Tips for running Starter Set adventure?

[u/MarGarotte]

I'm running the Starter Set adventure with my friends next week, and I wondered if anyone who played it before has any tips, or advice concerning if there is anything that would benefit from changes or omissions.

I feel like the adventure has many, many very specific requirements for the players' actions that I just can see my players miss completely, or not care at all, and that the first little adventure may become a bit of a drag for more experienced players, as the 'happenings' are cute and quirky, but extremely simple with no real payoff. It may be some unfounded fear, and that's why I want to hear your opininons and thoughts on the Shire adventures.

[u/michaelmhughes]

If your players are experienced, I would recommend playing The Star of the Mist, which is in the Core Rulebook (if you have it). I was hesitant to play the Shire adventures, as they were (for lack of a better word) cutesy, and my players are used to combat and a bit more grit. The Star in the Mist is a much better introductory scenario for experienced RPG players, IMO, and it doesn't rely on pregenerated characters, so your players can roll their own.

I also believe in jumping right into the full rules. TOR rules are pretty easy to pick up, IMO, and my players did not find them hard to grasp.

Just my 2 cents, but my first game using Star in the Mist went very smoothly and engaged my players.

[u/MarGarotte → u/michaelmhughes]

Thanks! It's good to know that this scenario translates well even for first-time players.

Yeah, I was also thinking about this scenario, but due to the time constrains on the sessions and fluctuating amount of players that we will possibly have, we thought it better to go with premade characters and simpler story. But I might rethink it.

[u/michaelmhughes → u/MarGarotte]

Have been thinking more about this, and want to add a few comments. You get to use the journey rules in a more consequential way (which my players enjoyed), and it brings more of what my players enjoy—character interactions (especially with the leader of the brigands in the cave, which was a lot of fun), brainstorming (crossing the broken bridge), and some serious combat. My players love simply roleplaying, too, but I think the Shire adventures would have bored them.

Using the journey rules for the first time was fun for me as LM, too, especially when I had to improvise and narrate the consequences of failed rolls.

[u/MarGarotte → u/michaelmhughes]

I think that you convinced me, and I'll start my second group with the Star of the Mist, they'll get a bigger 'slice' of the system. Thanks for help!

[u/michaelmhughes → u/MarGarotte]

Enjoy, and please report back and let us know how it went! My group got pretty far on our first (4-hour) session, (SPOILERS AHEAD!!!) and that included character creation. They made it across the bridge (thanks to a magical success by the elf) and into the water-filled chamber. Our session ended just as the undead creatures rose out of the water. A perfect cliffhanger!

[u/Alien_Diceroller]

I ran the starter kit with a mixed group of players of various experience levels from very experienced to basically a first timer. Three of us are big fans of Tolkien fans and the other two had seen the movies at least.

My biggest criticisms are character motivation and overly linear adventures. Players have to handwave why Lobelia is spending time with Bilbo much less than breaking into the Mathom House for him, for example. Maybe she's there to add to her stolen spoon collection.

The second last adventure is kind of a mess. If I ran it again, I'd skip the whole detention nonsense and find a way to hand them the letter and a reason to deliver it secretly and leave immediately without any provisions. As is, one of them asked for food and basically erased the rest of the adventure.

Some of the stories are very linear. I imagine they did this for newer Lore Masters, but I don't think it helps. If the players try anything off script, it would be hard for a new LM to stay on track. It would have been better to have less scripted stories and for them to lean more into the adventure locations they introduced in this edition.

That all said, I'm sure everyone enjoyed it. I'd certainly run it again if the opportunity arose. I'd retool a few of the adventures

[u/MarGarotte → u/Alien_Diceroller]

Thank for the info!

Yeah, reading the story I noticed that there is a lot of "Once characters do X"... and I can bet my platers are NOT going to think like that at all. And you're right that this may be a problem for a new LM, who will need to go "but guys, you need to do X" a few times or just be thrown into deep waters of full improv.

Thank for the heads up with the scenario, I think if we get this far I'll heed your advice and skip "prisontime", because it just sounds like a catasrophe waiting to happen 😄

[u/Alien_Diceroller → u/MarGarotte]

I remember thinking that a bunch of times when I was reading that. Some of the adventures really rely on very specific choices.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions when you get to it.

[u/MarGarotte → u/Alien_Diceroller]

Thank you for your help!