Concepts for Solo Adventuring

[Bloodstone Mage]

I have a friend who is desperate to roleplay. We have about four friends all-together that play D&D and RPGs, but they are hardly available at all (two have jobs, one has a strict grandmother, the other has a strict stepfather). I've been thinking of letting him play as more than one PC. Has anyone had any experience with this, or does anyone have another method for solo gaming?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Aeris Winterood]

Yup....

I have gamed many times where the player had two PC's... nad also if you do not want to do that... just have wandering NPC's come in and out to help the lone player out..... It can be fun either way....

 

[Darkness]

I'd stick with one PC, but let him start at a higher level - maybe even a much higher level.
Also, having NPCs lend a hand (or a cure spell ) is sound advice.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Run a good political campaign or something similar and it can be an awesome game. Dungeon Crawls make horrible single player games. You might put an add in a local game store or here on the Gamers seeking Gamers to find an extra player or two.

Have fun.

 

[Olive]

Run a good political campaign or something similar and it can be an awesome game. Dungeon Crawls make horrible single player games.

Actually I've dungeon crawled a little as a single player, with one PC and no NPC back up... it was ok, but only as a change from the more political normal campaign. If you play city type things then you can be dropped to 0 HP without risk of death mroe easily. After all, no ones going to find your body in the wilderness, but they might find you in an alley.

 

[LostSoul]

Switch all damage to subdual damage - that should take care of a lot of your healing problems.

 

[Privateer]

one has a strict grandmother

You know Eric Noah?

But like people said, healing can be a problem. Easy to find potions are at least one option, but it can make the session feel like a video game.

An NPC can allow easy healing and, occasionally, someone for the player to bounce ideas off of. However, I would keep the NPC a level lower to make sure he or she doesn't outshine the solo PC.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I've had several experiences running a single player game, but the player only had one character. I always paired him with a permanent NPC, just to give him some healing and combat help.

For examble, I once ran Robin Hood-type mostly wilderness campaign in which the PC was a ranger. He had a female druid as his primary companion.

Another time, I ran an urban campaign in which the PC was a fighter/thief and member of a thieves guild. He was paired with a cleric/thief for most of his missions.

I agree with keeping the NPCs level one less than the PC. That lets the PC be the focus of things, but still allows the NPC to offer adequate support.

 

[Aeris Winterood]

If you start the PC of higher level...

high enough to grant the LEadership feat and then they can have a cohort.... which may help fill out a fuller party.... and will be lower level and someone the PC can play with...

 

[Aeris Winterood]

Currently...

I am playing ina campaign with one character by myself ( just me and the DM).. I am ninth level mage and have a cohort that is a 5th level fighter type.... (sailor and in Swashbuckler)

This campaign is very story driven but I still have a bit of hack and slash.... with fewer PC's it just makes the player (in this case me) think alot more before reacting and... I run alot faster now!