Runequest - Suggestions for an Introductory Adventure?

[Boregar]

My group is about to start playing Runequest (either 2nd or 3rd edition, not the Mongoose version) and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good introductory adventure for a group who (with the exception of one player) are completely unfamiliar with Gloranthia?

I've got access to some supplements that belong to the one experienced player (Snake Pipe Hollow, Pavis and Big Rubble, Shadow on the Borderlands, Sun County, The River of Cradles and a couple others that I can't remember the name of off the top of my head) and I was also thinking of picking up the pdf's of the Gloranthan Classics from Issaries, but any suggestions or directions would be much appreciated.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

I don't have the latest stuff for MRQ II. So I can't say if there is a good option there. I can say that you really can't go wrong in this situation converting Apple Lane and running with it.

Apple Lane was designed to be an introductory adventure. It does that very well.

 

[Treebore]

I would imagine the numerous free adventures in Signs and Portents are usable. Definitely worth looking into at the very least, since they are free, etc... I am sure there are some conversion issues, but since it is all D100 none of it should be hard.

 

[Ariosto]

I think Pavis and the Rubble should be splendid as offering both a basic set-up analogous to the classic D&D dungeon and also plenty of Gloranthan flavor. There are different scenarios in the 2nd ed. and 3rd ed. materials, some of which might be good for novices.

Borderlands (not necessarily the same as "Shadows on...") is sort of a mini-campaign, and I think well suited to beginning players. It takes a "plotted" approach, as opposed to what is these days often called "sandbox". I think it might be the best introductory scenario for modern fantasy gamers.

The seventh adventure in Borderlands takes the players to Gon Orta's Castle, which also features in the Griffin Mountain (Balazar and Elder Wilds) campaign book.

Griffin Mountain is a magnificent "sandbox" set-up, with tons of adventure possibilities. This was my own mainstay, back in the day.

One might relocate the scenarios from Apple Lane. "Gringle's Pawnshop" is really a tactical combat challenge, with the emphasis more on the RQ rules than on the world. "The Rainbow Mounds" is a pretty good small 'dungeon' kind of environment with interesting social interaction possible as well as exploration.

Snakepipe Hollow is really tough, likely to get inexpertly played characters killed. The Dorastor campaign is another cesspool of Chaos best avoided until players have earned Rune status. As with early D&D scenarios, much depends on real player skill, not just on character stats (which are also important, of course).

 

[Boregar]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Unfortunately, I haven't got access to a copy of Apple Lane, or else that probably would have been my choice. I didn't know Signs and Portents was now free, so I'll seek out some back issues of that too.

Good to hear positive things about both Pavis & Big Rubble and Griffin Mountain too. I think I'll take advantage of the offer on RPGNow to get both of those, plus Cult Compendium and Borderlands and Beyond for $60, and then see what I can dig out of those.

Thanks for the warning about Snake Pipe Hollow too, as I was possibly tempted by that, but I think I'll leave that for a bit later.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Griffin Mountain is possibly the best single campaign setting ever published, in terms of breadth, usable inspiring detail, everything. Really, really good.