Would players having 2 PCs each work for Kingmaker?

[Nereviar]

I'd like to start off by saying they would NEVER have a combat where they're having to play both characters at the same time, especially with a system like PF2E that would be a bit too complex.

The idea is that players would have an "Explorer" character and an "Intrigue" character. I'm thinking of doing this so players are engaged on both sides of KM; the hexploration and the kingdom running. I don't want players to go through the first chapter and it only be focused on the one or two players who have great nature/survival knowledge etc, and then flip side those characters might not do so well during political intrigue parts of the campaign. It would mean that, on average, half the players would be 'sidelined' half the time.

But if each player has an explorer AND intrigue character, and they can decide who they are going to play, then it will keep all players engaged.

I'm just wondering, from those who have played before, if they saw any problems with doing something like this?

[Chris_Fougere]

Depends on your group. Personally I don't think it's necessary as the players should find a way to stay engaged on both sides.

[Schreckstoff]

I'm playing with 2 players and it's working fine with just 1 character for each of them. I play a 3rd character that changes based on the story and sometimes a 4th if needed.

[Deriven Firelion]

If your group is used to it, should be fine.

[Goblin Slayer in Brevoy]

It's pretty old to have a stable of characters, or at least a backup party, going back to AD&D 1st ed at the very least. I had a player ask me about this for our next Kingmaker game after a TPK last week.

It could definitely work, and in a Star Wars game I am running everyone else has rolled up and introduced a second character so we can cover skills and areas. In Kingmaker there is so much to do, and if one is their major character and one the minor they have near endless possibilities to help the fledgling nation.

Explore and intrigue definitely is possible. Combat wombat and courtier, etc.

[Dragonchess Player]

Kingmaker lends itself pretty well to the "troupe style*" of play. Basically, each player creates a couple characters and choose which one actively participates in a specific scenario while the other(s) perform downtime activities and/or manage the kingdom. Troupe style of play requires that the characters be part of some community or organization to provide continuity beyond "the party;" which Kingmaker provides better than the "typical" adventure path.

Note that exploration and intrigue are not the only ways to differentiate the characters. Troupe style of play allows players to experiment with more specialized characters (such as a witch focused on enchantment/charm spells and Will saves) over a more "balanced" concept, because they can choose to play another character when their specialty is not expected to work as well (the aforementioned witch vs. undead or mindless opponents like vermin). There are multiple combinations of PCs that can be selected based on the expected challenges and opposition.

*- this style of play is probably more closely related to Ars Magica than other systems

[Kimco]

How do you handle leveling?
Do you have all of a players characters be the same level, or would each character level independently?

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Not only can you! I did do this.

Once my players had settled into rulership of the Stolen Lands, I had each of them build a secondary character at 1 level below the 1st character as an Agent of the Kingdom.

So when players needed a group of adventurers to go exploring, it was a group that didn't consist of the ruling body of their burgeoning nation. The main characters would still show up when there were explorations or events tied more specifically to their own characters or the main narrative of each book, but it meant that the party had a lot more flexibility in how they tackled the challenges of the AP.

Would definitely recommend.

[Souls At War]

DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:

Not only can you! I did do this.

Once my players had settled into rulership of the Stolen Lands, I had each of them build a secondary character at 1 level below the 1st character as an Agent of the Kingdom.

So when players needed a group of adventurers to go exploring, it was a group that didn't consist of the ruling body of their burgeoning nation. The main characters would still show up when there were explorations or events tied more specifically to their own characters or the main narrative of each book, but it meant that the party had a lot more flexibility in how they tackled the challenges of the AP.

Would definitely recommend.

Hell, could have a Rulership + intrigue group, an exploration group and a general troubleshooters group.