Camapign for less than 4 PC's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Camapign for less than 4 PC's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mo_rey
01-16-05, 12:49 PM I was just wondering about this, as I just got done reading a campaign journal where there were only two players, is it very hard to do. My group always seems to just drop sessions because some of the players can't make it and instead of dropping it I'd like to run something for whoever can show. I guess my main problem would be CR's. How do you compensate when there are fewer PC's? Does exp still work out evenly for lower CR monsters for fewer characters? I also have a problem with running DM Pc's. I always seem to give away to much or to little in the form of help. Any suggestions?
Board_Rider
01-16-05, 01:01 PM Well as far as the CR's and XP that is the same. But with fewer PC's you want to change the Encounter Level(EL) of.....well....your encounters.
I find it better to run a more story based campaign with a couple of PC's. Simply have them be more like investigators or something instead of dungeon delvers.
I ran a campaign for a while with only two PC's. Worked great because everything is much more fluid and a lot gets done.
Good Luck!
Kintara
01-16-05, 01:08 PM Well, the rotating cast makes it more difficult, but using gestalt characters (from Unearthed Arcana) can help even things out. One problem with a small group is the lack of important skills and abilities. Sometimes you just need a Rogue or Cleric. It won't make them as powerful as a 4 player party, but the versatility will help a lot.

Anyway, the fact that you won't know precisely who is going to show makes it hard to tailor the adventures. Just don't let the CR get too much above their level. If the group is missing a Cleric, bump the XP up for defeating undead.
Draco Strang
01-16-05, 02:19 PM Pretty much every campaign I've ever been a PC in has been with 3 players. Several four, and twice we played with two PCs.

It's really kind of cool, as it gives more spotlight time to the two, 3, or 4 characters that are playing. (In addition, the combat speeds waaayyyyyy up.

To make up for lack of versatility, I usually weave a few hooks into the story that let them have NPCs with the abilities they need as party members, or they've got the resources of a local lord's retinue at their disposal.

As for CR's, don't be afraid to drop a few hitpoints from the suggested totals, or dumb down their AC and attack bonuses. Or, conversely you could beef up goblins and orcs with the addition of a few class levels, and make for an interesting combat.
Mind Rogue
01-16-05, 02:22 PM Cut the CRs (or ELs) down a bit. If you have three PCs instead of four, choose encounters that are 1 below their party level. If you have two, make them two levels below. If by some fluke you find that you end up with more, take two encounters that would be of an appropriate EL and put them together.

For instance, say your average party level is 6. If you get only two people to show up, you should use something that is EL 4, like a lone displacer beast. If three show up, you want EL 5, such as a pair of ogres. If you have five, you EL 5+4 (not 9) is probably appropriate, such as a pair of ogres with a displacer beast pet. For a group of six, EL 6+4 or 5+5 would be good, such as a pair of manticores or an ettin with a brown bear pet. While both of these last two are effectively EL 7, you normally don't want to use something that is EL 7, like a hellcat or flesh golem, because there is an increased chance that your party is not actually properly equiped for it and that someone will die.

For instance, the Bezekira has DR 5/good, Fire resistance 10, and SR 19. Additionally, if it charges, it gets to make a full attack, which has a pretty good chance of hitting several times, and if it hits every single time, which actually has a decent chance against lesser equiped members (like a wizard), it deals about 46 damage, which can cripple anyone in the party and possibly kill even the fighter types. Higher leveled characters are less likely to be hit with all of the attacks, and more likely to survive if they do. Also, higher level fighters, barbarians, and rogues are more likely to be able to deal lots of damage at once and overcome its DR, while higher level spellcasters are more likely to overcome its spell resistance and have something other than fire spells, or else be able to deal lots of fire damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mo_rey 01-16-05, 12:49 PM	I was just wondering about this, as I just got done reading a campaign journal where there were only two players, is it very hard to do. My group always seems to just drop sessions because some of the players can't make it and instead of dropping it I'd like to run something for whoever can show. I guess my main problem would be CR's. How do you compensate when there are fewer PC's? Does exp still work out evenly for lower CR monsters for fewer characters? I also have a problem with running DM Pc's. I always seem to give away to much or to little in the form of help. Any suggestions?
Board_Rider 01-16-05, 01:01 PM	Well as far as the CR's and XP that is the same. But with fewer PC's you want to change the Encounter Level(EL) of.....well....your encounters. I find it better to run a more story based campaign with a couple of PC's. Simply have them be more like investigators or something instead of dungeon delvers. I ran a campaign for a while with only two PC's. Worked great because everything is much more fluid and a lot gets done. Good Luck!
Kintara 01-16-05, 01:08 PM	Well, the rotating cast makes it more difficult, but using gestalt characters (from Unearthed Arcana) can help even things out. One problem with a small group is the lack of important skills and abilities. Sometimes you just need a Rogue or Cleric. It won't make them as powerful as a 4 player party, but the versatility will help a lot. Anyway, the fact that you won't know precisely who is going to show makes it hard to tailor the adventures. Just don't let the CR get too much above their level. If the group is missing a Cleric, bump the XP up for defeating undead.
Draco Strang 01-16-05, 02:19 PM	Pretty much every campaign I've ever been a PC in has been with 3 players. Several four, and twice we played with two PCs. It's really kind of cool, as it gives more spotlight time to the two, 3, or 4 characters that are playing. (In addition, the combat speeds waaayyyyyy up. To make up for lack of versatility, I usually weave a few hooks into the story that let them have NPCs with the abilities they need as party members, or they've got the resources of a local lord's retinue at their disposal. As for CR's, don't be afraid to drop a few hitpoints from the suggested totals, or dumb down their AC and attack bonuses. Or, conversely you could beef up goblins and orcs with the addition of a few class levels, and make for an interesting combat.
Mind Rogue 01-16-05, 02:22 PM	Cut the CRs (or ELs) down a bit. If you have three PCs instead of four, choose encounters that are 1 below their party level. If you have two, make them two levels below. If by some fluke you find that you end up with more, take two encounters that would be of an appropriate EL and put them together. For instance, say your average party level is 6. If you get only two people to show up, you should use something that is EL 4, like a lone displacer beast. If three show up, you want EL 5, such as a pair of ogres. If you have five, you EL 5+4 (not 9) is probably appropriate, such as a pair of ogres with a displacer beast pet. For a group of six, EL 6+4 or 5+5 would be good, such as a pair of manticores or an ettin with a brown bear pet. While both of these last two are effectively EL 7, you normally don't want to use something that is EL 7, like a hellcat or flesh golem, because there is an increased chance that your party is not actually properly equiped for it and that someone will die. For instance, the Bezekira has DR 5/good, Fire resistance 10, and SR 19. Additionally, if it charges, it gets to make a full attack, which has a pretty good chance of hitting several times, and if it hits every single time, which actually has a decent chance against lesser equiped members (like a wizard), it deals about 46 damage, which can cripple anyone in the party and possibly kill even the fighter types. Higher leveled characters are less likely to be hit with all of the attacks, and more likely to survive if they do. Also, higher level fighters, barbarians, and rogues are more likely to be able to deal lots of damage at once and overcome its DR, while higher level spellcasters are more likely to overcome its spell resistance and have something other than fire spells, or else be able to deal lots of fire damage.