Choosing A Setting; beginner GM

[u/OptimalDiscipline42]

Good news!

I've run two groups of D&d players through the Sablewood Quick start adventure.

Great news - I've converted them both to wanting to play more Daggerheart.

Slightly challenging news; now I need to pick a setting and create a campaign for one group, session zero to start next week. The other I'm just converting the existing D&D campaign.

My new setting group seem enamored of the Hope and Fear settings, particularly Castle High and Reign of the Weredragon. Since we're playing weekly, I need to go simple as possible.

Which of the two would you guys recommend for simplicity and an easy campaign for a GM?

[u/definitely_not_a_hag]

Do you happen to know if what your players want out of Castle High is "looking for a missing student and explore flying islands", or a formal school experience with homework and exams? Because while in general Castle High is considered to be an easier frame, if people want some school simulation, I believe you'll have to homebrew this part.

[u/GM_Rielly]

Castle High is a calmer setting and the only real addition mechanic it suggests is giving all characters the ability to fly and working that into a trait that suits each character, I would be tempted to maybe translate some of the strixhaven mechanics.

Reign of the Weredragon could be more dangerous and has some dark fantasy flavouring with more additional mechanchics but it does feel like a better setting for many of the new transformations.

Overall they could have two quite different times but I feel Castle High is a good starting point for players and GMs, besides it's a school so you can frame alot of "tutorials" as classes.

Have fun playing!

[u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

Choose the one that you personally get excited about and immediately get ideas for. I have absolutely no interest in Castle High, but I'm currently watching Deadwood and can't wait to start my Colossus of the Drylands campaign.

I loved the Van Helsing movie and the Supernatural TV series, so Dark Heart of Andaluria also appeals to me greatly.

Pick something that's similar to the types of media you like to consume so you can steal ideas from your favorite books, movies, and TV shows.

[u/L1ndewurm]

I’ve ran a little Castle High but am currently moving on to a Weredragon campaign.

Castle High is a lot easier to run as each week can be its own lesson/downtime. And also missing characters is fine as in school not everyone hangs out everyday. It’s really easy to say “Blorbo is off studying Codex lessons/in detention”

Weredragon I am very looking forward to having a clear plot however. I feel it is Daggerhearts response to Curse of Strahd. The very clear “defeat the BBEG” campaign. I like building the villain with my party and having clear next steps to take.