How to handle an even party split?

robiswrong · May 08, 2015, 09:46:32 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;830437In games like Amber or Lords of Olympus it's totally common that the players (often a sizable group), are spread out, rarely with more than two or three of them together at any time. This just requires a group that's willing to have gaps between their turns to play.

It helps if you're using a system that has fast enough resolution to switch between players with regularity, and also one that's interesting for the other players to listen to/watch.

I'd say that's true of Amber, as it's going to be all about stuff happening, not scrounging for bonuses.

JongWK · May 09, 2015, 04:00:31 AM

There was a month were the party split in half, because the characters had an insane amount of things to do and were going to different places. We had a session with a couple of players, and another one with the other two. After that, the characters met again and carried on together.

Ravenswing · May 09, 2015, 05:14:10 AM

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;830502Well, Amber is all about every player scheming on their own. D&D is supposed to be a group of adventurers working together.

That's a common fallacy; it's nothing of the sort. D&D is a toolkit for adjudicating the actions of one or more players in a fantasy RPG environment, and favoring some particular stylistic elements. Like pretty just about any other system out there, people have run solo campaigns or for only two players just fine.

Old One Eye · May 10, 2015, 11:01:51 AM

Quote from: Omega;830119Some GMs arent keen on multi-tasking plots like that. Bobs off following his quest for the ring of whatever. Joes off wenching in the tavern, and so on. Having to do that one at a time is ok. But 3-4 seperate paths all at once is a mess waiting to happen. People have to wait. Lots of down time usually. One player may get more action for one reason or another.

Can be done. I got payed to do it. But personally I'd rather the group stuck together.

Yeah, I do not like running split groups. I overtly tell the players I am only willing to run the game when the party stays together. Temporary splits are fine, but I will stop running the game if the party cannot stay together in the main.

Then throw it back to them to figure out a compromise if they want the game to continue. Every group has always managed a compromise; none of my players has ever left the game from this.

RPGPundit · May 12, 2015, 06:06:44 AM

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;830442This is D&D though.

I don't think the concept would work any worse with D&D, in the type of campaigns where this would be necessary.

RPGPundit · May 13, 2015, 02:55:10 AM

Quote from: JongWK;830662There was a month were the party split in half, because the characters had an insane amount of things to do and were going to different places. We had a session with a couple of players, and another one with the other two. After that, the characters met again and carried on together.

That's another good way to solve it.

How to handle an even party split?

robiswrong

JongWK

Ravenswing

Old One Eye

RPGPundit

RPGPundit