Play by Post advice

[Shrinn]

One of my weekly players is going to Study Abroad, and to keep playing with her I'm thinking of running a play by post campaign. I already have a bunch of people interested in it, and I'm wondering if you guys have had good experiences with it. I understand it's a different kind of game, but I can use it to spend time with a few of my friends that are so far away.

I also know that some people were running a CoG game!

What boards have you people have good experience using?

And what about mapmaking tools? I found this (http://home.broadpark.no/~hfled/index.html) one but I'm hoping for one that's a bit less ASCII. I figure I can use OpenRPG to make a map and move everyone around on it, taking a picture and saving the session. That way everyone can have neat sprites too.

What about dice rolling? There's always this one (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/) but it seems too much to bother with, and that I should just trust my players as they should trust me.

I've never really done this, but I think it'd be a lot of fun. I like leading people through a fun story.

Thoughts? Advice? Experiences to share? I appreciate it all.

[Hawkzombie]

I dunno what advice I could give as I'm not really good with this (hasven't done anything online yet) But I am SO in. I hear a lot of people also use IRC for more real time interactions.

[Shrinn]

Well, it wasn't quite an invitation. I'm still trying to decide if I want to do it and how many people I can support. If there comes a time to bring Coggers in, I'll shoot you a PM before I make a post.

I thought about IRC, but the idea is to be able to fit it in to all of our random, crazy schedules. It's doubtful we'd be all online at the same time very often.

[Superman's Dead]

I've been doing Play by Post with some Coggers for like...two and a half years now.

There's RPOL.net which works really well, and DnDonlinegames.com too. They each have built in dice rollers. RPOL makes it a bit easier to create new games; you have to get admin approval in the other one.

[Hawkzombie]

Well, it wasn't quite an invitation. I'm still trying to decide if I want to do it and how many people I can support. If there comes a time to bring Coggers in, I'll shoot you a PM before I make a post.

I thought about IRC, but the idea is to be able to fit it in to all of our random, crazy schedules. It's doubtful we'd be all online at the same time very often.

Way to get my hopes up there, man :p

[Handmade.Mercury]

Google Wave!

[zarathstra]

I've tried Play by Post a few times, but its never worked out for more than a few months for some reason. Unlike people you know in real life, people on the internet tend to disappear without notice, lose interest and not tell anyone, etc.

[Shieldmaiden]

I've tried Play by Post a few times, but its never worked out for more than a few months for some reason. Unlike people you know in real life, people on the internet tend to disappear without notice, lose interest and not tell anyone, etc.

Was it with random groups or people from an existing community? For example, I could see playing with people from CoG working out unless someone disappeared completely.

I should really try and get into something like this. I've not roleplayed properly in months and even then I was always having to run the games myself. I'm hoping to find a group now that I've moved, but it'll be tricky finding one that has room for three people.

[Scull]

Google Wave!
This.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/10/google-wave-we-came-we-saw-we-played-dd.ars
http://spiritsofeden.com/2009/10/19/playing-online-google-wave/
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=489291&page=1&referrerid=21316

Can't forget Map Tool: http://www.rptools.net/index.php?page=maptool

[Clark]

Was it with random groups or people from an existing community? For example, I could see playing with people from CoG working out unless someone disappeared completely.

I should really try and get into something like this. I've not roleplayed properly in months and even then I was always having to run the games myself. I'm hoping to find a group now that I've moved, but it'll be tricky finding one that has room for three people.

It works GREAT when it's with people you know from COG.

I've been in a game or two with TheKeck, Supermansdead, Midrael, Lithium Flower, Lint of Death and EwolfmanD for a couple of years. (if Supes' math is right)

[Ten19]

It works GREAT when it's with people you know from COG.

I've been in a game or two with TheKeck, Supermansdead, Midrael, Lithium Flower, Lint of Death and EwolfmanD for a couple of years. (if Supes' math is right)

We had a few games too! I really enjoyed PbP, actually. Would love to get in on a game that doesn't die all of a sudden :D

[Lithium Flower]

I've had a great time playing with the CoG group. The community at DnDOG is quite nice as well and I've made some friends there too.

