Are Solo PbP Games Uncommon?

[Kaodi]

Well, are they?

Sorry, I guess that may be more than a little rude of me, seeing as most threads on this forum are actually recruitment and OOC instead of discussion.

I was just wondering, as I have never played PbP before, but I need my D&D fix more often, especially since my group may be dissolving in a couple months unless the two remaining players other than myself are amiable to me taking the reins of DM and just having the two of them. Of us, I am the one that commutes, 45 minutes, and they walk or bike, so I hope it works out.

There was the one solo Eberron game which I showed interest in, but I was not selected, entirely through my own fault. Basically, if I were to hold my breath for another chance like that to come along, would I expire?

As for why I'm interested in solo games, I would say that it is because of the PbP games I have read, I get turned off because between the multiple players, the story does not seem very concise. That too, the preconception that a PbP game should be recognizable in unaltered form as a story, is perhaps my fault as well. If I were to play in a normal game, I might find it more interesting because the individual actions mattered to me. Who knows.

I suppose another logical extension of this is that it may be useful to try and DM a solo game, but I think it would be foolish to try with no real DMing experience, and no real PbP experience. If it were to happen, it would be Eberron.

That is all for me to say at the moment, until I see some of your thoughts on the matter.

 

[hafrogman]

If you hold your breath, you will pass out. Technically your body would start breathing again, but you'd still be waiting a long time.

They just aren't a common occurance. Can't say exactly why, but one reason among others is that if you tried to recruit for one, you'd likely get a dozen or more applicants to choose from.

 

[James Heard]

What do you need a massive apparatus like ENWorld to run a solo PbP game with though? You could manage a solo game with email, which is what I always thought that most of the people who really really had to have solo games probably did. That way you'd not be adding a two person thread to the already overloaded ENWorld servers.

 

[Velmont]

Well, I overload ENWorld. I am running a solo game here. When I do the recruitment, there was only one person who answer after a week. Lucky for me, it was a good player, and it still running (look in my signature: Bordell's Tales if you want to take a look).

I have seen pretty few solo game here. JH must be right, but I favor personally to run it on a board rather than mail. I think also, there si few recruitment as when you run a solo game, you have to choose wisely your player or your master. Mastering ask much more effort and you dont want your game to die because your only player is not someone with the will to play.

I wanted for some times to play a solo game as a player, but being frustrated, I decided to run a solo game as a master. The game is running at average speed (a post every other day in average).

But Kaodi, you make a point, too many game are 'Make a character and we play!' and no effort are made to link the characters background, to create a cohesive group of (5?) character with some group motivation rather than 5 individuals with 5 individuals goals (or with none).

Also, if you wnt to join a game, you can always join the living world that are running here. you have Living ENWorld, a D&D homebrew world created by all the players/masters, running with SRD and only approved content avalaible in the forum (in other word, you can play without a book, as all is avalaible on the net). You have living Supers, a game of Super Heroes that is running with Mutant and Masterminds 2nd Edition. Still small, but growing. And you have the new Living Eberron. This game, opposite to Living ENWorld, need books if you want to access to all the rules allowed. It has started a few weeks ago only.

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, are they?

Yes. Sorry.

Sorry, I guess that may be more than a little rude of me, seeing as most threads on this forum are actually recruitment and OOC instead of discussion.

This sort of thread isn't uncommon--asking about PbP games in general, generation some PbP-related discussion... it's not rude of you at all.

There was the one solo Eberron game which I showed interest in, but I was not selected, entirely through my own fault. Basically, if I were to hold my breath for another chance like that to come along, would I expire?

Probably. Particularly seeing as how people can't hold their breaths for more than a minute or two. They're pretty rare and, by their nature, they take very few people. They're few and far between and it's definitely hard to get in them (high demand, low supply).

As for why I'm interested in solo games, I would say that it is because of the PbP games I have read, I get turned off because between the multiple players, the story does not seem very concise.

I can relate to this. This is common in games that take on six or more players. In my experience, a maximum party size of 4 or 5 is ideal for a cohesive story--it's enough to have a solid party, and it's harder to roleplay (and remember) interactions with larger groups than that. I'd say to you to not discount games with party sizes up to 3 or 4 (though fewer than 4 is very rare anyway).

I suppose another logical extension of this is that it may be useful to try and DM a solo game, but I think it would be foolish to try with no real DMing experience, and no real PbP experience. If it were to happen, it would be Eberron.

Hey, I'll play it.

PbP experience isn't necessary for starting up a PbP game as a player or as a GM. You tend to get into the swing of things pretty quickly (particularly in PbP time, which is much slower paced than a FtF game). GM experience is more than likely very helpful, though I imagine if you have a knack for it, it's not necessary either.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

If I ever find myself with a lot of time, I'd like to run a campaign where the players start in different parts of the world, but are fighting against the same BBEG's master plan. All the players would be run in a solo manner, but they would have a chance to meet, also.

 

[Velmont]

I suppose another logical extension of this is that it may be useful to try and DM a solo game, but I think it would be foolish to try with no real DMing experience, and no real PbP experience. If it were to happen, it would be Eberron.

Hey, I'll play it.

Hey... you already play in at least one solo game, give some chance to other to try it as a player

 

[Kaodi]

Living Eberron

I've been looking at the Living Eberron pages, and I've been building some stats. Maybe I'll give that a try. The Tower Shard or whatever it is called seems like it would be a good place to practice PbP conversation at least, and would I be incorrent to assume that just because you have an approved character, doesn't mean you have to get up and start adventuring right away?

Anyway, I'd look at DMing if I PbP starts to grow on me. I'd advise one thing in my early games at least though: Expect to either die or be defeated, at least once. Hopefully just the latter, but possibly the former. I tend towards being a fan of a tough opening.

 

[Jdvn1]

If I ever find myself with a lot of time, I'd like to run a campaign where the players start in different parts of the world, but are fighting against the same BBEG's master plan. All the players would be run in a solo manner, but they would have a chance to meet, also.

That's a neat idea, actually.

 

[Jdvn1]

Hey... you already play in at least one solo game, give some chance to other to try it as a player

Actually, I expressed interest in the most recent solo game as well, but I pulled out of it for partially that reason. Solo games are fun, though! More GMs should consider running small themed games (solo, duo, three, etc...)