Starting message board play -- Wiki advice needed

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

After years of futzing around with chat games, MMORPGs and scattered real-life games, a group of my friends are going to be starting a message board game in the new year, using my Barony of Midwood setting (world of Praemal, just a faaar off corner).

I could use some advice from the folks who've done this, DMing or playing, before:

I'm hoping to set up a wiki about the barony (with only me able to edit it for the time being) as an easy way for everyone to have all the notes they need about the setting and the characters close at hand. What free online software do people recommend? Optionally, I'd like it if there was content that only certain users could see on a given entry, so that I could put the DM information there at my fingertips, yet hidden from the players' prying eyes. I'm also planning on having basic campaign information, like what races and classes are initially available, along with new spells, feats and, eventually, prestige classes are available there.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

I don't have any advice for you, but if you're looking to add a player, please e-mail me. krunchyfrogg AT gmail DOT com

 

[Glyfair]

Oddly enough, the latest copy of roleplaying tips from www.roleplayingtips.com is themed on starting your own PBem or Play by Post game. It's not up at the website yet, but it likely won't be too long.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Also see http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?p=2806166 for another question about this campaign.

Thanks.

 

[Yair]

I am not familiar with a wiki farm that will allow you to have DM- and player-only regions. Perhaps you can consider making two wikis using the same program, keeping one secret/member-only and the other public? I'd also simply consider setting up a Yahoo! group to host your private campaign files.

I've use Wikispaces for an Open-Campaign project, and pbwiki for an Ars Magica project. Both provide wiki farm for no pay and with no imposed license. You can check them out at my sig.

There are other wiki farms out there, but these two seemed the best ones when I was looking into it.

Yair

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I have a good Web host already. I'd be more comfortable with having the wiki software on my server. Do those allow the download of the software?

 

[IronWolf]

I have a good Web host already. I'd be more comfortable with having the wiki software on my server. Do those allow the download of the software?

If you have a host then I would look at one of these:

MediaWiki
TikiWiki
Twiki

MediaWiki is pretty easy to get going and use. TikiWiki has a ton of options, many of which you won't need, but it does offer some security stuff that might help. Twiki also has some security features that may prove useful.

Also, if you are looking for some message board software, take a look at phpBB.