Is 4-6 player's a rule or a preference?

[DonTadow]

I'm trying to figure out if I want to increase the current party I DM from 6 players to 8 players. So I'm (question A.) asking DM's their opinions on it and detailed advise (other than "manage time and make sure your encounters are stated right). Question B. Also, should I allow one or either of the players in.

There is nothing wrong with the group I have now but one close friend wants in and another player contacted me and is really "into" my campaign. When I first started the campaign, I had eight players, but with only half of them being in to it, it was difficult to manage and eventually I ended up kicking out six of them and rebuilding back to six. Earlier this year I went up to seven again, but one player left (whom wasn't into my dm style --was upset that multishot and rapid shot didn't work together for six arrows a turn--. So now I have a pretty good core six (well one player is nervewrecking but I think we all got a person like that in our group).

The friend who wants to join has doctor's orders to go out and join some social activivities. She's a former d and d player and I really don't want to say no to her because I want to be "a good friend".

The other guy is a guy who contacted me online, and is pretty much the first person to contact me and actually go and register to the website first, then contact me with a list of questions about the campaign. It impressed me a lot.

According to the descriptions in the dmg2, the current group consists of a Puzzle solver, a Supercooler, a Story person, a roleplayer and a buttkicker. My campaign is primarily rpg oriented with no more than 2 big battles a game. I would effectively be adding a pyschodrama person ( the girl) and not sure about the other guy. Obviously every agame is going to be different (question C) but is there a certain type of gamer that will unbalance my game by adding them to the mix or (question D is this whole what type of gamer you have too analytical for the game?)

 

[Crothian]

I say give them a try. You can't just say "X player type won't work" it just isn't that simple.

 

[IronWolf]

I think the 4-6 player rule is more a preference than any kind of set rule. I am sure there are folks on these boards running for more than six players. I tend towards the 4-6 player preference myself as a DM. It is what I feel comfortable running for. So I think the first thing is to ask yourself do you feel like you can run a game for eight players? Will the combats be too unamangeable? Will you be able to engage each player in roleplaying? If you think you can do it then I think you will do fine.

As to whether to let them in or not. Give them a shot. If you feel the need let them know they are welcome to try the game out to see if the group meshes or not. Just set expectations up front and you should be fine.

 

[Rel]

The number of players in the group is entirely a matter of personal preference for the group as a whole. I don't consider it to be the sole province of the GM to get to decide what the group size will be since it impacts the fun of everybody. I wouldn't run a group of 8 and I don't think my group of players (currently at 5 having been as big as 6 and small as 3) would want a group that size either. But if you're comfortable with it and the players don't mind then I see nothing wrong with the number 8 (or any other number for that matter).

I DO think that it is completely reasonable and helpful to consider your players in terms of the type of players that they are. This has been an invaluable tool for me in my own games. And I do think that certain types of players will require more maintenance than others will.

In your situation, the guy you are thinking of adding is simply an unknown quantity at this point. If you invite him, I'd make certain that he understood that it was on a trial basis. If you find that your gaming styles don't mesh well then I'd have it laid out very clearly from the start that he's free to walk or you're free to ask him to leave if things aren't working out.

Quite honestly the girl you talk about kind of scares me. The psychodrama players can be fine but they can require a lot of attention from the GM and sometimes demand that the game revolve around them. But more than that, the whole "doctor's orders" business indicates to me that she might have some mental or social instability issues. D&D is not a very good tool to use to deal with these issues. And if they other players are not also friends of hers then I doubt that they will be as patient and understanding as you will if she starts to be a disruptive influence.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Always ask the powergamers to give the roleplayers a hand with the mechanics. Do it in front of everybody so one one feels like they are being singled out. The roleplayers can come up with a concept and the powergamers can help them realize it.

 

[DarrenGMiller]

The six players that I have right now is about the smallest my group has been, except for when I asked 4 to leave and had to build back. I usually have 6-8 and that is where I am most comfortable (maybe it is my 1E background that leads me to larger groups).

DM

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I don't think I'd like DMing more than six, but I've never tried. Usually for a game I'll recruite about 6-7 players most will make characters then only 3-5 will be able to show up to the game reguarly.
Discuss with your group if they'd mind having more players, if they have no problem with it then let them in.

I'm suprised your players neatly fit into categorys I find that most of my players can fit into multiple categorys. For example while a player might really enjoy roleplaying he also likes to kick some butt every now and then and enjoys a good puzzle on occasion. But I have played with a guy who always played a ninja, in D&D he played a ninja (mnk/rog), in TSR Marvel he played a Ninja superhero, in shadowrun all of his characters were ninjas, it was just a tad bit annoying.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

You need greater cooperation among the players as the group size increases. The more people, the more side conversations, the more things you have to keep track of, etc. It requires more discipline both for the players and the DM to keep things on track, in my experience. Whenever I had more than 6, I usually enlisted some of the players to help with some of the bookkeeping (initiative, for example) so I could keep focused on the flow of the game.

You also will need to scale encounters up pretty dramatically.

 

[pogre]

Adding a player would not concern me, but adding the player you described would concern me greatly. After struggling with your previous group and getting things going well with this group I guess I would just leave things the way they are.

4-6 players is a rule only in so much as it makes CRs and EL a bit more useful, but a veteran DM usually can balance encounters without worries. Even someone less experienced can use a lot of available tools like Grim Tales' Gamemastering pack to balance encounters.

 

[DonTadow]

Adding a player would not concern me, but adding the player you described would concern me greatly. After struggling with your previous group and getting things going well with this group I guess I would just leave things the way they are.

4-6 players is a rule only in so much as it makes CRs and EL a bit more useful, but a veteran DM usually can balance encounters without worries. Even someone less experienced can use a lot of available tools like Grim Tales' Gamemastering pack to balance encounters.

It worries me a bit too, but I feel compelled to help a friend. Honestly she has not asked to play in the campaign, she wants to just come and watch, but I just see her asking to want to be in after watching ( I couldn't imagine watching a d and d game and not playing). One time I was in a campaign, and she asked to come and watch and the DM asked her halfway through if she'd like to play an NPC and she agreed.

Should I regulate her to helping me out with the NPCs and battlemaps and avoid the pitfalls that could come with giving her a permanent character? Maybe make her a lesser character that has no impact? What do you do with people who just wnat to watch? Voyeurs

THe other guy is pretty much just email communications now. I still have to meet with him and see if I like him. Plus he lives 45 minutes (at least) away. I once drove an hour and a half for a game every Saturday so I know its possible if you like the campaign.