A campaign built for two (Please HELP!) [Archive] - Wizards Community

A campaign built for two (Please HELP!) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
gratzu
05-21-05, 06:26 PM A campaign built for two

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I posted this in the "What's a DM to do?" forum too. I know that's kinda against the rules but nobody has replied yet and I really want to know. Thanks guys (and don't tell the mods, I'm only breaking the rules a very little bit.) Thanks!

At one time or another, every DM has had to face a party that is simply too large to handle. We've all had to deal with a table full of OoC chatter, massive encounters that take up more than one session, and the wonderful experience of having twelve people yelling at you about twelve (or more) different topics in the middle of a battle. I've learned to accept these kinds of situations, and even learned to deal with them after a fashion. But now I have the opposite problem. I am attempting to run a campaign with only 2 PC's, and it's harder than it seems.

First of all, I'll be running it for my roommates. The advantage is that we can start a scene whenever we happen to have the time. The disadvantage, I only have 2 roommates. It doesn't sound so bad until you consider the fact that unless the players are talking to each other, they have to be talking to me. In a normal campaign, you can have intra-character dialogue, disagreements, and private plans. That kind of thing is much more difficult with only two players. One solution is for me to play a primary NPC almost as if he/she were a PC. I can do that, but it's an added stress. A few conversations with myself I can handle, but I'm having trouble doing it all the time.

Have any of you had this kind of problem before? What did you do about it? If not, what do you think you would do about it? I just want everybody to have fun.

Thanx!
plvsman
05-21-05, 07:24 PM Indeed it can be really hard to get 3 or 4 quality players together in one place. I think people who have this often take it for granted.

Now onto the topic, running a campaign with only 2 characters. This is problematic. I remember in the old days (e.g. 1e 2e) their were actually modualts out their , quest games for specific classes to go solo. however I have never in all the years i've played seen a game made for 2 characters and this is cause its can be highly problematic.

I don't want to be a bane on the 2 character plight or a problem solver but in my opinion, you really just need more PC's.

Your first option of course is to allow a player to run 2 characters. Personally, I hate doing this, I think the character is everything to the player and a one on one relationationship is needed for great Role playing.

Option #2. Add NPC's, this can be done in a couple of ways. You can add a NPC as a member of the party or as disgustingly plot device obvious as it is, you can have an NPC show up to join the PC's for the duration of a portion of the harder parts of the adventure.

But lets say you are bound and determined to run a 2 PC party with no help. It can be done. Toning down encouters and just generally being careful as a DM.

Still the mixing pot which is a party is always so much better and well rounded with 4 at least 4 and no more than 6 characters in it. This way the variety of skills and abilities come together with enormous potential for fun and excitment. Do what you must and feel free to prvt me for a palavor if you still find yourself stuck and unable to get any feedback on this topic.
gratzu
05-22-05, 01:51 AM I didn't think about the 2 characters per player thing. That would require some serious planning (and what DM wants to do that?) I'll have to see how it goes first.

I'm definitely going to have to have a N/PC hybrid. No bones about that one. I've done it before, but it's a lot harder when you only have 2 PC's to talk to.

Maybe I just worry too much.
;)
mrshupizdumaterinu
05-22-05, 03:02 AM Meet more people. Seriously.
theodorik
05-22-05, 03:08 AM The best campaign i ever ran was with 2 players. With a small group roleplaying tends to be easier and less awkward than with a full group. You'll also find that dealing with each persons mannerisms, habits (in game and out) and inter-party conflict is much simpler.

In the campaign I allowed them to be minor nobles, with a small (15 acre) plot of land along the Jewel River (in the Greyhawk Campaign Setting). They each had a 2nd PC that didn't have land/title, but was there to make a full party and cover all the bases. As it turned out, they really couldn't survive without a cleric so I added in an NPC 'walking plothook' to keep them on track and keep them alive. The character could be considered a DMPC, but I never played favorites and I never took the spotlight. I could not have run that campaign with 4 people, but with 2 it was fine.

