Thanks Swack Iron for the thread bump.
Overall, I am pleased by the majority of opinions of this thread. Im also already laying the ground work for the plot hook into City Of The Spider Queen.
Ive just started a Forgotten Realms campaign recently and my players are in Dungeon Magazine #87's "Raiders Of Galath's Roost". Raiders already takes place in Mistledale in the Dalelands and is close to Daggerdale. Ive given each player in my game a reason to be in "Galath's Roost"...
The 2 Elves (Cleric and Fighter Bodyguard) of the party have been sent to investigate the recent Drow activities in the region (though these are the Cormanthor Drow).
The Halfling Rogue is there to find his great grandfathers hidden treasure. His great grandfather was a member of Galath's band.
The Half-Elven Bard wishes to become a Harper and is in the dales searching for one.
So as far as a plot hook, I can expand on the Randal Morn basic hook. Ill have a few Harpers accompanying Randal Morn and offer membership to the bard. The elves are already in the dales to investigate Drow activity so they are set, and the halfling loves adventure. My Dwarf Wizard NPC will do wonderfully as sort of an Underdark guide of sorts, though he hails from Citadel Adbar.
As far as the role-playing aspect...
Gen Con has always focused on speed of play being that there are time limits to the games. Home games are better at role-playing being that you are under no time limit to finish any areas etc. My group of players has been together for years and our sessions are like 65% Role play and 35% combat in most adventures based on character interactions. Even in the Night Below boxed crawl we almost maintained the same degree of role playing (though we had alot of combat in that boxed set).
Im looking forward to City Of The Spider Queen.
Thanks people for the information on it.
