Thanks Guy! I was blown away by the kind words, hearing you say all that too was WILD for me... since I have been watching you before I was even a content creator! Crazy times!
The longest campaign I was in had only myself, the GM (my husband), and a good friend, using Pathfinder 1E. It was one of the best games I've played, with a great story, memorable NPCs and villains, world-changing politics, epic player arcs, and smooth high-level play (credit to the GM for all of it). It ran for just under 3 years, with around 90 sessions. We played two brothers, a paladin (the heir) and a magus (the illegitimate one), attempting to recover their hereditary lands and restore the nation of Cyre (Eberron setting) after the Day of Mourning. Neither of us ever felt like the other one's sidekick. The reason it was just two players is because our friend was cool with the idea of gaming around a baby... since I was pregnant when we started. After having bub, I was back with her in tow after a four-week break because that was enough of a "holiday", we still had a nation to rebuild! Ten years later, we're teaching her to play D&D now.
Guy, you must be a mind reader: my 4-person 5E D&D campaign just lost 2 players, and I’m considering whether we run the remainder of the campaign with 2 players. You gave me a lot of great ideas of how we can proceed. Thank you!
DC20 will be the system and TTRPG of 2025. It’s what old and new people want from a “D&D” type of game. Superior on so many levels. I’ve followed it through all of it’s design and development. Check it out. You will love it. ❤
I’d really love a video on the different modes of play, VTT, in person theatre of the mind, in person with maps and minis and in person with a VTT table top image. Particularly for those moving from one mode to another. Really love your content man!
I DMed a campaign for 2 players. One played an Aasimar Arcane Trickster, the other one played a Tiefling Assassin. There are so many fun combinations you can work with. It's ultimately up to the players, though. You have to have two players who have a good chemistry together, and they have to be able to work together to tell a story.
I've accidentally run a few 2-player sessions during my Starfinder campaign before I gave up on the RPG for unrelated reasons. It works, you have to scale back combat a bit to avoid overwhelming the players but it helps that both players played Mechanics that leaned into a combat specialization. Decent damage output, decent spread of skills so they could handle most challenges, probably should have forced them to branch out into different specializations but eh, it wasn't planned anyway.
I ran a very memorable campaign for a courtesan and her bodyguard in L5R 3d edition. Duels, kidnapping, politics, rescues, shenanigans! It was amazing fun. Completely agree with the backstory point. It's always important but in a two person game, you're sunk without it.
Our group have played quite a lot of 2 player games. Sometimes we started a campaign with just two players wit the plan of adding more as the story develops. But more often we play 2 player games as some kind of spinoff adventures to a traditional campaign. For example whenever a character from the main party gets some solo mission, we usually invite someone (who is not a player in that campaign) to play an "npc" who will feature prominently in that episode. This puts an interesting spin on the "who is the main character, who is the sidekick", because the character from the main campaign will is the main character in that sense that he/she is the recurring character, but the episode npc will usually be in the focus of the given story. But we are fine with playing hero+sidekick duos.
