Your favorite 1st level module?

[Ashrem Bayle]

I'm about to start a new game with two new players. They have never gamed before and I wanted them to come away with a good first impression.

So.. what are your suggestions?

What is your favorite 1st level module? Even better if it can be found online for free.

I'm thinking of Sunless Citadel, but one of the players has already been through it and will likely get bored. Lets just forget about that one for now.

 

[Crothian]

Keep on the Borderlands

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Keep on the Borderlands

Never played it. Its mainly just a hack-n-slash fest though isn't it?

I'm looking for something with good RPing potential.

Not that there is anything wrong with Keep, I just need something different for this group.

 

[Pielorinho]

Burning Plague is great, and is available for free on WOTC's Web site.

Of Sound Mind is tremendous fun: at DragonCon this weekend, I got to run a bunch of people through the first half of it. They gaped when the [details omitted] opened their mouths and [details omitted]. The stack of enchanted [details omitted] totally freaked them out when they started to [details omitted]. And one player played a wonderfully low-wisdom fighter who, though it would obviously mean his death, climbed up the [details omitted] to pry out a [details omitted].

Great fun!
Daniel

 

[Pielorinho]

If you go for Burning Plague, it's not super-RP-intensive. However, there are some kobolds in it who can attempt to negotiate their way out of trouble, and you could RP there.

Of Sound Mind is chock full of roleplaying goodness.

Daniel

 

[Storm Raven]

Never played it. Its mainly just a hack-n-slash fest though isn't it?

I'm looking for something with good RPing potential.

Not that there is anything wrong with Keep, I just need something different for this group.

It can be a hack-n-slash fest if you want to play it that way.

It doesn't have to be. In the original, there were prisoners to rescue, tribes of villains fighting each other, an evil cult plotting, traitors in the keep and so on. A host of seeds for intrigue and diplomacy style adventures as well as butt kicking times.

Keep on the Borderlands is what you make of it.

 

[Dr Midnight]

Gorgoldand's Gauntlet

 

[Neo]

The village of hommlet was always mine, i loved that little diverse community, it can now be found in a form as part of RTtToEe.

Also as has been mentioned Keep on the Borderlands was great, not exactly a masterpiece but was another of those adventures that provided a great tweakable and interesting location that could be plugged into any campaign.

Finally the Assault on the Slavers Stockade, again generic place that could be used anywhere, great compound, interesting and endearing villain and boggles!

 

[JeffB]

I personally think that the old B series, and some of the AD&D modules were best...U1 and T1 especially.

As far as 3E modules go

The Fright at Tristor

Crucible of Freya (which has tons of downloadable free product to go with it..you could have a few months of play by downloading the xtra stuff)

Raider's of Galath's Roost ( Dungeon Magazine, Don't know which #..Summer 2001 or so)

Kenzer's Coin series (Root of All Evil is the first: there's some minor railroading, but overall, it's excellent)

These are all mystery type scenarios.

 

[The Sigil]

N4 - Treasure Hunt

An old 1st-edition module, actually designed for 0-level characters (i.e., pre-1st level), but easily adapted.

Great campaign starter - throws you into the action - with opportunities for combat, roleplaying, and plenty of helpful DM hints thrown in. Because it requires the players to start stripped of all gear and imprisoned on a ship, it's problematic, at best, anywhere but at the start of a campaign (I've found you can get away with such arbitrary things as "you're captured by pirates - no saving throw" at the start of one, but not in the middle of one).

Can be found for $5 in PDF form at www.svgames.com - exact URL to follow (their site seems to be having some difficulties).

--The Sigil