LOL
"YE LANKY STREAK O'PISH!"
"This is why I don't like dwarves. Tunnel-visioned, repetetive, obsessive. Rats, now - rats are interesting."
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I just discovered a great way to save myself all the typing involved in writing out my fighter's iterative attacks in Heathansson's campaign.
I'm using a free program called AutoHotKey, which I've been using for another purpose entirely.
Playing a Summoner, who often rolls his own attack, his Eidolon's attack, and the attack of the wolf / eagle / whatever he's summoned on the last round, I've found it useful to make a list in a separate window.
{ooc} Longspear attack {/ooc} {dice} 1d20+2 {/dice}
{ooc} Damage {/ooc} {dice} 1d8+2 {/dice}
etc. and then just cut and paste it when I want to do that action, changing anything manually that needs to be changed (for flanking bonus or different summoned critter or confirming a crit).
It's not as fancy as the hot-key option, but it's a nice low-tech solution for a luddite like myself.
You sure can summon a ridiculous amount of those eagles...
Are there any rules for who can DM pbp campaigns on this forum, or is it open for anyone?
I'm just throwing this out there. Probably because there are more lazy people then motivated ones. As a player you just go with what the GM says, it's like a roller coaster ride. You know when to put your arms up and lean into the turns, but you don't have much more work then that. As the person actually telling the story it's a lot more work. Even Paizo Adventure Paths are a fair amount of effort. I spend between 30-90 minutes on my GM posts for my kingmaker games. Compared to the 5-10 I do for the games I'm a PC in.
Scipion has a good point. Another thing to consider is that too much freedom is quite frightening to a lot of players. They're worried they'll get it wrong in some way.
Wearing my drama tutor hat, you're basically running a large scale improvisation, and that requires a lot of work from everyone to be effective. Many drama students are very frightened with improv work (I am, myself) and it takes a certain level of confidence in the group and the scenario to start building your own bits of world. Their instinctive reaction is either to be extremely tentative and wait for someone else to take the lead or to craft situations they know they can control and write a script for - and neither of those sound like what you're trying to accomplish.
It's noticeable in my own pbp games that the longest-standing group who have been playing together for close on two years, are much freer in their role-play and far more inclined to throw out bits of information I can weave into the campaign.
I think that you have to provide landmarks and suggestions until the players get confident. It's not exactly about laziness, it's about establishing confidence in the players - which isn't that easy to achieve online.
Please.
I'm going to be starting a Pbp campaign fairly soon, and I want to use one of the APs, but haven't decided on which one yet. So: Which Paizo Adventure Paths would people be most interested in seeing a new Pbp game of (except Kingmaker, since I haven't started reading it yet)?
And, how do you check on players' die-rolls?
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And, how do you check on players' die-rolls?
The player can just use the die-roller here and you can see the results.
The player enters <dice> 1d20+3 </dice> or <dice> 2d4+2 </dice> (substituting <> brackets for [] brackets).
And you see or
Or you could use Invisible Castle.
I'm going to be starting a Pbp campaign fairly soon, and I want to use one of the APs, but haven't decided on which one yet.
Start a thread in Gamer Connection and ask prospective players to vote.
In my experience, Second Darkness and Legacy of Fire games die fast, while Rise of the Runelords have the most staying power. Curse of the Crimson Throne and Council of Thieves seem in the middle somewhere.
Personally I use a variety of systems for rolls, depending on whether it's a GM post or a a player post.
I'm happy enough for players to home roll, and I home roll monsters because the editing window on the boards is small. Few things will drive you to tooth-gnashing fury faster than losing a whole page of monster rolls and damage.
In games where I'm a player, I tend to use the site roller.
A friend of mine DMs one group and si a player in 3 others so he pointed out the PBP to me and it's very much like the rping I'm very used to besides of course the dice rolling so I'm very much into it since I roleplay on the fourms online all the time and I have a good grasp of game mechanics as well as my very own pathfinder Core Rulebook right next to me so I'm confident I would be good with this, though I doupt I would be amazing by any standards.
Not sure how to get started neither, I saw a few threads just starting but no OOC messages to the DM so I have no idea how to sign up to one of these groups when they start.
