Dungeons and Dragonsis often thought to require a large group in order to play effectively. However, that simply isn’t the case. In fact, players can often have the most fun when they play through certain campaigns in smaller groups of up to 3 players or less. Some campaigns are just too big and overwhelming for smaller groups, so DMs will have to make a wise decision.
These campaigns highlight the very best stories and settings that form the basis of a fantastic experience for small groups. No matter how experienced everyone is, these can be played by complete beginners or absolute veterans—the takeaway is the scope and playability when it comes to smaller party sizes.
8Dragons Of Stormwreck Isle
The New Starter Set Campaign Is Ideal For Beginners In A Small Group
Dragons of Stormwreck Islereplaces the previous starter set’sLost Mine Of Phandelvercampaign and is an excellent place fornew players to start. It’s also a perfect campaign to play in smaller groups, as the scope isn’t excessively large. Dungeon Masters will be able to weave the tale in a perfectly tailored way for 2-3 players.
Not to mentionDragons of Stormwreck Isleis also an excellent campaign, so there’s no better place to start. It encompasses all that 5e has to offer in a tightly-knit package that delivers tonnes of thrills and excitement. The setting is great, and the starter set even comes with some pre-made character sheets to get the dice rolling.
7The Wild Beyond The Witchlight
A Great Foray Into The Feywild
The Wild Beyond The Witchlightmight seem like it’s too big of a campaign for small groups to tackle at first, but that’s not quite the case. This is actually an ideal campaign for smaller groups because it’s one of the preset campaigns that features the least combat and focuses the most on exploration.
It’s an ideal setting for smaller groups to experience because it introduces players to the Feywild but never makes things too complicated. It’s the perfect campaign to encourage more roleplaying, which smaller groups might often struggle with, makingThe Wild Beyond The Witchlightan unmissable experience for small parties. Plus, the Feywild is genuinely fantastic.
6Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Classic Bank Heist At Its Very Best
Dungeons and Dragonscampaigns are often known forbeing extremely complexand often convoluted.Waterdeep: Dragon Heistis the polar opposite of that. Instead of focusing on the entirety of theForgotten Realmsand giving players a huge world to explore, this campaign narrows things down to the city of Waterdeep in a classic heist premise.
The goal is simple - loot some treasure and perform a heist. Players have ample opportunity to explore the city of Waterdeep in all its glory, as well as the possibility of owning their own house. It’s an ideal experience for smaller parties because it’s the perfect size, matched with a great story and a captivating set of characters.
5Tales From The Yawning Portal
The Best Selection Of Anthology Campaigns
So,Tales From The Yawning Portal isn’t a campaign by itself, but rather a collection of shorter campaigns/one-shots. Dungeon Masters can either weave the tales together by some way of their own device or just run a few of the stories as smaller campaigns. The best thing about this collection is that all the stories vary so drastically that there willalways be a fit for players, no matter the occasion—and this means there are plenty that are ideal for smaller parties.
Particular interest should be drawn to theSunless Citadelcampaign in this collection, which will take around 3 or 4 sessions to complete. It’s the ideal size for a group of 3 or fewer players. No matter what though, the Dungeon Master can always adjust the stories as they see fit to better align with how long or short they want the campaigns/sessions to be.
4Defiance In Phlan
Best Campaign From The Adventurers League For Small Groups
Defiance in Phlanis a smaller, albeit fantastic campaign which comes as part of theD&D Adventurers League publication. The story is set in Phlan which is a beautiful setting and features some fascinating encounters, including the Cult of the Dragon. No matter what Dungeon Masters are looking for, they will find it here.
This is a shorter adventure that features a few main missions, but it can all be tied together in a satisfying manner and is an ideal pick for smaller parties. It can be nice to try out some campaigns that aren’t directly from the dedicated premade handbooks, andDefiance in Phlanis among the very best.
3Lost Mine Of Phandelver
The Definitive Starter Campaign
When the fifth edition ofDungeons and Dragonslaunched, the starter set arrived with theLost Mine of Phandelvercampaign, which instantly became a classic. This is a fantastic campaign that can be experienced by any size party - just be aware that the DM may have to adjust some enemy numbers for smaller groups.
For a campaign designed for newbies,Lost Mine of Phandelveris a surprisingly deep and intricate story that summarizes the capabilities ofDungeons and Dragonsin one campaign. There is everything to satisfy players here, from thrilling combat encounters to the more social elements of exploring a small town. Smaller parties will have a fantastic time getting lost in this classic tale.
2Dragon Of Icespire Peak
A Brilliant Campaign Designed For Small Groups
Dragon of Icespire Peakis a brilliant campaign that arrived with theDungeons and DragonsEssentials Kitand it’s been exclusively designed for smaller groups of 2-3 players. This campaign takes place on the Sword Coast and will task players with trekking through mountainous, snowy terrain.
There’s a great mix of experiences here, and Dungeon Masters can adjust the difficulty depending on their party size. As it’s designed for smaller parties, all the tips featured throughout the handbook should be helpful and relevant, but as with allD&Dcampaigns, the Dungeon Master can change things however they see fit. This is the ideal campaign to pick if a small group is looking to get stuck into an excellent premade campaign with a fantastic setting and story.
1Homebrew
The Best Experiences Are Always Homemade
Dungeon Masters should never be afraid to create their very own story, as this is what makesDungeons and Dragonsso special. Bycrafting a homebrew experience, the story can be tailored to fit an exact party size. Even if it’s just the DM and one other player rolling some dice, a homebrew experience can be an absolute blast. This is where the magic happens.
The options are limitless and players don’t even have to stick to the world of theForgotten Realms—they can create a whole separate fantasy world if they so wish. No matter what the party size, a homebrew experience should always be given a go, and Dungeon Masters might even be surprised at what their own imagination can come up with.
