So, started a campaign up last night. Had been planning on four players, all whom I’ve played with for years. There was a chance that a fifth player, who just learned to play last campaign, might join as well, but he was not responding to any of my texts. (He’s in his first year at college, so I was cutting him a little slack).

So, game time shows up, my regular four arrive on time. And I’m informed that college boy is on his way. Ok. Great. I knew it was possible. The bombshell is dropped when I’m told he’s bringing his roommate and his roommate’s girlfriend, but they’re just going to watch.

They arrive, and we discover, hey! They want to play! Oh. OK. Well, they’ve never played before. So, the session that was going to be introducing the hook, is now spent explaining what a druid is and why there’s magic in the world.

Thankfully, my other players are super helpful and hold their hands through creation, while I’m trying to figure out how to adjust the first encounter so that it goes from one orc vs four first level players to something else vs seven first level players.

We eventually got to start rolling dice. And travelled to our first battle. This took us to the end of the night the roommate stands up and says, “The only way I’m missing the next game is if I’m dead or dying!”

I think that’s a compliment.

I’m trying now to get my feet back under me and figure out how to deal with a party of seven (I’ve run for as many as eight, but that was when I had prepared for eight).

Sorry, just needed to vent.

tl;dr - my party unexpectedly jumped from four to seven.