big groups

[Gundark]

Hi I was wanting some advice on a problem. My group that i DM has 7 players, this is just too much for me to juggle...( people get upset cause they get lost in the crowd, people start talking about other things while they wait their turn, and it's hard to do) problem is that we're all friends, is there anyway that i can shave off about 2-3 people without hurting some people? Any suggestions?

 

[Mark]

Check this thread for links to DMing advice EN World threads -

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=47525

(...and bookmark it for future use! )

 

[Emerald]

The group I play with has 6 players and three of the players trade off DM so that the others can get a break, and frequently the group is broken up. 3 go and do such and such and the other 3 do something else, (or a 4-2 split). That way the DM only has to run 3-4 characters and the others get to sit around and chitchat until it is our turn. The only time the entire group is together is for big combats and then things to get a little bogged down, but as we are all there to have fun it does not really matter all that much.

 

[Mordane76]

I once had a group with 9 players who regularly showed up.


After about four sessions of this, I told them I would be asking some of them to leave, because I simply couldn't handle the number of people.

I asked to people to leave, and lost two others to other obligations soon after, dropping the number to five. I don't like going above five, because the book-keeping involved is simply too much for me.

 

[DerianCypher]

You could always just turn one of the PCs into a DMs assistant

 

[Ferret]

I don't find 6+ to be to hard to handle. All you do is let them wander off. Then when their turn comes shout! They should pay attention out of combat. If they don't they loose out.

 

[Silver Moon]

You consider 7 players a big group? We have almost always had between 8-10 active players, heck, I even went for almost a year with 12 once.

The key is to keep the action going. Unless it is absolutely necessary I usually bypass the initiative rules, and just go around the table asking each player what their character is doing. I'll either do this clockwise based upon where the players are sitting, or based on where their miniatures are, depending upon what make the most sense for that situation.

I also try to make sure that the party sticks together, or if they do split up it is based upon who is present at the game, with the characters of the absent players going off on their own. I also try to cover any solo play outside of the group game, either contacting the player between games or having them arrive early the following week to run through their character actions. I do, however, allow the passing of notecards during games for solo situations as that tends to not slow the game down too much.

 

[GalahadOrin]

Silver Moon has pretty much hit it on the head. I am accustom to gaming with at least 8 core players and, if everyone shows up, a max as high as 13. The guys I game with know some things may take awhile and try to limit single character/DM interaction. Yes combat will take longer, but if the group of players are all friends, it is in your interest to keep the group together. For many, gaming is more than rolling dice, many see it as a social event that they plan for and look forward too.

 

[Fenes 2]

I consider more than 3 players too many for my DMing style. Just not enough time and space for each PC.

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

If the problem is simply group size and not the players themselves, there is no graceful way to ask a couple of them to leave and allow the rest to keep play. If you guys are all friends, you are basicly asking two of them not to show up at your social gatherings. Speaking from personal experience, it is extremely painful and will do nothing but tear at the existing friendships. Trust me, what your thinking of doing is extemely destructive.

I've played in a group for 6 years that has bounced between 6 and 7 players without a problem. DnD (for me) is a social game. Its about hanging out with people you enjoy being around and playing a game.

Addressing your three main points

1. Players get lost in the crowd
The DM and the players have to work together to work together to make sure every player has their moments in the spot light. Players are obligated to give good character hooks with backstory and role-playing. DMs are obligated to pick up character backstory and role-playing oportunitises to form interesting encounters.

2. Players talk about other things
This will happen in any group. Everyone is there to have fun. The game will take up a good amount of the time, however people have will talk about other things. Changing your group size will not change this.

3. Its hard to do
Well, if its too hard for you, maybe its time to let another player take the DM chair for a while.