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Thursday, September 1, 2011

Number of Players

As of now, there are three players in the AD&D campaign I plan to start after Labor Day.  I am sure there will be some fluctuation with some not being able to play some nights and we may get another player added later on.  As a GM, now I have to start gearing up the campaign, particularly the adventures towards that number of players.  I don't tend to have NPCs go along, and for whatever reason we rarely use hirelings.  If an NPC does go along I like it to a single individual who plays an auxiliary role so as not to take the action away from the players. 

I don't use too many canned modules, although I have one or two I put to the side, under glass "break in case of an emergency adventure is needed."  Most of the old AD&D modules are written for 6 to 8 players.  I've only ever had that players once for a campaign.  Most of my groups tend to be very small two to three players and there are times when we've done some one-on-one.  So when I start making these adventures for the players I'll need to consider their number.  Some encounters will be the same no matter if it was one or a hundred players.

Another thing to consider is the classes.  Rob made a super strong smash and bash fighter.  Not sure what the other two will play, but I do like to tailor make adventures for players.  Once I find out their strengths and weaknesses and motives I can develop something that will be fun for all of them.  And develop the backstories and other fun conflicts. 

Iplan on posting alot of the development stuff here.  And I haven't stopped working on Starter Adventures.  I'm actually rewritting one section and adding two more sections. 

8 comments:

  1. Three players isn't a bad number. Some modules might be made difficult, I guess, but other than that not a biggie.

    I played quite a bit of my AD&D career with two sometimes three players.

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  2. I will probably opt for a cleric.

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  3. I can relate-I play a lot of sessions with one player, and some with two. One day I hope to have a third.

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  4. In AD&D a small party isn't that great an issue. Hirelings, Hirelings, Hirelings!

    Oh, an the odd henchman of course. :)

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  5. Wow, I can't imagine balancing encounters for a party that small. I'm used to 6 or 7 players in groups, but I prefer 5, when I get my druthers.

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  7. With three or less characters (and no hirelings/henchies/NPCs), balance is really about running.

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  8. And the thing to remember about running is that it is not important to be the fastest character, but it is vital to not be the slowest.

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