Not sure if anyone feels the same, but I'm finding it difficult to get selected for an Adventure Path PBP on these forums. Just seems that the second a GM starts recruitment for an AP, they get 20+ applicants, and with only 4 to 5 spots open, the competition is terrible.
I have GM'ed a few AP's in my time, and never been a player, so I would love to play in one. So I am looking for any GM to start up an AP pbp for any adventure path or to point the way to someone looking for replacement players, although I would like to start from the beginning.
Many times an interesting background story is the key to getting in. It is hard though. There is a kingmaker PBP starting up. It is not exactly at the beginning, but it is at level 1. I think I saw Carrion Crown AP or maybe 2 that is recruiting.
1) Many times an interesting background story is the key to getting in. It is hard though. There is a kingmaker PBP starting up. It is not exactly at the beginning, but it is at level 1. 2) I think I saw Carrion Crown AP or maybe 2 that is recruiting.
1) A good background and/or some optimization can help depending on the party needs.
2) Many of them have weird rules (and sometime weird GMs).
I've found that the best way to get in is to research the GM. Unless they're first-time GMs, you can look at their past games and look at the applicants they selected. Look at how those applicants formatted their characters (background and fluff info) to get an idea of what the GM picks, intentional or not. Also, unless there's a theme going on, most GMs tend to pick applicants to form a well-rounded party. I just got into a LoF game where there were three arcane casters and something like ten melee combatants.
If you really want to get into an AP game, take the time to craft an interesting character that fits well within the setting and game concept. There are a lot of really interesting and evocative concepts that the setting of some of the APs cultivate. I often see people applying with concepts that, if I were GM, I would almost reject out of hand on the principle that their characters don't mesh very well with the setting or theme. Exotic characters doing the fish-out-of-water bit loses its novelty, especially if the backstory isn't particularly justifying for it to begin with.
Personally, I have a stable of PC concepts that I've been meaning to get around to writing down. If you're hell-bent on getting into a game, you can re-use a particularly beloved character concept to apply for multiple instances of the same game if you don't get in the first time. Why waste all the time of coming up with awesome characters just to discard them after a single rejection? If your Sczarni fortune-telling witch didn't get into Carrion Crown the first time, don't throw it away; try again. This tactic is especially useful because PbP games tend to fizzle and die with alarming regularity.
I appreciate what you guys have said, but I wasn't actually looking for advice. I have written bio's and backstories that I felt were good. I don't want to seem unmodest, but I always try to intertwin my character around the idea of the adventure path and center it completly around the trait that I choose for that adventure path.
So it seems that my real problem is either two things, either I am incredibly unlucky, or I post up the app to early so that all later bios are compared to mine and that I don't get the oppertunity to see what classes are needed.
Just wanted to rant and see if a GM out there was willing to start up another AP, as they don't pop up often enough.
And once again, thanks for the advice.
I have been thinking about running Rise of the rune lords for a little while now but not sure if I truly have the time currently due to participating in a few PbP.
Is their any particular ones that you would like to play in?
I noticed a couple of AP's on the boards.
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There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of new APs starting lately. I'm rather surprised - I expected to see several RotR groups starting now that the anniversary edition is out. I'd do it myself but recently had to shut down the game I was running because I just can't handle the extra time required for it. I imagine most others are in the same boat.
Any, I myself have GM'ed, Serpent's Skull, Carrion Crown, and Skull and Shackles so a GM might want to take me for those as I know the storyline. But as I said, I will apply for any and all AP's
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Hey Hairy! Good to see you!
As for the anniversary RotRL's. It might be just a bit too early for that as the pdf isn't out till tomorrow and most people haven't gotten their hard covers yet. And it might also be because of time, I was originally going to pbp RotRL's when the anniversary came out, but at this point, I would rather do it with my RL group
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Hey Hairy! Good to see you!
As for the anniversary RotRL's. It might be just a bit too early for that as the pdf isn't out till tomorrow and most people haven't gotten their hard covers yet. And it might also be because of time, I was originally going to pbp RotRL's when the anniversary came out, but at this point, I would rather do it with my RL group
Really? I already have my PDF and hardcover. Came in the mail yesterday. I've actually already been running RotRL with my RL group - we're almost through the 3rd book and just switching to the anniversary edition now.
Hey Tierce :D Good to see you to.
I'm doing RotRL with my real life group aswell in a week or so, looking forward to getting it started :D I also have Kingmaker part one which I would be very interested in running. I haven't read the full thing yet but I really like the idea of it.
So I would be willing to run either Kingmaker or Rise of the Rune Lords. Take your pick :D
I should have the time but I can generally only post once or twice a day due to other commitments.
I am hoping to start a game after my vaction (will return after labor day). while it is not an official AP it is kind of like an AP of my own design.
a complete adventure starting at level 1 and progressing up from there.
just thought I would throw it out there but I cannot start until I get back from vacation (will be in the Caribbiean for few weeks).
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I feel the same as You, Belrim. Even 10 minutes after a path is posted it has a gagillion applicants. Since my RL group can't play anymore due to changing schedules, I've been looking for games here. I did get into a game, but the DM can't play anymore and the game fell apart. I've been looking for another for the last month.
I would be very, very interested in either of the APs HairyAvenger suggested or in Edward's game. Please let me know if anything develops.
