As I stated earlier, 310 readers voted in the How Big is Your Gaming Group Poll. Here's the numbers (complete with comments)
GM +1 player = 9 votes (2%) I expected a larger number, as I've read a number of blogs that talk about 1 on 1 play.
GM + 2 to 3 = 78 votes (25%) This number was actually larger than I expected. I'm happy to see that it is sizable, as I ran a group of GM + 2 for the better part of a year and we had a great time.
GM + 4 to 6 = 206 votes (66%) This group size is the sweet spot, and 2 out of 3 groups fall into it. If you play a D&D styles game, you have a large enough group to cover the 4 main class types and maybe some overlapping.
GM + 7 or more = 17 votes (5%) I expected this to be a bit larger in number, yet closer to the 1+1 numbers. It does seem that gaming groups gravitate naturally to the sweet spot of 4-6 players plus a GM. It might also have something to do with the number of people that can fit around your gaming table comfortably ;)
Now I'm wondering if game system has an effect on the size of one's usual RPG group, as classless systems probably have more flexibility for smaller groups. Something to think about.
I missed the whole poll while I was away at Gen Con. I currently have over seven players in one game and three in another. I run both on G+. Back in the day, when everything had to be face-to-face, I ran in groups that mostly had 4-6 players.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right on target suggesting that table size and space have a limiting effect on group size. Recently, though, with the advent of electronic gaming resources, it's much easier to break those restrictions and get more players in the game.
The only other factor I've noticed is whether the game system and game master can accommodate that many players. Everybody wants their characters to shine in games, and the system and GM have to be able to make that happen.