I know this question is as much about circumstances as it is gameplay, but what is the ideal player party size?
When I was in college, it was the more the merrier, but gameplay bogged down when I went above 5 or 6 players. I used to run AD&D 2e sessions on Friday mornings back in those days, and I could have up to 10 players to juggle. As a DM I felt I was giving less then my best performance.
My old gaming group ranged from 3-6 players for the most part... although there were times that got huge too.
Or does it depend upon game system? D&D thru 3.5e has 4 core classes, and with multi-classing, more then one role could be fulfilled per PC. So, you didn't need 4 PCs, but it did help for balance.
Tunnels & Trolls has 3 core classes: Warrior, Rogue and Wizard. Rogue isn't a D&D Rogue, but more of a D&D Fighter / Magic-User with possibly some thief thrown in. I'm not sure what the ideal party size would be for a T&T game, but I suspect one of each core would fill the rolls nicely.
What is your ideal player party size when you GM a game?
Victorious Rpg & Wretched Epoque rpg campaign Session Report One - Franco
Prussian War Legacy
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"Gaslight street lamps pour fitful illumination through the fog-shrouded
streets of Victorian cities. Menacing figures lurk in darkened alleyways.
Despera...
17 minutes ago
Four to six, five is optimal. Seven or more, too little individual time with the players.
ReplyDeleteMost of my gaming has been with 4-6 players but I think I like 8+. With that many there's a group pressure to get things done and adventure over getting side-lined with gab. Players start to form little political and action combos inside the party and the action just happens. Of course I need a big enough table to fit everyone.
ReplyDeleteWe currently have 5, one of which Skypes in, this poses it's own challenges; plus, we have a 6th player that can't join us right now. For us, 4 is best, but I prefer 5 to 6, as there are always 1 or 2 that can't make it for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteIf my Solo Great Pendragon Campaign posts didn't give it away, I enjoy small groups. Single player campaigns are a fun change of pace, but I think 3-4 players is optimal. I like to stretch out and let things amble, so keeping things focused and action-oriented is not a priority for me. Then again, I do very much like the critical mass brain trust that occurs when you hit 3 or more players.
ReplyDeleteFour to six. Seven or more, too little individual time with the players. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Paladin: 4-6 is ideal. Even 3 can be quite doa-ble and fairly intense. But seven or more starts to feel like chaos to me.
ReplyDelete3-5
ReplyDeleteLike most folks here 4-6 is ideal. Three is OK for RP intensive games as well. The most I am willing to consider is 7.
ReplyDeleteDepends on the ruleset. 4E is so rules-heavy and overwrought with tactics and details that I think 3 is best there, even though the whole system is explicitly setup for 5.
ReplyDeleteFor previous D&D editions, 4 is ideal, unless they're all mages. Shadowrun fits in there as well.
I'd go 5-6 for something like WoD or Savage Worlds and reserve 7 for something very low-combat, like a political campaign.
I've ran groups of up to 14, but I prefer around 8 at the outside. I try to find a group for anyone over the cutoff size, though. Sometimes one of the others will GM. The more players out there, the better, I say!
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