Note: Long Post
Warring Status
This is a post from another game (Lord of the Rings) that I'm in. The DM is very particular about the game moving along (as you will see, esp. in the last paragraph), but I think that this method is a brilliant way of dealing with forseen absenses:
Warring Status Mode, Warring Method, Mode Time: A Way to Give Input Without Being There
I have been trying to think of a way to give control to players over there characters, even when they are hard pressed for time and cannot get to a computer except to fire off a few quick lines before they leave for business, study for finals, have relatives over for the holidays, etc.
What I have decided on is a way for a player to just type in three words, which will give me some input as to how to run their characters, what they will fight with, and how long they will be under this kind of "automatic pilot" mode. Here goes:
Warring Status Mode:
Aggressive - Character will actively move to destroy the enemy, often by charging. If stationary, will use anywhere from 50% to all of action allowance for (2-6) attacks. When in this mode, the character will only switch to Passive or Situational upon being damaged up to or below 33% of their Health left (-7 Incapacitated). They will never become Defensive.
Passive - Character will not actively move to destroy the enemy, but will defend and fight back to the point necessary to end the immediate fight (the opponent they are faced with, not the whole battle itself) so they can carry out other actions or duties. When in this mode, the character will only switch to Defensive or Situational upon being damaged up to or below 50% of their Health left (-5 Wounded). They cannot move up to Aggressive.
Defensive- The opposite of Aggressive. This character will try to escape through move actions, parries, and dodges. This character will only attack after all means of escape have been blocked. They will remain in Defensive mode until being damaged up to or below 50% of their Health left (-5 Wounded). They have chosen not to fight Aggressively or Passively, so they will remain in Defensive mode unless they are really injured.
Situational- The player has relinquished command of their character's status and is asking me to assign a mode accordingly. Often times, I will take into consideration the character's Health (current) and occupation. Warriors who have high health scores and are "healthy" are more likely to become Aggressive then injured Warriors, or healthy minstrels and loremasters. Likewise, I may assign an injured bowman to be aggressive while I have an injured warrior guard him as Passive.
Warring Method:
Melee Only- Character will only fight with their melee weapon.
Melee Preferred- Character will fight with melee weapon first, but is not limited just to the melee weapon and may choose to use a ranged weapon or fight with fists if they loose their melee weapon or the situation calls for it.
Ranged Only- Character will only fight with a ranged weapon.
Ranged Preferred- Character will fight with ranged weapon first, but is not limited just to the ranged weapon and may choose to use a melee weapon or fight with fists if they loose their ranged weapon or the situation calls for it.
Unarmed Only-Character will only fight with their fists.
Unarmed Preferred- Character will fight with fists first, but is not limited just to their fists and may choose to use a melee weapon or fight with a ranged weapon if they are fighting against heavily armored opponents or the situation calls for it.
Mode Time:
This is just a statement from the player letting me know how long the autopilot will last. It can be as simple as "First several rounds", "Until I return", "Indefinitely", "Round 2", etc....
So, if people are going out of town, are busy, and forsee that they will be out of a fight for a while, there really is no need to send a long email explaining things...if we are engaged in a fight, just post what you want your character to do and I will take care of the rest. It can be as simple as:
Garether: Aggressive: Ranged Preferred: Until I return
Iaraphel: Aggressive: Melee Preferred: Until the enemies are dead
Imrador: Aggressive: Melee Only: Round 3
Fast, easy, and to the point. I hope this gives you all a better since of control over your character when you cannot be here.
New Proposal that All must Hear:
The Penalty of Indecision: All of you who remain here at this site, who have participated in at least one combat scene, you all have done well in responding in a timely manner which has for the most part, allowing combat to flow as smoothly as it can in the rather awkward atmosphere of PbP. Please take the effects of what I am about to propose only in direct reference to your performance (you have the power to control this, and I'll explain), and don't get defensive in interpreting it as a threat. I intend to do this for my Star Wars game too because I am really hoping to prevent outbreaks of Belecthirism or Edinorism in my games, especially in combat situations.
When I post a map and ask for you all to declare your actions, I expect either one or two things from everyone:
1) For you to declare your actions
2) Tell me that you are in a bind for time, and need to use a specific status, method, and it will go for a certain length of time.
Basically, there is no "oh, you know how I fight" because no, I really don't. Everyone fights with bows, melee weapons, or by using cover, or by running forward or away from the enemy. If you don't post and let me know specifically that you are declaring your actions for that round or are declaring a status for the forseeable future...then you are giving me more work. I don't like more work. So, in order to alleviate more work for me and give you all incentive to let me know what your status is, I've decided to do this:
1) I will play your character for one round in which you give me little direction and I will play them without tactical bias (its a pain in the ass to try and fight yourself), and will do so with your character's best interests for survival in mind.
2) If you do not contact me after that round with some input (after all, player decisions in combat are as important as your stats....and I really mean that), you aren't going to get any experience for that round, because, well.....it's me fighting my own characters...and I don't feel like rewarding you when I am doing ALL of the work.
3) If you don't mind not advancing and continue for a third round to give me input, I will by this time think that your character is beginning to panic. While I won't impose penalties for panicking, I will rule that your character goes last in the initiative order....and we all know what happens to those who go last. They spend all of their time parrying and getting hit.
So, if you don't give me input within one round of absence (and I mean this will be anywhere from within 36 to 48 hours of the round), I am free to not give you experience for the following rounds and really not let you go until last for the third and following rounds. How do I determine a proper length of time? I will post a map and ask those involved in the fight to declare their actions. Within 24 hours, if everyone has declared their actions or picked a status, I will post the next round. If not everyone has posted, I will wait until 36 hours have past or 48 hours (as determined by MY schedule as I am the one doing the figuring and making the maps). If you cannot post within 36 hours, I understand and will play your character as I think would best suit them and they will recieve full experience. This is the grace period. If I haven't heard from you within another 36 hours for the next round...you get nothing for advancement, and after that.....good luck surviving. 72 hours is three days. If you can't get a hold of me in three days during combat, you will be penalized...simple as that. The game will go on.
What do you want to add/replace? It will probably be OK, but I'd like more specifics, obviously. Send me a personal message, if you can.
