What are some good/great starting regions?

[Mercurius]

I'm starting to work on a starting region for a new "5E" campaign starting sometime after the new year. I'm basically looking for good examples of starting regions to inspire my own design. In particular, I'm looking for ones that are dense in adventure opportunities for at least the first 5 levels if not 10, with lots of interesting locations, lairs, a sense of danger and mystery.

What are your favorites and why? What makes the "perfect" starting region?

 

[the Jester]

I'm a fan of both Hommlet (plenty of adventure in the area!) and the Lendore Isles setting described in L1. (Although for levels 2-4 it's easy enough to modify and throw in a few low-level adventures before the pcs hit up the real danger spots around.)

 

[DEFCON 1]

Nentir Vale.

 

[Morrus]

Haranshire form Night Below and which inspired my own Hengistbury from TO SLAY A DRAGON. Both sandboxy starting village and surrounding county type areas.

 

[Gilladian]

Yeah, Haranshire was an excellent sort of starting region.

In my own campaign world, I have started several campaigns in "my" Saltmarsh. http://vishteercampaign.pbworks.com/w/page/10036309/Saltmarsh

It's come to have a complex history and politics because I keep starting campaigns here, and the PCs never seem to really resolve many of the political issues, though they frequently kill off the lesser villains.

 

[Kinak]

For published stuff, I've been really happy with Sandpoint and the rest of Varisia from Rise of the Runelords.

Introduce the town with a bang, get people to care about it early, and make sure there are reasons to come back. Consider where they'll go after they're "done with" the town and lay those hooks early.

I think what takes a starting area from good to great is a natural reason the threats level up to keep up with the PCs. Whether it's a planar portal, awaking darkness, or whatever, it's really nice to have an in-world reason players can still be challenged there at 5th or 10th level.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[Storminator]

Sharn. Can't beat Sharn.

PS