Newbie Campaigns

[Zaukrie]

Ok, my wife has agreed to play, in an effort to spend time with the boys. They boys have played about 4 sessions. I'll be running a DMPC cleric as support, and because there are only three of them.

What are your recommendations for a good campaign? I was thinking Savage Tide, but it looks a little deadly for newer players. I'm thinking about breaking out U1 and U2 (I don't think I own U3). I was also thinking about trying to string something together out of Of Sound Mind and (hmm, I'm at work, it is a bruce Cordell module with an evil stone that corrupts things - I love oozes and far realms "goodness"), maybe working up to Gates of Firestorm Peak....

I own a lot of older stuff....any suggestions welcome. We'll probably stay in the forgotten realms, as if that matters a lot. I'm not interested in moving from one "kill everything" dungeon to the next....thanks for your help in advance. Oh, I also love demons and devils as adversaries and dragons (yes, I'm thinking Red Hand of Doom, but what would you use to get them to that level).

 

[el-remmen]

I highly recommend using U1.

It is a great adventure with a good mix of things found in most D&D games, and one I have used with newbies more than once to good effect.

 

[el-remmen]

Oh, one other piece of advice: Don't plan too far ahead with a newbie group - they may not take to the game. Baby steps.

Oh and keep it core. In fact, you may want to keep it less than core.

 

[Zaukrie]

The oldest boy is obsessed with the game, and the youngest really enjoys it. They've also run mini adventures for each other, and are talking about starting a group with some friends (on top of the group of them and their friends that I already GM for), so I'm pretty sure the boys like the game....(and the thousands of minis we own).

 

[Festivus]

I don't think the adventure paths are a good start for new players. For starters they are really tough and characters will die.

Your wife might enjoy roleplaying more than die rolling and smashing stuff. I was just reading Scourge of the Howling Horde, which aside from the printing being horrific (dark print on dark backgrounds) is a pretty good story with some nice roleplay aspects to it.

 

[Mark CMG]

I'll be running a DMPC cleric as support, and because there are only three of them.

I'd suggest not. Avoid running the DMPC, no matter what reasons you think you have for having it along. It completely changes the way new players will approach the game, for now and for their future gaming.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Either the U series (you can get U3 from RPGNow.com as a PDF) or pick up the Adventure Begins hardback, which has 20 adventures for level 1-2 characters.

 

[Zaukrie]

I'd like to not run a DMPC, but that requires me to adjust anything I do even more to make sure they can survive it. Almost no campaign arc adventures assume three new players....I understand (I think) your hesitancy, but,

What is your suggestion for getting around that?

 

[bento]

Either the U series (you can get U3 from RPGNow.com as a PDF) or pick up the Adventure Begins hardback, which has 20 adventures for level 1-2 characters.

Definately check out some of the Dungeon Crawl Classics from Goodman. They are reprinting some of the older ones, and most of them you can buy online in pdf format. Adventure Begins is a little expensive, but has many different types of adventures to choose from.

I'd also echo El's advice about not planning too far ahead - concentrate on making the current game as best as you can and not worry about three or four games in the future. With young'ins its good to let them lead the game and learn as they go.

 

[Zaukrie]

Here's the conundrum, and why I'm asking for help:

I'm already running one set of games for the kids and their friends. It is the go from dungeon to dungeon kind, to get them familiar with the game, and because kids like to smash monsters. I own, I don't know, 50-100 adventures that I like through old modules and many dungeon magazines (though not all of them).

So, I'd like the one with the family to be more of a campaign and more roleplaying (though not to the extent we lose sight of the fun of the game for a kid).

Therefore, I'm not really looking for one off adventures. Maybe I'm wrong in this, but I already feel like they are getting that...if you know what I mean.

I may buy the DCC 1st level book for them to run adventures out of, and I'm 90% certain to buy the new WotC adventure for the youngest, as he wants to run an adventure for some friends.