DM advice needed - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

DM advice needed

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
aitrus
Mar 23, 2011 10:32:47 I need some help. More and more lately I'm finding it a bit limited and constraining to have my players always together as a group. I would like to start having them do separate tasks that force them to break up into smaller groups or even go solo. I just don't know how to adjudicate that.

Any advice?
#2
salla
Mar 23, 2011 13:34:41 This is going to be tricky to do because while you're soloing one character, the rest of the players have nothing to do, which kind of defeats the purpose of being there.
#3
aitrus
Mar 23, 2011 14:54:21 I know. I don't know whether to just deal with feeling constrained or maybe meet individually with players if they want or the if the adventure decrees it...
#4
slawson
Mar 24, 2011 12:55:35
I don't know how to get that to happen. I know I play with a group that will split up to do different tasks and then get back together. There is also the idea of things going quickly because the characters who are not with the group have their players just waiting.

So it does happen at least when the players initiate it.
#5
pruano
Mar 25, 2011 7:45:50 Also consider that the rules for normal encounters (combat or otherwise) are though for the entire party (or a big part of it); playing solo or with a minimal number of players ups the difficulty quite a bit.

Create encounters with several things occurring at the same time that require several players to engage them one-on-one.
#6
DavidArgall
Mar 26, 2011 15:08:46 As said, D&D is not designed for solo activity and you should be discouraging it, not encouraging it. You can have them doing different tasks in different places at the same time, but this is skill check level stuff, settled by a die roll or two, not anything close to a full encounter. When there is something that needs a good deal of attention, the whole party should be present.
#7
sfdragon
Mar 26, 2011 16:23:53
I agree with skill checks.... ans combat encounters would not work as a single pc doing a fed ex quest.
#8
Andrekan
Mar 29, 2011 7:36:16 You mentioned a constrain. Would that be Time? You may want to considar a Skill Challenge with a Time Limit. The party could break up into groups or individuals to search for the information or person. The skills could involve Stealth, Thievery, Acrobatics, Atheletics, Bluff, Arcana, History, Streetwise, Diplomacy..Pretty much any skill if it is a City Based Encounter. You will have to set a goal for them to reach and determine the number of possible skill results. Perhaps they cannot be noticed at some place or one character is retrieving an item while another is distracting the Librarian, Guard, or Shop Keep. The Success or Failure should end in some event where the PC's are all coming together with either the benefit of success or are limited in their scope by failure thus facing new obsticles.

Let them know it is a skill challenge with a time limit (this could be determined by rounds or if it starts at dawn they must be somewhere important by mid-morning or noon). If they are going to break up in groups have them Roll initiative where each group/individual gets a turn with their initiatives.

Everyone takes their turns sitting at the same table like a regular Skill Challenge. You may want to establish a general rule we've used for years (You Can't Play with Knowledge your Character Doesn't Have) this allows the players a chance to role play there surprise at the turn of events.

It will be difficult for you as the DM to keep the information and situations separated and moving in between each group/individual, so keep a chart or graph and make notes of the pass or failures. Keep your own notes on what has transpired for each.

In the end they may be able to prevent some event (at mid morning or High Sun)or the challenge may cause some of them to get captured or flee an enemy so when the Skill Challenge is coming to an end the Party is all together for the Event of the Next Encounter.

This will require alot of time preparing before and skill as a DM to keep the game moving along and not getting each group/individual's information confused.

If done right it could be a rewarding Skill Challenge building up to the next Encounter.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 aitrus Mar 23, 2011 10:32:47	I need some help. More and more lately I'm finding it a bit limited and constraining to have my players always together as a group. I would like to start having them do separate tasks that force them to break up into smaller groups or even go solo. I just don't know how to adjudicate that. Any advice?
#2 salla Mar 23, 2011 13:34:41	This is going to be tricky to do because while you're soloing one character, the rest of the players have nothing to do, which kind of defeats the purpose of being there.
#3 aitrus Mar 23, 2011 14:54:21	I know. I don't know whether to just deal with feeling constrained or maybe meet individually with players if they want or the if the adventure decrees it...
#4 slawson Mar 24, 2011 12:55:35	I don't know how to get that to happen. I know I play with a group that will split up to do different tasks and then get back together. There is also the idea of things going quickly because the characters who are not with the group have their players just waiting. So it does happen at least when the players initiate it.
#5 pruano Mar 25, 2011 7:45:50	Also consider that the rules for normal encounters (combat or otherwise) are though for the entire party (or a big part of it); playing solo or with a minimal number of players ups the difficulty quite a bit. Create encounters with several things occurring at the same time that require several players to engage them one-on-one.
#6 DavidArgall Mar 26, 2011 15:08:46	As said, D&D is not designed for solo activity and you should be discouraging it, not encouraging it. You can have them doing different tasks in different places at the same time, but this is skill check level stuff, settled by a die roll or two, not anything close to a full encounter. When there is something that needs a good deal of attention, the whole party should be present.
#7 sfdragon Mar 26, 2011 16:23:53	I agree with skill checks.... ans combat encounters would not work as a single pc doing a fed ex quest.
#8 Andrekan Mar 29, 2011 7:36:16	You mentioned a constrain. Would that be Time? You may want to considar a Skill Challenge with a Time Limit. The party could break up into groups or individuals to search for the information or person. The skills could involve Stealth, Thievery, Acrobatics, Atheletics, Bluff, Arcana, History, Streetwise, Diplomacy..Pretty much any skill if it is a City Based Encounter. You will have to set a goal for them to reach and determine the number of possible skill results. Perhaps they cannot be noticed at some place or one character is retrieving an item while another is distracting the Librarian, Guard, or Shop Keep. The Success or Failure should end in some event where the PC's are all coming together with either the benefit of success or are limited in their scope by failure thus facing new obsticles. Let them know it is a skill challenge with a time limit (this could be determined by rounds or if it starts at dawn they must be somewhere important by mid-morning or noon). If they are going to break up in groups have them Roll initiative where each group/individual gets a turn with their initiatives. Everyone takes their turns sitting at the same table like a regular Skill Challenge. You may want to establish a general rule we've used for years (You Can't Play with Knowledge your Character Doesn't Have) this allows the players a chance to role play there surprise at the turn of events. It will be difficult for you as the DM to keep the information and situations separated and moving in between each group/individual, so keep a chart or graph and make notes of the pass or failures. Keep your own notes on what has transpired for each. In the end they may be able to prevent some event (at mid morning or High Sun)or the challenge may cause some of them to get captured or flee an enemy so when the Skill Challenge is coming to an end the Party is all together for the Event of the Next Encounter. This will require alot of time preparing before and skill as a DM to keep the game moving along and not getting each group/individual's information confused. If done right it could be a rewarding Skill Challenge building up to the next Encounter.