MANAGING OVERSIZED PARTIES - There are too many gosh darn people in this world!

RPGBOT.Podcast

DMs, ever feel like you're trying to herd cats...with fireball? In our latest episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we dive into the epic chaos of running tabletop RPGs with too many players. From keeping Jim awake (when he actually shows up) to making sure your combat doesn’t last longer than your pizza delivery, we’ve got you covered!Join us as we unravel the mysteries of:

The "perfect" player count (is there such a thing?)

Streamlining combat for larger-than-life parties

The delicate art of loot distribution (sorry, wizards)

Managing player absences without breaking the immersion

Grab your dice, and let’s roll on this adventure of DM survival!

Summary

In this episode, the hosts tackle every Dungeon Master's worst nightmare: wrangling a horde of players around the table! How many adventurers is too many? Can a party of eight heroes defeat the boss—before the pizza arrives cold? Join the crew as they debate the mythical "perfect" number of players and uncover just how chaotic the action economy can get when your cleric's turn takes 15 minutes.

From keeping everyone engaged (because even wizards get bored) to solving the classic riddle of "Where’s Jim?" (spoiler: he's absent again), they share battle-tested strategies to keep the game rolling without summoning TPK-level frustration. Combat, loot, exploration—nothing escapes their deep dive into the arcane arts of managing large groups in both D&D 5E and Pathfinder 2. Expect laughter, loot discussions, and a not-so-subtle reminder that session zero isn't just for deciding your backstory—it's for figuring out how to keep eight players from talking over each other!

Links

• Content from RPGBOT.net
• Practical Guide to Faster Combat

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Takeaways

Player Count Sweet Spot: Aim for 4-5 players to keep things smooth and engaging. Any more, and you might find yourself wrangling chaos instead of adventurers.

Combat Slows the Pace: With larger groups, combat can become a slog—streamline it by encouraging players to know their abilities and use cheat sheets for faster decisions.

Session Zero Magic: Use session zero to set expectations, lay out group dynamics, and emphasize the importance of communication.

Active Initiative = Engagement: Keep players involved during combat with active initiative, so they stay focused instead of wandering off into side conversations.

Time Management Matters: Use strategies like sharing characters or quick decision tools to manage absent players and keep the game rolling smoothly.

Creativity in Exploration: Larger groups can make exploration and social interactions feel trivial, so spice it up with creative solutions that engage the entire party.

Not All Combat Is to the Death: Consider letting enemies flee or surrender to keep encounters dynamic and prevent fights from dragging on unnecessarily.

Meaningful Loot: Reward your players with loot that keeps them motivated, but make sure it’s something that benefits the whole group.

Class Versatility: Pathfinder 2E offers more versatility for classes like monks and fighters compared to D&D 5E, giving players more flexibility and fun.

Action Economy Challenge: With larger groups, adjust your encounters to avoid overwhelming players and keep the action economy manageable.

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Tyler Kamstra

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Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
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Producer Dan

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