Not sure how to get started neither, I saw a few threads just starting but no OOC messages to the DM so I have no idea how to sign up to one of these groups when they start.
A prospective GM usually posts in the Gamer Connection forum saying something like: "Hey, I'm starting up a new PbP game. Post here if you're interested."
I find it interesting that weekends are inexplicably slow for the Paizo boards.
I find it interesting that weekends are inexplicably slow for the Paizo boards.
Most people play on the weekends with either family and friends.
Well I'm new to this play by post so is there a certain type of guide/tips to help me on my way and if someone runs campaigns for new pbp players or has patience for one xD
Here's another thread by a new player you may find helpful. New Player Questions.
I don't know why I am surprised every weekend that the Paizo boards turn into a ghost town...
This is what I get for having Monday and Friday as my days off.
Finally we can start playing again!
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Posted in the Discussion Thread, but I'm not sure if that is the correct place to put up a 'game Wanted' thread?
Looking to play in a few, start some PF games down the road. I posted for a few years over on EnWorld (Uriel), mostly DMing (8 Games at once at one point, when I was off of my feet due to a broken ankle).
Any Lvl is fine, any adventures, except for Kingmaker (As I am running it).
Anyways,
Cheers
-Uriel
Posted in the Discussion Thread, but I'm not sure if that is the correct place to put up a 'game Wanted' thread?
Looking to play in a few, start some PF games down the road. I posted for a few years over on EnWorld (Uriel), mostly DMing (8 Games at once at one point, when I was off of my feet due to a broken ankle).
Any Lvl is fine, any adventures, except for Kingmaker (As I am running it).Anyways,
Cheers
-Uriel
Uriel, the Gamer Connection Forum is your best bet. Lurk there, stalk new threads, and throw your hat in the ring when a new game is posted.
Has anyone wanting to be a GM for the first time tried recruiting experienced GM's here on the boards as PC's for a short adventure two? I think this would give someone a chance to develop their skill with people who know what to look for and are capable of constructive feedback.
Has anyone wanting to be a GM for the first time tried recruiting experienced GM's here on the boards as PC's for a short adventure two? I think this would give someone a chance to develop their skill with people who know what to look for and are capable of constructive feedback.
Several people who have been my players or first-time players have went onto GM their own games. It is probably easier to GM after participating first.
Remember to keep trying as well. I've had some PBPs I played in stop during the first fight, and one I started has been going for almost a year now. I will say this. I think that Pathfinder Society Modules lend themselves very well for use as a PBP. Adventure paths are awesome, but with their grand scope, they can take a long, long time to complete even one book.
Remember to keep trying as well. I've had some PBPs I played in stop during the first fight, and one I started has been going for almost a year now. I will say this. I think that Pathfinder Society Modules lend themselves very well for use as a PBP. Adventure paths are awesome, but with their grand scope, they can take a long, long time to complete even one book.
Agreed 100%, although I don't believe there's any shame in trying and failing as long as you let your players know that you're folding the game. I have very little sympathy for GMs who simply disappear, though.
Every Gm has their own way of doing things. Look in the Gamer Connection area for games that are starting up.
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Hello,
Does anyone know where the instructions are for PbP? I have zero games in my area and want to play, but I can't seem to find the "How to's".
Am I just missing it?
Thanks
There are no hard and fast rules, but there are a few things I can pass along that I have learned over the years of GMing a few.
- Expect lengthy times of battles/scenarios: This can be frustrating for people who are used to F2F games in realspace. Remember when 6-8 people have to sit down and post, thigs can go slow. My current PbP game has gone on for almost three years, but the action possibly could have been done in 6-8 real life sessions. Some folks go for constant battle sequences to keep the action up, others concentrate on roleplaying, because you can do a lot of it through posting.
- Be ruthless about non-posters: Waiting for someone who has lost interest is a cancer on your game. Conversely, as a player, if you find yourself losing interest in the game it behooves you to announce this and bow out gracefully. My game (the three-year one) has had over a dozen players wander in and out. I only have one original one now. I GMPC someone the first few times they don't post, then their PC will 'wander off' until the situation is resolved.
