tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post2491597520762830500..comments2023-08-09T23:49:41.885-04:00Comments on Rule of the Dice: 3 Reasons Why PBEM SucksJohn Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940190831705865182noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-34931098400391189922011-03-10T17:33:41.820-05:002011-03-10T17:33:41.820-05:00Ayup. Every single one of those drawbacks is true....Ayup. Every single one of those drawbacks is true. Especially the whole time-sink thing.<br /><br />I've learned very quickly that my loose planning style is not a good way to run a PbP game and I imagine the same is true of PBEM. You need to be more prepared and be verbose about certain events, and that can really be a big drain.<br /><br />I know one guy who manages it with a very strict schedule. He updates his game twice a week, no matter what, and it's that rigidity that keeps him going through the lulls and the highs. I mean, we all have that time at the start of a game when everything is moving fast and everyone is posting like mad, but then it slackens off, usually thanks to real life, and suddenly a game that might have updated twice a day is only updating once a week and the players who want it faster will begin to drop and loose interest. I've heard that by tempering your players expectations at the very beginning and not giving in to the urge to post frequently, it will get you a more dedicated playerbase.<br /><br />I, however, am far too impulsive to ever find out. :PJoe Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-63055653746462296942011-03-09T21:03:13.548-05:002011-03-09T21:03:13.548-05:00It's a whole different ballgame. Some people ...It's a whole different ballgame. Some people like to be able to take their time, plot out what they're going to say/do. But I can appreciate missing some of the speed and chaos.CDGallant_Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-16635367802796420072011-03-09T21:01:33.161-05:002011-03-09T21:01:33.161-05:00Enthusiasm helps greatly. Plus, I find that some ...Enthusiasm helps greatly. Plus, I find that some people are even more enthusiastic online, because they can choose when and where they play, which makes them more comfortable and thus more creative.<br /><br />I look forward to hearing about your experiences.CDGallant_Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-64990661306712268802011-03-09T20:59:51.196-05:002011-03-09T20:59:51.196-05:00The rolling is a fairly minor piece of the puzzle,...The rolling is a fairly minor piece of the puzzle, though I do think I'm going to give you the option to use a dice rolling server in the next adventure. <br /><br />I don't believe playing via chat would work with our group. You've seen our chat sessions. I just can't picture it being productive.CDGallant_Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-49048652960682615062011-03-08T19:00:01.866-05:002011-03-08T19:00:01.866-05:00You covered it pretty well. I wish I could play PB...You covered it pretty well. I wish I could play PBEM or PBP, but I've tried them both and I just can't keep my focus without the minute-to-minute excitement of in-person gaming.Tequila Sunrisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-68653852775954018662011-03-08T16:59:50.772-05:002011-03-08T16:59:50.772-05:001 word.... Emoticons!
Just kidding. I see your po...1 word.... Emoticons!<br /><br />Just kidding. I see your point, but if your players take the time to describe the scene and write speach as first person, the nuances can come across pretty well.Jsalvatorinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-68787077589684467632011-03-08T16:21:41.617-05:002011-03-08T16:21:41.617-05:00A drawback would be that people cannot apply the l...A drawback would be that people cannot apply the leverage of face to face communications, rather it is written and interpreted.Typhoon Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-57809806692707316072011-03-08T14:23:27.776-05:002011-03-08T14:23:27.776-05:00I'll be doing a series of posts on my experien...I'll be doing a series of posts on my experiences playing CoC pbem and the guidelines I've knocked up from that. I hope to get it up and running by Friday (provisionally).<br /><br />It may well address some of the stuff you've outlined above. <br /><br />I found the pbem wholly entertaining and, given that I can't get a tabletop group together, a very good gaming experience. It has drawbacks, but nothing that can't be overcome with a lot of enthusiasm and commitment - which all my players had in bucketloads!Daddy Grognardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-52061878767056574862011-03-08T09:51:06.998-05:002011-03-08T09:51:06.998-05:00If everyone in the group would just get a smartpho...If everyone in the group would just get a smartphone, the whole game would get a lot faster. Sure there would be an occasional dog vs. mars bar type interruption, but you would get much faster replies from the whole group.<br />For offloading some work - what if you have your players do their own rolling?<br />Then you just determine the hits and misses and get to do the more fun storytelling part...<br /><br />Of course if we could make a schedule work, there's alway "PBC" (play by chat).<br />If we each get our own bag of doritos, we're as close to the live thing as is possible from different ends of the province / country.Jsalvatorinoreply@blogger.com