What to run... what to run

[Nightfall]

Psion,

Good choices.

And yeah don't run any of the first two adventure paths until you got some PCs more grounded by other adventures.

Cats,

If you follow my advice in a previous thread, check the GG's site for possible adventure paths that you can use with GG DCCs.

 

[Buttercup]

I'd say look at what you want to play AFTER the first adventure and pick an adventure from The Adventure Begins to lead into it.

This would be my suggestion too.

On the other hand, I don't do well with published adventures, so at most I'd probably start out with one of these, then segue off into homebrew. Now, your homebrew is pretty complex, but couldn't you just, I don't know, simplify it for a while, to bring the new players along slowly?

 

[Psion]

This would be my suggestion too.

On the other hand, I don't do well with published adventures, so at most I'd probably start out with one of these, then segue off into homebrew. Now, your homebrew is pretty complex, but couldn't you just, I don't know, simplify it for a while, to bring the new players along slowly?

That's sort of where I am getting with the River of Worlds thing. It's all about me running my world-hopping episodic wierdness campaign where I throw players into strange and exotic lands.

But the truth is, levels 4+ is my comfort zone, and Freeport is a classic adventure trilogy I've always wanted to run, and the fact that it has a nautical theme makes a nice set-up for my river of worlds homebrew.

My preference for homebrew is also part of the reason that I hestitate to run Shackled City and Shades of Gray. Though they are great adventures, when I do run published adventures, I prefer them just for a short stint and feel hemmed in running published adventures for more than a few sessions.

 

[ValhallaGH]

That's sort of where I am getting with the River of Worlds thing. It's all about me running my world-hopping episodic wierdness campaign where I throw players into strange and exotic lands.

But the truth is, levels 4+ is my comfort zone, and Freeport is a classic adventure trilogy I've always wanted to run, and the fact that it has a nautical theme makes a nice set-up for my river of worlds homebrew.

My preference for homebrew is also part of the reason that I hestitate to run Shackled City and Shades of Gray. Though they are great adventures, when I do run published adventures, I prefer them just for a short stint and feel hemmed in running published adventures for more than a few sessions.

Go with the Freeport trilogy, then. You'll love running it, which will make you run it even better than normal, which will result in some very fun adventures and very happy players.

Dropping a couple hints about building nautical characters would be good DMing. Former sailors, fishermen, pirates and sea merchants are all fun characters and solid backstories that can be reflected with a smattering of Profession (sailor). When they find themselves making such checks frequently, they'll keep boosting the skill, which should help them survive a River of Worlds more easily.

 

[Nightfall]

I also think, Buttercup, the fact is as Psion knows with me, when you have players that might expect one thing (ie less interplanar travels or not what you'd call D&D planar travels) and get something else (Psion's River of Worlds), it probably best to have them stick with something they know.

It's entirely up to you Psion. My suggestion still stands, use Ptolus for a while, run a few adventures there to get them "in the mood" and then move them along.