New DM and a new player

[Vanadium Gryllz]

I have been considering running a game of 5e D&D as DM with my partner as the only PC.

She's never played any kind of RPG before and I have played a few games but not since 3.5e.

You guys seem like you have had both good and bad experiences so i'd appreciate some advice - what can I do to make the game fun and not terrible?

I think that for the first session or two we'll just run semi one-shots with a consistent character but basically little story arcs that can be completed in a few hours of gameplay. If we turn out to be having fun I can start planning some settings with more substance.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

Two player is hard. If you start as a hack and slash kind of deal, it may be easier.

[Don Coyote]

Give the option of having multiple characters and/or henchmen and hirelings (0-1st level npcs).

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I have been considering running a game of 5e D&D as DM with my partner as the only PC.

She's never played any kind of RPG before and I have played a few games but not since 3.5e.

You guys seem like you have had both good and bad experiences so i'd appreciate some advice - what can I do to make the game fun and not terrible?

I think that for the first session or two we'll just run semi one-shots with a consistent character but basically little story arcs that can be completed in a few hours of gameplay. If we turn out to be having fun I can start planning some settings with more substance.

More players. 

[Vanadium Gryllz]

Thanks guys - interesting points.

What is it about one player parties that causes problems? Balancing encounters/chance of death being too high?

How many PCs would you recommend? I don't plan on running any premade adventures, rather creating my own, so balancing should be a fairly flexible affair.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

Thanks guys - interesting points.

What is it about one player parties that causes problems? Balancing encounters/chance of death being too high?

How many PCs would you recommend? I don't plan on running any premade adventures, rather creating my own, so balancing should be a fairly flexible affair.

One player, in my experience, makes it hard to maintain any suspension of disbelief. When you've got a group, it seems like it's easier to ignore how silly you're being because everyone's doing it (incidentally, this is also why I think a lot of groups don't like having non-player bystanders at games). This is extra double plus true for cases where the GM and solo PC are dating, and one is an inexperienced RPer. Just imagine how uncomfortable it is when you're trying to fuck and one of you has this brilliant idea for something kinky and the other is not super into it but wants to give it a go for the sake of keeping the peace and then you're both tangled up in peanut butter caked fishing nets shitting bloody orange pulp and trying to pretend that you're having fun when it's obvious that no one is into it anymore.

Three PCs is a reasonable minimum. I've played in several at that size.

[Freeky]

3 PCs is my favorite size, actually.  Things go so much faster when there's only three of you, and the can still give everyone personal plots, if he wants.

[Edward Longpork]

D&D is largely about cooperation and teamwork. If it's just 1 player and 1 DM, you're missing out on the party dynamic which gives the game a lot of its life.

That being said, I think you can run a fun 1-person RPG.. I'm not sure that I'd use D&D though. More narratively-focused games like the white wolf suite might be a bit better suited for it.