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I got an idea for a PbP campaign, and wanted to tell you about it for your input. You are my PbP gurus after all.
As you know I am new to PbP mastering and I am learning the ropes with you. I think I have gotten the basics and I am ready to open my first campaign (this, after all, was invited to ;) ).
So... I am impatient, so start from level 1? Nah, don't think so... It takes forever to level. And in PbP is easier to manage the complexities of high level play.
I have always thought important missions should be done by higher level characters, anyway, not wanna bees.
The Kingmaker sandbox kingdom building idea I like. According to the book, there are 4 teams sent to do this, and the players are only 1 of the four teams... So... What about a game with the four teams? And each team with a good number of people (After all they want to do a Kingdom, and that wouldn't be easy, or a task for 2 or 3 guys).
So, it would be like this:
- Same idea as Kingmaker, basically
- 3 to 5 teams, 5-8 people each (around 26 players :o )
- Level 10 (12? 15?)
- Leadership feat, hirelings and cohorts very recommended (required?)
- Not in the Stolen Lands, different map, so there are no spoiler
- PvP not prohibited, between teams, but maybe not so great idea, but a healthy dose of competition wanted
- I liked how you managed to "tie" your characters together, I would like . submissions to be teams, not individuals.
Want do you think about it? Sounds crazy?
It sounds awesome but a little crazy. I mean, GMing that sounds like a full time job. But if you're up for it... it could be a lot of fun. The other problem might be the type of burn out that happens in these games. We're running essentially a 4-5 person party and we've already had people jump in and out, including a DM. On a scale of 26 players you will probably run into that on quite a regular basis, a sort of pc revolving door. You would probably have to have a constantly running recruitment board. You might also consider having some co-DM's, people who are on the same page as you and can help move the plot forward amongst the different teams. And as DM you can control the leveling, either start at a higher level (which makes sense for Kingmaker, I mean what kind of kingdom sends a bunch of noobs to clear out the Stolen Lands anyways!?) or adapt a sort of PFS approach, every so many adventures = a new level. Or you could just make stuff worth more xp, but I have always felt that an adapted PFS leveling approach would work for online PbP to keep people interested and leveling up. Hope that's helpful!
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"I mean, GMing that sounds like a full time job."
Maybe, but so far I feel DM'ing PbP to be much easier than Face-to-Face. You have time to think things over, no need to answer quickly and / or making voices.
I feel I am up to it. but...
"You might also consider having some co-DM's, people who are on the same page as you and can help move the plot forward amongst the different teams."
Yes, I thought of that too, it sounds feasible. I even considered having players DM's part of the adventure for their groups.
"The other problem might be the type of burn out that happens in these games."
Yes, I started PbP'ing less than a year ago and so far:
- I have taken a campaign that a DM abandoned
- Have 2 campaign that died shortly after starting
- Have 1 campaign in the dead throes of abandonment of the players (I think only the DM and I remain :S)
- Have a campaign going strong
Not a good record. But if I recruit well, and learn to roll with the punches... I have to confess that "nice" Rise of the Rulelords campaign I mastered some 1 1/2 ago started with me recruiting like 12 players... the 5 that "survived" the first 3 sessions went on to finish it. Nice guys. So the idea of having a good deal of players will, on time, going to see them merge, in the worst case scenario, in a good group of 5-12 players that can go all the way. In game, many characters would die of "disease" in the campaign, when their players quit. And their "kingdoms" would end joining and merging.
I am not so hot in a "continuously recruiting" adventure, but you just have got me an idea.
Imagine one of the "kingdoms" need a team to go clear some hex or dungeon. Instead of Cohorts / Hirelings NPCs those are other players, "sub-recruited". And maybe, if they play well, can got recruited to stay.
"...adapt a sort of PFS approach, every so many adventures = a new level..."
In fact I don't like "leveling" really. Or do it "on demand". You start at level 12, for example, and will remain there for the foreseeable future. Or level at the same time that the rest of the people, when I feel it is needed.
"Hope that's helpful!"
A lot, thanks.
Maybe I would need to "test drive" the concept first...
I had the same worry as Garion. That much bookkeeping can lead to burn out. Also, with several groups you are going to run into pacing issues. Group A will be a bunch of posting fiends and they'll wind up a few IG weeks ahead of group B who's posting at a fairly normal rate, while group C is slow as heck and are barely out of Restov (y'know what I mean there).
