I'm in the redesign stage of my TLS entry, as my other plan was too complicated. For this one, I'm thinking of having a max of five human players, so I can have three other factions. I don't know whether I should add more comp players, and I want to know why some RPgs have only a couple of human players and the rest computers.

I keep making complex RPG ideas, so I keep finding myself needing tons of computers, however, I think any player amount over 2 is fine, that way you have at the very least more than 1 player to interact with.

I would stick with a low number of 1-3. It is easier for you to play with friends. If you play with pubbies, many will leave, which could turn out annoying.

In addition to keeping it simple, balancing becomes easier with less players for the same reason yoshi described with people leaving the game can become too hard while if you have a full house the game might be too easy, finding the middle ground either requires a system that can curve difficulty as it needs to fit the players or a lot of testing.

Ideally, the more the merrier, but as has been already mentioned, there needs to be a way to fit the difficulty of the game to the number of players in it. I think the optimization lies in having as many human players as possible while still achieving the necessary implementation of your ideas and map limit requirements. My rpg was going to have 5 players, but since I needed a lot of space, I had to cut it down to 4. Just look at the success of WoW... the more the merrier.

More computer players = more flexibility in just about every category. Sometimes I wish I could get a couple more computer players because it makes a lot of things so much easier.

So basically less is more so long as it's over 1 player. Good stuff people! I think I'll go for4 player as I had an epic idea for the extra comp player.Now, are the extra comp players used for systems and things like varying difficulty?

And also, not so related but is the whole seperate-arena fairly standard for decent RPGs? I can see that you can get a lot more control over what happens that way and it makes more space but what other reasons are there for seperate arenas?

i find 3 or 4 players to be best, any more and you'll lose stuff for the map, any less and you're friends wont be able to play

I'd personally go for 3, but meh

I'm going with three. 1-2 players is pretty boring, but I also need a fair amount of computers, so I use 3 players.

I may go 3 but ATM I can get by with 4. Hard to explain why though without giving away one of the two main epic ingredients that I want to keep secret. Lets just say it could be an endless game without getting boring. Or it could be shortish if people just went straight for the main quest. It will be replayable a lot if I get it right.

In all the 4 large RPG maps I've made... I've always had 5-6 and found no troubles.. For the triggers I require an actual Computer I used P7/8, anything else I can use P9-15 or so. I find myself to have a great time on a challenging RPG when I play with lets say 5-6 friends. Public RPGs (good ones) never usually end up too good. SC RPGs are ment to be played by friends.

Yeah. I cant have over 4 with my faction system but if you play with pubbies they either leave, suck, give you crap the whole time, or all three.

In my opinion, story-based RPGs are better with fewer players, under 3. Open RPGs or those that aren't as restricted to stories and aren't as complicated do well with more than 3. Open RPGs were huge hits during the prime of Starcraft.

5 is best is my opinion, you always have this "there is some strange guy" feeling, which i like.
Unfortunatly i always need 1 or 2 Allied Computer players for spells and stuff.
2 Computer for enemies is also nice, to make bosses in different colours. And to make Units stronger during Game.
Now you want to have an allied Force in some Rpg�s, which fights the Enemy when you are in a city or something.

That makes 5 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 10. Dang. So i go with 4.

4 Player
2 Allied Computer for Spells & Towns
2 Enemies.

3 is not enough i think.

I agree with Echo here. If you're making a story intensive RPG, I think 3 is the perfect number. Anymore and it gets clumsy and the extra two computers you get are super helpful too. If you're just making a typical RPG then I think five would be fine.

I'm going for four at the moment. I may change to three later, depending on if i can get an idea I have to work.

i agree with 3

i dont imagine theres many things you would need more than 3 computers for.

Just as long as the map is fun and engaging, then the number of computers is irrevellent. Though i think with a lot of other players in the game it can make it more exciting

I perfectly agree with Echo. With a low player number, the players can get into the game much more, and you can create a far more decent storyline and atmosphere for your map. However, if you are taking a different direction and make a simple, classic rpg map for the public, it is the best to have as many players as you can spare.

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