I recently had another person added to one of my game groups.

I thought we might want to discuss handling larger groups.

What games do you choose for larger than average groups? What shortcuts do you take? What setup do you propose for getting the PC's together in such a situation?


Since I primarily use my group for Alpha testers of things I'm doing, I've got to make some hard choices over what systems will work. How they'll unfold, and how to make the most of everyone's actions (at spotlight time) when there are several other people waiting to perform theirs.

This means that for a larger group I suggest making one PC/player the lead (Caller in Basic D&D terms), this is simply to allow him or her to organize the chaotic voices of the others into a focused plan that can be relayed to me.

I also tend to suggest "Strong group" ties, such as being in a military, or other group that has some form of command breakdown for the group as a whole. (Starship Crew, Good Guy Bandit Group--think Robin Hood's Merry men..) and so on.


I'm kind of stuck on which game to choose of my potential ones. I've got several but need to pare down the list and get some ideas together quickly.

As you said, something team based is definitely the way to go.

For combat (if it's something akin to D&D) rolling up initiatives before hand helps speed things up a bit. Also limiting individual turns to a few seconds and asking people to roll the turn before they're up has helped me in the past.

Standing up and narrating clearly and excitedly (with energy/gusto), helps put people into the "let's do this quickly" frame of mind.

How many players will be there, btw?

Eight total. (Not HUGE mind you, but I've noticed focus and spotlight time drops sharply after 5 people.)

I'd call eight pretty hefty. The largest group I've ever run was 6 or 7, I believe.

What systems have you narrowed it down to?

And I'm sure I'll think of another question to bother you with soon.

Quote from: jswa;270103I'd call eight pretty hefty. The largest group I've ever run was 6 or 7, I believe.

What systems have you narrowed it down to?

And I'm sure I'll think of another question to bother you with soon.

They seem enamored of my Western (Giant Robot) Mecha game. Which is workable, except the previous mini-campaign isn't set up for that many people. I've an idea for a wandering "mercenary" crew who are using the Lone Ranger as a model for doing good and rebelling against the evil "Easterners" (Earth Corporations.)

It uses a custom system called ACE (Action Card Engine) that I came up with heavily inspired by Marvel and Dragonlance Saga but tweaked for mecha and normal playing cards.


EON: Empire of Night, space opera centered around vampires who've enslaved humanity. Traditional supernatural vampires, using technology, propaganda, and the like to enslave and control their prey. PC's would be rebels fighting back.  Also a custom system.


Shadowrun--a sprawlgang of "good guys" inspired by The Cleaner (show based loosely William Banks life), the A-Team, and the Guardian Angels.

Traveller: They've all inherited ship shares in a just about ready for the scrapyard and allegedly cursed ship "The Black Bounty", larger group for a suitably large ship. Plus people just show up and start shooting at them once they inherit their shares....