Since I've found myself with time on my hands and noone to play with I've been toying with the idea of starting a PBP game. I've several years of experience as a DM but have only run one single-player PBP campaign (it was a lot of fun, though).
Specifically there are a few things I don't really get: how do you handle combat (tactical movement, initiative order etc.) and what do you do about mapping?
I know these are very basic questions (verging on stupid) but I figure there will be several different ways to handle these problems. I would appreciate any help.
For mapping, you can either:
(a) not worry about it and just go with the flow, or
(b) post an image of a map somewhere (Flickr, wherever) and use that for reference.
Initiative usually works normally; sometimes people post things like "if the enemy does X, then I do Y; otherwise, I do Z" to speed things along instead of waiting for their turn.
For what it's worth (not much), I'd recommend trying a play-by-email game. It works pretty much the same, but instead of having to check a bulletin board all the time, players get messages emailed to them. I like it a lot more, but YMMV.
Last week I read a post with a lot of advice on running a PBP, with kudos to Mothman, aubrey, heathy et al and asking for advice on how to make it good. Now I can not find the thread. Anyone help me with the title? section? link?
thanks,
*This one?*Last week I read a post with a lot of advice on running a PBP, with kudos to Mothman, aubrey, heathy et al and asking for advice on how to make it good. Now I can not find the thread. Anyone help me with the title? section? link?
thanks,
yes though your link only took me to the titles page. My guess is this will do the same thing but here goes On bpb, a general discussion for all pbp hah that is to page 2...
Thanks Charles
Here's some advice- Don't try to run an AP by pbp. I see all these people trying to run APs like savage tide and rise of the runelords, but it's crazy. There's no way they'll ever get through them. I've seen a couple on the boards that have have been going for nearly 2 years and they are still on either the first or second adventure.
If I were you I'd pick a single adventure to run. Right now I'm playing in a River into Darkness pbp. I joined it because the adventure sounded cool, and because I thought that since it was only one adventure we might get through it and I wouldn't have to commit the next 20 years of my life to it.
I'm also running a Shadowrun pbp, and I've just started running a Call of Cthulhu pbp. I'm also about to start a Mutants and Masterminds pbp. I picked these games to try to run because I think they are better suited to pbp than the typical dnd adventure. With them I will be focusing on investigation and rping. I plan to minimize combat because IMO tactical combat is boring when done via pbp. It can easily take a week to play out even a simple fight, and due to the slow pace I don't find it has any of the thrill or level of interest that it would in a face to face game. Plus it can get very confusing in regards to positioning and things especially when playing dnd, which these days is designed for miniatures play.
Here's some advice- Don't try to run an AP by pbp. I see all these people trying to run APs like savage tide and rise of the runelords, but it's crazy. There's no way they'll ever get through them. I've seen a couple on the boards that have have been going for nearly 2 years and they are still on either the first or second adventure.
What's wrong with that? If folks are having a good time (and it must be an interesting game if it's still running for over a year), that's all that matters.
(Disclosure: My Shackled City play-by-email is running at about a year per adventure as well.)
Well my preference would be to start something that I know I might actually be able to see through to completion. I don't want to wait 12 years to see the end of a campaign. But whatever floats your boat.
Here's some advice- Don't try to run an AP by pbp. I see all these people trying to run APs like savage tide and rise of the runelords, but it's crazy. There's no way they'll ever get through them. I've seen a couple on the boards that have have been going for nearly 2 years and they are still on either the first or second adventure.What's wrong with that? If folks are having a good time (and it must be an interesting game if it's still running for over a year), that's all that matters.
(Disclosure: My Shackled City play-by-email is running at about a year per adventure as well.)
Well my preference would be to start something that I know I might actually be able to see through to completion. I don't want to wait 12 years to see the end of a campaign. But whatever floats your boat.
But on the other hand, if you play for less than a year, then your character will probably go up a grand total of one or two levels (which is O.K. if that's what you're into).
In your experience, what is your preferred length for a PbP game?
Well since I'm running non dnd games, leveling up and all that isn't really much of a concern or interest. For me the pbp is more about rping and story than xp and levels etc.. I think the power stuff is fun in a face to face game, but given the pace of pbp games it doesn't hold much interest for me in that format.
I've only just started doing pbp's in the past few months. I started playing in the river into darkness game in early July, and I think it would be cool if we could finish it by January, but I have a feeling it will go for much longer than that.
As for the other games I'm running. I think of them in terms as adventures not campaigns. If I get through a single adventure, then as a group we can decide if we want to commit to a second one, but I would never consider trying to run something as ambitious as Savage Tide- I found that plenty challenging to run in a face to face game, and after having achieved that I can't even imagine doing it as a pbp.