I don't know. I tend to just look through the Gamer Connection forum and see if a PbP is in need of players.
Is it just me or does it take forver to find a PbP game. Is there a trick or particular forum thread to find games or just luck of the draw in this or the PbP section?
New games come in fits and starts. Summer is kind of the slow season, I think. Maybe more will begin when school starts in September.
I don’t know. If you’re saying you have more luck finding RL games than PbP games than your experience is vastly different than mine.
But, yes, finding a PbP can feel like a hassle sometimes. You have to hunt for a listing that suits you, submit a character and hope you're accepted, wait for the GM to start the game (if they ever do), and then hope the thing actually holds together beyond a couple weeks.
I would say maybe 15% or less will work out. So a lot of ‘wasted’ time is involved in hunting and staking out forums, submitting characters, waiting for it start (if it ever does), and then crossing-your-fingers-it-survives. Still a good PbP (or PbeM) can rank among the best RPGs you’ll ever play. It’s a crap shoot but hitting that lucky number can be rewarding.
(Expanding your search area might help as well if you haven’t already. There are a lot of DND forums out there and most have PbP games and many host Pathfinder games as well as regular DND. I check a lot of them and currently the number of Pathfinder games recruiting is fairly low...but a few weeks ago it was quite high. It goes in fits and starts.)
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Once you've played a few games you'll get a feel for the games that aren't going to get anywhere, and you'll know who the core players and DMs that tend to be reliable are. I have very little trouble these days, started about 6 months ago and thefirst pbp i joined randomly folded when the DM stopped posting *glares at w0nkothesane :P*
Once you've played a few games you'll get a feel for the games that aren't going to get anywhere, and you'll know who the core players and DMs that tend to be reliable are.
Sad, but true.
I started trying to PbP a year and a half ago and have been selected for 9 games. In 8 of them, the DM quit on us. I have yet to be in a PbP that goes 1000 posts or in which anyone has gained a level.
My only suggestion (and obviously it's not working out well for me) is not to apply to games by DMs new to the boards or new to DMing PbPs. The problem, of course, is that the experienced PbP DMs get so many applications that your odds of getting selected are low and they tend to pick people they've played with before (reasonable, since they know they are reliable posters but makes it hard for newbies to break into the "inner circle").
I hardly even bother applying anymore, as it's too frustrating to go through character creation, build a backstory, get chemistry going with a group of players, and then have the DM walk away. (Sadly, all the DMs that have quit have been excellent DMs; they just haven't had the time or commitment to stick with it.)
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My only suggestion (and obviously it's not working out well for me) is not to apply to games by DMs new to the boards or new to DMing PbPs. The problem, of course, is that the experienced PbP DMs get so many applications that your odds of getting selected are low and they tend to pick people they've played with before (reasonable, since they know they are reliable posters but makes it hard for newbies to break into the "inner circle").
it.)
Ofc there are exceptions, like that DM Alex's first pbp he started a few months ago and is speeding towards 1,500 posts :P. I reckon Tanner's will hit 1,000 too.
Ofc there are exceptions, like that DM Alex's first pbp he started a few months ago and is speeding towards 1,500 posts :P. I reckon Tanner's will hit 1,000 too.
My only suggestion (and obviously it's not working out well for me) is not to apply to games by DMs new to the boards or new to DMing PbPs. The problem, of course, is that the experienced PbP DMs get so many applications that your odds of getting selected are low and they tend to pick people they've played with before (reasonable, since they know they are reliable posters but makes it hard for newbies to break into the "inner circle").
it.)
Well, like I said, it obviously isn't working out well for me. :) There are several games I didn't "audition" for because the DMs were new that are still going more than a year later, but all the first-time DMs I've broken my own rule and applied to have disappeared on me. I'm a cynical "sadder but wiser girl" when it comes to PbPs these days.
Ofc there are exceptions, like that DM Alex's first pbp he started a few months ago and is speeding towards 1,500 posts :P. I reckon Tanner's will hit 1,000 too.Well, like I said, it obviously isn't working out well for me. :) There are several games I didn't "audition" for because the DMs were new that are still going more than a year later, but all the first-time DMs I've broken my own rule and applied to have disappeared on me. I'm a cynical "sadder but wiser girl" when it comes to PbPs these days.
And my first pbp, which in just a month has reached almost 1000 posts (997 at the moment I write this), and I think the only reason it hasn't topped 1000 today yet is because the boards are being extremely annoying.