Since I started playing D&D back in like 2020/2021 I've spent most of my time dming for my two friends. We've had a lot of wacky adventures and I've learned a lot about the game and how to DM during this time. Just about a month ago we finished the Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen module. They were both playing barbarians and each had a sidekick(one expert and 1 healer). A few key things I've learned is 1. Giving your players sidekicks or side characters makes it way easier to balance encounters and fill in gaps in the party composition which will inevitably exist due to only having 2 players. Just make sure the sidekicks are weaker than the PCs so they don't steal the show. 2. Don't is dm pcs to fix party comp. I did this early on because I also wanted to play the game while dming, but not only does this create a conflict of interest (since your character can only do certain things because of your meta knowledge, so they're basically a sidekick anyway), but it also puts a lot of burden on you as DM to manage a character AND everything else. It was something I didn't notice until I tried dming without running a character, and once I did I never want to do that again. 3. Keep a close eye on the players' characters and make sure that one of the two doesn't become too strong in comparison to the other. In my case, it's alot more apparent because they're both playing barbarians, but one of my players has a much stronger character than the other. I'm currently working on compensating for this by upgrading the equipment the weaker one has, allowing the party's artificer friend enhance the magic gloves she gave them. The balance can be very important to be aware of, though it's a little less likely to happen if the players are playing different classes, since they can therefore fulfill different roles rather than compete to do the same thing. I can confirm that it's a very rewarding experience and great for experimentation and expanding your abilities. I also DM for a group of between 6 and 9 players every week, and it's a much different experience. Alot of the rules and systems I've tested out in our personal game I've also implemented in the other game. It's also less stressful since I don't have to consider all these different ways they could de-rail the plot. Although in Shadow of the Dragon Queen they did beat the final boss by simply telling her to leave with the Command spell, which was very funny. Highly recommend 2 player games, they're a wonderful experience, especially if you have 2 close friends to play with. Also rewatch the video, because as usual Guy has some great points.
I've done solo with a hobbit and same sized lizardfolk sidekick. Vice one character in the fray, two worked well for me. The Hobbit was the party leader per say. A second was always nice for that backup or helping hand or bounce things off of.
Most of the games i run are two players only too hard with my schedule to get more. I also agree 2 person games are very rewarding and i feel more connected to the success or failure of the brave pair
I can't believe you put this up today after I spent all of yesterday and today scouring the Internet for advice for this exact thing. For me, it was a DELUGE of videos and comments in dnd spaces across the Internet demanding that we don't hold a game hostage for players who show up if one or more players don't show up that has led me into a frenzy to prepare this kind of game. Has this been endemic for everyone? Or did a lot of people just get curious on their own?
This is actually kinda weird. The very first game I ever ran was an urban fantasy buddy-cop type homebrew for a couple of friends. The 3 of us wanted to play, didnt have a group, and just said screw it! We'll make our own group! With blackjack, and hookers! To this day, it remains one of my best games, and all I ever did was ask myself "does this sound fun" before I did stuff.
i have tried runnig such 2 players game and sadly it died quickly. Turns out when there is only 2 Heroes, they put more Value on their heads, so one of my players was really overusing his "high position" of being literally half of the party, constantly telling me how things are wrong wanting me to change what me the Narrator of story GM said what happend. Seems like we had misunderstanding where He though it it would be more of very normal game where players are Super twice as powerful to recompensate half party size, while i made a game in style of From zero to Hero, adjusting the world to fact of them bening Two players only. When you make game like that better be sure your players are prepare for more uncomon approch to the game and are not someone who have "Characters prepared eariel for future games" as such player may try to use something not Prepared for 2 players game and will slowly try to adjust everything GM does with own "opinions" constantly. Be really sure your players know exactly what they aggree on so you later won't have any troubles with literally half of them.
Hey, I've been trying to get some feedback on my Challenge 2024 entry. I posted several messages on the Challenge 2024 Discord server and I have not gotten a reply. I have emailed you, Guy, more than once, and I have not gotten a reply. You advised us to reach out if we needed help. How do we reach out? How can we get someone to reply?
That would be a one player game and it would be a little different. You can use henchman and you want to give your one player a fun NPC sidekick that gives him someone to talk to and be entertained by, but he has no influence on the single player's agency
![[TRAP] Adding in a short side-quest trap adventure](/img/n.gif)
Thanks Guy! I was blown away by the kind words, hearing you say all that too was WILD for me... since I have been watching you before I was even a content creator! Crazy times!
Those are pretty sweet page layouts for DC20
Backed it today! Been watching you both for years. Excited to see where dc20 goes
I’d love to review this
The longest campaign I was in had only myself, the GM (my husband), and a good friend, using Pathfinder 1E. It was one of the best games I've played, with a great story, memorable NPCs and villains, world-changing politics, epic player arcs, and smooth high-level play (credit to the GM for all of it). It ran for just under 3 years, with around 90 sessions. We played two brothers, a paladin (the heir) and a magus (the illegitimate one), attempting to recover their hereditary lands and restore the nation of Cyre (Eberron setting) after the Day of Mourning. Neither of us ever felt like the other one's sidekick.