I don't recommend 2 PCs, as it gets very hard to not metagame between 2 characters run by the same player. Promise them that they will never be betrayed by an NPC that goes along for the ride, and give them a couple they can trust and that can give plot hooks. And, you can always surprise them by pretending to be really attached/proud of an NPC party member, but have them get killed. :)

Cohorts are strongly encouraged, and let them do all the dice rolling, otherwise you'll be rolling for 4+ different characters each combat and they only get 1 each.
gratzu
05-22-05, 03:12 PM The cohort thing sounds like a great idea. It doesn't put pressure on the players to have 2 "full" characters, but it cuts down on the # of rolls I have to make! Beautiful!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gratzu 05-21-05, 06:26 PM	A campaign built for two -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I posted this in the "What's a DM to do?" forum too. I know that's kinda against the rules but nobody has replied yet and I really want to know. Thanks guys (and don't tell the mods, I'm only breaking the rules a very little bit.) Thanks! At one time or another, every DM has had to face a party that is simply too large to handle. We've all had to deal with a table full of OoC chatter, massive encounters that take up more than one session, and the wonderful experience of having twelve people yelling at you about twelve (or more) different topics in the middle of a battle. I've learned to accept these kinds of situations, and even learned to deal with them after a fashion. But now I have the opposite problem. I am attempting to run a campaign with only 2 PC's, and it's harder than it seems. First of all, I'll be running it for my roommates. The advantage is that we can start a scene whenever we happen to have the time. The disadvantage, I only have 2 roommates. It doesn't sound so bad until you consider the fact that unless the players are talking to each other, they have to be talking to me. In a normal campaign, you can have intra-character dialogue, disagreements, and private plans. That kind of thing is much more difficult with only two players. One solution is for me to play a primary NPC almost as if he/she were a PC. I can do that, but it's an added stress. A few conversations with myself I can handle, but I'm having trouble doing it all the time. Have any of you had this kind of problem before? What did you do about it? If not, what do you think you would do about it? I just want everybody to have fun. Thanx!
plvsman 05-21-05, 07:24 PM	Indeed it can be really hard to get 3 or 4 quality players together in one place. I think people who have this often take it for granted. Now onto the topic, running a campaign with only 2 characters. This is problematic. I remember in the old days (e.g. 1e 2e) their were actually modualts out their , quest games for specific classes to go solo. however I have never in all the years i've played seen a game made for 2 characters and this is cause its can be highly problematic. I don't want to be a bane on the 2 character plight or a problem solver but in my opinion, you really just need more PC's. Your first option of course is to allow a player to run 2 characters. Personally, I hate doing this, I think the character is everything to the player and a one on one relationationship is needed for great Role playing. Option #2. Add NPC's, this can be done in a couple of ways. You can add a NPC as a member of the party or as disgustingly plot device obvious as it is, you can have an NPC show up to join the PC's for the duration of a portion of the harder parts of the adventure. But lets say you are bound and determined to run a 2 PC party with no help. It can be done. Toning down encouters and just generally being careful as a DM. Still the mixing pot which is a party is always so much better and well rounded with 4 at least 4 and no more than 6 characters in it. This way the variety of skills and abilities come together with enormous potential for fun and excitment. Do what you must and feel free to prvt me for a palavor if you still find yourself stuck and unable to get any feedback on this topic.
gratzu 05-22-05, 01:51 AM	I didn't think about the 2 characters per player thing. That would require some serious planning (and what DM wants to do that?) I'll have to see how it goes first. I'm definitely going to have to have a N/PC hybrid. No bones about that one. I've done it before, but it's a lot harder when you only have 2 PC's to talk to. Maybe I just worry too much. ;)
mrshupizdumaterinu 05-22-05, 03:02 AM	Meet more people. Seriously.
theodorik 05-22-05, 03:08 AM	The best campaign i ever ran was with 2 players. With a small group roleplaying tends to be easier and less awkward than with a full group. You'll also find that dealing with each persons mannerisms, habits (in game and out) and inter-party conflict is much simpler. In the campaign I allowed them to be minor nobles, with a small (15 acre) plot of land along the Jewel River (in the Greyhawk Campaign Setting). They each had a 2nd PC that didn't have land/title, but was there to make a full party and cover all the bases. As it turned out, they really couldn't survive without a cleric so I added in an NPC 'walking plothook' to keep them on track and keep them alive. The character could be considered a DMPC, but I never played favorites and I never took the spotlight. I could not have run that campaign with 4 people, but with 2 it was fine. I don't recommend 2 PCs, as it gets very hard to not metagame between 2 characters run by the same player. Promise them that they will never be betrayed by an NPC that goes along for the ride, and give them a couple they can trust and that can give plot hooks. And, you can always surprise them by pretending to be really attached/proud of an NPC party member, but have them get killed. :) Cohorts are strongly encouraged, and let them do all the dice rolling, otherwise you'll be rolling for 4+ different characters each combat and they only get 1 each.
gratzu 05-22-05, 03:12 PM	The cohort thing sounds like a great idea. It doesn't put pressure on the players to have 2 "full" characters, but it cuts down on the # of rolls I have to make! Beautiful!