Published adventures that assume the PCs aren't novices?

[Rechan]

There are a lot of adventures out there that treat the PCs as down-on-their-luck average guys who stumble into adventure. The various Adventure Paths begin like this (AoW and Second Darkness in particular).

Still other adventures assume the PCs are rag-tag and small time, not even adventurers so much as determined kids. I can't count the number of adventure hooks that consist of "Here, deliver this letter for me", "Go kill rats in my basement", or other menial tasks that seem (to me) to be more of a condescending pat on the head.

Which is all well and good. Many people like rags to riches stories. It's classic. It's an entire style of gaming.

What I want to know is, are there any 1st/2nd level adventures out there with hooks that assume the PCs are all ready adventurers? That while the PCs are not powerful, they are at least known locally? Seen as having a reputation of having lots of promise? Where they are recruited, sot out, or otherwise acknowledged that they are exceptional?

 

[CapnZapp]

Take a higher levelled adventure and adapt it.

 

[SiderisAnon]

My suggestion would be to simply tailor the opening gambit to your group. Instead of the pat on the head, make it the, "Thank the gods that you arrived just when we needed you," or, "I've come from X because there is great danger there that only you can solve for us."

Honestly, I can't think of a single low level adventure I've ever read that acts like the PCs are established heroes, unless it's a second or third part of a chain where the PCs would have become heroes to the local community from the first part of the chain.

 

[ExploderWizard]

DCC # 55 Isle of the Sea Drake.

The PC's are responsible for finding out what is disrupting traffic in the shipping lanes. It seems to be a cut above hunting rats.

The idea of first level play is to establish a reputation IMHO. If the PC's start out as well known heroes then thier deeds have less impact as they rise in level.

 

[roguerouge]

Curse of the Crimson Throne 1 might count, actually, as the players are supposed to enter the game with PCs who have connections to a Dickensian child labor sweatshop, either from escaping it or searching for children who might be in it. Thus, they are exceptional power-wise, when compared to the children they might have once been, and morally, as one of the few interested in solving this problem.

Edit: And, actually, they are sought out by a

Spoiler

ghost fortuneteller who seeks them out as fated to solve this problem... and other ones. So that's what brings all the PCs together, while they provide their own motivations.

 

[Rechan]

The idea of first level play is to establish a reputation IMHO. If the PC's start out as well known heroes then thier deeds have less impact as they rise in level.

To me, PCs are special in and of the fact that they are PCs. The world has few people of Character Classes, or few people with Destinies, or whatever you want to call it, but by the virtue of being protagonists, the PCs stand out. Anyone who looks at them knows they have promise and potential.

Pcs didn't just stumble off the farm and find powerful At-Wills, Encounters and Dailies lying in the road. They had to have learned how to use these powers somehow, and that, I feel, is where the rep comes from.

I'm going to do something outrageous, and compare levelled characters to sports. 0 Level (or being trained, or whathaveyou) is equivalent to a kid growing up learning football - playing touch with his buddies, throwing a ball around with his dad, maybe even peewee football league when he was a kid. But, most people, even when they hit high school football, aren't that great.

To me, 1st level PCs are the equivalent of the high school football star in a small town. Everyone in the small town knows he's the best football player, they know he has talent and potential, and by gum, he's even getting scouted by college teams! It's a sure thing he's getting a scholarship to play ball!

Outside of that small town, no body knows who he is, and no way he can play in the professional league. Hell, he still needs some training to play College ball. But, to those who have seen him, they recognize "Kid's got talent".

Bringing it back to D&D, no, the PC doesn't have a reputation beyond the fact they have a PC class. A 1st level wizard PC would be, essentially, "Woah, you can cast magic! Not just a little. Let's see what you can do, kid." The reputation is purely based on their talent.

So others may very well say, "I heard you got some skills. Let's see what you can do." Or "You're the only guy fifty miles who can swing a sword with competence - we need help."

 

[kitsune9]

There are a lot of adventures out there that treat the PCs as down-on-their-luck average guys who stumble into adventure. The various Adventure Paths begin like this (AoW and Second Darkness in particular).

Still other adventures assume the PCs are rag-tag and small time, not even adventurers so much as determined kids. I can't count the number of adventure hooks that consist of "Here, deliver this letter for me", "Go kill rats in my basement", or other menial tasks that seem (to me) to be more of a condescending pat on the head.

Which is all well and good. Many people like rags to riches stories. It's classic. It's an entire style of gaming.

What I want to know is, are there any 1st/2nd level adventures out there with hooks that assume the PCs are all ready adventurers? That while the PCs are not powerful, they are at least known locally? Seen as having a reputation of having lots of promise? Where they are recruited, sot out, or otherwise acknowledged that they are exceptional?

Rappan Athuk is what pops in my mind.

 

[freyar]

Savage Tide asks for a noteworthy event in each PC's background that might mark him or her as an adventurer. Ultimately, that's why they get hired in the first adventure (like Curse of the Crimson Throne, actually).