What Should My Next Campaign Be?

[Retreater]

What should my next campaign be?

Here is some information about my group and our most recent campaigns.

We have 5 players, three of them not incredibly experienced, i.e. began playing in 3.5 and still in college.

In the past we've played ...
Shackled City Adventure Path (quit at beginning of 4th adventure because players thought it was too difficult)

Most recently we've played ...
Freeport Series (we will be quitting because the DM of that is moving away)
Homebrew campaign (large urban environment with mix of technology and magic, involving cultists, undead, and demons - likely quitting because time constraints may stop me from writing original material)

Our campaigns almost always stop around 7-8th level. However, there are a couple of players, new to our group, with whom we haven't even played low levels. (These players seem to make bad decisions in important combats - like having a sorcerer charge into a room full of opponents to get flanked and sneak attacked by a bunch of ratman rogues.)

The group seems to enjoy an equal mix of roleplaying and combats (well, half of the group really likes the roleplaying and intrigue while the other half really likes the combats).

So what of the poll options do you think would be best for our group?

Retreater

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I have no idea

 

[blargney the second]

I'd say Savage Tide. It's a bit tough for four PCs, but five should make it run quite nicely. Btw, I gather that Shackled City was meant for six players.

 

[Nap]

I don't know too much about it other than some of the player info and the summaries posted here, but War of the Burning Sky looks like a great idea for your group. You mentioned that some of the players haven't played 1st level characters, so this should be a good starting point. Also, the adventure seems plot driven - requiring less work on your part as DM (and you mentioned time constraints).

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Depending on how long it takes you to run through adventures, you might want to check out Green Ronin's 'Bleeding Edge' adventures. Each is separate, but they can be combined into an adventure path, too. However, they haven't all released yet.

 

[Templetroll]

Have them have to deal with a pirate threat! plenty of cunning and planning needed and great battles on the high seas!

 

[grodog]

I voted for Maure Castle: lots of good combat, puzzles and other player challenges, and quite a bit of RP potential too!

 

[GAAAHHH]

I say run Savage Tide.

 

[Wombat]

Create your own setting! Such campaigns are always much more fun!

 

[kenmarable]

Burning Sky!!! (as long as you at least make it to the 6th adventure - about level 11)

What, me biased?

Actually, I don't think you could go wrong with any of those choices, so I'd say get a feel for what sort of characters they want to play to see if they are geared more towards one campaign than another.

Also, figure out whether you all would prefer thoroughly exploring one location, or something with a significant amount of travel and exploration? That question alone cuts the list in half.