I Need Advice

I will soon begin to DM a PBEM game and have never done anything like this before. Is there a good reference guide or a list of dos and don'ts you could point me to?

Thanks in advance
 

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If you're players have reasonably good internet access (i.e. have no problem with messageboards) I recommend play-by-post on a messageboard. You can do that in the EN World forums (check the 'playing the game' forum).

Also, I highly recommend www.rpol.net It's a site that allows you (the GM) to create a messageboard specifically for your game.
  • The system allows you to keep and store a character sheet for each player. The GM has full ability to edit that.
  • Also it allows you to send private messages only one or more players so the whole group doesn't see.
  • Also, it has an online die roller. You can ask a player to roll a die (for a saving throw for example) and the roll is recorded for you to see.
 
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I've been running some campaigns online for some time, through chatrooms, and have also been involved in a couple of PBEM's. The top tips I would give are:

- Keep things simple. You will always proceed at a far slower rate than a tabletop game, so keep this in mind. Try and slim down the rules as much as you can, too.

- Encourage player interaction. This is very important with a PBEM, as the players will talk to each other in between turns.

- Provide extra information. Get a website and use it! Post history, legends, maps, all sorts. (My campaign site is at http://www.tongue.fsnet.co.uk/Pelinore.html - you might want to take a look).

- Make long posts. Your posts should provide as much detail as possible - they will likely be all a player has to go on for some time.

- Have set times for turns. Make sure every player knows when to send in their turns.

I'll give a shameless plug for Almanac One here - an article 'Hosting a Campaign Online' in it covers precisely this subject in great detail. You can buy it at RPGNow.

Richard Tongue,
Transfinite Publications,
http://www.transfinitepublications.com
**Almanac One is Out!!**
 

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