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I'm currently running a Pathfinder Society game online. We play about three times a week, lately. Actually, we just finished our first scenario (#3, and let me tell you, the reviews don't mislead).
I'm actually psyched. The game was fun for all involved.
The reason we play so often, however, is that what takes several hours in person took approximately 24 in text. Part of it might be that I wasn't completely prepared (I hadn't read the scenario all the way through, though I did play through it once before at the local game store -- Shout-out to XMax Games in Dallas).
So, I have some advice to anyone who's taking this route.
1). MapTool or another online-based mapping tool.
This is an absolute must. Players, and you, need to be able to see where they are and where the monsters are, and this is an excellent resource for allowing that. Most non-combat scenes, and especially those which are almost completely roleplay, will not need any sort of a mapping tool, but those combat scenes absolutely do.
2). Use voice chat if you can.
Skype, Ventrilo, whatever. Host the game with voice enabled so that you and your players don't have to go through typing everything out by hand. Believe it or not, I've heard that text RP online takes approximately three times as long as in person. It took us twice that.
3). Notepad is your friend.
Well, notepad or any other program in which you can edit text. Type up all of your pre-gen text for easy pasting. For strictly text-based stuff, notepad (or TextEdit for Mac) will work quite well. Among things that are useful to type up in advance are those pre-gen text and your faction handouts. This is especially true if you can't use advice #2 -- I can't (only one of my players has a working mic, and of the three, only two have any sort of listening device).
4). Read the material!
As noted above, I think that part of the extra time involved in our game was that I wasn't ready. I hadn't read the scenario all the way through, so I often didn't know what I was supposed to do next. Read the Scenario and take notes where you need to about what things are/do. If you can, print the scenario and make notes in the margins... or even sticky note the edges of the pages with notes so you won't have to skim through during play.
5). All Text: Expect it to take longer than one session.
Unless you have all the maps created ahead of time and can use straight voice to run your scenario, you will, without a doubt, go over the average 3-4 hour time slot. Not saying a scenario can't be completed in a single day, but it's not likely to happen unless you're very prepared and can run continuously for twelve straight hours.
6). Know your tools.
If you use MapTool and a text-based program like a MUCK, know well how to use them before you start. And make sure your players are aware of how they should be using them as well. These things have intricacies you should explore before starting.
7). Expect technical difficulties.
Even the most prepared online RP game can go awry if you or one of your players get cut off from the Internet in the middle of the session. Don't fret about it. The game can go on as soon as everyone's up and running again. If you end up disconnected for a long period, just pick up where you left off.
8). Keep logs if you can.
Tagging on the heels of #7 is an important bit of advice for GMs who want to run using text+mapping. Keep logs. These will be essential resources for when you pick up the scenario again during the next session. Especially if you ended (we do this sometimes and nobody likes it) in the middle of combat.
If anyone else has any words of wisdom, I'd love to hear it.
And Josh and sundry, keep up the excellent work. Pathfinder and the Pathfinder Society is where it's at these days for me.
Director of Brand Strategy
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You should check out the Pathfinder Society online collective, a google group of people running and playing PFS through various VTTs. We muster new tables and offer advice on characters and online game mastering. I think you'd fit right in.
