PBEM/PBP - Is it really playing DnD?

[Enceladus]

I dunno about old, but you are a bit close-minded. Makin' up your mind before trying it isn't exactly fair, now is it?

I prefer decisive.

Peole are not necessarily just shy, or anti-social. Sometiems, the gamers around you are jerks, or they don't play the kind of game you want to play. Sometimes, no amount of "play nice and get along with others" on your part will help that.

After further reading some posts on the subject I will concede that one. But still, being someone who can get along with pretty much anyone I would still prefer the face to face interaction. And as far as writing skills, you still have some writing to do especially in my group as I usually like to emphasize character history etc. Granted its not as totally emersive as a PBEM game would be since thats all you do, but its still there.

 

[Cor Azer]

Indeed, playing in a PbP or PbeM game is the playing D&D (or any other RPG for that matter)... although the experience is a bit different to be sure.

I think I'll always prefer a face-to-face game, but the PbeM games I run have helped to fill gaps in gaming - when I first moved away for my Masters Degree, it took me nearly eight months to find a gaming group (which actually occured thanks to these boards, so that's cool). Starting an email game with some of my friends from home kept my gaming instinicts intact (which was cool, because it was right after third edition came out - I was a big proponent of third edition to my gaming circle, and felt kind of bad that I had to leave right after it was released and couldn't enjoy a game with them at first).

Since then my PbeM games have somewhat joined the two gaming circles I've been involved in - my first group here in PEI and my second group in Ontario now communicate a fair bit, both about the PbeM games and other common interest topics. Go friendship!

I still run my email game even though I've moved home because my players and I have built a rather intricate and rich world over the last two years, and I'd like to see what comes of it. Unfortunately, its updating-frequency has lessened as I don't have the same access to the Internet as I had before... stupid dial-up...

 

[Chairman7w]

PBEM

Don't knock it till ya tried it. I have DM'd a PBEM game for nearly three years now. The PCs started from scratch and are now 8th and 9th level, making their way through the Rappan Athuk dungeon.

It's a blast. I have made some great friends along the way too. I also participate with a character in two other PBEM games, one for more then three years now.

Believe me, your characters take on SO much more of a personality when you can write in detail their feelings and their dialogue that really capture them.

You're always welcomed to Lurk on my PBEM game if you're interested in seeing what it's like.

Ed

 

[Samnell]

As a DM on PBEM, I always "show all work" - in other words I make a post with all technical stuff out in the open, so that the players can see me being honest

BRILLIANT! Where did you get such an amazing idea? What brilliant mind spawned it? Why does that nick look familiar? And why did the name Davin Gallandir just jumped into my mind out of nowhere too?

Hi Rob.

 

[Norfleet]

I can't even imagine how agonizingly slow it would be to run a game as a PBEM game. A duration of hours elapsing just so a player can ask, "What's the nearest door to my character?", get a reply, before deciding "I open the door!".

And what's PBP?

I could easily see playing online, though, as that's how I've run all my games. Dice-rolling can achieve a personal level all the same with an electronic dice machine, like can be easily written on a MUSH, for instance, and as communication is more or less real-time and continuous, misinterpretations can be corrected just as quickly as at a table.

In some ways, it's better than a table. No spilled coke. No dropped dice. No lost books. And it's cheaper.

 

[WayneLigon]

PBP = Play By Post. Much like what we're doing here See my previous response for links to PBP games, so you can see how it goes.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Got any openings?

 

[Umbran]

But still, being someone who can get along with pretty much anyone I would still prefer the face to face interaction.

I prefer face to face gaming. I also generally prefer vanilla ice cream to chocolate. That doesn't mean I won't eat chocolate when it's the thing available.

 

[Creamsteak]

Is it really playing DnD?

Yes, it is really playing DnD.

The experience is totally washed out, where's the face to face interaction with the DM? Other players?

Well, there isn't any. I have met 'a few' of the players in person, and I've known quite a few on a personal level, but there isn't any face to face interaction. All of the interaction is done through words and letters.

What's good about it?

Time, for one. A DM can mush over an idea for as long as necessary to make the best possible decision. Players that don't have more than a few minutes can still get in their moves, even if they couldn't regularly have a face-to-face game. Secondly, quality. Role-playing is incredibly more in-depth in my experience. I recognize characters more than their players, and I love to write more and more background to email my DMs as the game continues. In a face to face game, it's still an option, but it's very 'annoying' to find players that need to make a 20 minute long speach before their next action. This abbreviates that kind of problem.

Also, in PBP a DM doesn't need to know 'too much' before the adventure starts. New ideas are always easy to fill gaps with, and games are problem-free in that respect. It's easier to pump out many different ideas.

Are people just shy? Antisocial?

I'm not either, but maybe some are. I wouldn't discredit those who are. They might have very good reasons.

Agree? Am I insane or just old?

I disagree with you, but completely and totally understand and believe highly of why you have your opinions. I just think that my perspective is different, because I gain a lot of being able to game in-between classes with a few really great people.

Some extra information you didn't ask for...

Well, I must say that this is really crucial to understanding PbP gaming: Combat is slowed down since players are not going to post immediately when their actions come up. This is only slightly resolved by having all players post within a certain deadline (or the DM assumes an action), and resolving multiple consecutive combat rounds. Once you are over this problem, you must also consider the problem that earning experience may be too slow in PbP for players to really feel that they are keeping up with their own character development.

That's right, for the first time in my gaming life, I have trouble getting enough experience to make up for all the hours I spend creating and really getting to the heart of my character. This can be adjusted for by altering the xp chart slightly, and using 75% or 50% experience requirements for leveling... though some people don't feel that this is 'hardy' enough for themselves and stay away.

And Thirdly, miscommunication. My english isn't your english isn't her english, isn't his english. Nobody ever has exactly your interpretation of your words, and you cannot emphasize things with the exception of . They sure do look nice, but they don't quite carry enough weight like tone of voice does.

Lastly, if the people you really want to game with were there for you at every possible opportunity, nobody would ever play PbP, but that's not exactly a given statement. We all love the game, and I personally can't find a DM that I find credible enough to play with in my region, so I try to get as much experience playing in between my DMing to make the game as fun as possible on both sides.

 

[Creamsteak]

Got any openings?

Well, I don't have any currently, but the place to check is Talking the Talk, and the place to play if your in a game is Playing the Game.

Currently This Thread, is looking for a few good players to start a new game. You want to be one of them? Go ahead and join in.