Good 1st lvl modules for new DMs?

[Dr_Ruminahui]

For some reason I have never played the kobold module/delve in the back of the DMG. It looks rather basic, but designed to give everyone a taste of the rules. Maybe add a few plot points at the start of the night- some roleplay with a loval lord or something.

I've run it with a few modifications (one of the rooms is a bit... silly for the tome of my campaign) and its pretty good. You'll want to swap out all the monsters for their Monster Vault versions, though - I think they have pretty much all been updated.

Or, if you are mostly beginning players, the orignals may be fine - though MV ones tend to be more interesting to run, but I haven't done a side-by-side comparison on the kobolds, which were pretty interesting to begin with. That said, for the last encounter, definitely use the MV version... the encounter uses a MM monster that is way too wussy in that incarnation.

 

[Havrik Stoneskimmer]

I love HS1: The Slaying Stone.

HS1 is very good and has a lot of interesting and funny encounters, but it kind of requires a lot of DM improvisation (the organizing mechanic of the adventure is an extended skill challenge to stay hidden in a goblin city, with the DM pretty much on the hook to improvise the minor incidents that happen to the PCs during their explorations). I'm not sure it's the best adventure for a brand new DM.

 

[TheUltramark]

the orc stronghold from dungeon delve is simple and compact

Kobold hall (dmg) is not so terrible for 1st level rookie DM's

---I am thinking you want a short one (or two) night adventure, right? because the DM can't make it THIS weekend.

 

[ourchair]

I have played through a number of the Chaos Scar adventures and they are decent and can be run in an evening. There are 10 or so first level ones to check out.

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (The Chaos Scar)

I concur.

I've run about 10 adventures from the Chaos Scar as part of a campaign, and it's worked out well for me. We're very happy that they're putting out paragon tier adventures now. The sessions usually work within 3-4 hours.

 

[Klaus]

I'll echo the Chaos Scar votes (Den of the Slavemakers is pretty interesting). Reavers of Harkenwold, though, gets my highest vote. It offers a gamut of encounter types (wilderness, dungeon, tavern, castle) and plenty of advice.