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Strategies for Missing Players?
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<blockquote data-quote="S'mon" data-source="post: 5500913" data-attributes="member: 463"><p>IMCs absent player = absent PC; this avoids a lot of problems with the PC knowing stuff the absent player doesn't. They run no risk of death and don't earn XP, but minimum PC level is determined by the highest level PC, I now think 1 level below the highest level PC works well for 4e, so PCs remain viable even if the players are routinely absent. This is the level I bring new PCs in at too.</p><p></p><p>To deal with a smaller group, you can rejig encounters to lower the XP budget, or add a temporary companion NPC, or for more open campaigns use some different, lower-XP encounters, or run everything as-is and maybe the PCs will survive: 5 PCs can often survive stuff 'budgeted' for 6 PCs, 4 PCs can fairly often survive stuff budgeted for 5 PCs; 3 PCs may well not survive stuff budgeted for 5 PCs though. Ideally the campaign is open enough that the PCs can seek out challenges geared to the strength of their group on the day; megadungeons work great where the PCs can decide how deep to delve; 'West Marches' type wilderness with variable EL terrains can work; but scripted linear adventures put the onus on the DM.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="S'mon, post: 5500913, member: 463"] IMCs absent player = absent PC; this avoids a lot of problems with the PC knowing stuff the absent player doesn't. They run no risk of death and don't earn XP, but minimum PC level is determined by the highest level PC, I now think 1 level below the highest level PC works well for 4e, so PCs remain viable even if the players are routinely absent. This is the level I bring new PCs in at too. To deal with a smaller group, you can rejig encounters to lower the XP budget, or add a temporary companion NPC, or for more open campaigns use some different, lower-XP encounters, or run everything as-is and maybe the PCs will survive: 5 PCs can often survive stuff 'budgeted' for 6 PCs, 4 PCs can fairly often survive stuff budgeted for 5 PCs; 3 PCs may well not survive stuff budgeted for 5 PCs though. Ideally the campaign is open enough that the PCs can seek out challenges geared to the strength of their group on the day; megadungeons work great where the PCs can decide how deep to delve; 'West Marches' type wilderness with variable EL terrains can work; but scripted linear adventures put the onus on the DM. [/QUOTE]
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