General Overview
OK. To kick off things right in this forum, I thought we might do a very short adventure. I want to warn everyone that I am a very new DM and that I have never run a PbP, so please take that into consideration when deciding whether to throw your name into the ring here.
Still here?
I was thinking about running one of the free adventures from WoTC - The Burning Plague. I know that a lot of you have glanced at it. Truth be told, if you can keep from meta-gaming and you would still find it fun to play, then I have no problems.
I am interested in playing with 3-4 players as my limited experience with PbP suggests that with more, things are simply too tough.
Posting requirements will be minimal. I am really only available during the evenings so don't expect more than one post or so a day from me. If I am able to post more often and people are as well, we can pick up the pace, but I want to set expectations realistically.
Systems, Books, and Rules...oh my
The system will be D&D 3.5. I am tempted to say that, for the sake of simplicity, we should restrict ourselves to the core books absent some great story reason not to. In general, I like point-buy systems for character generation.
Outstanding issues that I need your input on
Setting? Because the adventure will likely be very short, I don't know that setting will make a large difference. As such, I'm tempted to go with generic fantasy setting. I'm willing to listen to folk's suggestions on the issue though.
Point-buy amount? I like a lower powered campaign because I think it forces the players to really think about their moves and analyze their abilities carefully before making certain choices. A low-powered campaign (in terms of point-buys) means in the zip code of 25 points (with 28 being a max). Again, I am more than willing to hear other people out on this one.
I'm sure I have forgotten certain things. Please feel free to raise those issues. Again, this is a learning experience for me so the most helpful thing you can do is be patient, be civil, and offer lots and lots of advice...all of which will be culled through and a good portion of which will likely be followed.
I await your thoughts.
Roster of Interested Players
Mirth (http://www.therpgsite.com/member.php?u=24)
[synopsis]
Welcome to TheRPGSite.com (http://www.therpgsite.com)'s PbP version of The Burning Plague (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b), a short (and free) adventure available on Wizards' website. The following are proposed for the setting, system, and character generation methods.
Game Setting: Generic Fantasy
Game System: D&D 3.5
Char. Gen. method: Point-buy
[/synopsis]
[announcement]For people who are interested in playing, it would be great if you can respond to the thread with some of your thoughts on the questions I posed as well as some of your initial musings on what you might like to play.[/announcement]
[links]As we continue, I will add relevant links to anything that might aid in our quest for glory as we solve the mystery of The Burning Plague. For now, I have added some basic links.
WoTC (D&D Home Page) (http://www.wizards.com)
3e Profiler (Online Character Sheet) (http://www.sylnae.net/3eprofiler/)
Juggernaut (Funny - NWS Audio) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4qdX6_9XgI&search=juggernaut)
[/links]
The first PbP campaign I played at ENW (which lasted over 2 years) started with The Burning Plague. That said, I would love to play it again (and I promise not to metagame, ever).
I could give you lots of advice, but I think the only way to really learn PbP is to jump in with both feet, because it's a different animal than tabletop and you have to sort of feel out what you like and don't like.
If you come into it expecting it to mirror a slow tabletop game, you might be in for a big disappointment. But if you focus on the role-playing aspects of it (along with some very careful railroading to move the story along), then you can have a friggin' blast.
Point-buys are the way to go with PbP and yours sounds fine, but remember that leveling up can take weeks, if not months, so the characters will be stuck at the ability level you set for a looooong time. I've found most PbPs that start at 1st level don't last. But those that start at say 4th or 5th (about the time you can get into a prestige class or something) with a higher point-buy tend to give the characters more options and depth and tend to last longer (however, they're also harder to DM).
Let me know if you have any other questions and if it's okay for me to play.
Mirth
Quote from: MirthThe first PbP campaign I played at ENW (which lasted over 2 years) started with The Burning Plague. That said, I would love to play it again (and I promise not to metagame, ever).
Like I said, if it will hold your interest, then fine by me. I actually played it twice and I have to say that it was completely different both times, so hopefully this will generate something new for you.
Quote from: MirthI could give you lots of advice, but I think the only way to really learn PbP is to jump in with both feet, because it's a different animal than tabletop and you have to sort of feel out what you like and don't like.
Fair enough. You should, however, feel free to give advice as things go along. Again, my hope (and my own selfish interest) is to make this as much as a learning experience for me as possible.
Quote from: MirthPoint-buys are the way to go with PbP and yours sounds fine, but remember that leveling up can take weeks, if not months, so the characters will be stuck at the ability level you set for a looooong time. I've found most PbPs that start at 1st level don't last. But those that start at say 4th or 5th (about the time you can get into a prestige class or something) with a higher point-buy tend to give the characters more options and depth and tend to last longer (however, they're also harder to DM).
You raise a really good point. Maybe the way to do this is to play with fewer players at a slightly higher level. Perhaps 3 2nd or 3rd level characters? What do you think about that as an alternative (given some proper adjustments along the way).
Perhaps a good way for you to kick the tires is to do the Burning Plague with a bunch of 1st level characters and finish it (that's a key, to actually finish it).
Then, once you know what you like and if the characters / players are a good mix and you want to continue, fast forward the game to 4th-5th level and continue from there. Just a thought.
A beginning adventure is much easier to DM, so that would give you some freedom to learn. You could actually have the characters split up and go adventure separately for the gap of time, give you plot points of what happened in each of their stories and then have a reason for all of them to get back together to continue the story.
Don't know if any of this sounds reasonable, but maybe it will spark something else.
Mirth
I'm interested in trying some PbP, and have never played or read the adventure in question. That said, given that I would be learning the ropes too, I'm happy to simply be a spectator for this one if others who know what they are doing are interested.
i'm interested
Quote from: willpaxI'm interested in trying some PbP, and have never played or read the adventure in question. That said, given that I would be learning the ropes too, I'm happy to simply be a spectator for this one if others who know what they are doing are interested.
I can pretty much ditto this.
I have a lot of interest in starting my own one of these, so I am going to watching closely to get a better idea of what to do.
I think by watching someone else that is just starting out I can follow along better.
Sorry guys, but I'm gonna put this on hold for a while. I apologize if you got your hopes up for this.
i'm willing to be considered as an "alternate" if you can't find enough players. i may not have the time to commit, but i will consider it. :)
Not wanting to play, but just making a suggestion. It's a publically available module. Many of us have read it, skimmed it, or played it.
Just sayin'. Nothing wrong with mixin' it up a bit. Keep 'em on their toes.
Quote from: Maximum FuSorry guys, but I'm gonna put this on hold for a while. I apologize if you got your hopes up for this.
That's cool. I completely understand, which is why I only want to play. I'm not ready to commit the time it takes to run one myself.
Mirth
Argh.
The temp hold has become a permanent hold/discontinuation. I just got assigned to a three-month project and it is almost a certainty that I will not have internet access during that time.
As of tomorrow, I will probably be scarce.
Sorry folks.