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A bit of background: I got my hands on Curse of the Crimson Throne and immediately flipped through it, basically so excited I was practically vibrating in my seat. I was looking around on Paizo to figure out how to handle pbp GMing and learned from this piece of glory that one of the first suggestions is that I not start pbp GMing with a big ol' AP. That said, I went and downloaded some of the free modules and decided on Master of the Fallen Fortress, an adventure for level 1 characters.
The Questions! And now to get to the meat of this post. :)
1. I know there's a recruitment area, a discussion area, and a gameplay area - when I've played games here, they're always connected, but... They don't seem to be so tied together in the forums themselves? How do I actually go about setting up/making an area for those three things?
2. How do I close recruitment when I've got my players?
3. I understand that pbp runs the risk of losing players/GMs. I'm definitely planning to, you know, not disappear, because I don't wanna be a butt, but... Well. How do you keep players from disappearing? Granted, I'm aware that's not always something you control, in which case... Do you normally keep alternates to fill in slots if someone disappears?
4. This module also appears to be a Pathfinder Society Special? Does that mean I could run this for PFS or is there something special I have to do to be able to GM for that? I've looked through the PFS pages but I could have missed the info relevant to this question. o: If there are conditions I need to fill, what are they?
5. Do GMs use additional pieces/systems like the Hero Point system or anything of that nature in their games for PFS?
Annnnd, I think that's all I've got at just this moment. Um. I might have more questions later?
The Questions! And now to get to the meat of this post. :)
1. I know there's a recruitment area, a discussion area, and a gameplay area - when I've played games here, they're always connected, but... They don't seem to be so tied together in the forums themselves? How do I actually go about setting up/making an area for those three things?
2. How do I close recruitment when I've got my players?
3. I understand that pbp runs the risk of losing players/GMs. I'm definitely planning to, you know, not disappear, because I don't wanna be a butt, but... Well. How do you keep players from disappearing? Granted, I'm aware that's not always something you control, in which case... Do you normally keep alternates to fill in slots if someone disappears?
4. This module also appears to be a Pathfinder Society Special? Does that mean I could run this for PFS or is there something special I have to do to be able to GM for that? I've looked through the PFS pages but I could have missed the info relevant to this question. o: If there are conditions I need to fill, what are they?
5. Do GMs use additional pieces/systems like the Hero Point system or anything of that nature in their games for PFS?
1. You open a recruitment thread, and that thread asks you if there is a discussion and/or a gameplay thread that you can connect to the recruitment thread. You do NOT have to open the discussion / gameplay at this time. You will have the opportunity to do this later.
2. When you announce your game and give character creation rules, give a deadline as to when you will close the recruitment thread. If you end up closing it early or extending it, give notice.
3. You don't keep players from disappearing. It just happens sometime, and you just have to deal with it. At that point, either go back to the recruitment thread and ask one of the other players, or open it up again.
4. No idea, I don't do PFS.
5. Yes & No. In a couple of my games we use Background Skills. In another the Automatic Bonus Progression (I think that is what it is called). Completely up to you and what you are familiar with. As far as PFS, you will have to read the information on that to determine.
-- david
Okay! So it looks like I just need to get more information via PFS, then. I downloaded the guide for it, but it doesn't mention all too much about pbp, which is most of where my questions stem from, haha... /facepalm
Thanks, David. :)
Anyone else willing to chip in on the PFS stuff? c:
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1. I know there's a recruitment area, a discussion area, and a gameplay area - when I've played games here, they're always connected, but... They don't seem to be so tied together in the forums themselves? How do I actually go about setting up/making an area for those three things?
You first create the recruitment thread. Then, in the top of it, will ask you if you want to create a campaign for the recruitment, and then you can create the campaign and discussion areas for the campaign.
2. How do I close recruitment when I've got my players?
There is no "check box" for it. You just announce which players got in, and thank the rest. The thread remains "open", if unused. Sometimes you need to recruit a replacement. You can use it again, for example.
3. I understand that pbp runs the risk of losing players/GMs. I'm definitely planning to, you know, not disappear, because I don't wanna be a butt, but... Well. How do you keep players from disappearing? Granted, I'm aware that's not always something you control, in which case... Do you normally keep alternates to fill in slots if someone disappears?
You can try and make a great game, but real life has a nasty habit of eating players, good and bad, new and old. It happens.
You can try to keep alternates, also to ask your current players for "recommendations".4. This module also appears to be a Pathfinder Society Special? Does that mean I could run this for PFS or is there something special I have to do to be able to GM for that? I've looked through the PFS pages but I could have missed the info relevant to this question. o: If there are conditions I need to fill, what are they?
No sure. I know there are. I recommend you, as it is your first game, to skip it for now.
5. Do GMs use additional pieces/systems like the Hero Point system or anything of that nature in their games for PFS?
Not sure... but as I said, I recommend you keep it simple for now.
Okay, that's fair. c: I think that tells me what I need to know to try the module out. I'll come back to PFS stuff later on if I decide I like it enough to stick it out. ^o^ Thank you!
First let me tell you I started with a "big ol' AP" Iron Gods. Personally I felt the commitment was a good thing it forced me to focus.
There were a few things I needed to work out due to style that I would suggest thinking about.
Personally I do not like theatre of the mind for combat, I like maps. Google docs has been great for that.
Next was how to keep GM notes for an on-line game. I went with a slide show in googel docs because it let me cut and past into the maps I mentioned earlier.
For your questions
1 and 2 already answered well.
3. My current players had a comment on this. No one ever left because the GM posted too much. Respond to players, keep them engaged, and they will most likely be engaged. If that doesn't engage them there is little you can do.
4. If you want to run PFS I suggest Flackseed Lounge (a thread on here) it is great for PFS recruitment and if you look around has great info.
Alrighty, I'll ask my PFS questions there. c: Thanks!