About GM Farmagnuðr
Here are some rules i prefer for my PbP games:
If we play a PFS scenario or game, please consider that the rules you can find in the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play apply and are mandatory!
I try to stick to Painlord's Guide to PbP as a GM. If you are new to PbP or want some usefull tipps, consider this please.
Also interesting.
The stat line:
Please use exactly this statline layout, it´s much easier to navigate if all look the same.
Female Human Bard 3/Sorcerer 1 HP 26 | AC 12 (16: Mage Armor), T 12, FF 10 (14: MA) | F: +2, R: +5, W: +5 | CMD 13 | Perc. +5 | Init. +2
Make sure you character has one as well. You can do this by going to your character profile (right-clicking on your character name in the forum thread gets you there), click edit, and enter the code into either the ‘race’, ‘gender’ or ‘class’ line of your character.
Starting combat:
I roll initiative myself (that’s why I need the init block in the map). I try to nudge init slightly so that players end up in larger blocks. I’ll indicate players that can move with bold names. If your name is bold, feel free to post an action. If your action depends on something happening “if mook A is still alive, then …, if not then …” feel free to post it like that.
In combat:
I always appreciate it if you break down the bonuses you apply: Short bow, into melee: 1d20+5-4
for a character with a +5 on ranged firing into melee is much easier to parse for me than Short bow: 1d20+1
People tend to forget that +1 form inspire courage, and this way it’s easier for me to correct for that.
Also please include possible damage in the attack roll already. Looks like this: [i] (dice=Shortbow into melee)1d20+5-4 ;1d6+1(/dice)
Status, conditions, HP, resource tracking, etc
It proved quite useful and quicker to track all such things in a spoiler everytime you post. That would look like this:
The difference between the gameplay and discussion thread
In the discussion thread, you can discuss everything you like and make anouncements. However, it is also a good place to ask questions about the game, discuss tactics or ingame things offgame, tell us if you are away for some days or won in the lottery or however.
The gameplay thread is strictly for gaming. You can make ooc comments there in your posts, explaining, outlining or asking something game related. If your post is only ooc, it belongs in the discussion thread! Same if it´s longer than 2 sentences probably. Please stick to this, it greatly helps keeping immersion.
Immersion and language
There is a great article about language while roleplaying and immersion. Unfortunately for most here it´s in german and i don´t feel compelled at the moment to translate it. In short, it´s talking about the use of adequate language though. We´re playing a game set in Golarion, where Marvel and DC superheroes are unknown. So are many modern technical things and expressions. You don´t have to talk medieval, but please consider this. Thanks.
What to write when posting to avoid 1-liners?
Writing is a great art and it doesn´t come easy to most people. Neither does roleplaying, what can often be close to playing theater and improvisation. It´s some people´s profession! Here´s something to help you.
When posting think of at least the following:
a) Your character acting, speaking, and/or thinking
b) use your surroundings/environment (think of her five senses)
c) 'tag' someone to keep the roleplaying going
You can make use of normal writing, bolded writing for speech and italics for thoughts, bigger for shouting, smaller for whispering. It´s explained right under the text window in "How to format your posts".
That will give you at least three sentences, which is fine.
Absence and hard times
Life brings unexpected and unasked events sometimes. I had some hard and busy times already, so i´m understanding. Yet always, i came back and told people in games with me before, including estimates when possible.
So if you have a hard time, or are very busy, or just absent, please let us know. It´s also perfectly fine to drop a private message or don´t tell a reason.
But as in all things human, communication is key!
That actually applies to every aspect in the game.
Character Backgrounds/Builds
Personaly, i´m not a fan of multiple pages of character background for a first level character. How come you´re still first level if you lived through so much?
A half page is more than enough for me. A thought through character with a solid build is way better. Also it´s not too much to read or skim through. More important is an outline of the characters traits and personality for me. Is she bold, shy, any special interests? How do you wanna play your character?
