Samuel Wise
Demigod
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Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 9, 2015 5:25:01 GMT
Read this article on Tribality (http://tribality.com/2015/05/19/and-how-many-will-be-in-your-party/) a while back and wanted to see what everyone thought concerning Dungeon Mastering for one person or even for two people.
I will admit that I have done so twice, both with not very RP focused players...
Just was wondering everyone's thoughts on this.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2015 5:56:16 GMT
I've done it a number of times, and both myself and the other player got a lot out of it. However, I think you need to do a few things to pull it off right.
First, there has to be a lot of trust between the player and DM. Do not do this with a stranger, or a relatively new friend. Whatever consequences befall the player feels a lot more personal in a 1-on-1, even when both people have a firm grasp on separating in-character and out-of-character behaviors.
Second, 1-on-1 is a much more collaborative experience than larger groups. A single player lacks the insight that a group brings, and so he needs to be as integral to moving the story forward as the DM himself. If you want the story to proceed in a specific direction, be up front about it out of character. Otherwise, let the player dictate the direction and don't get frustrated if he goes way off the rails.
Roll in the open, but don't let the dice dictate the game. There is no reason to secretly fudge rolls with just one other player. You aren't obliged to maintain an illusion of fairness or impartiality. If the die roll is unsatisfactory, agree between the two of you how to proceed.
Don't be more focused on the game than the player is. Take frequent breaks. Have side conversations. Whatever. A single player puts a lot of pressure on a DM, and vice versa, because they are the center of each others' attention.
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Post by joatmoniac on Jul 9, 2015 7:07:55 GMT
I have done this from both sides of the screen, and it worked for me pretty well each time. It was actually how my first experiences were in table top gaming for 2nd Edition. I played some while running a whole party to get a feel for all the things, and I also ran a solo ranger character that was somewhat a bounty hunter. I have done similar things for newer players to help give them a feel for how a group can work, and the different things that each class brings to the table.
I could definitely see things going south if either side is too forceful about what they want out of the game without being willing to work with the other person at the table. I think it can work well, but not without a decent amount of planning, and by following the great advice that Nevvur has given!
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Post by friartook on Jul 9, 2015 13:43:57 GMT
It was actually how my first experiences were in table top gaming for 2nd Edition. Same here, but I started at first edition (before it was cool  ). In fact, now that I think about it, this group I am running with right now is the first actual group I've DMed for. All of my previous table top experiences have been one-on-one or a group of two. I wasn't a very social kid, and usually only had a couple friends at a time. I was always the DM, except for once, when my friend's older brother DMed for us. Even then, it was just a party of two. Now, I'd run a game for a single player. But I feel like, unless we were very close friends and both really into the game, it would get boring fast. However, I think it could be great fun to run a game for two people! That would open up so many opportunities for background setup and RP. I love playing with the group I have, but the roster is currently at 5 people plus me as DM. It was a 6 man party, but one guy dropped out. A group of that size gets a bit cumbersome when you try to RP. Too many side conversations, too many cooks in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong, we have a great time every session! I just think it would be cool to run a small group some time in the future. I have one player who wants to DM, so maybe when he takes over (we are loosely planning on making the switch when one of our players moves, around December) I can start up a side game with just a couple guys. Right...in all my spare time...  |
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 9, 2015 15:14:02 GMT
Interesting advice and experiences. I certainly agree with Nevurr on who to DM a one game for. I have DMd a group of two once and the players always seem to form this Legolas/Gimli bond. Friartook, I also agree with your statement of DMing for one person, it would get boring really fast, especially if your players don't know how to roleplay. I was sort of Suprised how much fun the player was having seeing as he did not roleplay once.
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Post by frohtastic on Jul 9, 2015 21:46:22 GMT
what about for two people?
Cause as it seems that my bigger game group has disbanded but I think one or two of the players wants to continue playing, if not as their current characters
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Samuel Wise
Demigod
Ready to Help...
Posts: 989
Favorite D&D Class: Warlock
Favorite D&D Race: Mousefolk
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Post by Samuel Wise on Jul 9, 2015 21:53:44 GMT
what about for two people? Cause as it seems that my bigger game group has disbanded but I think one or two of the players wants to continue playing, if not as their current characters I have played with two once. It was a great experience, but (then again) I was playing with two brothers who were interested in D&D, though never played it. It created a really fun game. The article from Tribality is also really helpful when it comes to DMing for 2 people. I can't imagine doing that every game, but it was fun for the short, 3 hour one shot we did. |
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Post by DMC on Jul 10, 2015 15:17:17 GMT
My very first time DMing was for two people, and stayed that way for quite a while before a couple more came. Had some really memorable moments.
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