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I've not done a special before. But I was thinking more on the timing of some of the scenes. Some things work better (or are required) in a mass FTF medium than is necessary in our PbP world. In particular I think the first few days "table setup" time, could be condensed a bit - as folk generally sign into tables in advance of the game starting anyway. I suspect the rest of act one is going to be rushed. Getting through the proposed amount of combat in five days will be hard.
Maybe it is just me, but I find even getting one round of combat a day is pretty tough in PbP. Sometimes it can work, but not always. Likewise thinking about timing of things like weekends, when many people's posting is reduced.
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That's the reason why players were asked to check the thread several times a day to keep the combats running. You may post in advance (giving a few action options), and I will resolve your round when it's your turn.
Regarding turns in PbP: It's usually done in "batches", first batch is Aksha, second batch is Valjoen and the third batch is everybody else. Once it's the everybody else batch you can post whenever you want, you don't have to wait for Varuna, Oleander and Goupil, there is no turn order in a batch.
Cut-off time for each batch is 24h since the GM's last post. For usual PbP games this cut-off time is waived, but since this is a special with a time frame I can't do that.
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That is just the nature of the specials. Remember they are designed to be run in a large physical space with lots of folk clamoring for GM time.
I don't really agree. I have played a lot of specials, and they're definitely designed to be run as you described, but I don't usually find that the overseer announcements are just color, with nothing to really interact with. There was not much opportunity to engage with any of the announcements so far, beyond asking questions of Charvion in one of them.
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Regarding turns in PbP: It's usually done in "batches", first batch is Aksha, second batch is Valjoen and the third batch is everybody else. Once it's the everybody else batch you can post whenever you want, you don't have to wait for Varuna, Oleander and Goupil, there is no turn order in a batch.
This is one way that it's done, but I don't always find it to be the best way in a PbP. In this case in particular, where we are on a tight timeframe and have an unusually large spread of timezones (I'm in California, so by the time I get up and see Baerlie's post, it's late afternoon for her), I think it will mean we don't get through most of the fights. I would encourage you to lump the enemies together in initiative as much as possible, making exceptions perhaps for distinctive NPCs, or making the boss and mooks two separate groups.
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Having all foes act at once can also end up badly. Imagine a group of level 1 characters fighing a skeleton horde and all of the skeletons go first :/ I know that some PbP GMs do it, but to be honest, I don't really like it, because it's an disadvantage for the players. The bad guys can always do their tactics (flanking etc.) without being interrupted by the players.
I pushed the goblins together as I think they are not much of a threat for you. I hope that's ok now. We should be able to do one round in 24hs I think, I'm checking in at least two times a day, maybe three or four times to remove the dead goblins from the list ;)
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Having all foes act at once can also end up badly. Imagine a group of level 1 characters fighing a skeleton horde and all of the skeletons go first :/ I know that some PbP GMs do it, but to be honest, I don't really like it, because it's an disadvantage for the players. The bad guys can always do their tactics (flanking etc.) without being interrupted by the players.
I pushed the goblins together as I think they are not much of a threat for you. I hope that's ok now. We should be able to do one round in 24hs I think, I'm checking in at least two times a day, maybe three or four times to remove the dead goblins from the list ;)
A number of fair points. Thanks for the flexibility on shifting things around. I check in often and post frequently also, but our time zone differences do seem greater than usual, so it's good to accommodate some for that.
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Kentel - I just want to say I'm greatly enjoying your posts! Not to disparage anyone else's writing or effort, but it's clear from the reading that Kentel is really crafting his posts. Since PbP doesn't provide the same feedback as a face-to-face table, I try to make a point of expressing my appreciation for others' contributions.
Now back to being Ashka's business-like, no-nonsense self.
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Kentel - I just want to say I'm greatly enjoying your posts! Not to disparage anyone else's writing or effort, but it's clear from the reading that Kentel is really crafting his posts. Since PbP doesn't provide the same feedback as a face-to-face table, I try to make a point of expressing my appreciation for others' contributions.
Now back to being Ashka's business-like, no-nonsense self.
I agree :)
That's very kind of you both. If it wasn't for his burnished steel-like skin, the big man would be blushing right now :-)
Very much enjoying the game; apologies for 'waving about in the mist' as I get used to the unique procedures and flow of a PbP game.
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Thank you all.
I usually GM PFS a couple of times a week, including at conventions, so this is a nice opportunity to play for a change. I was attracted in by the special, but we'll see how it goes. I might join another game when this one is finished. PFS scenarios sound ideal for PbP as the expectation that the campaign will last years isn't there, thus leading to less loss of players over time.
I agree. Always fun to see very descriptive posts. Welcome to PbP, Kentel.
That is sad that we cannot "see" or "hear" other pathfinder. I am sure they would like a inspire courage.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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By the way folks, this is great fun :-)
I worried that it would be hard work and difficult to get immersed, but you actually get more focuses on each Character, and what their 'flavour' is. And I worried that it would be impossible to work as a team in combat as a side conversations on tactics would derail everything. However, I notice everyone is dropping into flanks and doing their best to let other folks do their thing. Great stuff!
Now, I think Valjoen is up next, no?
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Sorry, nope. I had racked up a bunch of boons at various cons and decided to throw a lot of them on when I made Ashka, just to try it out, because I wasn't really using them. I guess I should list them in her online alias, so I remember what all she has for PbP.
Anyway, her story is that she grew up very poor, not far from an elf community, and she would sneak up and watch them, envying their wealth. In the process, she learned how they fight and became determined to attain similar wealth - hence her Exchange affiliation and professional, somewhat mercenary, mentality towards Pathfinding.