Don 't Split the Party!

[Abciximab]

They never listen, they never learn.

In the PAPVP Podcast Episode 5 Wil Wheaton actually says how much he is against the idea of splitting the party and by episode 7 he's off on his own and neck deep in it. Quite literally.

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Penny Arcade/PvP Ep7)

In my experience, splitting the party is one of the worst things that can happen. As a DM the ability to create walls (Ice, Force, etc) often bring forth the trademark Evil DM Laugh, as a player it brings out a sense of dread, especially if I'm the one isolated with the BBEG.

Are there any, "we split the party and it was actually for for the best", stories?

Of course allowing a ghost to possess you might not be a good idea either.

 

[Crothian]

It depends what the group is doing. We've had the group split up and had it work out fine. Too many of the stories though assume challenges for a full party so if one or two aren't there it becomes a death trap.

 

[weem]

I split the party at the end of a session so that they could each have their own "individual games" focused entirely on each of their characters.

Essentially, the group was splitting to complete multiple tasks at the same time (as time was limited to get all these things done).

So, the next game focused first on the Cleric following him on his task/quest. In that game, the other players played characters I made who the Cleric had along - essentially they were playing what would have been NPC's, but these were full blown characters, etc.

The next game followed the Fighters character, with the other players playing important people on his quest, etc.

It was a blast and I got to devote one entire game to each character and their background (the tasks essentially involved going home and accomplishing something so there was a lot of character background stuff that came into play).

So, that's one way of doing it

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The only time I've seen splitting the party turn out well is for shopping trips.

But then, I'm a rat bastard DM.

 

[Crothian]

One of the better stories about splitting the party happened in a horror game i ran about 18 months ago at the Albany Game day. Once the players really started to realize bad things were going on they would talk about what they needed to do. Three separate times they spoke of not splitting the party, and just a few minutes after someone would say that someone else would end splitting the party. Each time it was someone different and as with most horror games there was plenty of reasons to split the party. It did turn out to be mostly bad as 4 of the 6 PCs ended up dying but as a horror game death was guaranteed.

 

[darjr]

I was in a Traveller game where it worked out... great... it was fun.

Our party split as soon as we docked with our station and found it had been invaded and infested with some weird crystals. We each had differing motivations for doing so and it just sorta took over in an instant.

There wasn't any combat at all in the whole game but the kids in the game (there were four) were having such a great time during the heated and hectic and crazy making game while we ran all over the ships in shifting changing groups. It was a blast.

 

[Similkameen]

To split or not to split

We have a great DM for our 3.5 game. When the party splits, bad things happen, but hey, when the party stays together, there is frequently someone dying. Game after game, we emerge with another dead character, or animal companion.

So, one could say that when we split up, things are better.

 

[Woas]

It's funny, D&D is the only RPG I know that has a problem with having the characters be separated.

 

[Similkameen]

It's funny, D&D is the only RPG I know that has a problem with having the characters be separated.

I don't think I'd agree with that. I've run games where the party often separated.
I think it is really more related to all having fun together, rather than just watching someone else's adventure, or not even being part of what becomes an individual.

And when there is agreement to separate, by DM and party, it works fine. The random separations now, those are the ones where folk get left sitting on the side lines. And lots of encounters aren't designed for that lone soul.

 

[Abciximab]

Hate to say I told you so....

And part 8 of the podcast just proves the point.

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Penny Arcade/PvP Ep8)

You never know what you'll run into, you may end up bringing some unfriendlies back with you or find yourself in a position where you need help and your compatriots can't get to you.

There seems to be a lot of "casting of the blame" about the table, but really it just boils down to that one simple thing. Don't split the party!

The chain of circumstances that led them to the situation they found themselves in leaves enough blame for everyone. Step 1 - they commented on how ominous the gong looked, but no one at the table thought to take it apart.

Actually, I can see why (for RP reasons) Wil stuck with his Oath of Emnity target.

Hope there's a Podcast 4 with these guys.

~Is there really a thread where someone accused Chris of taking it easy on them?