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[Mithreander]

AH, yes, less is more... but then there are times, like now, when I'm twiddling my thumbs, hoping that something happens in one of the games I'm in or DMing.

It's times like this when I feel the great need to create a game or join another... and another... and another, just so I feel that I'm doing something.

As for Killing the game I was in... we know it was not you who 'killed' it, but I, so please allow me to reillistrate the point by saying I'm the one to put the game in it's death-thows. You happened to just be the one to put it out of it's missery.

Now, I'm wondering about my other two characters in Living EnWorld. They were in to adventures taht continued without them (for the reasons I outlined below), but I have no excuse to bring them back to the inn, or to pick them up again in the games they were in. I'm stuck. What would you suggest?

I actually feel I need to kill them off and start over, but that does not mesh well with what LEW is all about. Bah, thinking hurts.

 

[Creamsteak]

I know in the adventure of mine that your in, we've had you tag along and silently twiddle your thumbs this whole time. Your currently occupying the same space as Sullivan on the map, and I think the group could use a hand...

You can roll up initiative and decide what action you'd take if you want.

And I DO understand the "make another game" desire. I get it every now and then. More often, I end up wanting to create a new character, whether PC or NPC. That's why I made my own RG thread, and I'm always adding new characters to the pile.

 

[Mithreander]

That Rogue Thread Idea is not bad! I think i may do just that!

As to your '3' rules in keeping a game going... I think I'll try to incorperate them into the games I'm playing now. The third suggestion is one that I have not really given much thought to, but given the nature of a pbp, I thinks it's well placed. Already I've started to look into where the 'chapter' of my curent games will end.

As for Gregorian... I'll do that, and I think I'll ring into the other game as well, just to see if I'm welcome.

Thanks Creamsteak.

 

[Manzanita]

Mithreander, I was really enjoying your game, & I hope we get it going again. I wanted to add something to the 'how to DM' list. Though I no expert, I would say that you might be able to make it easier for yourself. I could tell that you spend a lot of time on your posts. It shows, and enriches the game. But you might consider trying to streamline it a bit if it would encourage you to post more often. For instance, you use the internet die roller, and link each roll to that page. That must take a lot of time, & I don't know that it adds much to the players' enjoyment. We all trust that you alre doing what you can to make it fun for us. If you muck with the rolls, that's fine with us. Perhaps there are some other things you could do to make it easier on yourself. It needs to be fun for the DM, as well.

 

[Mithreander]

Thank you for the suggestion, and I'll do exactly that. I did have a reason for doing that, two actually. First, I had in a previous game on another board, not post the results of my rolls, and do to what appeared like an unnatural trend, received challenges on my rolls. I thought to prevent that, but I see that most (actually all) of the dm's on this board decline to do so, which shines a favorable light on the players.

The second reason is because I enjoy seeing what comes up and how it effects the game, and want to share that experience with the players. In retrospect, waiting in anticipation for the rolls to come up form the roller or die is deferent then seeing the results spelled out, so the effort was mainly waisted, I think.

Another thing that I think would speed up things for me is a way to have access to the characters in the game on hand. I do this at work, so feel awkward having character sheets laying around my desk, so have been relying on the rogue galleries. Doing this is not bad, but my connection is... not the best, so it can take a while. Not only that, but every time I change screens, I have to relog in because the software applied to my computer does not allow for cookies to be generated. A real pain.

So I was hoping for some suggestions that amy help me in this little quandry.

 

[Manzanita]

Personally, I'm a spreadsheet addict. I have a spreadsheet for my DM game. I have stats summary for all the players on one sheet. maps on another, treasure accumulated, experience gained, battle sheets listing initative, actions as they occur, etc. This helps me efficiently keep up with combat that lasts for over a week.

I have another spreadsheet for all my PbP PCs. I can open this up when I log onto the boards and efficiently recall my PC's spells, equipment, comrades, game notes etc.

 

[Mithreander]

Anychance you can email me an example of one you used for a game you were DMing?

 

[Manzanita]

I just emailed you an excel spreadsheet, Mithreander. Hope you can get something out of it. Some of its pretty complicated. Note how I've had Excel determine the die rolls. This is quicker and easier than actually rolling the dice. (not as exciting for a tabletop game, perhaps, but it works for me in PbP). Note too, that I give experience points for post count and for roll playing, making my experience point page somewhat complex. Whenever I have combat, I have excel sort the participants based on their initiative, to keep it organized. I do my maps on Excel, pasting the map section onto Paint, then converting it to a jpeg.

 

[Storminator]

Personally, I'm a spreadsheet addict. I have a spreadsheet for my DM game. I have stats summary for all the players on one sheet. maps on another, treasure accumulated, experience gained, battle sheets listing initative, actions as they occur, etc. This helps me efficiently keep up with combat that lasts for over a week.

I have another spreadsheet for all my PbP PCs. I can open this up when I log onto the boards and efficiently recall my PC's spells, equipment, comrades, game notes etc.

With the tabs in Excel, there's no reason to have separate files. Put the PC sheets in the file with the other things, then you can link the summary sheet directly to the individual PCs. That way when the PC levels up, you don't need to worry about changing your stat sheet: it's automatic.

I also put the foes' stats on the summary sheet, and once an encounter or 2 has past, I send it out. That way the players can see the stats of beasties they've beaten. Sometime it quite surprises them.

PS

 

[Mithreander]

Wow, looks like I may have to educate myself in the use of Exel. Thanks!