I'm planning on running a small campaign for my mother and wife using "The Keep on Shadowfell" I've never run a small game like this and I'm hoping someone has some tips and perhaps some tools on keeping the two of them alive. I think I can insert an NPC based loosely on "Ser Pounce A-lot" from Dragon Age that can do some light healing and one resurrect a day. My mom, who has never played D&D in her life is now interested because of the plans I have made for other games, so I'd like this to be a fun first time experience.
Off hand do you know what your two players will be playing? Knowing that would go a long way to sorting out what kind of support they are going to need.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
You can tailor that adventure for only 2 characters so you don't have to worry about adding in any NPCs that will be constant companions of the party - especially if you keep the treasure that can be found close to the adventure's original allotment, as there are plenty of potions of healing littered throughout.
Tailoring can be made even easier for you if you start the characters off at 3rd or 4th level. The trade off of a slightly more complex character for the players to get used to playing is, in my opinion and experience, worth the benefit of the characters being more able to survive any mistakes you make in setting up the adventure's challenges and giving you a higher encounter building budget with which to make each encounter more unique from each other.
Off hand do you know what your two players will be playing? Knowing that would go a long way to sorting out what kind of support they are going to need.
My wife is playing a Druid, and my mom has asked me to make her a character sheet this time around so I can play with her class to my hearts content.
Well, if your wife is playing the kind of Druid that concentrates on turning into animals, then I'd suggest setting your mom up with a Bard that can help do some light healing and influence combat around a large druid-beast. That way you have a lot of bases covered. If your wife is playing a more magic-centric Druid, then I'd suggest your mom play something with a little more meat like a defensive Fighter or Paladin?
With that kind of balance in the party you can probably get away with letting them roam on their own or occasionally sprinkle in a helpful NPC from time to time when the job calls for it. I do agree with Aaron, that you should probably start them at 3rd or 4th level.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Well, if your wife is playing the kind of Druid that concentrates on turning into animals, then I'd suggest setting your mom up with a Bard that can help do some light healing and influence combat around a large druid-beast. That way you have a lot of bases covered. If your wife is playing a more magic-centric Druid, then I'd suggest your mom play something with a little more meat like a defensive Fighter or Paladin?
With that kind of balance in the party you can probably get away with letting them roam on their own or occasionally sprinkle in a helpful NPC from time to time when the job calls for it. I do agree with Aaron, that you should probably start them at 3rd or 4th level.
She's been chomping at the bit to turn into animals, she got super excited when she found out she can become one as a druid, so I am definitely going to take all this great advice, mom seems to enjoy the concept of being a bard I get the feeling we'll be getting a lot of "Earth, Wind and Fire" covers out of it, thank you all so much!
Floating around here some where is a really good companion character sheet that you would treat as another player... more robust than a regular companion... I have used this already with 5e and it helps with balance and with RP factor as well. Can be used with any class as they are no loger dependant on a class mechanic like the ranger's.
I'm planning on running a small campaign for my mother and wife using "The Keep on Shadowfell" I've never run a small game like this and I'm hoping someone has some tips and perhaps some tools on keeping the two of them alive. I think I can insert an NPC based loosely on "Ser Pounce A-lot" from Dragon Age that can do some light healing and one resurrect a day. My mom, who has never played D&D in her life is now interested because of the plans I have made for other games, so I'd like this to be a fun first time experience.
Off hand do you know what your two players will be playing? Knowing that would go a long way to sorting out what kind of support they are going to need.
You can tailor that adventure for only 2 characters so you don't have to worry about adding in any NPCs that will be constant companions of the party - especially if you keep the treasure that can be found close to the adventure's original allotment, as there are plenty of potions of healing littered throughout.
Tailoring can be made even easier for you if you start the characters off at 3rd or 4th level. The trade off of a slightly more complex character for the players to get used to playing is, in my opinion and experience, worth the benefit of the characters being more able to survive any mistakes you make in setting up the adventure's challenges and giving you a higher encounter building budget with which to make each encounter more unique from each other.
Well, if your wife is playing the kind of Druid that concentrates on turning into animals, then I'd suggest setting your mom up with a Bard that can help do some light healing and influence combat around a large druid-beast. That way you have a lot of bases covered. If your wife is playing a more magic-centric Druid, then I'd suggest your mom play something with a little more meat like a defensive Fighter or Paladin?
With that kind of balance in the party you can probably get away with letting them roam on their own or occasionally sprinkle in a helpful NPC from time to time when the job calls for it. I do agree with Aaron, that you should probably start them at 3rd or 4th level.
Floating around here some where is a really good companion character sheet that you would treat as another player... more robust than a regular companion... I have used this already with 5e and it helps with balance and with RP factor as well. Can be used with any class as they are no loger dependant on a class mechanic like the ranger's.
https://www.zonechaos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Strobert.pdf
This pdf is not originally mine... I don't take credit for it at all...
This is an example one one filled out for a lvl 4 blink Dog...Companion used as a seperate party member...