One thing I do want to say is that PbP is a different beast compared to Tabletop and whether your transition will be successful depends on yourself as DM and your players and what the focus is.

Rather than an evening spent hanging out with friends around a table, you are now writing a collaborative novel with everyone contributing in their own time.

Generally I find that it is more conducive to actual 'roleplaying' than 'rollplaying'. How involved your writing is, how interesting your description, how captivating your dialogue is what sets interesting posts apart from boring ones. The more successfully you can manage to get the group to engage each other's interest, the more longevity you can get out of it.

Since there's been lots of map/venue advice already, I'll just add my 0.2 cents towards another point which made a night and day difference between some of the games I've played.

A single combat/encounter round will be spread over days. As DM you have to remember that your players, and yourself will each have a limited window of opportunity in which to post. Everybody may not be online at the same time due to different timezones, schedules, activities etc. As DM your objective should be that when a player does arrive to post to your game, you maximise the chance that they will be able to make their contribution to the round without having to wait up on other people.

I find that Initiative as a means of determining which player goes first in a round is fundamentally flawed when brought to play by post as is. Suddenly, a player doesn't care where in the order s/he takes a turn but rather that s/he is able to take a turn when s/he is available to post. It makes for much faster round resolution when initiative is instead used to set a DC. High initiative - player gets to whack first, low initiative - enemy gets the first wallop. That way a player knows that when he comes to the game, he will be writing a post -either about taking an action, or about reacting to one.

[Clark]

We had a few games too! I really enjoyed PbP, actually. Would love to get in on a game that doesn't die all of a sudden :D

Rauk. Still one of the best characters ever.

(I hope I spelled that correctly.)

[Ten19]

Rauk. Still one of the best characters ever.

(I hope I spelled that correctly.)

You spelled it right :D If you guys ever need another PC in any of your games, give me a heads up, I miss it!

[Shieldmaiden]

Reading this thread makes me think someone needs to start a new game of something.

[TheKeck]

Well, considering I have about 10 more posts per day at dndog than I do here at CoG, I'd say that play by post works out pretty well for me. ;)

[Hawkzombie]

Reading this thread makes me think someone needs to start a new game of something.

And I repeat my offer of nigh IN YO FACE insanity: I SO WANT IN I CRAVE IT OMFG PLEASE.

That is all.

[shunoshi]

It works GREAT when it's with people you know from COG.

I've been in a game or two with TheKeck, Supermansdead, Midrael, Lithium Flower, Lint of Death and EwolfmanD for a couple of years. (if Supes' math is right)

I hate you...

[TheKeck]

I hate you...
Obviously the feeling is mutual. ;)

[shunoshi]

Obviously the feeling is mutual. ;)

Note to self: Steal loot from Gunnbjorn while he sleeps.

[Hawkzombie]

Note to self: Try and get a CoG group of my own going for RP stuffs :p

[Clark]

I hate you...


AND SHUNOSHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His character is the best character to drink with!!!!!!!!!!!

(probably the guy I'd most likely drink with in RL, too.)

[Clark]

Note to self: Try and get a CoG group of my own going for RP stuffs :p

I just took on the 8th player to my game....I'm pushing it at this point....

[Hawkzombie]

I just took on the 8th player to my game....I'm pushing it at this point....

Way to rub salt in that wound there, buddy :p

[shunoshi]

(probably the guy I'd most likely drink with in RL, too.)

Supes would have to be invited for drinks too though since he'd attract all the hotties.

[TheKeck]

Supes would have to be invited for drinks too though since he'd attract all the hotties.
Just what two happily married guys need, right? :p

[shunoshi]

Just what two happily married guys need, right? :p

Everyone likes nice scenery, right? ;)

[Clark]

Supes would have to be invited for drinks too though since he'd attract all the hotties.

Supes goes without saying. He has yet to drink Mickey's, too. At his age, I was drinking more Mickey's than water.

[shunoshi]

Supes goes without saying. He has yet to drink Mickey's, too. At his age, I was drinking more Mickey's than water.

Wha?? Never had a grenade??? I stay far, far away from malt liquor now, but I had my fair share of Mickey's back in the day.


