[quarkstomper]

I once started off a fantasy campaign by having the characters all attending a village fair. This allowed them to participate in contests, encounter pick-pockets, deal with the owlbear that accidentally broke out of its cage in the petting zoo, etc. Low level encounters an mostly non-hazardous opportunities to try out their skills. And by distinguishing themselves in the Grand Melee/Archery Contest/Pie-Eating Contest, they brought themselves to the attention of the Patron who would hire them for the Adventure.