Welcome aboard.
Thanks. Patcher just let me know when I can jump in. I'll start reading the IC thread to catch up as soon as I get back from Church this morning.
Just gonna let everyone know that due to Real Life being an ass and me being slightly depressed, my posting is going to be erratic, if you didn't notice already >.>
meh
Just gonna let everyone know that due to Real Life being an ass and me being slightly depressed, my posting is going to be erratic, if you didn't notice already >.>
meh
:( hey man, I hope you feel better soon, bro.
I have updated my profile to contain the trek from Solku to Sultan's Claw, as well as a list (complete with interface spoilers) of NPCs you've met (and will meet).
Great work Patcher thanks.
Seeing as how I can barely concentrate on the games I am running, I am going to drop out of this game.
Its not fair to you guys nor the DM for an inactive player to be hanging around.
Have fun!
Am sad to see you go. Good luck with your life, I hope you get everything sorted out.
Okay, I thought I might get a bit verbose and didn't want to clutter up the game thread...
Actually, I thought we were doing pretty well with the posting department (at least, compared to the other PbP campaigns I've been in). I know the timing of losing Mark sucks, but players will always come and go. My experience with PbP is that the first few months are usually some of the toughest.
If I can give any advice from the few PbP campaigns I've run, it would be: don't get dismayed by erratic player inputs. Not everyone can check the boards at the same time daily, or even daily. Some players post all the time, others may post slightly more than lurkers. Throw in a healthy dose of RL, and these will change week-to-week, month-to-month, per player. Eventually, we'll fall into a comfortable rhythm of DM posts/player responses (and this group's pattern will vary wildly from your other group!).
Honestly, I'd rather have a little thrash now, early in the game, than 1000 posts down the road. Its harder to integrate new blood midstream than early on, while we're still figuring out the characters and how we interact.
Each campaign has a life of its own. I think you're doing a fine job of DMing so far, especially if this is you're first go behind the "online screen"! 4 of us, plus Saraah now, have been active from the go. I'd boot Khasud already and keep us at 5...
That being said, we may need a healer! :)
I realise that real life takes precedence over online life. Though short of the internet imploding, I also cannot understand the difficulty of being able to communicate to the other people in the PbP that real life requires all attention currently. It's easier for me, at least, to adjust with the knowledge that "player A is currently struggling IRL or on vacation or going to a wedding or <insert real life reason here>" - but when I don't know why player A is absent, then I get a little upset. Poor communication kills. That's my experience with the internet, and life in general.
I do want to continue, and if slowing down is what it takes, that's what I'll adjust to. I still would like to know when your posting capabilities are compromised, and if two weeks pass without any explanation and complete absence I will boot you. I won't demand to know why you can't post, though.
I realise I may come off as harsh, but I have to be honest, I'm also frustrated, and if I cannot communicate my view of this to all of you then I'd be a bit of a hypocrite.
But we'll slow down. As for Khasud, he hasn't been heard from since the 3rd of June, and I don't think he'll return. And about the healer problem: Alfred is a druid, last I checked. I don't mean to shoehorn him into a healer role without him wanting to be one, but you do have healing capabilities. If it'll be enough is a different issue.
I can understand you frustration, as I DM myself, and slow pacing can kill a game if not watched carefully, but if that is the expectation, it shouldn't be a problem.
The players leaving is a occupational hazard, especially with an AP. You just have to work through it, and at least you have a good place to insert new players in if you wish to find a replacement.
Alfred can heal a bit, and change his focus a bit spell wise; having one or more people learn the Heal skill, and allowing the Cure Serious Injuries aspect to be used on an individual more than once a day (perhaps 1 + Con Mod per day, to reward those who took high Con)could help as well. Remembering about and using the other parts of that skill can also help alot. Peppering a few more potions of Cure Light Wounds to cover emergency healing might help as well. Healing in battle is generally a bad idea, and Alfred can provide emergency healing in such cases that it is needed, so learning to not rely on it isn't a bad thing.
