So I'm gonna be DMing for the first time in a few weeks or so for a group of 3 new players (I've also never played D&D before, outside of a few Pathfinder sessions). The Starter Set calls for 4-5 players for Lost Mine of Phandelver, but since I will only be having 3 players I'm a bit concerned about how the encounters will turn out. Will they be too difficult without 1 or 2 more players? Any advice/thoughts from DMs with experience with LMOP or any general experience would be greatly appreciated.
Note: I can potentially get a fourth player (who actually has relatively more TRPG experience than the rest of us) but I'm not sure that I could get a consistent schedule with him. Just assume I'll only have 3 players.
I would recommend reading ahead about puzzles and the encounters you're concerned about. The puzzles because you need to know that It is even possible with three people, if not, you could either fix them to be with 3 people, or stick them with an NPC for a while. And for the encounters, look into the DM guide and see what they'll be dealing with and if three people could handle those encounters.
TBH I've never owned a book like that so I hope my advice is useful, and I hope all goes well for your campaign.
I've run LMoP a few times, and three players shouldn't be too tough. Just keep things moving and try to make sure everyone has fun. A couple specific suggestions:
-They will ignore some clues, blunder into some traps, and miss some treasures. Players will also come up with crazy schemes. Just roll with it.
-There are a couple fights that could get the party wiped out. Have a reason why the enemy would capture the PCs instead of killings them, and play out a daring escape. That said, don't hesitate to let a PC die if the player does something truly stupid.
I've run LMoP a few times, and three players shouldn't be too tough. Just keep things moving and try to make sure everyone has fun. A couple specific suggestions:
-They will ignore some clues, blunder into some traps, and miss some treasures. Players will also come up with crazy schemes. Just roll with it.
-There are a couple fights that could get the party wiped out. Have a reason why the enemy would capture the PCs instead of killings them, and play out a daring escape. That said, don't hesitate to let a PC die if the player does something truly stupid.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll keep them in mind.
Encounter adjuster based on number of players. Enter 3. Huzzah!
That's a nifty tool. I may end up using it, if need be. Shame it looks like it only has 2 adventures built into it though. Would love for it have more.
Consider using NPCs in the form of companions, henchmen or hirelings to flesh out the party. Use the stats from the NPCs section in the monster manual. The party could meet two guards on the road to Phandelver. They ask to join the party for a small amount silver each month. Use animals to fill out the ranks as well.
I recently ran LMoP with three players. Two had some experience and one was brand new. The only problems the party encountered was one of the players, a human sorcerer, had really low HP and would drop if if he got hit most of the time. I adjusted a couple of damage rolls to keep him up but the party quickly adjusted to protecting him and I didn't have to keep adjusting them.
I recently ran LMoP with three players. Two had some experience and one was brand new. The only problems the party encountered was one of the players, a human sorcerer, had really low HP and would drop if if he got hit most of the time. I adjusted a couple of damage rolls to keep him up but the party quickly adjusted to protecting him and I didn't have to keep adjusting them.
So other than that, the encounters didn't seem too difficult for 3 players? I'd like to use the encounters called for in the adventure, but I'm afraid the party will get steamrolled every encounter, in which case I'd use the encounter adjuster ratwhowouldbeking linked to.
So other than that, the encounters didn't seem too difficult for 3 players? I'd like to use the encounters called for in the adventure, but I'm afraid the party will get steamrolled every encounter, in which case I'd use the encounter adjuster ratwhowouldbeking linked to.
In this case it worked but the party was very cautious and methodical once they learned exploring with their face was a bad idea. If I do it again I would look at what adjustments that site would recommend and perhaps change it to make the play go faster.
With many of the encounters, you can reduce the number of opponents fairly easily. Others, you might need to be more creative.
If you are using the pregenerated characters that come with the adventure, make sure that you read the backstories before giving them to the players. With one character in particular, if a player chooses it, you are going to need to do some thinking about how to handle one of the locations, and probably collaborate with that player. (more info info in the spoiler below)
The rogue pre-gen has a history in Phandalin, that ties directly into much of the plot and the opponents there (the Red Brands). You will need to decide whether or not townspeople recognize the PC as being a Redbrand, and if not, why not. (Probably not, given that the PCs relative in town doesn't know). Similarly, you will need to decide whether or not the Redbrands recognize the PC. There's also the question of how much of the Redbrand hideout that character is familiar with.
When I ran it, my daughter played the Rogue. We decided that the townspeople did not know she had been a Redbrand because she had done "stealth ops" rather than being one of the bullies/enforcers. Some of the Redbrands DID recognize her, which made for interesting role play. I also gave her a partial map of the hideout. We decided she had not been brought into the "inner circle" before she left, and therefore didn't know the entire layout.
