Post by Adam on Aug 2, 2013 22:59:16 GMT -8
How To: Play-By-Post Games is intended to be a collection of resources for players and game masters interested in using these forums to run their own games. So. Without further ado...
The Basics
Starting a Game
How to Format Your Threads and Posts
Quick 'N' Easy Campaign Document Template
The Basics
1. What the heck is a play-by-post (PbP) game?
2. How the heck do you play a PbP game?
3. Okay, I'll bite, how do I play?
A play-by-post, or PbP, game is essentially the text-based, web forum version of any game that you would normally play with a group of friends face-to-face at a table. In the context of these forums, that probably means RPGS like D&D and Vampire: the Masquerade.
2. How the heck do you play a PbP game?
It's really easy. You have a GM, you have players. The GM explains what is happening. The players react to it. PbP is simply Table Top gaming in written form. There will be more detail on specifics later on.
3. Okay, I'll bite, how do I play?
Start by going to the Looking For Group (Recruitment) forum and see which games are currently looking for players. Whatever you do, DO NOT post a thread in an IC forum asking to join. You can also create a profile in the Player Directoryor Game Master Directory in order to let potential players and GMs know what you're all about.
Starting a Game
1. Getting Started
2. Assemble Your Crew
3. Character Creation and Posting Characters
4. The Final Touches
First and foremost, the GM needs to establish the parameters of the game. What system is going to be used? What materials are available? How are characters going to be generated? Deciding on these things now will keep things running smoothly in the future. They're also pretty intrinsic to gaming. It usually helps to write up a campaign document. More on those later.
2. Assemble Your Crew
Take your idea and make a thread for it on the Looking For Group (Recruitment) forum. Tell the people how many players you want or what kind of GM you're looking for. In my experience, GMs ask for a bit of backstory, and then select players based on the quality of the narration or premise. Consider length (too short/too long), quality, clarity, and creativity when writing said backstory.
3. Character Creation and Posting Characters
The GM should establish the guidelines for character creation as soon as possible. FOr the sake of equality, it is generally recommended that d20 players/GMs use point buy or shared stats. There are two ways to post your character's stats. One is to simply post a stat block in the games OOC thread. The second is to use a website that hosts character databases.
4. The Final Touches
So you have players, you have characters, you've discussed how often you're going to post... now it is time to create threads in the proper places. First, create a new OOC (Out of Character) thread here: Out of Character and then post an IC (in character) thread here: Play-By-Post Make sure that you include the title of your game as the title of both threads, and make sure that your players know which thread is theirs in both locations. If you feel like it, read some on-going games to see how things work.
How to Format Your Threads and Posts
Whenever you create a thread for a game, it's always best if you format your threads and posts nicely, so that they are easy and pleasant to look at and read.
Generally, posts should be written in prose, from a third person, past-tense point of view. Remember that you are not an omniscient narrator (unless you're the GM) but are instead somewhat unreliable colored by your characters knowledge, thoughts, and preferences. The GM may set guidelines for post formats, and it is best to follow them even if they are not your preference.
Here are a couple of examples. The first is generic. The second is how a post might actually look.
So. How does this look if you were to put it all together? Boy am I glad you asked!
Sometimes players reserve colors for character speech. Try to remember proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation (speech patterns/accents not withstanding), bad sentences lead to bad understanding which can lead to mistakes and other bad things. If you are unsure of your post's clarity, run it by your GM before you post it.
Rather than posting die rolls in the actual content of your in-character thread, your GM may request that your post your rolls in a thread on the Dice Rolls sub-board in the OOC forum.
Generally, posts should be written in prose, from a third person, past-tense point of view. Remember that you are not an omniscient narrator (unless you're the GM) but are instead somewhat unreliable colored by your characters knowledge, thoughts, and preferences. The GM may set guidelines for post formats, and it is best to follow them even if they are not your preference.
Here are a couple of examples. The first is generic. The second is how a post might actually look.
Your characters actions are written as you would read them in a novel. Usually you will use your normal text to talk about your character doing things. Many people use italics to denote something that their character is thinkingAnd it is important to differentiate character speech from the regular prose and thoughts.
"For example, your character might speak in a blue font.Or perhaps you prefer to simply bold character speech."Either way, making speech different helps other players tell what's what.
It's also a good idea to separate paragraphs at logical points such as breaks in the action, or breaks for speech, like you normally would if you were writing a story. Also, try not to post one-liners. No one is expecting you to write a copy of War and Peace in your response, but strive for more than "Arg smacked him," which is stupid and boring. Instead you could say something like, "Arg the Orc, roaring ferociously, reached back and struck the noisy Paladin with the only weapon available to him, his large green hand."
((OOC information is typically put between some kind of parentheses or brackets. I prefer the double parentheses, but some people have other preferences. Try to keep OOC in the IC thread to a minimum. If you must use it in the IC thread, try using brackets, parentheses, or even better, the spoiler button.))
