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I've been discovering that PbP is more addictive to me than other types of gaming. I fall into the story, and tend to think about it even when doing other things.
I enjoy this hobby, but am trying to figure out how I can monitor myself so that I don't go in too deep. I don't want it to take over the rest of my life, yet I still want to enjoy the deep roleplay and great character interactions.
For those of you who have been in pbp for a while, how do you handle this? What do you do to "keep things real" in your real life, so that you can enjoy both your games and living in the real world?
I post about my posting addiction.
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Hmm steps into the room where there is a circle of folding chairs. It's barebones, but there are a bunch of people sitting there constantly checking their phones and tablets for updates on their campaign pages.
Oh my goodness, she thinks, peering at them. Is this what I've become?
"Hi group!" She waves, nervously. "My name is Hmm, and I'm a Paizo addict..."
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Seriously, are there techniques that you use to keep your addiction under control? Surely I'm not the only PbP addict on these forums.
"Hello, Hmm! My name is Eric and I too am addicted to Paizo! Unfortunately...there is no cure!"
Seriously, what I would do is try setting aside a time of day to check your games out and post any replies at that point. An hour or so, spaced throughout the day, would work fine methinks.
(If that does not work for you then, just keep posting here like Krek advisess, he he).
I used to be... but really I don't PbP much at any more. I grew very tired of the glacially slow pace of the games, the unreliability of the players and GMs, and the helplessness of looking at dozens of stories like they are trapped in amber unable to ever see resolution.
However I digress. You asked how to not stay addicted? I suggest the binge till you can't stand it anymore approach. join EVERY game till you have no more time for anything else in your life. You will quickly reach a breaking point and suddenly the games won't have the appeal they once did.
I modulate my PbP play by only starting or joining games that end by the second or third room---either by apathy or TPK. I've never been in a PbP game that lasted longer.
Set a limit on how many games you join. For myself, 5 is usually the correct number. If you're in X amount of games that are moving along, don't even look at the recruitment threads.
The worst is when you're in a good routine and then your supplier suddenly falls off the face of the earth. One of my dealers got sick and stopped a game after our whole group were consistently posting 4-5 times a day.
Personally, I prefer Amplitude Modulation ...
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Great thread.
While I had never specifically likened my PbP habits to an addiction before, I have always kept an eye on my online gaming to make sure I was approaching it in a healthy, positive way, and it has lapsed at times into something that was a source of great stress for me.
The issues for me have had to do with managing what I commit to. Respecting and valuing the shared time of others, and trusting a group of strangers to do the same.
IRL I don't get to game as much as I'd like to, for the usual reasons.. difficulty co-ordinating the schedules of gaming friends. PbP seemed like such a boon when I discovered it... play with any one any time! But of course it's not that simple.
The games I joined didn't move fast enough for me, so I tried starting my own games, and it was better, but still not fast enough, so I started another, and another, trying to find the right bunch of players who wanted to post as often as I did. Of course I ended up very over-extended and burned out.
I think the trouble is that I was looking for the same thrill of real time face to face gaming, and comparing my PbP experience to that standard, I thought something was falling short, even when things were going very well.
In the end something I was told by an experienced PbP'er who joined my first game I launched turned out to be true. PbP is a marathon, not a sprint.
There are other difficulties I face but they are more particular to my own specific circumstances. For example, my work has very slow periods and very busy periods, so I have to force myself not to bite off more than I can chew during work down-time, because before long I will be busy again and all those games I joined or started will still be going, and trying to keep up with them will be very stressful.
Also, I have a mental illness, and there are days or even weeks when I know I'm not particularly well, and I would not show up to game with a face-to-face gaming group on those days because I'm not feeling like myself. In PbP you make a commitment to have a constant presence, and for me that means I have to put myself out there and be seen at my best and my worst, which is a little scary.
Limit your number of PbPs. I'm currently GMing two and playing in two. That may be one too many, but we'll see.
Vet your GMs and/or players before you start playing, making sure that they are reliable and post at roughly the same rate you do.
The PFS by PBP seems to work well.
Only one game I have been in on PBP has tanked, and I've done about 50 or so sessions. I have also GM'd through about 30 slots worth.
The AP's have a terrible track records, and home brew even worse.
What is this...moderation...of which you all speak? I will play all the games.
Honestly, I just limit the number of games I play in. Before my current job that meant no more than three games, one of which I ran. Nowadays I allow myself five games, one of which I run. I work nights and my bosses encourage me to do anything that's quiet and keeps my brain ticking over...so I spend about two thirds of my shift online.
Know what you can handle, and remember the omnimantra - it's just a game. if you find yourself ignoring loved ones for a thread it's time log off.