http://roleplayinggames.net/cgi-bin/mainboard.cgi?&board=120

Just throwing this out there if anyone has time to read through it and give feedback. We are almost done with session 1. I want the feedback to help improve session 2.

I have a question that's come up each combat. What is the most effective way to slot PCs after initiative? At the table it's much faster to trade slots but commutating through Pbp takes much longer. I just ruled that PCs have first chance at the slot they rolled but not sure if there's a faster way. I don't need the correct rules, I am familiar, im looking for best PBP ways to do it.

In the game in which I'm playing, so far we've claimed the slots as they come up in a separate Out Of Character thread

Heya killerbeardhawk? (I'm one of the players in that game.)

I think that the basic system works very well for PbP. Usually it will be pretty clear which PCs will want to attack before the baddies and a quick discussion in the OOC can usually establish as much. In the games I've played in this system is usually the one that is used without much problems.

One game uses a simpler initiative system, where the best PC rolls and the best NPC. The side that wins goes first (yes, all of them) and then the side that loses. This is simpler, but rather dangerous if the side that goes first gangs up on one target. For example, if you have a nasty Nemesis you want to survive at least a round or two in combat and the PCs go first, if they concentrate on him he is very probably in deep excrement.

Kymrel, I realized exact rolled slots is too much to wait on. I'm more or less grouping the PCs, that rolled better than NPCs, to be able to act when they can post. Anyone who rolled worse should wait.

Tho I am tempted to slot all NPCs together so I only have to make one post in the future, but this might cause more problems than it solves.

i will say its much easier when all the NPC's act together, its has less of the tactical element that is present in the live version of playing this system, but there is much less waiting if the NPC's all act as a single group.

Sure. The GM just has to keep things "fair", as in not having all the stormtroopers shoot the same guy, taking him out in the first round without a chance to defend himself. But most GMs do that anyway I guess. The bad guys are not stupid (well, most of the time) but few tactical units are coordinated enough in a skirmish to all shoot the exact same guy. And why would they when they can shoot (and hopefully kill) multiple targets?

If you're playing the PCs versus Minions, the minions all attack as a group anyway

True, but you will usually have more than one group of minions, and perhaps a rival or two along for the ride...

I also play in this game. I actually think the standard force and destiny initiative rules are well suited to pbp. As any player can take any PC slot, whoever's available at the start of the combat can take the early slots, and people who come on later can take the later ones.

As an aside, I sometimes find this initiative system annoying in a face to face game, as it can slow things down as the players discuss who should take which slot. But the flexibility of it I think speeds up pbp

I bumping this thread up as we have finished session 1 and are starting a second. once again if anyone wants to read through and give feedback that would be great!

Great looking group!