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Message: <blockquote data-quote="robaustin" data-source="post: 865711" data-attributes="member: 2703">I play in one RL game, DM two PBEM's (in the same world of my creation) and play in another PBEM.  I have to say that initially it wasn't easy to get into a GOOD PBEM to play in.  A lot of them DO evaporate due to lack of enthusiasm - but once you get into a decent one where everyone has sufficient interest, it can be a great supplement to playing in real life.  The thing is finding a GOOD GROUP that is comitted to posting on a regular basis.  I think it helps to DM at least one PBEM, because then you're always being kept on your toes and you see how your interest affects all the other players' interest.  You feed off each other, and the more the DM posts, the more the players post and vice versa.  I'd say the DM should be posting at least once a day, if not more - or else your PBEM is going to flounder and fail.Human beings are by their nature social creatures - and so I don't find that a PBEM game will ever REPLACE a real life game for me. However, it sure can be fun and supplement the experience.  It keeps all the rules and such fresh in my head so that when I DO play in real life I'm not forgetting tons of stuff.I think also as we grow older - get married, have kids, etc...  Our time for playing diminishes.  PBEM can supplement your love for the game when in the "down time" between games.  My real life group plays usually once a month, sometimes twice if we can schedule it.  We play around EVERYONE'S schedules - and with some folks having kids, other having moved over an hour away, it does get tricky.  But we do make the effort.  But if I didn't play PBEM during the long stretches we don't play, I'm sure my interest for the game would go down quite a bit.There are concessions you make as a player in PBEM - usually letting the Dm roll dice for you.  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 (I copy and paste rolls from an online dice rolls).  It DOES show stats to certain extent, so players can choose to have certain stats hidden if they wish - but I make sure I'm showing as much as possible.  I've been caught a few times on mistakes and in that way it keeps me on my toes.  PBEM's also tend to move slower - but if you can keep a decent post rate going (1 post per day for each player) you don't move THAT slow.Also - a good PBEM will provide "extras" - maps in a drawing program - other graphics to enhance the game (pics of monsters, etc...)  You get out of it what you put into it.The advantage to PBEM over playing over chat over the internet is that you don't have to set aside specific meeting times - you just post whenever you like.  This allows people from all over the world to participate. There is one person from Australia in our PBEM.  It's incredibly convenient.Maybe actually playing in a decent PBEM might change your mind?  Just a suggestion!--*Rob</blockquote>

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