Rats are such an old concept to use in a Dungeon. So whats your favorite low level newbie monster to use, PNP campaigns included.
I rather favor Kobolds myself thou I admit I start with a rat problem to introduce them, giveing the players a few levels before bringing on the bigger mobs.
Low challenge rating creatures (challenge rating less than 1):
Badger
Bandit
Bandit archer
Dire rat
Elf ranger
Fire beetle
Goblin
Gypsy rogue
Gypsy warrior
Hobgoblin
Kobold
Orc
Pseudodragon
Rat
Skeleton
Stirge
Tiefling
Wererat
Low challenge rating creatures (challenge rating less than 1):
Badger
Bandit
Bandit archer
Dire rat
Elf ranger
Fire beetle
Goblin
Gypsy rogue
Gypsy warrior
Hobgoblin
Kobold
Orc
Pseudodragon
Rat
Skeleton
Stirge
Tiefling
Wererat
Yes but what ones your favorite to use on players who are lower then lvl15
I've always fancied a good minotaur fight. Oh and ogres are such fun to smack around.
For my low level areas I use ...
Undead Skeletal Rats (no disease bite)
Xvarts (small blue skinned goblinoids)
Cave Rats (no disease bite and found with Xvarts)
Skeletons (slow moving)
Zombies (slow moving)
Giant Ants
Goblins
Kobolds (lack the poison bolts of the Bioware version)
A long time ago, I planned to do a 'snakes on an airship' type rat quest (in homage to the Snakes on an Airplane movie). Then, I realized I didn't have airships in my world and further, that I didn't like ratquests at all. Today, we purposely don't have any introductory ratquests, though we do have dungeons suitable for low-levels (the difficulty of those dungeons is higher than what I think is your intention).
Instead, we have stray dogs, filth rats, chickens, crabs, seagulls, etc.. that players hunt in the alleys and streets of the city. These are neutral creatures that are always wandering around the city and don't normally attack anyone. There is something sublimely satisfying about watching a young hero having to start his/her journey from the ignominious roots of killing crabs in the streets for food and gold, in plain view of everyone, to eventually becoming a powerful champion. Players have actually commented on such as being formative to their concept.
Whatever you choose to do, make it relevant to your world. IMO, the standard ratquest trope is so tired. Not just the rats, but the need to do the quest at all. Look for ways that accomplish the goal of providing introductory challenges in relatively low-risk environments for players, but that don't feel like the activity is only incorporated as a 'rat quest' and has no other value to your world.
Wow, that comment couldn't of been put better. My personal favorite for beginning heroes is the telltale introduction of heroes disagreeing with each other and learning not everyone fits in a party. Having a fight against another level 1 would-be adventurer because of a disagreement can add a lot to it, especially if it's such where it's the actual players doing so. Something along those lines, where you know you're as likely to win as you are to lose, against an equally inexperienced hero.
That's my two cents on low level encounters other than the stereotypical rats in my basement/kitchen quest.
A long time ago, I planned to do a 'snakes on an airship' type rat quest (in homage to the Snakes on an Airplane movie). Then, I realized I didn't have airships in my world and further, that I didn't like ratquests at all. Today, we purposely don't have any introductory ratquests, though we do have dungeons suitable for low-levels (the difficulty of those dungeons is higher than what I think is your intention).
Instead, we have stray dogs, filth rats, chickens, crabs, seagulls, etc.. that players hunt in the alleys and streets of the city. These are neutral creatures that are always wandering around the city and don't normally attack anyone. There is something sublimely satisfying about watching a young hero having to start his/her journey from the ignominious roots of killing crabs in the streets for food and gold, in plain view of everyone, to eventually becoming a powerful champion. Players have actually commented on such as being formative to their concept.
Whatever you choose to do, make it relevant to your world. IMO, the standard ratquest trope is so tired. Not just the rats, but the need to do the quest at all. Look for ways that accomplish the goal of providing introductory challenges in relatively low-risk environments for players, but that don't feel like the activity is only incorporated as a 'rat quest' and has no other value to your world.
