I'm going to DM for my party for a Christmas one shot. I have a couple of ideas I'm working on. But I'm concerned that I'm not putting enough combat into the encounters for one of the players.
I've already done two different one shots and both of those only had three combat encounters in them. This seems to make one player lose interest pretty fast. I was hoping to add in something combat light like, like a bloody knuckles or arm wrestling competition, where he could compete.
I also can't decide if adding something like this in just for one player would be a bad idea. I want them all to have a good time though.
Any ideas or tips would be gladly appreciated as would any ideas for topics for a Christmas one shot. (Currently my two best ideas are Home Alone and Krampus based)
What areas of the game cause this player to lose interest? If they just want to battle their way through a one shot at a table where everyone enjoys social encounters then perhaps they either need to find a new table or focus on the other areas of the game.
Alternatively, space your combat out more? Build up to and end with a real epic boss battle so that everyone gets a satisfying conclusion.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
What areas of the game cause this player to lose interest? If they just want to battle their way through a one shot at a table where everyone enjoys social encounters then perhaps they either need to find a new table or focus on the other areas of the game.
Alternatively, space your combat out more? Build up to and end with a real epic boss battle so that everyone gets a satisfying conclusion.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
The part that really seemed to make them lose interest was when the other PCs were questioning NPCs in an assassin plot.
I'll try spacing it out a little more evenly. But I do usually end with them fighting a big bad. They took on a lich in the first one and two flesh golems in the second one.
You dont need more combat encounters. You need to make them more complex and interesting. Most tables who don't prioritize combat usually end up with boring encounters. One where you basically have them stand against each other and roll dice with not much else going on. That doesn't satiate the hunger for some tactical involvement and killing stuff. Learn Xcom and War Table battles where stuff becomes actually quite tactical and challenging with its own eb and flow. Three encounters for a single session/1shot is more then enough if done right.
Have you had a chance to chat with this player? Or all the players at the table? It's very possible that you have one player who is only interested in combat, while all the others are into the role playing. Or maybe that one player just doesn't feel COMFY role playing right now, or just thinks their character would not have anything meaningful to add to those situations. Or perhaps everyone is into combat, and the person who isn't a role player is happy to sit back and listen more between combat sessions.
Whatever is going on I highly suggest you have a very casual, very open conversation with your group about what makes them happy. Focus on asking what would they all like to see more of in the game, and how you can balance the combat/roleplay dynamic so that everyone gets some of what they want. If your players all know that you're trying to create the fun they want, then they'll be more willing and happy to play along with the stuff they're not as interested in because they know it'll be their time to shine soon.
Hello!
I'm going to DM for my party for a Christmas one shot. I have a couple of ideas I'm working on. But I'm concerned that I'm not putting enough combat into the encounters for one of the players.
I've already done two different one shots and both of those only had three combat encounters in them. This seems to make one player lose interest pretty fast. I was hoping to add in something combat light like, like a bloody knuckles or arm wrestling competition, where he could compete.
I also can't decide if adding something like this in just for one player would be a bad idea. I want them all to have a good time though.
Any ideas or tips would be gladly appreciated as would any ideas for topics for a Christmas one shot. (Currently my two best ideas are Home Alone and Krampus based)
What areas of the game cause this player to lose interest? If they just want to battle their way through a one shot at a table where everyone enjoys social encounters then perhaps they either need to find a new table or focus on the other areas of the game.
Alternatively, space your combat out more? Build up to and end with a real epic boss battle so that everyone gets a satisfying conclusion.
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
What areas of the game cause this player to lose interest? If they just want to battle their way through a one shot at a table where everyone enjoys social encounters then perhaps they either need to find a new table or focus on the other areas of the game.
Alternatively, space your combat out more? Build up to and end with a real epic boss battle so that everyone gets a satisfying conclusion.
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
The part that really seemed to make them lose interest was when the other PCs were questioning NPCs in an assassin plot.
I'll try spacing it out a little more evenly. But I do usually end with them fighting a big bad. They took on a lich in the first one and two flesh golems in the second one.
You dont need more combat encounters. You need to make them more complex and interesting. Most tables who don't prioritize combat usually end up with boring encounters. One where you basically have them stand against each other and roll dice with not much else going on. That doesn't satiate the hunger for some tactical involvement and killing stuff. Learn Xcom and War Table battles where stuff becomes actually quite tactical and challenging with its own eb and flow. Three encounters for a single session/1shot is more then enough if done right.
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InsiderHave you had a chance to chat with this player? Or all the players at the table? It's very possible that you have one player who is only interested in combat, while all the others are into the role playing. Or maybe that one player just doesn't feel COMFY role playing right now, or just thinks their character would not have anything meaningful to add to those situations. Or perhaps everyone is into combat, and the person who isn't a role player is happy to sit back and listen more between combat sessions.
Whatever is going on I highly suggest you have a very casual, very open conversation with your group about what makes them happy. Focus on asking what would they all like to see more of in the game, and how you can balance the combat/roleplay dynamic so that everyone gets some of what they want. If your players all know that you're trying to create the fun they want, then they'll be more willing and happy to play along with the stuff they're not as interested in because they know it'll be their time to shine soon.
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