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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Reprisal" data-source="post: 213044" data-attributes="member: 1161">PBEM, PBP and mIRC!Oh my! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> ... ... Okay, that was lame, but still, I believe there are several ways to play a traditional RPG online: (I'm going to exclude Massive Multiplayer RPGs, and CRPGs.)1) mIRC - (Chatroom Roleplaying) Generally an event online where the DM and the Players get together around a fictional table and play out a campaign online in realtime.  They tend to use dicerollers to help solve the problems of combat.  Of all the different types of online play, this is the one most similar to sitting around the table, and perhaps the easiest to understand.2) Play By E-Mail - (E-Mail RPing) PBEM is perhaps the style of online play that I understand the least, so I will be quick.  The DM and Players are aware of each other's e-mail addresses and play their games through this medium.  I would believe that the DM receives all of the material written by the players, and acts as a central hub which sifts through all the information, refines it for each player, and sends it to them.  I would think that there's less mechanics involved in this type of style, as it's hard to get some dice-rolling going over such a long period of time.3) Play By Post - (Message Board RPing) PBP can be summed up in a link to the <a href="http://test.cyberstreet.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=15" target="_blank">In Character Forum</a>.  The DM starts a single thread, or many threads, and runs the game much in the way that they would an e-mail game.  The advantage with a Message board game is the centricity of the game itself.  The game is always there, and PBP seems to act as a medium between the real-time of mIRC play, and the detail level of E-Mail play.  Of all the different kinds of game, I think I like this style the best for its collection of advantages.Personally, I think that I would enjoy running or playing in a PBP game, though I doubt I'd have the time to do so... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" />  Still, online play seems to be something of a threshold for good gamers.  To commit to a game, you know that the players are willing to put the time in on the game itself.  Also, the degree of focus on the game is also a great benefit.  When someone posts to a game, they aren't hampered by real-time distractions like other players quoting inconsequential stuff from The Simpsons or ( <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f621.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":mad:" title="Mad    :mad:"  data-smilie="4"data-shortname=":mad:" /> ) some online comic you've never heard of...It's a neat experience, and I've had the privilege of playing in something of a Macro-RPG where we take on the roles of leaders of nations.  In essence, we play both our characters, and our nations.  It was fun! I'd recommend online play to anyone interested in some focused gaming with enthusiastic players.</blockquote>

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