As a GM, it can be difficult at times to determine the balance between guiding a player and railroading them. This becomes particularly complicated while playing in a duet game because it’s just the two of you. If the player misses something important, they don’t have backup, besides their DM, to help them figure it out. This post walks through some possible solutions to this issue with DMPCs in one-on-one play.
DM Resources
Death House: The Duet Revamp
Death House provides an incredible introduction to the world of Barovia and offers the DM a chance to introduce your primary player to the major themes that Curse of Strahd explores.
Going on Dates in D&D
Are you looking for a fun date idea with your partner inside your D&D game? Like a double-layered date between yourselves and your characters? If so, we have some fun ideas and questions for you!
Identify: The Bardic Inspiration
The Bardic Inspiration makes custom music for RPG characters, adventuring groups, and even D&D podcasts! You can commission a theme song for your character so that each time they take the battlefield or prepare for an important RP conversation, your DM has just the thing to set the mood.
Curse of Strahd: The Duet Revamp
The Curse of Strahd Duet Revamp approaches this excellent book with the aim of making the content work for adventuring parties of one player and one DM. This is accomplished by making the player character the object of Strahd’s obsession, tweaking of encounters, and reorganizing the suggested sequence.
Hook and Chance: A Podcast Interview
Beth and I had an amazing time talking all things one-on-one D&D with the terrific folks of the Hook and Chance podcast. Our discussion ranged from practical advice about how to get started playing a duet and what makes this kind of intimate play so special, to Dungeons and Dragons tattoos, to the creation of married NPCs.
Running Curse of Strahd One-on-One
Running Curse of Strahd with one player and one DM presents opportunities for rich character development set against a beautifully gothic backdrop. However, when considering this campaign for one-on-one D&D, DMs should adjust encounters, start the party off at a higher level, and tailor content.
Villains and Lairs IV: The Dead, Damned, and Decaying Review
Villains and Lairs IV: The Dead, Damned, and Decaying is an awesome supplement that introduces a hugely diverse array of nefarious baddies. This supplement is well worth picking up and is available now on Dungeon Master’s Guild.