First time DM and a player overflow-ideas?

[heavyfishcannon]

So, I am a new user, and a new DM, and I have a problem. My group started decently sized, with 3 players. Unfortunately, sombody has been telling their friends, and now I have 8-9 players I have to figure out. None of us have had any experience, and I need to know if there is a way to run with many players, and if there isn't, is there any way to convine a person not to play. Thanks in advance.

[ciretose]

heavyfishcannon wrote:

So, I am a new user, and a new DM, and I have a problem. My group started decently sized, with 3 players. Unfortunately, sombody has been telling their friends, and now I have 8-9 players I have to figure out. None of us have had any experience, and I need to know if there is a way to run with many players, and if there isn't, is there any way to convine a person not to play. Thanks in advance.

Actually, you now have two groups.

Don't try to run 8 or 9 players. Particularly if you are new.

[Calybos1]

Agreed. If that many people are interested, one of them needs to be interested enough to run the second table.

[Booloo]

Managing over 5 players can be really hard for this type of game, above all if you're not experienced.
Your players should notice by themselves...combats must be damn long to run (even in they are quick in real-time) and several players should feel useless/bored quickly since it's impossible to focus on so many person at a given time.
You should find a way to split the group in two if you have time enough, devoting a session/campaign per group.

[soupturtle]

I agree with the above. The best option is if one other person agrees to GM, so you can split. If not, you'll have to just tell them that you cannot take more than 4-5 players, so the other half will have to leave.

[Count_Rugen]

I'll just jump on the "that's way too many players, especially for a new gm" bandwagon.

Regarding how to nicely convince folks not to come, you can just tell them "sorry, but this is a game and the game rules only allow for a max of 5 players at most." Odds are that none of them have the rules anyways. ;) Compare it to some other game that only allows 3 or 4 players.

But the adult thing to do would just be to tell them that you're new and you're not going to exceed 4 players. Personally, for a new GM, I think 2 or 3 players would be the ideal training wheels.

p.s.--expect someone to suggest that "can't everyone come, but only 4 or 5 will play". Do not accept this. Those extra folks will be a distraction at best. :-/

[pocketcthulhu]

I've been running for years and the idea of running 8-9 people scares me, Max for me is 5 people and that's a like herding cats that got into the drug cabinet. about three games ago someone was derailing the game by consistently rules lawyering at me and he got yelled at for his trouble he doesn't do it anymore, the more people you have the less friendly it becomes and things like this are more apt to happen imo.

I don't have any advice on how to correct your problem in Nice way, Imo I would just flat out tell them that it isn't working and go back to your original players but be prepared for whining and crying.

[_Cobalt_]

Solid advice up there.

I would suggest to either the most mature person out of the 8-9 or the one with the most time he/she learn GMing. Then, everyone gets a chance to play.

Then again, I have a GM who did this: Invite 8-9 people. About 4 of them will get bored at some time, and leave the group. Problem solved, and no one's feelings are hurt. He was constantly afraid it would backfire, though.