along the spectrum between. I, for example, have extensively used published stuff for my Eberron game, but as it heads toward an ending, I'm finding myself creating most of it.)

For my first time around I am probably going to want something published, just so i can get a feel for how to run things. I have some ideas of my own, but they need to be developed further before I even consider using them in a game.

Are you going to use a home-brew world, or a published setting? If the former, is it "default D&D" in tone, or something a little different? If the latter, which one do you have in mind?

I learned to play by using the default 3.5 D&D rules, so that is probably how i am going to run.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

In that case, I would suggest trying to find a copy of the "Shackled City Adventure Path" hardcover. You should be able to find it relatively cheap, since so many people have switched to 4E.

My group had a great time with it even though we lost the climactic battle, dooming the world to destruction.

Remember my suggestion above, though: Paizo adventure paths can be very deadly; give your players every benefit of the doubt until they get their bearings and start developing strong strategic and tactical skills. I'd also very strongly recommend that you read the whole book before beginning. Not only will it keep you from being surprised by developments and allow you to foreshadow events, it will let you help players tailor their PCs to the campaign, so that they become more invested in the game.

 

[Dragonwriter]

Or you could use the old downloadable adventures from WotC. It's a little tricky to navigate the website to get to the "old" 3.5 section, but they're all set up for you. I'll be honest - I've never run one of these adventures, but I have them and I've browsed them and they look pretty good.

Here's where to go: Original Adventures

Personally, I also like the look of this one (not on the list, I think it was in a magazine feature...), which I am attaching. 1st-level PC side trek.

 

[Shin Okada]

Scourge of the Howling Horde is a very good 1st-level adventure full of DMing suggestions. How to describe things to players, how to set up a scene, how to handle each encounters and such. I recommend this adventure for a play group new to DnD 3.5e.

And as a med-period campaign, Red Hand of Doom is one of the best thing published for 3.5e. You shouldn't miss it.

 

[irdeggman]

Or you could use the old downloadable adventures from WotC. It's a little tricky to navigate the website to get to the "old" 3.5 section, but they're all set up for you. I'll be honest - I've never run one of these adventures, but I have them and I've browsed them and they look pretty good.

Here's where to go: Original Adventures

Personally, I also like the look of this one (not on the list, I think it was in a magazine feature...), which I am attaching. 1st-level PC side trek.

Way useful link.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Stormborn]

You might want to try the free ones just to get started, but I also recommend Shatteredgates of Slaughterguard as a good campaign start. It comes with its own built in setting that you can expand latter.

 

[Roman]

For my first time around I am probably going to want something published, just so i can get a feel for how to run things. I have some ideas of my own, but they need to be developed further before I even consider using them in a game.

I would recommend an adventure path from Paizo. They make great adventures.

 

[ravin_raven]

Wizard's Amulet from Necromancer Games is a free intro adventure to download that leads into The Crucible of Freya. That is one of my favorite modules to start a campaign. There are web enhancements that expand on the surrounding area, and provide player maps, etc.