Play by post seems like an excellent way to get some gaming in for those with busy schedules or those with no local groups to play. Yet most PBP games in my experience rarely get off the ground and if they do they tend to have a flurry of activity then slow down to single line posts.
So why is this? What can be done by both GMs and Players to mitigate this? What practices and requirements can be put in place up front that will keep a game going long term?
Discuss!
Edited by Jawa4thewinYou need three things:
If you are inconsistent as a GM, your game is going to suffer for it. If you allow inconsistency in your players without addressing it, the game will suffer for it. Be consistent, and be up front about your expectations regarding the consistency of your players. That is the only real way you can ensure that your game stays active.
All the normal stuff that applies to tabletop games applies to PbP games: don't be a jerk, let people know when you can't make it, be a good team player, be collaborative and flexible, all that good stuff. But PbP requires activity. Be up front about your expectations, hold the players accountable to those expectations, and just be as active as possible. If a player drops out, replace them quick. If a player has a planned time away, just roll without them until they can return. If a player is taking longer than the expected timeframe to respond, just make a note to that player that you'll come back to them when they're able to post, and move on.
All that said, players are going to stick around if it's fun. So focus on the fun most of all, and the rest should fall together pretty easily
2 hours ago, Jawa4thewin said:Play by post seems like an excellent way to get some gaming in for those with busy schedules or those with no local groups to play. Yet most PBP games in my experience rarely get off the ground and if they due they tend to have a flurry of activity then slow down to single line posts.
So why is this? What can be done by both GMs and Players to mitigate this? What practices and requirements can be put in place up front that will keep a game going long term?
Discuss!
he put due instead of dew. hehe
6 minutes ago, HeMandolorian said:he put due instead of dew. hehe
actually it should have been do
8 minutes ago, HeMandolorian said:he put due instead of dew. hehe
1 minute ago, Jawa4thewin said:actually it should have been do
that be the joke.
When you’re doing a game with voice chat, awkward silence is really awkward. So any time the game stalls, somebody says something that forces it to move on.
When you’re doing a game with text, awkward silence is much less awkward. So it just stays silent.
I am currently in a PBP and big pauses by other players are somewhat killing the experience. I appreciate other people have activities outside the game but we all committed to once a day posting but we don't tend to see this...
Like it was said above consistency is key.
On 3/20/2019 at 5:24 PM, Jawa4thewin said:So why is this? What can be done by both GMs and Players to mitigate this? What practices and requirements can be put in place up front that will keep a game going long term?
I have found that people (in general) tend to either over-commit or overestimate how much time they have to put into it. Similar to how people IRL can tend to take on too much (with sincere intentions) but then fall through on what they promised or are late on everything. They're simply not good judges of what they can handle. The enthusiasm to play is there when they find themselves with lots of free time on their hands, but when life gets a bit more busy a month later, they disappear.
Some simply do not have pbp worked into their daily or weekly routine. It helps A LOT to have a routine (i.e. check email, check Facebook, check sports scores, pay bills online, check PBP, etc...). Do it before bed, during break time, do it on a certain day (Mondays), etc... I have about 5 things I do when it comes to "computer time". Any more than that and I forget stuff.
As a GM, a lull in action can kill. Better to move on (and keep up the pace) rather than wait for a player. People need thick skin to accept that if they get busy IRL that missing a little action for the sake of the game is okay. Sometimes the GM can roll for that player for a turn or two.
IMO, PBP has to move quickly and have jumps in the story that lead to action. Some things just don't play well on PBP (shopping, spending credits, chit-chat with npc's, walking around town, etc...) At a tabletop, it's interaction time. In a PBP, it's "boring". Everything a GM posts should lead to, or end in a request for, a player action. GM requests for individual rolls should be minimal (initiative, actions) because it takes time for 4-5 players to all make a single roll and chime in. Group Rolls (one roll) are a great time-saver. As in both kinds of games, rolling dice and doing what your character is made to do are fun. Perhaps, PBP needs to cater more to this.
It helps to have committed, consistent players.
Most of our games are a year old, or older. That's pretty good. Many who play in a game also GM a game. That helps, too! New players are welcome.
http://friendsandnemesis.000webhostapp.com/gaming/phpBB3/index.php