Optimized guide to Play by post (PBP)

[KenderKin]

I am not writting such a guide, but I have recently been wanting to optimize the fun that my player have participating in the process.

This leads me to making some "standardized" suggestions.

Formating, dice rolling, and ooc are all good for people to know.

I have a list of pbp "rules" listed under my name
click it I dare you.

But my thoughts were on optimizing the encounters,

Here is an example of a post I am making for an up-coming play by post:
I was looking for feedback to optimize the encounter.

---------------------Example------------

As the celebration ends you step out of the Stony Gaze Tavern and into the chilly night air.

A clear, loud low voice calls from an alley off the main road, ”Hey Heroes!”

Standing 15 feet away and across the road at the corner of the building is female Ogre, 10 feet tall, with emerald green skin, deep blue hair, and small ivory horns.
mugshot

You are blasted with a cone of cold, as the creature turns and flees rapidly rounding the corner out of sight.

DC 18 reflex save for half of the cold damage 8d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5) = 38

Map

She is the red figure on the map and you are represented by the three pathfinder iconics

I need reflex saves, initiative rolls, perception checks and first round actions!

[RumpinRufus]

Firstly, once she's shouted at them, aren't the characters aware of her? They should get to roll initiative before the Cone of Cold goes off.

And she definitely can't cast a spell and flee all during the surprise round.

[KenderKin]

Good so how do you want the play by post to get started?

It is shout and spell going off (simultaneous) followed by 5 foot step, around the corner.

[RumpinRufus]

Maybe I'm confused - is the ogre the one who shouts "Hey heroes!" or is that someone else? Is she also the one casting Cone of Cold?

If it's all her, you should ask for initiative after she hails them, and before she casts a spell. Once she's made herself known, there is no longer any surprise round. As soon as she starts casting, the players should roll initiative and get a chance to go before her.

If you want the Cone of Cold to be in the surprise round, she shouldn't hail them at all. You should ask for perception checks to see if they notice her casting. If they make the perception check, they get to act in the surprise round. Ask for initiatives, and those that beat her get to act before the Cone of Cold goes off.

Also, I had been under the impression you couldn't 5-foot step during a surprise round but now I'm not so sure. It says you can take either a standard or a move action, and also take free actions. A 5-foot step isn't technically a free action, but you can normally take one each round. It's a bit ambiguous whether you can only take standard, move, and free actions during the surprise round, or if you can also take a 5 foot step (or perhaps a swift action instead of a standard or move action.) I think now you would be able to take a standard action and 5-foot step during the surprise round. So, if she wins initiative (or they fail their perception checks), she could cast Cone of Cold and 5-foot step around the corner before they go. But, she should not be able to cast at them without even giving them a chance of gaining initiative.

edit: also keep in mind, if she's only 5-foot stepping behind a corner, she'll still be in line-of-sight of the party when she's done (although she'll have concealment.) If she started out already behind the corner, she could take her 5-foot step back and be out of line of sight, which is probably the better option tactically.

Sorry, not meaning to derail the thread here.

[KenderKin]

Actually this encounter is right after I convince the players the scenario is all over ;)

[Wrath]

Rumpin, PbP work on narrative. Unlike a regular game table, they take a very long time, so sometimes the DM has to bend rules a little for narrative effect.

Calling out is a free action. As the heroes turn the ONI casts her spell as her surprise round action. Technically, she can't do the run away bit, but for narrative purposes she's able to, in order to set this up as a hit and run, rather than standard fight. This is something players need to be aware of when joining a PbP. It's also something DMs have to use sparingly.

As for the fight kinder kin, I used to run one post a day rule during fights. If a player hadn't posted within 24 hours or a little over, then I NPCd their action to keep it all going smoothly. Although now I suspect this isn't the advice you're looking for.

Cheers

[RumpinRufus]

My point is, if someone within their sight is casting a spell, they should have a chance to notice it.

Most characters, when they see an unfamiliar (and possibly hostile) character casting, will want to have a chance to act before the caster. The archer might ready to fire when the caster casts. The rogue might go find a hiding spot. The bard might buff, etc. It's not fair to the players to tell them they auto-fail their perception checks (i.e., can't act in the surprise round) and auto-lose on perception (the caster gets to go before them without any rolls.)

If it's really important to you that the caster get the jump on the party, give the caster Still Spell and Silent Spell so she can cast without them noticing it.

[KenderKin]

Actually the "spell" is a Spell-Like Ability
....and is better than still/silent spell.

[Wrath]

Ogre mages usually have invisibility as a supernatural ability as well. And flight I believe.

This one could be easily invisible and stealthed when she instigates the surprise round.

For added danger, have it flying too. That makes the running away bit easier.

[KenderKin]

Oh yes it is the two rogues with bows behind them they are actually going to fight....

You are correct once around the corner it is invisible and flying away.

Are there more suggestions as I wanted to make sure I was optimizing the encounters for my pc's.