Adventures what's a DM to do? experiences with a split party?

[fba827]

So a general question for players (or DM experiences).

Very brief background: In my campaign, the PCs are about to do something that will quite possibly split them up for a session (possibly longer all depending on their own choices). I was not expecting/planning on it to happen this way, but at the moment the way things are playing it out will almost certainly get them separated. Of course, on the chance that they don't get separated, I won't need to deal with any of this.

At the start of the next session, I am thinking of asking the players "If there is the possibility of something causing a nonlethal inconvenience to one or more of you, should I just stick with it or should I hand-wave it by this one time since it's the first instance?" (still trying to figure exact wording) and then going with what they say. But I thought I'd get some input to get a vibe as to how some people might react or if there was an option I wasn't considering.

If they got separated, I'd end up with two groups. I'd then have everyone make a temp character (of their own design; but using the quick and dirty NPC creation rules so as to not spend too much time making the temp). That way everyone would have either their PC or their temp-NPC-style-PC in each of the groups, allowing them to participate as we switch between groups.

Alternatively, I could hand-wave it and allow all the PCs to remain together even though they triggered something (and make it clear that it was for this one time since it was the first time they triggered this event); so some random hesitation kept someone from doing something or some random landslide caused someone to do something, etc thereby keeping them all together.

Another option is to just abort this entire scenario, but the scenario itself provides a strong plot point (it's just the aspect of them getting separated to do this that I was not counting on).

question: As a player how annoyed would you be if the group was temporarily separated where you had your PC in one of the splinter groups and a temp PC for you to control in the other splinter groups, for a session (maybe two sessions depending on player choices)? Or would you be okay with it? Or is there some option here I'm not considering? Or perhaps similar experiences?

And if you're one of my players that happens to read this, sure, you can still chime in, but a) don't tell the other players and b) please be honest at our next session and let me know that you read this, I won't be mad, I am publicly posting it after all -- I just want to know who has a hint as to what's going on).

I'll ultimately go with how my group themselves feel about it (based on their response to the question I plan on asking), but I am asking ENWorld in case people have similar experiences, and to get a vibe for what some player responses might be that I should prepare for ...

Thanks in advance.

[Riley]

Do your players like to try out new characters? If so, your job should be easier. You could encourage each of your players to make a backup character, "just in case." Just asking - and emphasizing that they should do so before the next session- could build suspense for the adventure.

I think the most imporant thing to do is to give each half of the split party its moment in the limelight.

[fba827]

Originally Posted by Riley

Do your players like to try out new characters? If so, your job should be easier. You could encourage each of your players to make a backup character, "just in case." Just asking - and emphasizing that they should do so before the next session- could build suspense for the adventure.

Yeah, having them make back-up characters ahead of time is a good idea. But out of the 5 players, I'll probably get a mixture of 1) I don't want to try a new character - just what are you going to do to the one i already have? 2) i don't have time for 'homework' 3) i'll make a new PC but i'll be annoyed if he doesn't get used after all my effort -- I mean, they'll do it (unless they plain forget) it just may come with a couple grumbles.

Originally Posted by Riley

I think the most important thing to do is to give each half of the split party its moment in the limelight.

Agreed, that will definitely be a goal. How well it plays out may change that, but, yeah, it will be a goal to offer equal focus to both parts of the group (if they even do get split up).

I'm _thinking_ (but still not sure) if the group does get split, and it's a 4 in one group and 1 in the other, then I'll handwave the one by himself with the others. but if it's a 3/2 split then I'll possibly go with the two groups option. But still no idea how they'll react until it actually happens (if it happens )