D&D 5E How Big Do You Like To Party?

[commandercrud]

2 groups, first is 1 PC with 2 henchmen, second is 4 PCs

 

[Tallifer]

My location and time zone mean usually three or four players, but I added 6 to my vote, because these days I have been playing a lot of 4E with the discord Guild on roll20, and they always run groups of 6.

I did run 9 players in a 5E Google Hangouts game once. The biggest party I played in in Korea was also 9 in a Flailsnails OSR game.

 

[Oofta]

My preference is 4 but the maximum I allow up to 6 so that's what I usually end up with. I like smaller groups, I feel like it's easier to share the spotlight and combats go more quickly. But whenever I try to do that someone always has a buddy or a sibling, someone else really wants to play.

 

[TwoSix]

My current groups are 7 players, 7 players, and 5 players; one of the 7 player groups has 2 BM rangers so there are 9 total "characters" on the board. With that number of players, I try to make sure there aren't any NPCs gumming up the party.

 

[aco175]

I went with 4 since there is usually my father with one PC, my brother with 1-2, and I tend to throw in a NPC to round them out a bit. A 5th when my son is on school break or Corona break.

 

[Shiroiken]

My normal group is 6 players, but usually at least 1 person can't make it. I don't generally like to run with less than 4 PCs, mostly due to combat difficulty (when I design, I design for 5).

My preference varies based on the type of game I want to run. Fewer players allows for a more intimate campaign, where each character gets focus in the story. A larger party allows for some epic battle and survivable splitting of the party.

 

[DND_Reborn]

My normal group is 6 players, but usually at least 1 person can't make it. I don't generally like to run with less than 4 PCs, mostly due to combat difficulty (when I design, I design for 5).

My preference varies based on the type of game I want to run. Fewer players allows for a more intimate campaign, where each character gets focus in the story. A larger party allows for some epic battle and survivable splitting of the party.

So did you vote based on the 6 players (typically 5) or for the minimum 4 PCs? Hopefully your vote was based on the number of PCs.

 

[Ezequielramone]

3-4-5 for me. I have been DMing for like 8-9 years. It could be much for new people on the hobbie and not too much for people who are in the hobbie since the beggining but in that time I found that I feel comfortable with 4 players. I had DM for 6 players and it's just too much for me. I don't like that, for balance reasons also the same combat would be longer, so less different combats in a session. IRL sometimes people can't make it to the session so 4 means that sometimes you have to play with 3 players. I found that's ok, could be a little more challenging, but ok. I'm DMing a group and one of the players moved outside the city, for personal reasons was the best and we are all happy for him but can't make it anymore. 3 left players are awesome and can handle a party of 3. I run for 3 because I know the players, they really get into characters and know how to make and interesting character that can fight and do different things. Sometimes with groups of 4 I have allowed a 5th player because is friend of someone. That new playes makes the group more stable since 2 players can miss the game and still the group meets and play.

 

[Stoutstien]

3-5 is the sweet spot for me. ive done up to 12 and quite a few 1-2 player games but i've found 3-5 strikes a good balance.

 

[atanakar]

I'm confortable with 4 or 5. I voted both. In non-D&D games I quite enjoy having only 3 very dedicated players plus me as GM. One person per side of the table (no I don't have a round or oval table funny guy). The flow of information is pleasant.

Communication theory says that when two people are talking there are actually 4 people talking. What you say. What the other says. What you think the other said and what the other thinks you said. It adds up fast.

Past 5 players there is just too much stuff going on for my brain process correctly. I miss important non-verbal cues or sentences. Also, players find it takes too much time before it is their turn to act or be in the spotlight.