What are your favorite one-shot adventures for beginners?
Next weekend I’m set to DM for some visiting family who’ve never played 5e before. We probably won’t have a chance to continue playing beyond this one session but I wanted to give them a nice showcase of what the game can do.
I’ve been DMing for about a year now. In the past I’ve introduced new players using Lost Mines and Dragon of Icespire Peak but wondered if anyone knew of any more self-contained one-shots that are well suited for players coming in completely cold.
The best adventures are the ones that you're familiar with; if you're comfortable and confident, they'll have a better time. I'd recommend picking one of the three starting quests for Dragon of Icespire Peak - particularly Umbrage Hill, that offers the opportunity for either combat or roleplay, according to the party's choices.
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One adventure I’d like to recommend is The House of Lament from Van Richtens Guide to Ravenloft (starts at 1st level). It’s definitely not what you’d describe as a classic high fantasy adventure with giant rats ;) but it’s extremely well written and exciting. It features a lot of both role play as well as a decent helping of combat. Alternatively, one thing I’d like to suggest for another adventure idea is starting a first time group at 3rd or even 4th level. It may not be a popular idea, but I’ve found that players enjoy combat in their games and the low survivability of 1st level heroes can really drag down the fun. And the biggest difference between a 1st level hero and a 3rd level hero is hit points. Most first and even 2nd level spells are barely more powerful than cantrips in my opinion. And spellcasters are the class most often associated with jumps in power.
Agree. I pretty much reserve Level 1 for brand new players as a sort of "tutorial level", give them a low-stakes combat early, allow reduction to 0 HP to be a knockout not a death, then immediately advance them to Level 2 afterward.
Just gives them a chance to learn the basic mechanics of their class before including additional features.
I've heard House of Lament suggested before. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!
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DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
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Hi Folks —
Curious to get the collective perspective here.
What are your favorite one-shot adventures for beginners?
Next weekend I’m set to DM for some visiting family who’ve never played 5e before. We probably won’t have a chance to continue playing beyond this one session but I wanted to give them a nice showcase of what the game can do.
I’ve been DMing for about a year now. In the past I’ve introduced new players using Lost Mines and Dragon of Icespire Peak but wondered if anyone knew of any more self-contained one-shots that are well suited for players coming in completely cold.
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
The best adventures are the ones that you're familiar with; if you're comfortable and confident, they'll have a better time. I'd recommend picking one of the three starting quests for Dragon of Icespire Peak - particularly Umbrage Hill, that offers the opportunity for either combat or roleplay, according to the party's choices.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
That said,.I haven't tried this adventure but looks quite simple and a bit of light fun:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1058-free-adventure-play-as-familiars-and-undo-a
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
One adventure I’d like to recommend is The House of Lament from Van Richtens Guide to Ravenloft (starts at 1st level). It’s definitely not what you’d describe as a classic high fantasy adventure with giant rats ;) but it’s extremely well written and exciting. It features a lot of both role play as well as a decent helping of combat. Alternatively, one thing I’d like to suggest for another adventure idea is starting a first time group at 3rd or even 4th level. It may not be a popular idea, but I’ve found that players enjoy combat in their games and the low survivability of 1st level heroes can really drag down the fun. And the biggest difference between a 1st level hero and a 3rd level hero is hit points. Most first and even 2nd level spells are barely more powerful than cantrips in my opinion. And spellcasters are the class most often associated with jumps in power.
Agree. I pretty much reserve Level 1 for brand new players as a sort of "tutorial level", give them a low-stakes combat early, allow reduction to 0 HP to be a knockout not a death, then immediately advance them to Level 2 afterward.
Just gives them a chance to learn the basic mechanics of their class before including additional features.
I've heard House of Lament suggested before. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"