How many players?
Someone enthused to me about how awesome this game is and it sounds very interesting to me but the group I want to run this for is a bit large. I couldn’t find any information about suggested number of players. How many players (not including the GM) do you think is ideal for this? How many do you think it will work with? My group would be six players not including me.
I prefer 3 players (+1 GM). 4 players is fine. 5 or more is too many, imo.
But I know several people here have run games for 6 players (even up to 8, I think!) so YMMV.
Thanks. That it what I suspected based on my experience with Apocalypse World and games like that. When players have a lot of agency they require more time in the spotlight to fully stretch themselves and they are also capable of resolving things on their own without needing to involve other people.
I’ll definitely try BitD at some point, just not with this 6 strong group. I’m not someone who can make a game work with more people than it is really suited to supporting.
What about 2 players (+GM)? Any advice for a small group?
2 players is still pretty good, but the stress pool is small. They’ll have it rough. You might ask each player to make 2 characters.
I’ve run the game with 6 players several times and my advice is to go really hard on them with engagements, consequences and entanglements: they can take it.
Also, encourage them to take bigger scores.