pbp Forum Project

[tdewitt274]

On a pure PbP forum there is only one way... one subforum for every game, so you can make numerous threads and keep them all grouped together that way.

True, those sites add the pbp as an additional service that fits into the framework.

However, would integrating the "Talk" and "Play" forums be a good idea? If the post was indicated differently, such as background color as pink instead of white, to differentiate the post help? If a subforum is a better option, it can sure be that way.

Multiple characters per account is actually pretty nifty. I know two sites, where it works that way (one is also a dedicated and self-coded PbP forum; the other is using the SMF forum software, which has an add-on for user-personas installed).

I've only seen one option out there for pbp software. I don't remember what the name was, but it was integrated into a "Star Trek" type of system. Can you point me to other sites for inspiration?

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[tdewitt274]

One feature that has changed the way I look at PbP is versioning of character sheets. I really like to be able to view and compare the changes that have been made to a sheet over time, and for other people (e.g. the DM) to be able to do the same.

I don't think that this would be a problem. Character sheets are essentially just combined versions of existing statuses. Even the option of "retraining" in 4e can be easily done.

With the structure that I'm thinking of, the same tables will include "up to the minute" sheets. Some kind of function can be added to say "where Level is less than or equal to 4." to give that snapshot.

Thanks again!

 

[Thanee]

The first site, I meant, is www.rpol.net; the other is a german D&D site, which is probably not very useful to you, but you can also check out www.groovygamers.com, which also uses the SMF software and a similar forum structure (just not the aliases, but the principle of those should be clear, anyways).

And yes, I think it is a lot better to have one subforum with talk-threads and play-threads (and all the other useful threads; my own game here, for example, employs five different threads, the standard IC and OOC plus a special thread for Combat Declarations, a Campaign Info thread, and the Rogue's Gallery, of course) inside for each game, then to have all talk-threads and all play-threads inside a single subforum each.

Bye
Thanee

 

[tdewitt274]

The first site, I meant, is RolePlay onLine! Welcome to RPoL; the other is a german D&D site, which is probably not very useful to you, but you can also check out www.groovygamers.com, which also uses the SMF software and a similar forum structure (just not the aliases, but the principle of those should be clear, anyways).

I'll take a look at these when I have the opportunity.

And yes, I think it is a lot better to have one subforum with talk-threads and play-threads (and all the other useful threads; my own game here, for example, employs five different threads, the standard IC and OOC plus a special thread for Combat Declarations, a Campaign Info thread, and the Rogue's Gallery, of course) inside for each game, then to have all talk-threads and all play-threads inside a single subforum each.

Can you point me to these threads?


Would it be more helpful to have the IC and OOC together? So long as they are clearly blocked off so you know what you're looking at.

The Combat Declarations would be something that the user would automatically do in the proposed pbp Forum. They would be submitting their turns to the server and the results would appear below the post.

Campaign Info. I can see this one being very helpful. How is this one administered by you? Do you put in information regarding certain elements? Do the player's comment it (a "living" document if you will)? Both?

Rogue's Gallery. Can you give an example of this or more detail? I like the idea, and have some thoughts of how I'd do it, but I'd like to see what you're doing.

The last two give me an idea of a "journal" or "checklist" of sorts. Regarding a "Rogue's Gallery", it would be kind of a sandbox where the players can add information. Say you gather information on a mini boss. The information can be added to a "page" that stores all the information. If the players wanted to make some notes ("I think the Shaman is poisoning the lake above the city and it is affecting the residents"), it can be added so that everyone can see them. This may be off target though.

Again, thanks!

 

[Thanee]

Here's a link to the OOC-thread of my campaign here, it includes all other links at the bottom.

But that is not an example of what I meant with the threads in one forum.

That you can see in the two forums linked above (one subforum per game, so you always have all threads for a particular game in one place; using announcements and stickies to order them; i.e. keep IC thread on top at all times).

Bye
Thanee

 

[CaBaNa]

rogue's gallery is cool, especially if it includes a hall of fame.


both could be part of that "everyone can edit this" page

 

[tdewitt274]

Here's a link to the OOC-thread of my campaign here, it includes all other links at the bottom.

But that is not an example of what I meant with the threads in one forum.

That you can see in the two forums linked above (one subforum per game, so you always have all threads for a particular game in one place; using announcements and stickies to order them; i.e. keep IC thread on top at all times).

Bye
Thanee

Let me restate to make sure that I'm on the right path.

What you want is instead of a bunch of posts inside one thread, you want the whole forum to create multiple threads and, within the threads, have interaction with the players. In short, you want your own board.

This is actually the intent. A person should not be limited to one single thread. They should be able to set up their own world!

Essentially, a GM would be given their own forum to work under. Don't get me wrong, you'll still have other pbp games going on at the same time. Here's an example.

PBP Forums

• Uncle Jimbo's Eberron
• Star*Drive PL 6
  • Introduction
  • Character Creation
  • Episode 1: Black Starfall
    • OOC Only
  • Episode 2: Red Starrise
• LotR: The Dawn of Man

If I'm way off base, let me know. However, this was my intent. There's more to the base plan, but this is the basics.

 

[tdewitt274]

rogue's gallery is cool, especially if it includes a hall of fame.


both could be part of that "everyone can edit this" page

I'm not entirely sure how I'd work the "Rogue's Gallery", but something that would work for the characters would be their own "subforum". Essentially, the character would be created and then posted as an entry under the campaign.

Something like:

Star*Drive PL 6

• Introduction
• Characters
  • Zhaolin Zhou (Tech Spec)
  • Jack "Cueball" Hardin (Combat Spec)

Some kind of "leveling" mechanism would be built into that special kind of thread to allow advancement, notes, etc.

 

[Thanee]

If I'm way off base, let me know. However, this was my intent. There's more to the base plan, but this is the basics.

Sounds about right to me.

Bye
Thanee

 

[tdewitt274]

The first site, I meant, is RolePlay onLine! Welcome to RPoL; the other is a german D&D site, which is probably not very useful to you, but you can also check out www.groovygamers.com, which also uses the SMF software and a similar forum structure (just not the aliases, but the principle of those should be clear, anyways).

Thanks for the links! The RPoL.net is very interesting. Lots of good stuff in their FAQ regarding administration.

The Groovygamers.com is pretty much, from what I can quickly tell, is just a normal forum. I may look into the forum software some more for different administration ideas.

I've been using phpBB and a forum out of a PHP book as a reference so far.