That said, I understand what you're talking about. When I first got into pbp a little over a month ago, I knew that a lot of pbp games tended to die. What surprised me though was how many die because the DM disappears. The very first game I got involved in as a player died because the DM just vanished. He was pretty slow posting to begin with, and then he just disappeared altogether. I also saw a lot of threads started by groups looking for replacement DMs. Before that, I always assumed it was just players vanishing. After all, a DM has to put in a lot of work to run a game. Why would they put in so much work and then disappear? But disappear they do.
Anyway, I think the moral of the story is, getting in a lasting game involves a great deal of luck and persistence. :)
Skim through the PbPs and look for some that are active. If they are ongoing and a player drops out, volunteer yourself in the discussion thread as a replacement player. If they are nearing conclusion, mention to the DM that you've been following the thread and would like to put your name in for the next one they run. That's usually where I get any new players.
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My own game set in FFG's Midnight is nearing 3000 posts and on most days it has 5-6 new posts. There were several slow weeks when I had to go on business trips, or I got sick, but it's still going strong. Players are about to reach 3rd level.
On the other hand, I was player in Ptolus game which was great, but the DM just disappeared - not only from the game, but from the boards as well.
Well, easy to find a game really; hard to find a game that lasts very long is the problem; so many failed pbp games; which I why I run a couple. Sadly I couldnt get anyone interested in my sci fi game though.
Speaking only for myself, I won't commit to run something I don't enjoy or find hard work. It takes a lot of time to sort maps, move monsters, do the rolls, narrate the action, so I'll only run stuff I love enough to make that time for.
As far as finding players goes, I've been lucky. There is a limited pool of 4e players out there and most of them will jump on anything offered. I don't do "audition" recruitment. One of the really great things about pbp as a medium is that characters can evolve very organically - so a bare bones set of stats is just fine for me. The character will develop in play with the other players on the whole.
As Tarren says, I've picked up some great players from thread followers and I keep a list of alternates going all the time in case someone drops out. It's not ideal to insert a new player mid-game, but I've done it before now, often quite successfully.
The other simple this is just to keep posting. If you're the GM, you have to check in very regularly and nudge it all along. I've said in another thread some place, that players often stall because they feel that if they post they're hogging someone else's limelight. I reckon it's down to the GM to overcome that, but I'll also freely admit that when I started playing (and running) I was reluctant to intervene. You have to be much more aggressive than you would be in a table game, and it takes adjustment.
From my perspective of only pbp; players come; go return; and are pleanty enough ;feel bless I have so many interested players.
Gm's; life seems to punch them in the nose and first thing they drop is their pbp. I have been in something like 10 games that started and gm dropped out; sad too; some were really getting interesting.
As a gm; looking for players; post a lot on lots of threads and you will get feedback if your ideas are interesting and get players who want to play. I posted for long time on these threads before I gm'd a game then had so many players; started a second one.
As a player; just keep looking; your friends here at paizo will drop you a line now and again when they hear something; keep posting in the recruiting that your looking for a game. It if very hit and miss. If you want to research a gm; so to speak; just check their main avatar and number of posts; see how long they have been around; one of the so called "lords of the boards" which mean we have posted a lot on lots of forums and are generally the guys/gals that belly up top the bar on feedback; odd things; support; ideas; whatever. You know we are not going anywhere so our games are going to be around a while. Take me for instance; think I am at like 9k in posts and I am not that verbose. Others are just hit and miss; you might get lucky.
Threads like this are good too; as gm's will see it and invite you.
15,208
Urk. Just checked my post count, thanks to Valegrim's suggestion. That's ridiculous. I need to shut up more.
I myself use a different avatar when I GM. One I notice now has 2030 posts as of now.
I have had games fold, can't be helped really. I have had games go slow and had games blaze. I as a player have had, gods 12 or 15 games go under many due the the GM going missing, some due to GM burn out and others players going missing and they game just suffing a slow lag death.
With Pbp games you just got to hang in there and keep looking, if as a GM you find a good solid group, your golden. I have one group like that for my savage tide game which is 2 years old and I recruited a core of them for my Lof game and built the group around them.
Solid , dependable players make or break a pbp game, as does pacing, I have lost games I ran because I just never got the pacing right. Pbp are not like table top games and some getting used to.
I would advise ya guys to keep looking, good solid games are out there or could be.
Anyhow good luck in the game hunt, sorry for the rambling, I do that
I have one PbP heading to the 8K mark, but it has one original player left who started with me 2 1/2 years ago.
As a GM, it can be hard keeping up. I used to think I was a superhero, and I had four PbPs running at once. It got to where it was more job than fun, so I pared it down to one.
