OT: PBEM Role Playing

from Stardock Forums
Anyone on this board has any experience running PBEM role playing games as the game master?

It's a great concept of running a traditional RPG game but through a forum much like this one. Very simply, the GM posts the scenarios/adventure and the players would post their actions, conversations, etc. The GM does all the dice rolling and resolutions in the background.

We already have people on this board who have expressed an interest to participate as players but we need someone who would be willing to be the GM. Of course, it would be best if the GM has experience with this mode of RPG.

Any takers? :)

~SDC~
3,974 views 205 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Have you an email addy you can let me have - my other half has much involvement in such things....

Alex


~SDC~
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
The call for players have not really been made yet, vincible. I sounded out a couple of us in chat and some expressed interest.

The current need is for a GM.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Ray,
would this be a PBEM Galciv game or Galciv based world? What rule base are you considering? I've played PBEM role playing games before, but in my experience they tend to be far to slow to keep players interested. Chat versions tend to work much better as they tend to move at a decent pace. You can even download specialised chat programs fopr this purpose.

Paul.

~SDC~
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm actually just introduced to this concept by JordanVmp. Was thinking more about a fantasy setting but a Galciv setting can work as well. Depends what players like.

Chat certainly sounds like it would be faster paced but there is an issue of gathering everyone together. I for one am in an odd time zone here in Singapore.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Intriguing concept - I wonder if it would be enough of the original fun to be worth it. IMO there's few better ways to waste quality time than gaming; whether it's a social MMORPG or the traditional pen and paper setup. :D RL probably wont allow me the time to participate for a few months, but I'd be interested to know how it goes.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, the pace of the game is really dictated by the GM. If you have a competent GM, they don't wait around for all the slow-pokes to bother posting. In the pbems I run I generally post every couple of days, regardless of the slackers. If they miss out on something good, they miss out. :) I've got one game that's been running for almost 2 years, one that's almost a year, and then I just started 1 in June, so it's pretty new. Obviously, I'm too busy to GM anything new. :)
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Good news for all who are following this.

Mexal (arobertson's other half and a very experienced Dungeon Master) is willing to DM for us. She is suggesting using the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) rule-base for an adventure in a traditional fantasy setting.

I'm currently discussing with her on setting this up.

It is very likely that we would be looking for players soon, so do think about whether you would like to be part of this adventure.

In the pirate adventure that JordanVmp runs, she does summaries of the action every once a while. It would be great if we could have that as well so that I could post them on this board for everyone's enjoyment.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I might be interested, depending on the rate of play. Bad thing is I must ind which e-mail of mine gets redirected to both real e-mails I use in week and week ends...
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I could give it a go. Never done play-by-email myself so I don't know how well it works. I could imagine it being really slow if you have to do combat one round at a time and wait for replies.


~SDC~
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, I'll definitely play. Has our potential GM ever done pbem before? Are we going to use the 3E ruleset?

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Hello - as you are talking about this proposed PBEM game, I thought it might be a good idea to stick my head in to meet you all :-)

What I am thinking of is a D&D (3rd Edn) game, probably using a mailing list. I'd like to have 4-6 players. I tend to a fairly free-flow style, and I more or less live on-line (when awake and not standing in front of my students!). I aim for ROLE-playing rather than combat, although I'm sure you'll sometimes get into fights. For a PBEM, I prefer to be fairly free-form about things like combat, rather than the meticulous round-by-round and move your figure around a map that some folks like for table-top play; so it should not take too long even for the slower posters.

I'm busy plotting, and once we have some players we can begin. I'll work individually with each player to develop a character - if you know D&D 3e, that will help but don't worry if you do not, I'll happily explain.

Hugs and kisses,

Mexal.
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
my head in to meet you all
End of quote


Hmmm - can we have on-line maritals here too????

:)

Alex


~SDC~
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
So I am going to have to encrypt all the scenario files to keep you out, am I, dearly beloved?

Mexal.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, the recruitment for players begins!

Since we are only looking for 4-6 players, it's going to be on a first-come-first serve basis based on firm indications, pls.

So far, JordanVmp and myself have indicated that we will definitely play. So 2 slots are already taken.

vincible, Matthew, Gordeleth and LDiCesare says they are interested but would like to find out more. We need 2-4 more firm commitments.

Mexal, can you give you more details on this? I'm not too familiar with D&D 3E myself.
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Do you have a preferred class, JordanVmp?

I'm leaning towards magic-user but slightly deterred by the fact that low level mages get very few spells to play with everyday. Do mages get cantrips and more than 1 1L spell under 3E rules?

But since this adventure is more role-playing than combat, should be alright.

~SDC~
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
Count me in. I found my correctly redirected e-mail back :).
I'd be in for a bard/fighter. Not familiar with 3rd Ed., though I played a lot of 2nd Ed and many other systems tabletop back when I had time for that.
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Great. 3 slots filled now. 1-3 players more to go.

Player/Tentative Class
LDiCesare - Fighter/Bard
Ray - Mage
JordanVmp - ?

Hmm, maybe I should also multi-class and go for mage/thief (my Neverwinter Nights combo).

~SDC~
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Count me in.

Haven't played D&D 3rd edition in a few years. Should be fun.

Paul.

~SDC~
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
Great, Paul. We now have our minimum 4-player party formed up so we are ready to go. :)

Will leave the door open for 2 more players to sign up.

Jordan, Mexal - Are you able to elaborate a bit on PBEM role-playing for vincible and Matthew?

~SDC~
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
And me? I want in too, if I'm not too late . . . hehe.
My circumstances have just been changed somewhat for the better. Would being on-line for an hour or so a day be enough to participate I don't have the internet at work anymore? :notsure:
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Great. I thought you wouldn't be able to join us this time round due to the RL circumstances, Cotal.
I don't think the commitment per day is going to be that high so you will probably do alright.

So now we have 5 players. 1 more slot remaining.

Cotal, so will it be a Xena/Amazon character for you? :)
~SDC~
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