- Communication is key: Real life is always intruding on the players and the GM's life. Don't be afraid to warn your mates you have to be offscreen for a bit. If you just drop off the radar, it leaves everyone in doubt. Making a OOC thread is key on announcing changes or delays in the action due to your life struggles. Most folks are very understanding when you explain why you can't post for a while. It is much more frustrating when someone just disappears, and, in my games, your character would just drop away.
- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again: There is a hideous attrition rate on PbPs. Sometimes the group doesn't gel, sometimes the GM discovers he doesn't like the methodology of posting, sometimes it's just something no one can point to. I'd say 75% of PbPs dont get past 100 posts. Understand this, don't let a failure get you down, and keep plugging away.
- Dedicate yourself to a regular posting schedule: I usually require folks to post a few days a week. Anything longer and the game starts to feel abandoned. Sometimes your schedule won't allow this, but let your mates know this.
- Most of all, have fun! This of course is the best rule.
I'd say 75% of PbPs don't make it past 100 posts.
I'd disagree. Most PbPs have a huge boom at first, often getting more than fifteen posts a day. Introductions are very exciting. Usually, a PbP makes it a fair ways, then kind of putters out.
I'd say 75% of PbPs don't make it past 100 posts.I'd disagree. Most PbPs have a huge boom at first, often getting more than fifteen posts a day. Introductions are very exciting. Usually, a PbP makes it a fair ways, then kind of putters out.
Interesting question. I went to the PbP subforum and sorted the 250 non-archived games alphabetically by name and I copied the first 100 (alphabetically) into a spreadsheet.
Out of those 50, 24 hadn't been posted in since February at the latest. And out of those 24, only 6 (25%) had less than 100 posts. Seven of the 24 (~30%) even made it past 500 posts.
The usual caveats about small sample sizes, survival bias, etc. apply. But it's some food for thought.
Mea Culpa then. I will amend my statement to read ... A majority of PbPs will never see their 1,000th post. Is that broad enough?
Mea Culpa then. I will amend my statement to read ... A majority of PbPs will never see their 1,000th post. Is that broad enough?
I don't think anyone will argue with that!
I would also say that a majority of PbPs will never get through a single module, or more than five combats. (Prove me wrong, folks!)
Games hardly ever gain two levels. Especially not when they're GM'd by stingy jerks like Reptilian.
:P
Games hardly ever gain two levels. Especially not when they're GM'd by stingy jerks like Reptilian.
:P
ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzaat!
What are you guys, 13th level?...
I haven't read all of the posts on this thread. So forgive me if someone already said these things. I would play in a PBP, except:
1 I don't know who is looking for players because no one starts an obvious recruit thread.
2 I don't want to join a game currently going because I don't have time to read page upon page of background information which sometimes involves links and resource material I don't have or can't use.
3 I don't know the rules for how dice rolls are handled (ie: do we just type in what we rolled using real dice or is there a die roller program people are using), are we supposed to start a new thread with our character's bio in the section so it isn't on as a post with the story line? All of these issues must be hadled and stated before play but where?
Those are some of my reasons.
I haven't read all of the posts on this thread. So forgive me if someone already said these things. I would play in a PBP, except:
1 I don't know who is looking for players because no one starts an obvious recruit thread.
2 I don't want to join a game currently going because I don't have time to read page upon page of background information which sometimes involves links and resource material I don't have or can't use.
3 I don't know the rules for how dice rolls are handled (ie: do we just type in what we rolled using real dice or is there a die roller program people are using), are we supposed to start a new thread with our character's bio in the section so it isn't on as a post with the story line? All of these issues must be hadled and stated before play but where?
Those are some of my reasons.
There is a whole subsection called gamer connection. That's where the recruitment threads are.
Then join a new one. Or one that's going on that doesn't require you to know pages of background material. :)Most people use the dice rolling program. <dice>1d20</dice> but with brackets. You can add plusses there too just put +x after the die.
There is usually a place in the discussion thread for talking about backgrounds and such. You would put most info into you character profile after you make the alias.
Hope that helps. Play by post may or may not be for you, but you should give it a try at least once. It can be a lot of fun.
Thank you for the information Lynora, I will indeed try one. I'm used to a much faster chatroom/googlewave set up for long distance players.