You have to keep plugging. I play as well, and only one game I have been in has stood the test of time. People have issues, they need to drop out when RL smacks them. It sucks sometimes, but if you persevere you will find a good game =)
That said, I understand what you're talking about. When I first got into pbp a little over a month ago, I knew that a lot of pbp games tended to die. What surprised me though was how many die because the DM disappears. The very first game I got involved in as a player died because the DM just vanished. He was pretty slow posting to begin with, and then he just disappeared altogether. I also saw a lot of threads started by groups looking for replacement DMs. Before that, I always assumed it was just players vanishing. After all, a DM has to put in a lot of work to run a game. Why would they put in so much work and then disappear? But disappear they do.
I still feel guilty (being one of the newbie DMs who bailed on Joanna). For me it was largely an unexpected change in my RL situation which made my posting erratic and ultimately untenable. However the other thing I didnt fully appreciate was the sheer effort required in keeping a PBP running. I had this idea that, given the pace of a PBP game, it would be relatively easy to keep up. Although the time commitment was close to what I'd expected, the creative energy required to keep the game going was considerably more than I realised.
That said, I understand what you're talking about. When I first got into pbp a little over a month ago, I knew that a lot of pbp games tended to die. What surprised me though was how many die because the DM disappears. The very first game I got involved in as a player died because the DM just vanished. He was pretty slow posting to begin with, and then he just disappeared altogether. I also saw a lot of threads started by groups looking for replacement DMs. Before that, I always assumed it was just players vanishing. After all, a DM has to put in a lot of work to run a game. Why would they put in so much work and then disappear? But disappear they do.I still feel guilty (being one of the newbie DMs who bailed on Joanna). For me it was largely an unexpected change in my RL situation which made my posting erratic and ultimately untenable. However the other thing I didnt fully appreciate was the sheer effort required in keeping a PBP running. I had this idea that, given the pace of a PBP game, it would be relatively easy to keep up. Although the time commitment was close to what I'd expected, the creative energy required to keep the game going was considerably more than I realised.
Aw, Steve, you were fantastic, though. And to be fair, most of the "creative energy" required was probably my fault, as I feel certain Douena ranged far from the intended plot of the module.
And to be fair, most of the "creative energy" required was probably my fault, as I feel certain Douena ranged far from the intended plot of the module.
She wasn't too bad (to be frank, I was more worried that Nuveril would end up coming to blows with her employer) Douena's 'latest scheme' made it relatively easy to DM. I just shrugged and went with the flow, much like her. :)
Out of all the games I've run over the years, Douena quickly became one of my all-time favorite PCs.
Out of all the games I've run over the years, Douena quickly became one of my all-time favorite PCs.
Out of all the characters I've run, she's my favorite.
It took her a long time to get over you and Garai, but I've just starting running a 1st-level version of Douena in Navior's Serpent's Skull game. Of course, I still saved her 6th-level stats, for sentimental reasons. :)
Out of all the games I've run over the years, Douena quickly became one of my all-time favorite PCs.Out of all the characters I've run, she's my favorite.
It took her a long time to get over you and Garai, but I've just starting running a 1st-level version of Douena in Navior's Serpent's Skull game. Of course, I still saved her 6th-level stats, for sentimental reasons. :)
Cool, I hadn't seen that. I'll follow along.
Just chiming in again to agree with Steve that it's the creative side rather than the mechanics that make keeping a pbp going hard. All the things that make it a great medium are the very things that can send you nuts and leave you feeling woefully inadequate as a GM.
I would like to point out, that, the adventure Steve was running was intially started by Archon Adept(or never started I should say. Backed out just before it got going). Steve was a PC in the beginning. He was nice enough to take over at the time. I didn't join until it was about halfway over. I would've never been in it but there were like 2 players that backed out towards, pretty much the beginning, which means three pc's were out. This pbp was limping pretty much out of the starting gate. Yet it was my first pbp and it was a total blast! Kudos to you Steve! :)
Except for that troublemaking Douena! ;)
(Honestly though, she as much of a pain as she is fun!)
Out of all the games I've run over the years, Douena quickly became one of my all-time favorite PCs.Out of all the characters I've run, she's my favorite.
It took her a long time to get over you and Garai, but I've just starting running a 1st-level version of Douena in Navior's Serpent's Skull game. Of course, I still saved her 6th-level stats, for sentimental reasons. :)
I just have to say having Douena in the group has been a delight. I'm really enjoying her presence!