My primary concern is what I see as a somewhat advisarial GMing style.
The GM controls the world, and is also the window through which the placers see the world. Because of that it is extremely easy for a GM to surprise players with a "gotcha" moment.
We've seen that many times in this game and it is extremely frustrating.
The initiative change will be great for organization. In addition to that, I think we need a change to the GM's agenda. It would help for the GM to approach the game from the perspective of wanting the party to succeed.
That doesn't mean making things easy. It just means making sure the party never feels like the GM is deliberately out to sabatoge their efforts.
The GM should feel like part of the party.
Honestly I feel that last post of yours was way over the line Xanos. While yes "gotcha" moments are frustrating and no fun, your tone is quite preachy and condescending. There is more than one way for a GM to run a game that enables players to enjoy it. Still, some of what you say hold merit, but you could have said it in a different way. Personally I like: "We all play this game to have fun. The GM helps facilitate that by providing immersive descriptions, information, opportunities for the characters to shine and challenges for the players. When some of those elements are missing it can lead to the game being less fun in various ways. Of course you run the show, but no one likes to feel tricked or useless."
I don't mind the difficulty at all and I think it would be really stupid if the prisoner didn't act the way he did. I hate it when NPCs just stand there while the party just do whatever they want. It was our mistake for not making sure he was out before proceeding, though only Kenderella even made an attempt.
There are some things I do mind though. The repeated take backs... I've played what, 30 pbp games, and I've never experienced any severe retconning before now and here it happens what, 3 times before we make it out of the prison? The things that lead up to them also were not very nice. There has almost been more bickering about rules than playing the game. The GM should just decide how he wants things to work and roll with it. We can come with suggestions for the future, but not to argue about things that already happened. The lack of interest and activity has also severely lessened my enjoyment of the game, though that of course has reasons as well.
I'm willing to play on if we manage to find a way for all to agree to enjoy the game... Now it feels like there are some unresolved issues.
@Boring start: I don't understand this at all. Here we start right in the action with incentive to try to accomplish our goals. That's so much better than something like skull and shackles or second darkness that it's not funny.
Sorry about that. I can't help how the tone came across in text. I didn't mean it that way.
The way you said it was a great way to put it.
Hay man its cool I know I have been hitting you all with the hard mode and not with much warring, OK I hear what your saying a but how hard mode dose with armor as dr is a bit much so I'm cool with going back to normal ac rules. Normally the only games I have a chance to play 8th f2f games are on really hard mode...but the gm dose say he is actively trying to kill us and I guess a bit of that rubbed off on me.
So let's change it up, I still won't let's the world pause around you when your talking, will give some warring if I feel you are missing something that could lead to, say a hurt guard deciding to attack even though he is vastly out numbered^_^,
When I have never had a gm that made it feel like they were a member of the party more like a guiding albeit forceful hand...again sorry about my post rate with the fire and investigation, tings had to slow dow, but hay for my hard work I got the next two weeks off ^_^
So my wife and I are going to Porto Fino Italy for a few days I can still post so it won't be an issue for me, I see that two of you want to give it another go. I'll give talia and blade a few days to say of they wish to stay if not I'll ad two new players, and just hand wave you finding them or something how dose that sound to you all?
I'll definitely stay and give it another chance.
I don't mind a GM being realistic about these things so long as they also realize that they are our only conduit of information. :)
k so thats 1 how do the rest of you feel?
I'm still here.
OK I'm going to kill this game.i need to do right by my players so I'm going to read up on how to better handle pbp and how it's different from f2f and when I'm ready I will pm each of see if you want in, before I get more players how dose that sound?
Okay, it's good to admit when you have problems. Do let me know when you're ready for a new game.
I'm in if you decide on a new game. This one had potential.