With the new CEP you can do just that that sounds like a halrious idea since poison effects on some serpents can really get under a lowbies skin. this is a for fun thing just a shareing of what you prefer to sick on players who are low level and want to level in your servers a GM should if nothign else be versitile thats why PNP favors are allowed as well 
who knows we may get more critter packss out of it.
Wow, that comment couldn't of been put better. My personal favorite for beginning heroes is the telltale introduction of heroes disagreeing with each other and learning not everyone fits in a party. Having a fight against another level 1 would-be adventurer because of a disagreement can add a lot to it, especially if it's such where it's the actual players doing so. Something along those lines, where you know you're as likely to win as you are to lose, against an equally inexperienced hero.
That's my two cents on low level encounters other than the stereotypical rats in my basement/kitchen quest.
pvp out of the gate, past exerinces shown me that can be a little hostile; What do you use to cool players heads with afterwords?
For prosperity sake I think every game should have one even if it's just one Rats in the bacement quesst just for kicks a insert your sick jokes here type thing.
PVP out the gate....mmmm, I just learned to deal with it. I think not of whatever conflict comes of it generally. I'm a thick-skinned person so it's incredibly seldom when something rubs me the wrong way. I lack the capacity to see from the other side of things. If I tend to not enjoy something I'll just ignore it and look elsewhere. That's just my personal input regarding such. If it's in such a way that I enjoy it, I just recall it being fairly memorable to me. That said, my experience of what I enjoy in low level encounters, I enjoy with players as equally as I do with npcs, AI controlled or DM controlled. Wasn't sure if I was entirely clear with it. So either really.
Gibberlings!
I use beetles. The single-shot, fire spitting kind and the grubby ones that release a cloud of stink when they die. Goblins and zombies or skeletons make an early appearance too.
I had more trouble justifying ratquests than bumping my beginning players to level 4, so I do that.
The first quest of Swordflight pitted me up against rats in a basement; after which, a wererat confronts me to ask what my deal is.
My point? It's all about execution, what you do with "worn out" encounters. In this instance, killing rats in the basement is no mean feat (there are lots, and they swarm if you're not careful) and turns into an amusing and dangerous quest with a moral quandary, lore about lycanthropes and more than one solution.
Funny that people mention the smurfs xvarts from Baldur's Gate, I remember fireballin' tasloi, kobolds and gibberlings, too. Oddly, there was not a single goblin (or orc) in BG1 (IWD and BG2 had them both, though).
Gibberlings!
While I also have gibberlings ... they are actually in areas for PCs of 6th and higher as I have them in swarms or hordes, and although they are easily dispatched one on one, they can quickly overwhelm PCs that have only one attack per round or very few hit points. 
The best "low level/starter level" I have ever played was some areas infested with "rabid" badgers. Your quest was to secure some samples for further study (which lead to other quests/tie-ins surrounding the "disease").
Simply fantastic - a badger with rage is actually something to fear!
I remember that server i could swear when the gm was angry they buffed hte badgers a bit
My point? It's all about execution, what you do with "worn out" encounters. In this instance, killing rats in the basement is no mean feat (there are lots, and they swarm if you're not careful) and turns into an amusing and dangerous quest with a moral quandary, lore about lycanthropes and more than one solution.
Completely agree. I actually have something planned where the player is asked to investigate the basement of an inn and it's strongly hinted that rats are the problem...but it turns out to be something far worse (and the "quest-giver" was perfectly aware of that fact from the get-go).
Completely agree. I actually have something planned where the player is asked to investigate the basement of an inn and it's strongly hinted that rats are the problem...but it turns out to be something far worse (and the "quest-giver" was perfectly aware of that fact from the get-go).
eh in my levle one quest lineup the questgiver was not entirely aware of the full sutuation just the rats in the sotrehoouse being uncommon. turnn out some kobold shamenn are up to no good and its chaseing hte rats away form their normal home.
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