tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post2901021091306020057..comments2024-03-27T20:09:00.283-04:00Comments on Tenkar's Tavern: Does Size Matter? How Large a Party Can You Handle?Tenkarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05159289652051155824noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-14613245402194664592013-01-22T20:54:57.178-05:002013-01-22T20:54:57.178-05:00I could handle maybe up to 9 maximum, but it would...I could handle maybe up to 9 maximum, but it would be a drag. I'd prefer 4-6. I'm playing in a group now with 8 PCs and 6 NPCs and combat encounters are a slog.Priddayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17988483528642234280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-32313991520846168572013-01-20T09:34:46.844-05:002013-01-20T09:34:46.844-05:00Some of my best sessions have been with 2-3 player...Some of my best sessions have been with 2-3 players for that intimate feel. OTOH 6+ can work great, especially for the epic showdown.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-43594836478037852422013-01-20T09:32:51.823-05:002013-01-20T09:32:51.823-05:00Yeah, I agree about the 9-14 gradient! :)Yeah, I agree about the 9-14 gradient! :)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-65374356301258716872013-01-20T09:31:15.532-05:002013-01-20T09:31:15.532-05:00My experience is that if I know the ruleset then t...My experience is that if I know the ruleset then the most players I can handle at the table is 9 (with an unlimited number of simple NPC retainers). My Loudwater 4e D&D campaign has 7 10th level PCs. My Punjar Saga Beginners Campaign kicked off last Monday with 8 1st level 4e PCs, but the full group will be 9. In both cases I went with the largest number I thought I could handle, having GM'd 3e D&D successfully for 9 in the past. No problems so far.<br /><br />I once GM'd at Gencon UK for the '2002 EN World Meetup' and I had a max of 14 players at any one time, I think 17 over the whole session. Playing level 4 PCs in 3.0 D&D; it was OK, but really too many players.<br /><br />I think online games are best with fewer PCs BTW, a maximum of typically 4-6 depending on the campaign is typical.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-82772531845073817252013-01-20T09:11:19.600-05:002013-01-20T09:11:19.600-05:00I like 6 as the most players if we're doing an...I like 6 as the most players if we're doing anything but mechanical killing, and then 10 is the max.<br /><br />I explain dungeon crawling (and underdark adventuring, and going into any sort of really hostile terrain) as requiring adventurers for two primary reasons. One is needing people who do not need to be ordered to go, because it is so dangerous. Two, because you need to condense the maximum violence in the minimum package. You need four people who can pack the violence of a small army into corridors that negate the enemy numbers, and resist the same constriction on behalf of foes.<br /><br />Good stuff.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06463222600747737190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-15387945684103036212013-01-20T08:42:22.061-05:002013-01-20T08:42:22.061-05:00Party size or playing group size? I like large nos...Party size or playing group size? I like large nos of players myself. Its fun to Dm for 10+ players. Adventures write themselves with a large no of players, give em a little loose rope and the actions of the players keep things moving.<br />Large player count campaigns don't tend to come to a screethcing halt when one or two players can't make it to a session. <br />LL<br /><br />JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-71889526730989737052013-01-20T02:12:13.591-05:002013-01-20T02:12:13.591-05:00I think I'm at my best at 6 or less. Most tabl...I think I'm at my best at 6 or less. Most tables go best with 5, plus GM. I usually run at cons with 6 max. Brett Slocumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240226222507995367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-31388638465570357672013-01-19T16:28:48.300-05:002013-01-19T16:28:48.300-05:00As an experiment, I once ran a dozen folks through...As an experiment, I once ran a dozen folks through a TOON feature film at a convention. It went incredibly well, but I've never tried to duplicate it. I was EXHAUSTED by the time it ended.Tim Sniderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17390608104314125626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-74095671974546557092013-01-19T15:07:41.424-05:002013-01-19T15:07:41.424-05:00Another important question is where the sweet spot...Another important question is where the sweet spot is. I'd tend to put that at 1 GM and maybe 3-4 players, but that is just because recently that is the size of groups I've mostly played with and things ran pretty smoothly. infocydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717475066074726136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-76902152846174228312013-01-19T14:45:55.097-05:002013-01-19T14:45:55.097-05:00It's not the size of the party that matters, b...It's not the size of the party that matters, but how you murder each and every member in the most demented and asshole-ish way possible. :PJasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02852395640994627645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-63036852380660520632013-01-19T14:03:12.675-05:002013-01-19T14:03:12.675-05:00Our group of six PCs + anywhere from seven to ten ...Our group of six PCs + anywhere from seven to ten henchmen just kind of disintegrated, in part under numerical pressures. Probably would've worked fine down at dungeoneering levels, but in ACKS at domain / wilderness levels with everyone doing their own stuff, the complexity was murderous. I don't think I'd've been able to keep the game going for nearly as long as I did if I hadn't been writing scripts to automate a lot of the work for me, which probably should've been a warning sign. We're looking to pare down to four or five players, probably.jedavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08586249502818922886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-44360430295756691132013-01-19T12:30:14.702-05:002013-01-19T12:30:14.702-05:00I've never expirenced large parties. I don'...I've never expirenced large parties. I don't remember ever having a session where henchmen where used. Players with 2 PC's is really common but thats it. 8-10 PC's is probably the largest I've gamed with.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17288835804646182277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-44861582200666466092013-01-19T12:29:50.387-05:002013-01-19T12:29:50.387-05:00I've never expirenced large parties. I don'...I've never expirenced large parties. I don't remember ever having a session where henchmen where used. Players with 2 PC's is really common but thats it. 8-10 PC's is probably the largest I've gamed with.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17288835804646182277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-43932737139357784392013-01-19T11:45:03.886-05:002013-01-19T11:45:03.886-05:00I DM from 9 to 14 at conventions using S&W (Co...I DM from 9 to 14 at conventions using S&W (Core rules, equivalent to OD&D LBBs + GH). 9 is still very smooth, and then it degrades very fast to the point where 14 is an absolute maximum and I tire out fast.<br /><br />I handled up to 9 with AD&D during middle school, and could do that, but I was an encyclopedia back then and I no longer have anywhere close to that kind of mental command over the AD&D rules. Maybe ... 6 at a max right now?<br /><br />Even the jump up to S&W Complete (all of OD&D) would probably cut back the maximum number, although I don't have any experience to quess where it would fall.Matt Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678557558458924177noreply@blogger.com