The reason it was just two players is because our friend was cool with the idea of gaming around a baby... since I was pregnant when we started. After having bub, I was back with her in tow after a four-week break because that was enough of a "holiday", we still had a nation to rebuild! Ten years later, we're teaching her to play D&D now.
Those are pretty sweet page layouts for DC20
Guy, you must be a mind reader: my 4-person 5E D&D campaign just lost 2 players, and I’m considering whether we run the remainder of the campaign with 2 players. You gave me a lot of great ideas of how we can proceed. Thank you!
Seriously, DC's system is probably dope. I'm totally supporting that.
DC20 will be the system and TTRPG of 2025. It’s what old and new people want from a “D&D” type of game. Superior on so many levels. I’ve followed it through all of it’s design and development. Check it out. You will love it. ❤
This is perfect timing! I'm about to run an adventure with two players. Thankyou from an inexperienced gm and long time viewer.
I’d really love a video on the different modes of play, VTT, in person theatre of the mind, in person with maps and minis and in person with a VTT table top image. Particularly for those moving from one mode to another. Really love your content man!
Great video. Great Titel. Great thumbnail. I knew what I was getting from the first second.
DC20 looks pretty awesome.
I DMed a campaign for 2 players. One played an Aasimar Arcane Trickster, the other one played a Tiefling Assassin. There are so many fun combinations you can work with. It's ultimately up to the players, though. You have to have two players who have a good chemistry together, and they have to be able to work together to tell a story.
Thanks for the DC20 Shout out!!!
I love ALL How to be a Great GM videos!!!! ❤
I've accidentally run a few 2-player sessions during my Starfinder campaign before I gave up on the RPG for unrelated reasons. It works, you have to scale back combat a bit to avoid overwhelming the players but it helps that both players played Mechanics that leaned into a combat specialization. Decent damage output, decent spread of skills so they could handle most challenges, probably should have forced them to branch out into different specializations but eh, it wasn't planned anyway.
I ran a very memorable campaign for a courtesan and her bodyguard in L5R 3d edition. Duels, kidnapping, politics, rescues, shenanigans! It was amazing fun. Completely agree with the backstory point. It's always important but in a two person game, you're sunk without it.
That sounds dope as hell!
Our group have played quite a lot of 2 player games. Sometimes we started a campaign with just two players wit the plan of adding more as the story develops.
But more often we play 2 player games as some kind of spinoff adventures to a traditional campaign. For example whenever a character from the main party gets some solo mission, we usually invite someone (who is not a player in that campaign) to play an "npc" who will feature prominently in that episode.
This puts an interesting spin on the "who is the main character, who is the sidekick", because the character from the main campaign will is the main character in that sense that he/she is the recurring character, but the episode npc will usually be in the focus of the given story.
But we are fine with playing hero+sidekick duos.
I'll be backing DC20 Kickstarter tomorrow, Jun 4th. Don't sleep on it you all. It's a pretty great system so far!
Since I started playing D&D back in like 2020/2021 I've spent most of my time dming for my two friends.
We've had a lot of wacky adventures and I've learned a lot about the game and how to DM during this time.
Just about a month ago we finished the Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen module. They were both playing barbarians and each had a sidekick(one expert and 1 healer). A few key things I've learned is
1. Giving your players sidekicks or side characters makes it way easier to balance encounters and fill in gaps in the party composition which will inevitably exist due to only having 2 players. Just make sure the sidekicks are weaker than the PCs so they don't steal the show.
2. Don't is dm pcs to fix party comp. I did this early on because I also wanted to play the game while dming, but not only does this create a conflict of interest (since your character can only do certain things because of your meta knowledge, so they're basically a sidekick anyway), but it also puts a lot of burden on you as DM to manage a character AND everything else. It was something I didn't notice until I tried dming without running a character, and once I did I never want to do that again.
