Forum Based Campaign: Multi-user combat...

[Selta]

I have begun a campaign on a forum, and for now I should have no problem handling combat.
Being that I only have one player that is active. As much fun as that is, I have been working on getting more players into the campaign.

So, what I would like to know, what should I do about combat with more then one player, and the delay between everyone's choice in actions for the rounds?

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Couple of suggestions:

1. I DM three games here at Enworld. Bring that one player here and create a game. You'll get more players easily. Heck, if the game posts daily and I can fit in the setting easily, I'd play!

2. Since I run three games here, feel free to open up the Sblock in my sig and click on any of the IC links. [Oh, wait. Don't click on Elysium Squad - they haven't had a combat yet... ] But either Clutches of Evil or Mightier than the Sword have both had plenty of combat. You'ss see that my players are excellent players - and quite comfortable posting out of the init order knowing that as a DM I'll straighten things out as I bring all their posts together.

3. DON'T make the players post in order of the INIT. If you do that, your combat rounds will take anywhere from 4 days to a week to do just one round. That'll get people loosing interest really quick. If all my players post just once in a given 24-hour time period, I go through a round of combat in a day - sometimes quicker than that if everyone posts. Of course, when people don't post the game slows.

4. Be upfront about posting expectations. List it when a player agrees to join. If they can't manage the posting requirements, it is so much easier to ask them to look for a different game (paced the way they need it to be) at the beginning than once they have started.

Anyway, feel free to snoop through my games - just don't post in the IC or the RG threads for each game, please!

 

[Selta]

Will do, thank you for the advice.

I like the idea of making a given amount of time to post.

As for bring it here, I am unsure that I would be able to handle my story in the manner that I want, and I think I might get in over my head being my first time being a DM.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Will do, thank you for the advice.

No problem. I hope that if you do read through the games that you enjoy the storyline - and the wit of the characters.

I like the idea of making a given amount of time to post.

I ask my players to post once per day except holidays/personal vacations. I do ask my players to let me know when they are going to be away, however, so that I know when to NPC them if necessary.

As far as combat goes - I give every player 48 hours to post their action. (The customary 24 plus an "oops" 24) That way if someone is in a jam in RL they can have a bit of free time. But after 48 hours of when I posted for the round I NPC any combat actions in the most favorable means for the players. I.E. I don't make their characters do something stupid! So far, no complaints.

As for bring it here, I am unsure that I would be able to handle my story in the manner that I want, and I think I might get in over my head being my first time being a DM.

Your call. What is unique about the site that you are at that you can't do here - if you don't mind my asking...

 

[Selta]

Well, right now, before the players have met, I have their stories in a thread that only player and myself can see.

And I have a little more admin. control then I believe is offered here, but don't quote me on that. (I just joined, and found it pretty interesting. I am exploring now )

If everything goes well, I would consider holding a campaign here, because it looks like there is a large group for people willing to play.

A bit of newbie DM jitters, I guess.

I think that I would try my hand at being a player soon though.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Well, right now, before the players have met, I have their stories in a thread that only player and myself can see.

And I have a little more admin. control then I believe is offered here, but don't quote me on that. (I just joined, and found it pretty interesting. I am exploring now )

Yeah - I used to game on a different site as well - a site where they grouped all the OOC, IC, etc threads into a single forum and the DM had admin rights over the forum.

But .. that forum crashed about 1/month for a long while so I left it. Since I've been gone, the forum crashed completely and alot of the latest posts in the game were lost. I think that forum was down for like 2 months. I am glad I switched to here, actually. The players are just as good, there's a great variety of games, and the admin stuff is compensated by the fact that you can make a virtually unlimited amount of "Subscriptions" and group them in folders so that you essentially can have a place where the OOC, IC, RG, etc threads are all together.

Besides - what's the fun of online gaming if you don't let everyone in the world be able to read your game! I'm just teasing you now ... I hope you like what you see here.