Quote from ArwensDaughter ters, you can reduce the number of opponents fairly easily. Others, you might need to be more creative.
If you are using the pregenerated characters that come with the adventure, make sure that you read the backstories before giving them to the players. With one character in particular, if a player chooses it, you are going to need to do some thinking about how to handle one of the locations, and probably collaborate with that player. (more info info in the spoiler below)
Interesting. The two groups I've run through didn't use the pregenerated characters. I'll keep that in mind if I ever run it again and use those.
The Adventure Zone podcast started out as a Phandelver run before branching off into its own crazy campaign, and they stuck with the same 3 players ever since the start. Should be quite doable as long as the players have even the minimum amount of tactical sense in approaching encounters.
I'm not sure specifically the question, but there are plenty of ways to alter the campaign structure to fit the party above that were posted by others. If you ask a more specific question someone can probably be of more direct assistance.
So I'm gonna be DMing for the first time in a few weeks or so for a group of 3 new players (I've also never played D&D before, outside of a few Pathfinder sessions). The Starter Set calls for 4-5 players for Lost Mine of Phandelver, but since I will only be having 3 players I'm a bit concerned about how the encounters will turn out. Will they be too difficult without 1 or 2 more players? Any advice/thoughts from DMs with experience with LMOP or any general experience would be greatly appreciated.
Note: I can potentially get a fourth player (who actually has relatively more TRPG experience than the rest of us) but I'm not sure that I could get a consistent schedule with him. Just assume I'll only have 3 players.
Thanks!
I would recommend reading ahead about puzzles and the encounters you're concerned about. The puzzles because you need to know that It is even possible with three people, if not, you could either fix them to be with 3 people, or stick them with an NPC for a while. And for the encounters, look into the DM guide and see what they'll be dealing with and if three people could handle those encounters.
TBH I've never owned a book like that so I hope my advice is useful, and I hope all goes well for your campaign.
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I've run LMoP a few times, and three players shouldn't be too tough. Just keep things moving and try to make sure everyone has fun. A couple specific suggestions:
-They will ignore some clues, blunder into some traps, and miss some treasures. Players will also come up with crazy schemes. Just roll with it.
-There are a couple fights that could get the party wiped out. Have a reason why the enemy would capture the PCs instead of killings them, and play out a daring escape. That said, don't hesitate to let a PC die if the player does something truly stupid.
http://haluz.org/lmop/
Encounter adjuster based on number of players. Enter 3. Huzzah!
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Consider using NPCs in the form of companions, henchmen or hirelings to flesh out the party. Use the stats from the NPCs section in the monster manual. The party could meet two guards on the road to Phandelver. They ask to join the party for a small amount silver each month. Use animals to fill out the ranks as well.
I recently ran LMoP with three players. Two had some experience and one was brand new. The only problems the party encountered was one of the players, a human sorcerer, had really low HP and would drop if if he got hit most of the time. I adjusted a couple of damage rolls to keep him up but the party quickly adjusted to protecting him and I didn't have to keep adjusting them.
With many of the encounters, you can reduce the number of opponents fairly easily. Others, you might need to be more creative.
If you are using the pregenerated characters that come with the adventure, make sure that you read the backstories before giving them to the players. With one character in particular, if a player chooses it, you are going to need to do some thinking about how to handle one of the locations, and probably collaborate with that player. (more info info in the spoiler below)
The rogue pre-gen has a history in Phandalin, that ties directly into much of the plot and the opponents there (the Red Brands). You will need to decide whether or not townspeople recognize the PC as being a Redbrand, and if not, why not. (Probably not, given that the PCs relative in town doesn't know). Similarly, you will need to decide whether or not the Redbrands recognize the PC. There's also the question of how much of the Redbrand hideout that character is familiar with.
When I ran it, my daughter played the Rogue. We decided that the townspeople did not know she had been a Redbrand because she had done "stealth ops" rather than being one of the bullies/enforcers. Some of the Redbrands DID recognize her, which made for interesting role play. I also gave her a partial map of the hideout. We decided she had not been brought into the "inner circle" before she left, and therefore didn't know the entire layout.
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Ended up getting that potential fourth player to join on a consistent schedule! Regardless, thanks for the responses everyone!
Interesting. The two groups I've run through didn't use the pregenerated characters. I'll keep that in mind if I ever run it again and use those.
The Adventure Zone podcast started out as a Phandelver run before branching off into its own crazy campaign, and they stuck with the same 3 players ever since the start. Should be quite doable as long as the players have even the minimum amount of tactical sense in approaching encounters.
I'm not sure specifically the question, but there are plenty of ways to alter the campaign structure to fit the party above that were posted by others. If you ask a more specific question someone can probably be of more direct assistance.
Can you be more specific about what you are asking, please?
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
Check your entitlements here. | Support Ticket LInk