Yeah Kingmaker should be fun but probably a lot of work :P
I will run the game without hopefully opening a recruitment thread because I hate getting a wall of applicants, especially because it makes you feel bad if you can't take everyone :P
At the minute I can see:
Belrim
GeckoSith
Tierce
You guys want in with Kingmaker?
If so we would only need one more person :)
There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of new APs starting lately. I'm rather surprised [..]
From my experience, summer is a bit slow, but activity picks up in the fall.
By the way, when I GM that's why I prefer to pick names out of a hat rather than taking first-come-first-served or picking based on concepts; it seems more fair to me.
@GeckoSith - And even though theres like 20+ applicants, the ones picked always seem to be the same 10 guys. I understand they have awesome writting skills, but I wish there was some sort of common sense rule that said you should only be in one AP pbp at a time.
@TheHairyAvenger - I greatly appreciate that your willing to take up the mantle of GM for me. But I am actually going to be retiring from online campaigns. I'm afraid that they just don't hold the same excitement for me like they used to. I hope you still run it though. More AP's on this board the better!
No problem Belrim better now than later :P
Awesome Tierce :D I will give Gecko a little time to reply and if anyone else wanted to join in. If not then I will have to open up recruitment proper.
If so we would only need one more person :)
May I humbly offer my services here as a player?
I GM for a group of my high school friends at home, and have been doing RPGs for a few years now (first 3.5, now Pathfinder), mostly GMing due to me being the most interested person in groups, but I'm a player at heart. I've been looking to get involved in PbP for a bit now, and just joined another one. I'd also love to do this.
I'm not very knowledgeable about Kingmaker, so I'll need to do some research, and I don't have a character at the moment, but if you're willing to take me, I'd love to join!
Yeah of course you can :D There is a free players guide for download which is available HERE.
This will probably useful to set the scene etc. But it is basically a kind of sandbox adventure mixed with some story adventure.
No problem on characters I haven't sorted out how I will run this fully so don't worry about getting characters sorted for a few days ;)
Guide downloaded. I'll start thinking about characters, probably-- I love character creation, especially with convoluted backstories and the like. I'm competent in any party role, and willing to fill in gaps if people want to play certain things.
Thanks for having me! :)
And even though there's like 20+ applicants, the ones picked always seem to be the same 10 guys. I understand they have awesome writing skills, but I wish there was some sort of common sense rule that said you should only be in one AP PBP at a time.
It might be that they are well known for their PBP game skills, and keeping the game alive, as a good number of them tend to die out.
I know it's hard to get into a game as a player,
and it takes time and patience.
And I do wish all GM's would let at least ONE new player into their games to give them experience.
I do tend to let those who have little to no PBP game play time get into my games,
since I know how hard it is to get into one,
and it's the first few games that you get in that you show your stuff,
as certain GM's will review your play style,
and any other data from reading your character posts.
Haha that's great because I actually really like Tierce :D I have sent PM's to you three about going over to discussion but there is no rush there. Space for one more person so PM me if you want in :)
@GeckoSith - And even though there's like 20+ applicants, the ones picked always seem to be the same 10 guys. I understand they have awesome writing skills, but I wish there was some sort of common sense rule that said you should only be in one AP PBP at a time.It might be that they are well known for their PBP game skills, and keeping the game alive, as a good number of them tend to die out.
This. If you have five or six PCs you can usually survive the loss of one player, but it gets a little harder if any more than that drop out at once, especially if it happens with no warning. (This is setting aside the issue of disappearing GMs, which is a not-insignificant problem.) So if you want your game to keep going, you shoot for people with a record of sticking around, and in addition I like to pick people who are already running games--figure they deserve some playing time.
Unfortunately, starting out on the boards proposing to run a game sets off its own set of alarm bells; I personally have gotten into two campaigns run by board novices, only to have them vanish before the game even started.
a trick i found out for people willing to gm is a game swap, one i just saw was someone wanting to play skull and shakels, and he was willing to gm a different AP for who ever his gm would be. just an idea not perfect but it is something.
I've been playing RPGs for over 25 years, as I'm sure some of you have.
The whole cattle call thing does get out of hand. And honestly, the whole involved background thing bugs me too. You can play many of these (of not all) with pre-gen characters.
But, as to constructive advice... I suggest having several diverse characters already made up, refined and maybe @ 20 pt buy and level 1. Core race (alt race traits, etc...), core class (archetypes, etc...)... no crazy stuff. A good solid character, with a solid (but not novela) background. Try to convey your drive/motivation and your role.
Insert yourself into the campaign, find the hook... make it so that it makes so much sense it's undeniable.
Wait for it... than toss him/her in there. Make a good first impression, have a clean character sheet and help others even in recruitment.
And, don't flip-flop. Refine your character, if it diverges too much, start another alias... it's a different character. They'll be suited to different paths, campaigns, etc... You build a portfolio of characters over time.
There's an opening... post with that Alias and wow the DM. Take some fluff from the background and spoiler it. Stats too. DM's aren't lazy, but don't make them dig for it.
You want them to say, "Hell, Yeah!"
Oh, and for Heaven's sake AVOID this "i wanna be evil" nonsense (campaigns or characters), unless there's PvP.
:)