3. Keep a close eye on the players' characters and make sure that one of the two doesn't become too strong in comparison to the other. In my case, it's alot more apparent because they're both playing barbarians, but one of my players has a much stronger character than the other. I'm currently working on compensating for this by upgrading the equipment the weaker one has, allowing the party's artificer friend enhance the magic gloves she gave them.
The balance can be very important to be aware of, though it's a little less likely to happen if the players are playing different classes, since they can therefore fulfill different roles rather than compete to do the same thing.
I can confirm that it's a very rewarding experience and great for experimentation and expanding your abilities. I also DM for a group of between 6 and 9 players every week, and it's a much different experience. Alot of the rules and systems I've tested out in our personal game I've also implemented in the other game. It's also less stressful since I don't have to consider all these different ways they could de-rail the plot. Although in Shadow of the Dragon Queen they did beat the final boss by simply telling her to leave with the Command spell, which was very funny.
Highly recommend 2 player games, they're a wonderful experience, especially if you have 2 close friends to play with. Also rewatch the video, because as usual Guy has some great points.
I agree that with just 2 players there should be a heavier focus on story but I don't think the whole backstory driven part is so necessary.
I've done solo with a hobbit and same sized lizardfolk sidekick. Vice one character in the fray, two worked well for me. The Hobbit was the party leader per say. A second was always nice for that backup or helping hand or bounce things off of.
Most of the games i run are two players only too hard with my schedule to get more. I also agree 2 person games are very rewarding and i feel more connected to the success or failure of the brave pair
Also DC20 is amazing and can't wait to get my book haha I'll be patient
I can't believe you put this up today after I spent all of yesterday and today scouring the Internet for advice for this exact thing. For me, it was a DELUGE of videos and comments in dnd spaces across the Internet demanding that we don't hold a game hostage for players who show up if one or more players don't show up that has led me into a frenzy to prepare this kind of game. Has this been endemic for everyone? Or did a lot of people just get curious on their own?
This is actually kinda weird. The very first game I ever ran was an urban fantasy buddy-cop type homebrew for a couple of friends. The 3 of us wanted to play, didnt have a group, and just said screw it! We'll make our own group! With blackjack, and hookers! To this day, it remains one of my best games, and all I ever did was ask myself "does this sound fun" before I did stuff.
smaller player counts help with my anxiety a ton
Would love some more advice about investigative rpg with modern setting
Interesting!
Thank you so much guy
i have tried runnig such 2 players game and sadly it died quickly. Turns out when there is only 2 Heroes, they put more Value on their heads, so one of my players was really overusing his "high position" of being literally half of the party, constantly telling me how things are wrong wanting me to change what me the Narrator of story GM said what happend. Seems like we had misunderstanding where He though it it would be more of very normal game where players are Super twice as powerful to recompensate half party size, while i made a game in style of From zero to Hero, adjusting the world to fact of them bening Two players only.
When you make game like that better be sure your players are prepare for more uncomon approch to the game and are not someone who have "Characters prepared eariel for future games" as such player may try to use something not Prepared for 2 players game and will slowly try to adjust everything GM does with own "opinions" constantly. Be really sure your players know exactly what they aggree on so you later won't have any troubles with literally half of them.
Hey, I've been trying to get some feedback on my Challenge 2024 entry. I posted several messages on the Challenge 2024 Discord server and I have not gotten a reply. I have emailed you, Guy, more than once, and I have not gotten a reply. You advised us to reach out if we needed help. How do we reach out? How can we get someone to reply?
What if... You, the DM, are one of those two players? Like, just you and one other person?
That would be a one player game and it would be a little different. You can use henchman and you want to give your one player a fun NPC sidekick that gives him someone to talk to and be entertained by, but he has no influence on the single player's agency
Can i say reggiN here?