Hello đź‘‹, I was going to have my first session this week (well, tommorow) with an all new group (including me) and have a modified dark fantasy lost mine if phandelver ready but one of my players can't make it and we're a small group of three so didn't want to do the adventure start without him.
I was thinking maybe I could do a one shot for how the two players who are coming know each other. Any ideas for how I'd do something like this? My players are an air genesi druid and a dwarf warlock
Playing with only two players can be difficult when it comes to balancing combat encounters, especially if they are starting at level 1. If you want to run a low-stakes one-shot for the players that can make it to the session, my advice would be to prepare a more roleplay focused session. I've had sessions in campaigns where two of my players at the very last minute can't show up, but the other two really want to play. The example I used was to create a sort of carnival inspired session. Play into the characters strengths and interests. This could include a fighting arena, a pie-eating contest, a magic competition, a bard performance battle, beer-chugging contest, arm-wrestling matches, and more.
For my fighting arena, I ran it with two rounds. The first round was in partners, where the two players were handcuffed together, one had a greatclub and the other had a shield. They fought against two other pairs who were likewise handcuffed and armed, fight until opponents knocked out. The winning pair then nominates one to go up one-on-one against the arena champion. Flip a coin, if the player calls it, they choose if they fight with the Greatclub or the shield, whichever they pick the champion gets the other.
If you want to cause some mayhem, you can have something interrupt the carnival-event that the players will have to deal with. This could be some goblins causing mischief, or the animals in the petting zoo getting loose, or a magician's tricks going haywire.
If you don't want to do a carnival type event, you could do a murder mystery, or have the players execute a heist. Take inspiration from media which utilize duo protagonists. For example Tulio and Miguel from "The Road to El Dorado".
The main thing is that a two-player session is usually a low stakes session, because in combat with only two players, a few bad rolls can make the session very short.
Are your players going to be together at the start of the campaign? If so why not do a little one shot with their characters meeting to head towards Phandalin. Roleplay the dwarf recruiting them in a tavern and throw a bar fight at them. An angry drunk who is refused service and turns out to be a were-something that they have to defeat without killing. If they're finding it too easy you can add in a second, if they're finding it too hard you can have the Dwarf who's recruiting them join in. And then when your third player comes in next session they've got a really easy roleplay opportunity to tell them about what they got up to to make everyone a little more comfortable at the beginning of the first session.
Something I saw suggested in a video I think, have the pair cross paths with a higher level cleric that casts buffs on them prior to encountering the dead horses and goblin ambush. Aid immediately comes to mind, as it has an 8 hour duration. I suggest making the cleric level 4-5, that will add an additional 5 or 10 temporary hit points to each character respectively. Perhaps make the cleric a traveling companion, also going to Phandalin. Make them a pacifist, unwilling to fight, but willing to buff them, and help them heal up after a fight. A good NPC contact in Phandalin to explain why this cleric NPC is going there, is they are friends with Sister Garaele, the cleric that runs the temple there.
Hello đź‘‹, I was going to have my first session this week (well, tommorow) with an all new group (including me) and have a modified dark fantasy lost mine if phandelver ready but one of my players can't make it and we're a small group of three so didn't want to do the adventure start without him.
I was thinking maybe I could do a one shot for how the two players who are coming know each other. Any ideas for how I'd do something like this? My players are an air genesi druid and a dwarf warlock
Thanks, any and all help is greatly appreciated
Playing with only two players can be difficult when it comes to balancing combat encounters, especially if they are starting at level 1. If you want to run a low-stakes one-shot for the players that can make it to the session, my advice would be to prepare a more roleplay focused session. I've had sessions in campaigns where two of my players at the very last minute can't show up, but the other two really want to play. The example I used was to create a sort of carnival inspired session. Play into the characters strengths and interests. This could include a fighting arena, a pie-eating contest, a magic competition, a bard performance battle, beer-chugging contest, arm-wrestling matches, and more.
For my fighting arena, I ran it with two rounds. The first round was in partners, where the two players were handcuffed together, one had a greatclub and the other had a shield. They fought against two other pairs who were likewise handcuffed and armed, fight until opponents knocked out. The winning pair then nominates one to go up one-on-one against the arena champion. Flip a coin, if the player calls it, they choose if they fight with the Greatclub or the shield, whichever they pick the champion gets the other.
If you want to cause some mayhem, you can have something interrupt the carnival-event that the players will have to deal with. This could be some goblins causing mischief, or the animals in the petting zoo getting loose, or a magician's tricks going haywire.
If you don't want to do a carnival type event, you could do a murder mystery, or have the players execute a heist. Take inspiration from media which utilize duo protagonists. For example Tulio and Miguel from "The Road to El Dorado".
The main thing is that a two-player session is usually a low stakes session, because in combat with only two players, a few bad rolls can make the session very short.
Are your players going to be together at the start of the campaign? If so why not do a little one shot with their characters meeting to head towards Phandalin. Roleplay the dwarf recruiting them in a tavern and throw a bar fight at them. An angry drunk who is refused service and turns out to be a were-something that they have to defeat without killing. If they're finding it too easy you can add in a second, if they're finding it too hard you can have the Dwarf who's recruiting them join in. And then when your third player comes in next session they've got a really easy roleplay opportunity to tell them about what they got up to to make everyone a little more comfortable at the beginning of the first session.
The Dungeon Master's guild also has a pdf called 'The Road to Phandalin for $0.99 which serves as a little prologue to Phandelver
Thanks very much
Thanks, I'll definitely be using some of those ideas.
By any chance have you used the road to phandelver adventure? If so, is it worth using?
Something I saw suggested in a video I think, have the pair cross paths with a higher level cleric that casts buffs on them prior to encountering the dead horses and goblin ambush. Aid immediately comes to mind, as it has an 8 hour duration. I suggest making the cleric level 4-5, that will add an additional 5 or 10 temporary hit points to each character respectively. Perhaps make the cleric a traveling companion, also going to Phandalin. Make them a pacifist, unwilling to fight, but willing to buff them, and help them heal up after a fight. A good NPC contact in Phandalin to explain why this cleric NPC is going there, is they are friends with Sister Garaele, the cleric that runs the temple there.
I just looked at this for the first time. Your idea is great. This might work for me, too.
Thank you!
Create a Sidekick or pull a NPC like Guard to help. Some of First modules in each season have one hour mini adventures which you could use.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.