Mini Monday: Pairs or Parties

The Indian Ocean Pirate Party

So do you prefer playing in pairs or with parties?
'Pairs' being your more common 1 on 1 game seen at most stores and competitions while 'parties' being those games with 3+ players involved quite common at conventions.

The more usual 1 on 1 Flames of War game.

 Now, I have a pretty good reputation for running big games with 4+ players.
4 to 6 players being the norm, but a few times I've had as many as 11 at the table.
And I also like 1 on 1 games, especially during the week when time is short.
But which do I prefer? Parties of course! Why?

The Big Westerm Party

Well let's go over the advantages and disadvantages of party games.

Advantages:
More of your friends get to join in the fun! Instead of 3 tables with 2 players each you have one big table with 6 players. That's right everyone is involved and hanging out together. This really matters when you only have limited gaming weekends.

Big party wargames usually mean a lot of figures and what is more heartwarming to a wargamer than seeing a huge table filled with painted figures and terrain. Best of all, you didn't have to paint it all!

Team play, that's right, in a party game you're not on your own you have a team! Which means trying to come up with a plan. The reason to play big games!
Heh heh. Yeah, this is where you get to see what real generals have to put up with.
Not every one views those commands in the same light.

Pre-game "Okay, Tim, I want you to hit his right flank." "Okay"
2 hours later "Hey Tim, we really need you on that flank buddy.' ' I'm getting there, just had this pesky unit of skirmishers messing up my formations'.
3 hours later, "Tim! What are you doing? They're crushing us! We need you to roll up that flank." "Yeah , yeah, just trying to get all my units in the perfect postion.'
After game, "Tim, man what were you doing, we lost the game." "Well you should have waited for me. Tactically my maneuvers were sound."

Trust me, you will have years of stories to tell about games that went wrong but oh in so fun a way. Case in point, a coversation I once had with a most jovial but earnest player.

"Alright Big Guy, I want you to go forward and contact the enemy but just hold."
"Got it, Charge"
"No,no. Just advance , stay close to his front, let him charge you. You'll get your shieldwall bonus. Okay?"
"Right, got it, advance and then Charge."
"No,no,no, don't charge! Just advance!"
"Advance, Charge"
"Aaargh! Fine Charge!" I turn to James, my Reserve Commander. "Change of plans, just follow in behind the Big Guy here and clean up the mess."

Rule of thumb in big party games, know your players, even more important then knowing the force they are running.

Disadvantages or things to look out for in party games.

"They done shooting over there yet?'

One, not all rules can handle the game in a timely fashion and might need to be tweaked.
You don't want your players getting bored and roaming off.
example: rules that call for each side to alternate moving a single unit. This can really take up a lot of time with everyone sitting around while one player makes a decision. Best to allow everyone on the same side to move a unit in their force, then alternate.

Down time when all the action seems to be on one side of the table and everyone else is waiting. Good time to chat, though a good scenario can alleviate some of the down time.
So take a little extra time picking the game objectives.

Everyone should be pretty familiar with the rules or at least have rules that are easy to pick up. Once more, not all systems are equal in the task.

Planning the date so everyone can make it. The more players the harder the planning.
But I think it's well worth the extra effort!