If you find a way to fight that and you think you can manage to not burn out, good on ya.
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The pacing issues... yes, that can be a problem...
I was thinking in giving times for "adventures", You have three months for "xxx", and if you are not done in time, as in real life, well, you are not done in time.
Or as a DM will have to adapt to each group pacing. If a group is faster, their adventures will have more encounters, interactions, etc. A slow group will have a shorter adventure, so they keep in the same "timeframe".
Bookkeeping... well, I like bookkeeping. :D
I am still here guys. As advertised I am spotty though. So feel free to do with Veroca as you like in the sporadic downtime. She can spend the time looking for them in the dark. XD
OH. HOLY. CRAP!
Long story short, I wrote a post two weeks ago monday saying I would likely be AFK for the next two weeks. I posted this on the discussion threads of all my campaigns, and apparently the goblins ate everything. So I am currently freaking out a little bit. A thousand apologies may my house be turned into a dungheap.
A few weeks ago my grandmother died. Since then things in that clan have devolved to the point that there are now three camps, two of which have lawyers aimed at each other, and the a third, which my family and one other falls in, which are watching the oncoming train-wreck weeping, because seriously, it's reaching latin soap-opera levels, aside from the adultery and murder, so far.
As neither side will allow the other to touch the estate, my family, and thus me because I'm attending the nearby university and everyone else had to get back to jobs and homes, have had to take care of fixing up properties to sell, cataloging possessions, and generally all the stuff that comes with estates. Alone. By myself. Also trying to wrangle the paranoid schizophrenic aunt who refuses to accept that her mother being dead means the house that she lives needs to be sold and that all of this stuff doesn't actually belong to her. She has the endearing quality of accusing any and all males around of rape.
And so I washed my hands of the mess, except not really. Having lived in and managed one of the properties that make up the estate for three years I can't just walk away because, well, it's my house and I've been paying bills, so yeah.
This is in addition to all the other stuff that comes with moving back early, finding job, taking courses, etc.
Anyway, I have my schedule together, at least until shifts change again, and honestly thought everybody knew.
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I am sorry to hear you lost your grandmother, my sincere condolences. Don't worry about the game, it is a game after all, and a period of grieving is required and understandable.
We miss you, and Salereon, and we will be here waiting when you are able to return.
That being said... The sooner the better.
I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother. Hopefully she managed to live a full and happy life.
Don't stress the missed posts on our end. I, for one, am just glad you're doing alright. Well, as alright as the above post allows.
Welcome back man and try to stay sane in the coming storm.
Wow, Salereon! Glad you're okay!
Thanks! Let's bag our first dragon!
Unless party compostion changes, can we assume the following watch schedule?
Veroca
Garion
Salereon
Garren
I'm fine with Corsario rolling for me for watch if it means we don't spend a possible couple of days waiting for everyone to stop by and roll a single 20 sider.
Fixed
Fine by me, and what about not hurrying?
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In game Garren mentioned for the characters to hurry, but spend more than a day - real time - waiting for some answer.
Speaking of which... In will start posting less often. I will try to do it once for day, at night, weekends off. If there is something for me to answer to, that's it. If eventually I see there are daily posts from everyone, I will see if doing it more frequently.
Ok, will do!
Nope, I was in a wedding and had guests stay at my house all week. I tried to get on several times but unfortunately they were all peak times and I couldn't get the website up. Definitely not your fault. The guests just left so I'll be able to post quickly and then nothing big until tomorrow night.
Hey all,
This is a blanket apology going out to all the threads I’m active in. We had a surprise FDA inspection last week and my life was flipped upside down for the majority of the last 7 days. They’re gone and life should be back to normal. Sorry about the absence.
Twil
I'm really glad to see you guys were able to keep your group together.
Thank you Corsario for doing so!
I apologize for my falling off the planet.
Ooo, Garren! What do you do for work?
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In case you are wondering if I can play by myself, both the NPC's and the PC's, yes, I can...
But I shouldn't.
It seems you all have a very busy schedule, and so I will take a hiatus on the campaign. When you are able, please post a date when you can resume the game. When we got a date, we can resume.
If you are not able, I would also like to know.
I am still able to play.
I am still able, just have been pretty busy with work picking up, a couple of weddings and house guests coming and going. I'm sorry about my end of it.