Wow, we've taken this thread off topic, haven't we? :p

[Superman's Dead]

No, I think it's safe to say that this decidedly IS on topic.

These games have been going for a long time because the players were chosen well and we're all still around. We know each other better, we joke with each other, we're forgiving when someone can't be around for a while, etc.

The moral of the story is this: take me drinking. I'm ready to step up to the big leagues. We already have a built in DD with Keck.

[EWolfmanD]

I'll come along too. You guys can do the drinking, and then I'll help talk Supes through his inevitable trouble with the women he attracts. :D

[Shrinn]

Wow. Sorry I abandoned this thread. I wasn't receiving subscribed emails so I thought it died.

I'm glad to hear you've all had great success with your own campaigns. It gives me confidence in starting my own! And thanks for all the little tips and pointers.

Scull: I haven't touched Google Wave, and while it seems neat, I think I'll stick to more traditional methods. Thanks for the maptool though!

Supes: RPOL looks great. Thank you.


I find that Initiative as a means of determining which player goes first in a round is fundamentally flawed when brought to play by post as is. Suddenly, a player doesn't care where in the order s/he takes a turn but rather that s/he is able to take a turn when s/he is available to post. It makes for much faster round resolution when initiative is instead used to set a DC. High initiative - player gets to whack first, low initiative - enemy gets the first wallop. That way a player knows that when he comes to the game, he will be writing a post -either about taking an action, or about reacting to one.

I'm not entirely sure I understand how this works. Could you elaborate a little more because it does sound very interesting?

[Superman's Dead]

I'll come along too. You guys can do the drinking, and then I'll help talk Supes through his inevitable trouble with the women he attracts. :D

...am I that obvious? Damn.

With online friends like these, who needs real friends!

Right?

Heh...heh...

..


:(

[Midrael]

Count my vote for being in favor of PbP as well! Obviously, as already stated, it all depends on the crew that you get together for the game. I've been super lucky that the games I've been in have been with great people who were really into the games. That helps keep them from dying off prematurely. :)

[Lint of Death]

I don't drink, but my game now has a drinking contest :o

[TheKeck]

I'm not entirely sure I understand how this works. Could you elaborate a little more because it does sound very interesting?
I think the basic idea she's proposing is this.

1) You roll initiative for your bad guys. One roll to represent all the enemies.
2) You announce that number and have everyone roll initiative. Everyone who beats the initiative may act before the monsters.
3) You have all the monsters go.
4) Now all the players may go in any order. Events unfold in the order that people post.
5) Once all the players have gone, the monsters go again. Etc.

Many games use this method at dndog. It has its advantages, for sure, but also some pretty strong disadvantages, depending a lot on how often the DM updates the results of people's actions. I go for a bit of a hybrid approach in my own game.
I don't drink, but my game now has a drinking contest :o
I don't drink, and I'm participating in it. :D

[shunoshi]

Many games use this method at dndog. It has its advantages, for sure, but also some pretty strong disadvantages, depending a lot on how often the DM updates the results of people's actions. I go for a bit of a hybrid approach in my own game.

Yeah, we've used this approach (In TheKeck's game, no less) and it's worked out pretty well so far. It definitely keeps things moving. It also motivates players (at least it did for me) to post promptly or basically miss opportune chances.

[Clark]

I think Keck said it best. A hybrid works best for me.

If you have a large party and players post in any order it can get very frustrating for the players who haven't gone yet. Players posting later don't know if targets are dead or not. They don't know if they are flanking an enemy, if an enemy will be getting an opportunity attack against them if they move, etc.

If a DM is crazy on top of things, this can be avoided by updates. The only game I'm in (keck's in it too) that uses the "all players post in any order then all is resolved approach" is kind of a nightmare. Players are often unsure of the status of their targets.

[Lithium Flower]

Keck explained it pretty well. Whatever system you adopt will probably have its advantages and disadvantages for sure. The aim is to strike just the right balance. You could try experimenting with different approaches and get feedback from your players.

I will second what Clark said. The 'everybody posts in any order and the DM resolves all actions at the end of the round, according to initiative rolled' approach is a nightmare!