Ideal Number of Players?

[Centaur]

I know that this thread has been posted before, so if anyone can post a link to it, that would be great, otherwise, post here.

I'm just wondering what other GMs find to be the ideal number of players, for their gamming style.

Mine, I like to intertwine multiple different plots, each centered on one or two PCs, therefore I like to keep the number of players to 3 or 4 so that I can spend enough time with each player without making everyone else feel left out.

What are other peoples favorite number/style?

 

[Desdichado]

I agree, I'm a 3-5 guy myself. More than that, and I start to feel like I can't pay attention to all the players, and the game also starts to drag, especially during combat. It also tends to get bogged down with OT chatter the larger the group is.

 

[Zogg]

I'd say 5 players - making 6 total (with the DM). This way there is never a stalemate in voting decisions and if one person dies the party isn't crippled.

 

[Mark]

I had a similar thread but it was more involved than this. You might get a lot more people to answer this shorter, more spcific poll. For me, I like to DM and have 4 players. If not 4, 5 or 6 is better than 3. I'm too too keen on 1 or 2 except when assured there will soon be 3 then 4. (0 is right out! )

 

[clark411]

I also went with 5, if for no other reason than the potential absent player doesn't make me go back to the drawing board.

 

[ProfAnime]

I voted 6+, for six players and 1 DM. I like that number cause it means you can lose a player or two for a session, not have a problem, as well as I just like larger groups of players. My last game that I ran had 10 players in it, and we had a blast playing without many slowdowns or anything along those lines.

 

[lordmalachdrim]

I have to say that the more the better, in most cases. There are some games were a large number of players just doesn't fit the feel of the game.

 

[GenLang]

A group of five allows for the four core roles to be covered and then you have the spare generalist.

Five players plus one GM fit nicely around a long table.

Six people is a good number to cook for.

(However, in both my current games, there's 6 and 7 PCs. Luckily we game in large game rooms)

 

[Beelzebub]

My last game had 6 PCs in it... I found it to be a bit much for me to DM. Not WAY too much, but there were noticable slowdowns whenever everybody attended. Next time I'm going to shoot for 4 PCs.

 

[Dinkeldog]

I'm inclined for 6. If someone can't make it, the session isn't a washout. Also, with 4, you have people wanting to stick very close to standard formula for classes. Add a little wiggle room, and people try things they wouldn't otherwise.