I started my longest-running campaign with a “one-shot”. Part of that was by the publishers’ design. I ran the free module “We Be Goblins” (highly recommended), which involved a pack of goblins searching for more fireworks. The end of that adventure acts as a teaser for the “Jade Regent” adventure path, which I ran to completion with most of the initial group.

In that adventure path, the PCs get to revisit (and drive off) their tribe from the one-shot in the opening act.