I think what Sihdrin/nomadicc said is pretty much spot on. It's common for people to drop early as many players tend to overcommit or they never really invested in the game in the first place. It is frustrating when people don't communicate but a rhythm will eventually get established and sometimes it can take bit for everyone to settle into a PbP game.
Khasud was clearly never really into the game and while Mark's departure is disappointing it happens, especially early on. There are always bumps along the way but I think things have been going fairly well to be honest.
Hey guys, while we're talking about bad news I thought I should let you know I'll be out of town from Friday until Tuesday. Going out of town for the 4th to help my parents get ready to sell one of their houses.
This recently came up in the other LoF game.
And I quoth:
oops. I tend not to make checks unless asked. It seems presumptuous somehow. Would you like players to suggest checks? Things like perception are usually made in secret so the player doesn't realize they rolled a 2 and that may be why they found nothing. In any case i will presume only a cursory search and look again later.This eventually boils down to preference. I agree that sometimes perception checks would be better made in secret - but when taking the effort to personally search, I think a declared roll from said player is better. Spamming skill checks constantly to cover every base would be presumptuous. But when Durant went to examine the wagon and search for clues, he is deliberately searching - when specifically doing actions like these, I would prefer that you declare your skill use, and roll / take 10 / take 20.
Is my logic flawed? Any objections?
That is generally how I handle checks. Unless they are being specifically declared, everyone is generally taking 10. There are exceptions, like secret Perception checks when the players don't know they are in danger or skills that normally can't be used untrained, but for the most part taking 10 on non declared actions seems to do just fine. It allows characters to show a certain amount of basic competency in the skill areas they have trained in, and keeps the game moving.
I apologise if my replies are infrequent or if my DMing is lacking currently. Summer brings back painful memories, and I'm struggling with nostalgia and depression.
Just wanted to give you an update.
I'm not quite over the aforementioned depression but I also have renewed vigour about the campaigns. I will be working harder to paint the stage from now on. I hope the result will show.
Also, happy 4th of July to all Americans playing.
Just wanted to give you an update.
I'm not quite over the aforementioned depression but I also have renewed vigour about the campaigns. I will be working harder to paint the stage from now on. I hope the result will show.
Also, happy 4th of July to all Americans playing.
Don't worry about it. Everyone goes through such cycles; it's just a matter of being patient and working through them.
I think the dicebot hates you, Sihdrin.
I fear I have to bring this up again: I am not satisfied with the slow pace of the game. I understand that everybody has to deal with real life, and that summer is a slow period - but the way things have been going throughout the last two weeks, I have lost most of my motivation to keep this campaign going.
That's understandable. At least you have the courtesy to alert the active players to this instead of just disappearing. If you are truly not motivated, it may be best to drop it with a proper warning before you simply forget to check in. Some games just don't work out; it's the nature of this style of play.
I have thought about this all day, and have made the decision to end the campaign. I have lost the motivation to keep this game running.
I apologise. I will be starting up two new adventure paths in the end of July, and you are all welcome to apply.
I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you for joining. I hope it was enjoyable while it lasted.
I think the dicebot hates you, Sihdrin.
Yeah, you're not kidding! ;p
Sad to hear you're trashing the campaign. I thought it was going smoothly, with pretty vivid characters. Not sure what you meant by "slow pace"... it is a PbP game.
@ DM Patcher: I found the game very enjoyable and I'm sorry that it's not continuing. Good luck with your other games and I look forward to seeing the other games you decide to run.
@ nomadicc: I think by "slow pace" he's probably more referring to people going 3-4+ days without posting. Even if others are posting every day it can feel like you're playing with half a group.
It didn't help that we lost a player when the adventure had barely begun. I'll never understand why some people will take the time to make a character, fully flesh them out, submit them and then not play. I've seen that in other threads too and I just don't get it.