This is my first time DM'ing and the two players I have are also brand new. We have a Hexblade Warlock and a Barbarian. I'm not sure if I should give them a DM tagalong npc to help and if so what class they will probably need? They seem pretty tanky should I make a healer or support?
5e is pretty forgiving of team comp. It's not required to have someone filling every party role like it was in 4e, and since it's an undersized party you probably want them a little tankier anyways.
As the DM, maybe just give them access to more healing potions than you might normally, and if you notice them struggling in encounters still, then you can adjust encounter difficulty to fit the party.
There's usually no problem having what's sometimes called a 'DMPC' as part of the group, but that works in groups of 4+. With only 2 players, your DMPC will likely steal 1/3 of kills from them and make too much impact on the fights. If you do run a DMPC then make them pure melee (fighter, generally) so that they don't have a load of utility outside of combat to steal further limelight. I'd avoid it with 2 players.
I'd just run it with 2 characters and let things fall as they may. Keep the encounters on the Medium-Hard spectrum, as they lack the ability to keep bringing each other back to their feet.
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This is my first time DM'ing and the two players I have are also brand new. We have a Hexblade Warlock and a Barbarian. I'm not sure if I should give them a DM tagalong npc to help and if so what class they will probably need? They seem pretty tanky should I make a healer or support?
5e is pretty forgiving of team comp. It's not required to have someone filling every party role like it was in 4e, and since it's an undersized party you probably want them a little tankier anyways.
As the DM, maybe just give them access to more healing potions than you might normally, and if you notice them struggling in encounters still, then you can adjust encounter difficulty to fit the party.
There's usually no problem having what's sometimes called a 'DMPC' as part of the group, but that works in groups of 4+. With only 2 players, your DMPC will likely steal 1/3 of kills from them and make too much impact on the fights. If you do run a DMPC then make them pure melee (fighter, generally) so that they don't have a load of utility outside of combat to steal further limelight. I'd avoid it with 2 players.
I'd just run it with 2 characters and let things fall as they may. Keep the encounters on the Medium-Hard spectrum, as they lack the ability to keep bringing each other back to their feet.