There isn't enough detail in Chapter 2 for meaningful encounters without a lot of extra DM work. Chapter 4 is a linear Chase the McGuffin Until The DM Has Had Enough
Also, Lost Mines of Phandelver and Dragon Heist are both short for campaigns, only taking you from Level 1 to Level 5. Dragons of Icespire Peak is a little longer at Levels 1-7
Storm Kings Thunder at least has some branching paths and decisions the party can make. There is a giant sandbox section that you may need extra setup though.
LMoP, hands down. It is, IMO, the best 5e adventure in existence, and not only for starter DMs. It is the only published adventure you can play without lots of changes and immense amounts of prepping. Just foreshadow the villain a bit more and make him a bit more powerful and you can run it as is. Use Game Nights Blog's Lost Mine of Phandelver Campaign Resources, it really helps with the problems of the villain.
I ran LMoP 6? times now and for the last couple I incorporated DoIP with the additional digital adventures and have had great success. I think they are both fantastic together and can be scaled up to make a decent 1-15 campaign with moderate work. I was a player for Storm King's Thunder and it was a hell of a time. No experience with Dragon Heist other than reading it but it seems okay. However, I absolutely adore CoS and am running my fourth campaign with it now but this time including Van Richten's Guide. I replaced Death House with The House of Lament and Madam Eva is going to be a star attraction in The Carnival. They don't know about the Bag Man yet, hehehe. It's the most fun I have had running a game since 5e started and it gets better each replay. There is no question in my mind. Strahd wins. He always wins... even if he has a temporary setback involving a sunsword.
I remember doing SKT and when we found some barbarians in this place and when we tried to get in they closed the door and yelled so we decided to put a beholder illusion inside the room they were in and they rushed out.
It definitely isn't Rime of the Frostmaiden! Impossibly hard monsters for 1st and 2nd level characters. A total switch of campaign theme half way through.
I've ran LMoP 3 times and 2 other times I ran it combined with DoIP. In my completely non-professional opinion, it is a great adventure that doesn't need a lot of work. It even comes with some premade characters for brand new players.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Share your opinion please
This doesn't sound like a Barbarian poll.
I can tell you it is not Dragon Heist.
There isn't enough detail in Chapter 2 for meaningful encounters without a lot of extra DM work.
Chapter 4 is a linear Chase the McGuffin Until The DM Has Had Enough
Also, Lost Mines of Phandelver and Dragon Heist are both short for campaigns, only taking you from Level 1 to Level 5.
Dragons of Icespire Peak is a little longer at Levels 1-7
Storm Kings Thunder at least has some branching paths and decisions the party can make. There is a giant sandbox section that you may need extra setup though.
I have not played in or run Rime or Strahd.
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
LMoP, hands down. It is, IMO, the best 5e adventure in existence, and not only for starter DMs. It is the only published adventure you can play without lots of changes and immense amounts of prepping. Just foreshadow the villain a bit more and make him a bit more powerful and you can run it as is. Use Game Nights Blog's Lost Mine of Phandelver Campaign Resources, it really helps with the problems of the villain.
I'm the Valar (leader and creator) of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Anything Tolkien Cult!
Member of the Cult of Cats, High Elf of the Elven Guild, and Sauce Priest & Sauce Smith of the Supreme Court of Sauce.
If you want some casual roleplay/adventures in Middle Earth, check out The Wild's Edge Tavern, a LotR/Middle Earth tavern!
JOIN TIAMAT'S CONGA LINE!
Extended Sig
You start with LMOP then go into CoS. That way you can play two of the best things there is in 5e.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
I ran LMoP 6? times now and for the last couple I incorporated DoIP with the additional digital adventures and have had great success. I think they are both fantastic together and can be scaled up to make a decent 1-15 campaign with moderate work. I was a player for Storm King's Thunder and it was a hell of a time. No experience with Dragon Heist other than reading it but it seems okay. However, I absolutely adore CoS and am running my fourth campaign with it now but this time including Van Richten's Guide. I replaced Death House with The House of Lament and Madam Eva is going to be a star attraction in The Carnival. They don't know about the Bag Man yet, hehehe. It's the most fun I have had running a game since 5e started and it gets better each replay. There is no question in my mind. Strahd wins. He always wins... even if he has a temporary setback involving a sunsword.
I remember doing SKT and when we found some barbarians in this place and when we tried to get in they closed the door and yelled so we decided to put a beholder illusion inside the room they were in and they rushed out.
It definitely isn't Rime of the Frostmaiden! Impossibly hard monsters for 1st and 2nd level characters. A total switch of campaign theme half way through.
I've ran LMoP 3 times and 2 other times I ran it combined with DoIP. In my completely non-professional opinion, it is a great adventure that doesn't need a lot of work. It even comes with some premade characters for brand new players.