One Character Party

[tcharleschapman]

My wife has expressed interest in playing Pathfinder. I don't want her first experience to be with a group, especially because groups tend to start quoting rules and "helping" the person enjoy their first game, which usually just adds to their confusion. Having started a number of players, and managed to get them hooked, I feel that the best way would be just one-on-one for her first game.

Here is my problem, which I have often thought about but never come up with an answer: What is the APL of a party with one PC? I know the rule that 4-5 players is average level, 6-7 is APL+1, and 3 or less is APL-1. However, a CR 4 encounter for one level 5 character seems pretty challenging. Any thoughts?

I have heard a number of ideas.

• Subtract 1 from the APL for every two characters under 4 (so One character is APL-2).
  
• This tool seems to suggest that an appropriate encounter for one character is APL-4.
  
• Take total party levels and always divide by 4, then round up.
  
• 1) Square each PC's level. 2) Add all those squares together. 3) Take the square root of that sum. 4) Divide it by 2 to get the effective average party level.

[Safarix]

The math would suggest it is APL-4, however if you provide sufficient buffs, you could effectively raise the APL.

[Bruunwald]

Have you considered sending in an NPC companion to go along with the wife's character? Having GMed many a girlfriend, and eventually a wife, I have found that this very situation is the one and only time you can get away with a GMPC without any grief. Just make sure to keep him/her aloof, so they only help when needed.

Also: another trick I pull when GMing a one or two character party is to make encounters occur in crowded areas, like the middle of town. The town guard can get a few hits in before being wiped out, and those few hits can help give a small party a chance without making it seem like a gift. Adds drama and realism.

[Blueluck]

The CR system is already just an approximation, and any formula based upon it will be an even grosser approximation. Since you've obviously done quite a bit of GMing, your instincts are probably quite good. I wouldn't sweat the math too much.