If you are a DM or/and a organiser for a game of LFR for players that never played in a Living Campaign, which module do you plan to DM for these players?
dragonvan
I'd go with AKAN1-1 if I wanted to show off pure combat, just to help players get a feel for 4E combat rules.
Alternately, if I wanted to run a mod with a little more depth, and a really good example of a skill challenge, I'd go with CORE1-2. One of the most memorable plots from the current "harvest" as well.
-SYB
Drag 1-1 is not a bad choice either. It allows a good introduction, is placed in a big city and it's not difficult.
IME, it's much less important about the quality of the mod or its newbie friendliness than having a good DM and not having annoying players (or curbing the annoyingness of players)
For instance maybe run the Cormyr adventures together, and then the ones from the Dalelands...and so on.
If these players are -new- new you can do a great service to them by introducing the Forgotten Realms one piece at a time...like an actual campaign. Make sure at the end you tie them together somehow with out of session hooks/roleplaying/etc to keep them coming back for more.
One of the issues some of us veteran players have had is one moment we're in Cormyr, the next we're on the Nelanther Isles.
Good luck!
I will explain some situations I forget to give:
I'm a player of LFR with another group of players in Montréal (we are playing a lot of level 1-4, so I know the player's experience with BALD1-1) and I'm already DMing three LFR mod (my first time was in a con and I wasn't prepared).
I know that some «new players» have already played the D&D 4th and they maybe don't know about the RPGA and the LFR campaign.
Tomorrow, I will try to see and talk with some potential players that will be in the game. I will try to discern which mod I should DM for there first mod in this campaign.
Should I print the "Adventure Log" and the "Adventure Tracker" and give a copy at the first time of play?
With these new informations, can you say which mod I should choose or you stay with your idea?
On the log sheets, I would print out a few copies, just to have them on-hand if they are needed. Just make sure that they are the ones from the 1.7 version, since they wouldn't need the obsolete access list anymore.
Thanks for the answers!
I will explain some situations I forget to give:
I'm a player of LFR with another group of players in Montréal (we are playing a lot of level 1-4, so I know the player's experience with BALD1-1) and I'm already DMing three LFR mod (my first time was in a con and I wasn't prepared).
I know that some «new players» have already played the D&D 4th and they maybe don't know about the RPGA and the LFR campaign.
Ok that helps a little. I would talk to the players and answer any questions they have about LFR and RPGA in general. I would also find out what their race/class is, what region they are from, and help them forsee what their character will look like stat wise as they hit 11th, and then 21st level. This way you can help them make sure their character is built to their satisfaction, and also be able to survive some of the tougher encounters that can happen in LFR.
Tomorrow, I will try to see and talk with some potential players that will be in the game. I will try to discern which mod I should DM for there first mod in this campaign.
I would also take the time to mention the differences between "playing up" and "playing down", plus how many adventures it would take to hit the next level doing either, and so on. This way there is a level of expectation set with your players (especially if you're going to be playing with the same group all the time). Keep in mind that "playing up" in one mod can be different than doing so in another as some encounters are easier than others.
Should I print the "Adventure Log" and the "Adventure Tracker" and give a copy at the first time of play?
With these new informations, can you say which mod I should choose or you stay with your idea?
Oh yes I would print several copies of these before each time you play.
Have these players played any mods already? If so I would try to build on that. If some players have played BALD 1-1 but the others haven't perhaps play WATE 1-1 this way the full group will meet up in Waterdeep. Maybe play CORM 1-1 also and have the players that have played BALD 1-1 move from Baldur's Gate to Cormyr to meet the others.
Also if a player is unsure about what they will play make some pre-generated characters for them before you play. You have access to all the 1-4 level mods so I would, like I posted previously, try and build some continuity with the mods to help with the overall enjoyment of the game.
Good luck...and don't forget your DnD minis.
I know that the players have played the 4th edition of D&D, and they are the kind that want the gold, XP and some combat. So, I know that the Living Forgotten Realms campaign will be the perfect one for them, because it gets all these elements and a little bit of roleplaying.
Now, I will need to choose the first mod (one of the 12 regionals mod) I will DMing for them and the next one for these players.
Mr_IndustrialPants, what do you mean by a series of adventures in term of mod?
I know that the players have played the 4th edition of D&D, and they are the kind that want the gold, XP and some combat. So, I know that the Living Forgotten Realms campaign will be the perfect one for them, because it gets all these elements and a little bit of roleplaying.
Now, I will need to choose the first mod (one of the 12 regionals mod) I will DMing for them and the next one for these players.
What I mean with this is to break out the map in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and plot the adventures you want to run in a way where you aren't bouncing across the map.
For instance my first time playing LFR I first played CORE 1-1 which is based in Sembia, then CORE 1-3 which is based on the Nelanther Isles. That's a long walk for a 1st level character and, imho, not realistic.
This is why starting off with maybe BALD 1-1, followed up by WATE 1-1, and then maybe moving up into Loudwater (ADAP 1-1 thru 1-5) or going to MOON 1-1 from Waterdeep would make sense. Or maybe starting with DRAG 1-1, moving through CORM 1-1, DALE 1-1, and then the SPEC 1-1 (Zhent special based in the Moonsea) would be good.
One of the biggest complaints about LFR mods is that often times the players are bouncing across the map. If you're going to keep the same group of players then piecing the mods together in some manner will make it feel like a campaign as opposed to a casual game of DnD.
The BALD1-1 mod won't be the first mod I will Dming for them. I think of CORE1-1 will be the first one (this was my first experience at a DM and it was in a convention; I was a little bit unprepared).
My two first LFR games were CORE1-3 and after that, it was the CORE1-1 mod.
Oh, and the treasure bundles will have players coming back!
I learned that one player had already played two LFR mod and I know her (We played CORE1-1 and CORE1-3 together). This was the mod she played, when for my PC is already at level 5.
I was thinking of CORM1-1 that I was already DMing, but it wasn't an easy mod for me to DM. Now, I hope to get the minimum of four players.
I hope this post will help some other DM to select a first mod for a group of new players!