I ran a 2 year game with just 3 players, and it was great! Things to consider is encounter balance (be sparing with debilitating conditions like paralysis), and if there is a vital role missed by all players, provide a follower or magic item that can fill that void.
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 10, 2018
The problem i guess i was having was should i nerf the monsters they face so they can still fight, an ancient dragon for instance, or should i give them super powerful weapons that would allow them to fight on par with it despite there only be 3 of them? Also thanks for replying!
— Arie G. (@HalosVangaBozDM) March 10, 2018
Nerfing creatures is a method (minimizing legendary actions, or reducing their per-round attacks), as is providing encounters that (if numerous) use the minion system from 4E (good damage, many present, but 1 hp each)
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 10, 2018
Ive never thought about giving the minions 1 hp, but i guess that makes sense with giving them a sense of power as well as making sure they can take down multiple enemies at once to focus on boss. Im just nervous that the campaign wont feel as epic with nerfed monster bosses They don’t know they are nerfed. 😉 And even so, that’s how game balance works. If it worries you too much, customize monsters as bosses/villains specifically for the threat you intend. That way there’s no nerfing, just design as intended. 🙂
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) March 10, 2018