Other marks may be used for different things. These should be explained in the OOC thread before being used, obviously.
Also, the most important thing, stay IN CHARACTER in the IN CHARACTER thread.
"For example, your character might speak in a blue font.Or perhaps you prefer to simply bold character speech."Either way, making speech different helps other players tell what's what.
It's also a good idea to separate paragraphs at logical points such as breaks in the action, or breaks for speech, like you normally would if you were writing a story. Also, try not to post one-liners. No one is expecting you to write a copy of War and Peace in your response, but strive for more than "Arg smacked him," which is stupid and boring. Instead you could say something like, "Arg the Orc, roaring ferociously, reached back and struck the noisy Paladin with the only weapon available to him, his large green hand."
((OOC information is typically put between some kind of parentheses or brackets. I prefer the double parentheses, but some people have other preferences. Try to keep OOC in the IC thread to a minimum. If you must use it in the IC thread, try using brackets, parentheses, or even better, the spoiler button.))
Other marks may be used for different things. These should be explained in the OOC thread before being used, obviously.
Also, the most important thing, stay IN CHARACTER in the IN CHARACTER thread.
So. How does this look if you were to put it all together? Boy am I glad you asked!
The bar grew silent as the Paladin's challenge fell upon their ears. The orc who was the target of that challenge set his tankard down on the bar, stood from his stool, and turned around. Wrath was written plainly on his dumb green features.
"Shining Man won't let Arg finish drink. Shining Man thinks he is better than Arg. Arg will t each Shining Man to LEAVE. ARG. ALONE!"
Suddenly the roaring orc hurled his tankard across the room, charging after it in a blind fury.
((What's the damage on a tankard anyway? I mean, assuming I hit...?))
Ranged Attack: [roll=d20+3] (unfortunately, the die-rolling script doesn't work with quotes or spoilers... yet. Maybe sometime soon?)
Damage: TBD?
"Shining Man won't let Arg finish drink. Shining Man thinks he is better than Arg. Arg will t each Shining Man to LEAVE. ARG. ALONE!"
Suddenly the roaring orc hurled his tankard across the room, charging after it in a blind fury.
((What's the damage on a tankard anyway? I mean, assuming I hit...?))
Ranged Attack: [roll=d20+3] (unfortunately, the die-rolling script doesn't work with quotes or spoilers... yet. Maybe sometime soon?)
Damage: TBD?
Sometimes players reserve colors for character speech. Try to remember proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation (speech patterns/accents not withstanding), bad sentences lead to bad understanding which can lead to mistakes and other bad things. If you are unsure of your post's clarity, run it by your GM before you post it.
Rather than posting die rolls in the actual content of your in-character thread, your GM may request that your post your rolls in a thread on the Dice Rolls sub-board in the OOC forum.
Quick 'N' Easy Campaign Document Template
Remember way back in "Starting a Game" when I said "It usually helps to write up a campaign document. More on those later." Well, it's later, and here's what I was talking aout.
Here is the blank template for you to copy and paste!
System: D&D? What version? GURPS? What are we playing?
Player Count: How many people will be allowed in this campaign?
Style of Play: Is it primarily role-playing or hack 'n' slash? What am I getting into?
Allowed Content: The books/sites/etc. you will be letting people use.
Character Creation:Where/how do you want us to generate character sheets?
Backstory:What are you looking for here in terms of detail?
Starting Experience: (e.g. 1st level, # of points in GURPS)
Wealth:How much money do we get to spend on cool stuff?
Ability Scores:How are these generated? 4d6 drop lowest? Or...?
HP/Health:How are these generated? Max? Average? Rolled?
Alignment:Are there any restrictions on alignment?
Other Notes: Anything else we should know?
Player Count: How many people will be allowed in this campaign?
Style of Play: Is it primarily role-playing or hack 'n' slash? What am I getting into?
Allowed Content: The books/sites/etc. you will be letting people use.
- Title 1
- Title 2
- Title 3
Character Creation:Where/how do you want us to generate character sheets?
Backstory:What are you looking for here in terms of detail?
Starting Experience: (e.g. 1st level, # of points in GURPS)
Wealth:How much money do we get to spend on cool stuff?
Ability Scores:How are these generated? 4d6 drop lowest? Or...?
HP/Health:How are these generated? Max? Average? Rolled?
Alignment:Are there any restrictions on alignment?
Other Notes: Anything else we should know?
Here is the blank template for you to copy and paste!
[b]System:[/b]
[b]Player Count:[/b]
[b]Style of Play:[/b]
[b]Allowed Content:[/b]
[ul type="square"]
[li]Title 1[/li]
[li]Title 2[/li]
[li]Title 3[/li]
[/ul]
[b]Character Creation:[/b]
[b]Backstory:[/b]
[b]Starting Experience:[/b]
[b]Wealth:[/b]
[b]Ability Scores:[/b]
[b]HP/Health:[/b]
[b]Alignment:[/b]
[b]Other Notes:[/b]