Brainstorming initial encounters for role-playing sessions. Specifically, the first session of a campaign, where everyone is still new to their characters, and their characters still new to each other. How to get characters to trust and cooperate with each other. Ideally, it also provides a common purpose. Intent is to get storylines usable at cons, where people are never going to play together again, so the campaign is just a one-shot.
My friends and I read LotR, David Eddings, & Shannara, so we whole 'Wizard Guide' meme a great deal. (Wizard Guides having the virtue of being tough to kill, in case the PC's decide to murder the 'quest-giver'.)
A sub-type of this would be a having a quest-giver offer a 'job' to the PCs. Depending on PC alignment, this might be to rob, beat, kill or otherwise waylay an NPC. It might also be to recover something. Characters unknown to one another are brought in to pull an 'Italian Job".
Another option would be the 'Fight!" setup, where one character is attacked, and the others come to their aid. Having an NPC be attacked also works. Works well in a tavern.
Dropping a map on the floor, or having the characters recover a map (from a dying or unconcious NPC) is another common start. Can work in a tavern, but does not supply party cohesion--characters may fight over the map. Having an NPC steal the map might work.
"In Jail" is excellent; the players have a common purpose (to escape), and no other explanation of their gathering is required. Pivots into dungeoneering.
"Guards", where the PC's have all been hired as watch-members, body-guards, or caravan guards. Moves PC's out of starting location, and into a common threatening context.
"The Hangover", where the PC's don't know each other, but wake up (amnesiac) and find themselves married, Wanted, or hunted.
