Starting a new campaign, need input

I've been heavily playing Pathfinder since GenCon 2012, thanks to all the great people at Paizo and the volunteers for getting me hooked :)

Now I'm attempting to run my own campaign with a group of players but since I haven't had a long history with the setting I'm struggling to figure out how to open this up. I have the Rise of the Runelords Anniversary book but I have played the Burnt Offerings portion of that with a couple people in the group. I also have the Inner Sea World Guide and Primer.
My thought/wish is to somehow start the adventure up and work the group into the Rise of the Runelords campaign somewhere after the Burnt Offerings portion. Since this is my first campaign I feel having something like Rise of the Runelords to follow is in the best interest of everyone. My lack of exposure to the world is hindering me in finding something/somewhere I can get them started. I've looked through some of the Adventure Paths for something I could maybe start with but nothing really stood out.
I've instructed the players to create extensive backgrounds and use the Primer for guidance (races, traits, etc). The players will know nothing of each other until the game starts and I plan to integrate their backgrounds into the story, unraveling bits as the campaign goes on.

So, I've come to you guys..the experts, for suggestions or direction. Be nice, I'm new! :)

The usual advice is not to start with a whole AP, but instead to try something shorter like the Price of Immortality series (Crypt of the Everflame, Masks of the Living God, and City of Golden Death), which is set in Nirmathas and the area around it.

But if you want to start RotRL (set in Varisia) and are quite likely to be presented with a party of characters from all over the place (if you've set your players loose on the Inner Sea Primer), then I might suggest The Godsmouth Heresy. The module is set in Kaer Maga (fourth biggest city in Varisia), a place where a lot of odd people gather (perfect for new adventuring parties). It is for L 1 characters, and if your players' characters are not L 3 by the time you finish and want to start them on The Skinsaw Murders (RotRL 2), then just give them some encounters/adventure on the way to the Sandpoint area.

Perfect! That is exactly the advise I was looking for. I knew you guys wouldn't fail me :) Thank you Bellona!

The big downside of not starting Runelords with Burnt Offerings is that's the module that really can endear the town of Sandpoint to the players. If you play it right, Sandpoint can become an almost-real place in the players' minds, and that emotional connection to the town is actually very important in Books 4 and 5.

If I were in your position, instead of giving your players the Inner Sea Primer to start off, I'd give them both the free Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Players Guide and a copy of the Players Companion Varisia: Birthplace of Legends. That way, they can build PCs for what you'll really be throwing at them. It also can give them a from-the-start connection to Sandpoint and/or Varisia.

Good luck!

If you want to start in Sandpoint you can begin with the adventures from the Beginner's Box (+ the additional ones that are avaible here for free as PDF). In addition to the "Godsmouth Heresy", there is a 3rd level module "Feast of Ravenmoor" and "Murder's Mark" another 1st level module that are set in Varisia. "Burnt Offering" contains some hooks for the other parts of the campaign.

In addition you can adapt the various Pathfinder Society Scenarios from the current season.

I actually was looking through stuff last night and did add the Varisia: Birthplace of Legends to the list (ordered the book this morning). I'll also add the Rise of the Runelords Players guide, makes perfect sense.

I agree that I'll need to work in some hooks that create a connection to Sandpoint. I have about a month to prepare, we're starting in January, so I'm hoping that'll give me enough time to really research/read about Varisia. This game is going to be via virtual tabletop so I need additional time for player handouts, maps, encounter setups, etc.

Thanks for the continued input! I welcome all suggestions since I want to present the best possible campaign for the players.

Thanks Oliver. I'm going to re-read the Burnt Offerings section of the book this weekend, see what hooks there are and how I can substitute those or work them in outside of the actual Burnt Offerings encounter. Hopefully I can manage it and still, as Haladir mentioned, build a connection to Sandpoint for the party.

This game is going to be via virtual tabletop so I need additional time for player handouts, maps, encounter setups, etc.

Which VTT are you using? I'm running my Runelords campaign in MapTool.

I've incorporated many of the actual Paizo maps into the MapTool map files, which means that I can't post them on a public website... but if you have your own copy of the PDF of the Anniversary Edition, I could send you a copy directly without violating the Community Use Policy.

PM me if you're interested.

<------new PFrpg Inner Sea GM

I wanted say that I played my first session a couple of days ago and endearing the PC's to Sandpoint was one of the key things I was hoping to begin to acheive. Down the line the PC's will have choices to make that are important to Sandpoint, all Varisia and even Golarion.

The big downside of not starting Runelords with Burnt Offerings is that's the module that really can endear the town of Sandpoint to the players. If you play it right, Sandpoint can become an almost-real place in the players' minds, and that emotional connection to the town is actually very important in Books 4 and 5.

If I were in your position, instead of giving your players the Inner Sea Primer to start off, I'd give them both the free Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Players Guide and a copy of the Players Companion Varisia: Birthplace of Legends. That way, they can build PCs for what you'll really be throwing at them. It also can give them a from-the-start connection to Sandpoint and/or Varisia.

Good luck!