Best AP for novice (to Pathfinder) players

[galzion]

I've got a question that I thought I might throw open to a wider community to find an answer for.

I have all the Adventure Paths (and obviously within that I've got my favourites).
A group of friends of mine, who have played extensively in 3.5, but only one of whom has ever player Pathfinder, are potentially going to let me run some Pathfinder for them.

So, what I'm wondering is if people think there is a 'best' AP to run for players who are not novices to roleplaying, but are largely novices to Pathfinder and to Golarion.
Obviously, starting at 1st level and growing their characters organically will help, and to some extent personal tastes will come into it - I'd quite like to use Iron Gods, but I think that that isn't going to be the sort of theme of game that a couple of the players would go for, with the sci-fi elements to the story. Wrath of the Righteous is out, simply because trying to learn a second system (the mythic stuff) whilst learning the differences between Pathfinder and 3.5 seems a bad idea from the start.

So, any suggestions?

[Latrecis]

Seems to me that if they have background in 3.5, Pathfinder 1.0 would not be too much challenge. I'd suggest you find an AP with a theme that engages everyone at the table. Some groups might love the idea of Hell's Rebels, others might be completely uninterested. Don't know what to pick? Rise of the Runelords is a classic D&D themed adventure that should have broad appeal. And no supplemental "mini-game"/rules addition. Varisia is also a simpler place in the geo-political structure of Golarion so easier for players new to Golarion to get acclimated without having to know a lot of history/backstory. Unlike a Cheliax or Taldor for instance.

[John Lynch 106]

Curse of the Crimson Throne. It's got some classic elements. It's got stuff for roleplayers as well as hack and slashers and it will reward them with their knowledge of D&D without requiring any obtuse subsystems.

Or Ruse if the Runelords.

[OmegaZ]

In general most adventures are fine for new players, but some rely on players either being more comfortable with the base rules of Pathfinder or familiar with the Golarion setting. Imo these are the most new-player-friendly AP's in regards to rules and lore:

-Rise of the Runelords

-Curse of the Crimson Throne (just need to get familiar with the basics of Korvosa)

-Second Darkness

-Serpent's Skull

-Carrion Crown

-Reign of Winter

-Mummy's Mask

-Giant Slayer

-Ironfang Invasion

[deuxhero]

The Shackled City! It is 3.5 (and not updated like RotR/CotCT nor has the problems of Second Darkness or Legacy of Fire)

[captain yesterday]

I don't know why people are so uptight about barbarians with lasers battling aliens riding dinosaurs because Iron Gods is the Beezneez.

But with that off the table I'd suggest either Rise of the Runelords or Mummy's Mask, both are pretty easy for beginning players and GMs.

Iron Gods is still the best though.

[OmegaZ]

captain yesterday wrote:

I don't know why people are so uptight about barbarians with lasers battling aliens riding dinosaurs because Iron Gods is the Beezneez.

But with that off the table I'd suggest either Rise of the Runelords or Mummy's Mask, both are pretty easy for beginning players and GMs.

Iron Gods is still the best though.

Iron Gods is fantastic, but in terms of being new-player-friendly its not the best. The Numeria setting is a significant departure from the rest of Golarion, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, and the added technology can be another layer of rules for them to learn.

[captain yesterday]

It's not that hard, they're built exactly as magic items are.

I found it an incredibly easy adventure path to run for beginners.

Two different beginner groups in fact.