New tools for PbP games - integrated dice roller and new forum tags

[Morrus]

We have a few new little toys for those playing PbP games. Nothing earth-shattering, but if you find them useful feel free to use them. If not, you don't have to.

[title]New Tags[/title]

There are three new forum tags you can use:

think is used for character thoughts. It looks like this:

			I am thinking about my dinner.

say is used for character speech. It looks like this:

			Hello, my name is Boris!

ooc is used for out-of-character comments. It looks like this:

OOC: Can I attack?

gm is used for GM comments and instructions. It looks like this:

GM: Roll for initiative!

You can also use the corresponding buttons in the post editor:

[title]Dice Roller[/title]

I'll be edting this section tomorrow, when we install our brand new secure integrated dice roller which attaches uneditable dice rolls to your posts. With pretty pictures of the dice.

​

 

[Walking Dad]

I like it, but the IC part of the post seems more stealthy than the ooc part. So the text that a bit breaks the verisimilitude is more highlighted than the roleplaying part...

 

[Walking Dad]

OOC: [sblock]This is hard to read![/sblock]

When you place a spoilerblock in an ooc field, it becomes hard to read.

 

[Morrus]

Combining the two kinda defeats the point, surely? Highighting and hiding somehting at the same time?

 

[Walking Dad]

In the PbP games I'm in, we use

ooc: the ooc text

or

[sblock=ooc]the ooc text[/sblock]

We do this to make the ooc posts more discreet. We don't want to highlight them.

We also use the spoilerblock to hide character sheets and other long texts passages, not because they are secret, but to avoid cluttering the post for the other players.

 

[Morrus]

Sounds like the ooc tag doesn't really have a function, then - no worries; I only added it because it was there. Perhaps people can find another use for it.

 

[Walking Dad]

Yes, options are always good

I would have really liked a spoiler block tag. The first thing new players in the PbP threads asks is how to do spoiler blocks... Is there already a tag? Do I just not find it?

BTW: here is a typical PbP post with it's ooc use (much ooc is also in the Action block):

[sblock=OOC]I'm back! I got worried, when I saw two pages of posts, but luckily it was strategy talk, and I didn't miss a round.
[/sblock]"Come on, dragon! What are you waiting for?" Gensai called out, challenging the dragon again. With his sword out in front of him, the Swordmage gripped his weapon tight, readying himself for a counter-attack.

"Where is that fearsome dragon breath of yours!? Attack me, if you are not a coward!"

[sblock=Action Block, Mini-Stats]
AoS on Dragon, Move, Total Defense.

Trigger (interrupt channeling shield): An attack hits Gensai or Rujah within 10 squares. If it hits both of us, target Rujah with the interrupt.

Seeya on Monday!
[sblock=Action Block]
Minor: Aegis of Shielding on Dragon
Move: to D21
Standard: Readied Action: If my channeling shield interrupt is triggered, I will then immediately use my Fey Strike Ranged Attack.
[sblock=ignore]

• Target: Dragon
• Attack: 1d20+9=24 - 1 =23
• Damage: 2d10+4=0 fire damage
• Effect: The creature is marked as if from your Swordmage Aegis power until the end of the encounter. This does not end existing marks placed by your Swordmage Aegis power, and using your Swordmage Aegis power to mark another enemy does not end this mark. Another creature’s mark supersedes this one.
• Effect 2: Until the end of the encounter, when you reduce the damage the target deals using aegis of shielding, the target takes fire damage equal to the amount of damage your aegis of shielding power prevents.

[/sblock]

[/sblock][sblock=Gensai Stat block]Ashikaga Gensai - Male Human Swordmage 5
Initiative: +2, Passive Perception: +12, Passive Insight: +18
Death Penalty: –1 to all attack rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks. This death penalty fades after reaching two milestones (0/2).

Defenses:
AC: 23, Fort: 16, Reflex: 18, Will: 15 -- Speed: 6

Vitality:
HP: 31/56, THP: 3/3 Bloodied: 28, Surge Value: 14, Surges left: 10/11
Action Points: 0/1, Second Wind: not used
Languages:
Common, Primordial

Basic Attacks:
Basic Melee Attack: +12 vs AC - Fey Strike Katana 1d8+6
Ranged Basic Attack: +12 vs AC - Fey Strike Katana 1d8+6 (1x Enc)

Powers:
At-Will: Sword Burst, Booming Blade, Lightning Lure, Aegis of Shielding, White Lotus Riposte
Encounter: Sword of Sigils, Dimensional Vortex, Channeling Shield, Fey Strike Ranged Attack, Fireheart Tattoo AP
Daily: Frost Backlash, Swordmage Shielding Fire, Armor of Sudden Recovery, Fey Strike Teleport

Weapons:
1 Fey Strike Katana (Fey Strike Longsword +1 stats)

Note: Gensai's Iaido-like style is for color purposes only. He is wielding one weapon and his off-hand is free. But, I think my color description makes more sense for swordmage abilities.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]

 

[Morrus]

Yes, there are two spoiler tags: sblock and spoiler.

The sblock tag is the spoiler block one.

 

[Walking Dad]

Not sure I understand you

I meant a quick button for a spoiler tag, like the new ooc one, in the post editor. I cannot find it (or is it a subscriber only feature?).

I attached a screen shot how the post editor looks on my screen.

 

[Morrus]

There isn't a button, no. Just the tags.

Just surround the text with {sblock}Your text here{/sblock} tags, where { and } are [ and ] respectively.

[sblock]Like this.[/sblock]

The {spoiler} tag works the same way and looks like this:

Spoiler

This is spoilered.

You need to highlight the black block to see what's written there.