Only 2 players.

[BlazingCatMan]

Ive only been playing DND for about a year now, mostly 3e but my buddy and I just got ahold of the 4e core books n plan to start a game in about 7 hours.

But their are only 2 of us, while we are trying to increase our group, which we have a few people slightly interested, we must deal with what we got.

Im going to be DMing this game, my friend would like to just play one character, i do plan on throwing n NPC in at some point to help him out.

I was wondering if someone could help me out with encounter levels. From the books i can easily build them early on but later on i think i will have problems as to how difficult an encounter should get.

Any suggestions? And possibly encounter suggestions?

Thanks much.

 

[OnlineDM]

First, welcome aboard!

Second, use lots of minions. If you only have one PC, an even-level encounter is a fight with one even-level standard monster. That will get old fast. You can use multiple lower-level monsters (although you have to be a little bit creative in doing this at level 1, when there technically AREN'T lower-level monsters), but a group of same-level minions should be fine.

My tip for what to do at higher level: Don't worry about it right now. The goal is to get more than one PC into the game, so by the time you're at level 5 you're hoping to have found more players.

Welcome to EN World and to 4th Edition!

 

[BlazingCatMan]

Thanks, and its good to be aboard.

 

[S'mon]

I ran a fun 4e adventure with 2 PCs, the secret was to use plenty of low level monsters to make up the XP budget. It's a bit more challenging with 1 PC, and you might want to start him at higher level to allow more flexibility. At 1st level, 1 1st level standard monster is effectively a 'solo', so you're pretty much stuck with small groups of low-level minions. I think 5th is a good level for a PC who feels powerful right out the gate.

At 5th level the standard encounter budget is 200 XP, here are some possibilities:

1 5th level standard monster 'solo'.
2 1st level standard monsters.
1 1st level standard monster & 4 1st level minions.
1 3rd level standard monster (150 XP) & 2 1st level minions (50 XP).

You can go a bit over the budget, but a lone PC does not have the depth of resources of a 5 PC group, and is much less able to survive over-level encounters.

 

[Quickleaf]

But their are only 2 of us, while we are trying to increase our group, which we have a few people slightly interested, we must deal with what we got.

One-on-one games can be a lot of fun! After running a campaign for 7 players I really appreciate just how great one-on-one games can be.

Any suggestions? And possibly encounter suggestions?

What's the story you're running? Campaign setting? PC's race, class and level?

 

[samursus]

As others have said regarding xp budgets.

However, I would like to suggest using this time to emphasizes plot and RP while the player has your undivided attention (if you think they would enjoy such things of course). Once your group expands, you may never get the chance to to so again.

Also use lots of terrain and interactive features in your combats (check out the recent Tutorial: Terrain Powers for some nifty ideas).

Good luck!

 

[Larrin]

I'm running a solo game with my wife, where she plays three PC's, and I like that alot. Why should i have to add an npc and play extra characters if i can pass it on to her and give her more play experience with more types of characters? This makes encounter design easier, she can play a balanced party and I can make balanced battles. Its been alot of fun. Definitely consider letting the single player have multiple PC's, it gives them alot of playing experience and lets you have experience dealing with multiple PCs which will be handy when your group grows.

edit: i see you say your player only wants one character, fair enough. My opinion is that multiple PC's is better.

 

[BlazingCatMan]

Thanks again for all the insight, due to some very unlucky rolls he perished his first fight, but has been brought back in a different campaign as a hired hand for my Paladin. This has been going a little better n will prob be a great campaign.

 

[BobTheNob]

Another option may be to allow the players to take 2 characters each. A little more work for the players, but it does present some interesting oppotunities, especially if the players can come up with good synergistic strategies for the characters they control.

 

[BlazingCatMan]

Another option may be to allow the players to take 2 characters each. A little more work for the players, but it does present some interesting oppotunities, especially if the players can come up with good synergistic strategies for the characters they control.

We have done this but my friends wife would need to play, and shes doesnt really care to play very often, as in a campaign a year, n not a long one.

After my buddies failed rolling he is now running a game with me running a Paladin and his Ranger. So far im having some epic rolls. lol