Okay,

Two choices, but I have a decent collection of modules. Give your preference, limit 3. Top vote will be used. Tie-break will go to the player that requested the game.

#1: The Slaying Stone -> Orcs of Stonefang Pass -> Madness at Gardmore Abbey.

#2: Keep on the Shadowfell -> (Rest of the series.)

#3: Madness at Gardmore Abbey.


(#1 is the most ambitious given the lifespan of most RPOL games and the size of Gardmore, but one can dream...)

I vote for #1. I've heard good things about The Slaying Stone path but never tried it (or any 4e module, actually). I looked it up and I think the full path is typically:

HS1: The Slaying Stone (1st)
Reavers of Harkenwold (DM's Kit, 2nd-3rd)
Cairn of the Winter King (Monster Vault, 4th)
HS2: Orcs of Stonefang Pass (5th)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (6th-11th)

I would go with the path suggested by candidate 1.

I vote for The Slaying Stone.

It appears we have 4 votes in favor of 'The Slaying Stone'.

I shall set that up then.

Please create your band of LEVEL '1' characters.

I was thinking, maybe we could do the first Keep on the Shadowfell module after we do the Slaying Stone. I am no DM but it seems to me that it would not be much of an adjustment. I have always, at least when I have played in it, thought that KotS is overpowering in the favor of the DM(no offense). Lord knows I have had near total party kill encounters on just the kobold lair encounter alone. Maybe a little too much on the challenging side for level 1s. Still.....Winterhaven isn't too far off from Gorizbadd you have to admit(a few miles southwest if I remember. What do you think?

Here's my opinion on the matter.

Games take time to launch (We have three completed characters out of the seven applicants) and then run anywhere from 6 months to several years. How about we revisit the next "module" adventure to head towards after we've successfully played through 80% of the current adventure.

My experience as a GM is I'll lose 1-2 players within a month, then someone will attempt to cling on as a student but fail once school is back in session (And be profusely apologetic about it). And for whatever reason, that 50% attrition can spiral into game death if not mitigated with aggressive replacement of said players to take up existing characters or swap in new characters.

That's my long-winded method of saying: Let's not be planning for something that won't happen till closer to June (If we're lucky) and assuming we still have a solid core of players willing to slog forward.

(I'm happy the enthusiasm level is high)

Sound fair?

Also, skewed encounters? Yeesh. I've been reading through the module and the author(s) really loved to exclude any other outcome other than combat as a valid means of accomplishing tasks... I'll be honest. Combat is iffy at best (one lucky blow can drop anyone) unless you guys are "kill them all!" I'm not opposed to diplomacy, and creative methods to not have to fight everything you come across...

I'm just looking for good opportunity to RP; if TPK is the result, then so be it.  How much fun would it be to go down swinging, and then...maybe get a chance to make a second party that goes to look fir the first?