>>43356571>B/XYou know, if you actually run parties with that many members then taking a look at that "caller" role might actually be useful for once.
I mean, these days it's 'bout as outdated as the "mapper" but if you're actually running stuff in the large groups that apparently were common back in the day then having someone on the player's side who tries to get the consensus on who's doing what might be useful.
Also, try using non-paired initiative to speed up things a bit. That way there's just the monster turn and the player turn, and it's basically just a smallish wargame. If they grab retainers even more so - just remember that each retainer gets a half share of the XP, so if they want to flood the dungeon using four retainers each (the average, IIRC) then they'll get a third of the experience they'd usually get.
Also, since you're running B/X you probably already know this but ALWAYS USE REACTION ROLLS AND MORALE GOD DAMN
They speed up combats, make the system less lethal and reduce murder-hoboism in one fell swoop! They're great!
I'd also suggest that you forbid the newbs from playing the complicated classes, but in B/X the most complicated ones basically just amount to a guy with a hand grenade in the beginning and so don't quite amount to the analysis paralysis that certain editions have.
