I've never tried a PBEM game but I'm really curious about running or playing in one. Can someone tell me a bit about how it's done? Seems to me each email would encompass a very brief window of game action.
I ran one back in the day and got a bunch of pre-rolls from both players.
I then progressed the story like a Choose Your Own Adventure book.
Once I got to a cliff hanger or other critical decision point I'd prompt the players for their decisions and more rolls.
Went on for over a year so, seemed to work for all involved.
I my case there were parallel story lines that merged when the characters met at the end.
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Ran a Gamma World one for 5 years.
Basically I did all the rolling and co-ordination and collecting of everyones turns each segment.
It moves at the speed of the slowest player to respond.
I always set a time limit for turn response, no more than a couple days. Was a lot easier when I was a student without a fixed schedule!
I did run a White Star play-by-post last year for a couple months over the summer, people loved it but I couldn't keep it up for very long. There were maybe half a dozen significant events in that time, including a battle with an Assimilant probe ship and boarding party that only took 2-3 days.
I think scheduling is the critical thing - you need to be strict on post turnaround deadlines, and IME you need to set a game duration (eg 2 or 3 months) and stick with that to avoid burnout. You can always come back and do another chapter later.
... and people had to pay money to play them.
These days, with the short attention spans, you almost have to pay players to play such slow paced games.
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The pbms I ran and played were with two old friends after I went to University in England and they stayed in Belfast.
I guess that could be a factor, if you want to play with specific people rather than putting together an online group of people who are available at the same time.
But really, if you can get together even once a month online, you can probably get more done in a four-hour session online than in a month's worth of pbem.
Did PBEM use a specific system? If so, what was it? Interested in this.
Quote from: RunningLaser;1052755Did PBEM use a specific system? If so, what was it? Interested in this.
ca 1995-6 I actually invented a d6 based system from the ground up for PBEM play - looks a bit like Warhammer Battle.
PBEM RULES: SWORDS & SORCERY VERSION.
These rules are intended to enable a PBEM GamesMaster (GM) to simulate the world of swords & sorcery fiction. They are based on the throw of a single six-sided die (d6) combined with the GM's good judgement to resolve almost all actions.
Characters
Most Characters have the following five stats: Strength, Speed, Skill, Agility, and Stamina. The average stat, based on an 18-year-old human male, is 3. A character with Str 6 is twice as strong as a normal man. Attribute checks are made when a character attempts a task they might fail - roll a d6, if the number rolled is equal to or less than the stat, they have succeeded. The roll may be modified (eg +1 or -1) for particularly easy or hard tasks. Characters do not usually have Mental attributes (except possibly Magic, below) because the GM should adjudicate use of mental and other abilities depending on the character and the situation. (But if the GM prefers, characters may be assigned stats in Intelligence, Willpower, Knowledge & Charisma).
Character Stats
Typical Normal Human Stats.
Character (Strength Speed Skill Agility Stamina)
Male, 40-yr-old 4 2 3 2 3
Female, 40-yr-old 2 2 2 2 3
Male, 18-yr-old 3 3 3 3 3
Female, 18-yr-old 2 3 1 3 2
Male, 12-yr-old 1-2 3 2 4 2
Female, 12-yr-old 1-2 3 1 4 2
Magic-using characters have a sixth attribute, Magic.
Witches and Warlocks.
Rank Magic
Novice 1-3
Adept 4-6
Sorceror 7-9
Magus 10-12
Example: Munchausen is a powerful Warlock, his stats are Strength 4, Speed 4, Skill 4, Agility 4, Magic 8, Stamina 3.
Fixed-Point Character Generation.
A starting Swords & Sorcery player character is given 18 Attribute Points to allocate to character stats, at least 1 point per stat. Magic-using characters (Witches, Warlocks, Priests) also get 18 points and must allocate at least 1 point to their Magic stat.
Typical Characters (18-pt).
Character (Strength Speed Skill Agility Stamina)
Warrior 4 3 4 3 4
Rogue 3 4 4 4 3
Sorceror 2 3 3 3 3 Magic: 4
Priest 3 3 3 3 4 Magic: 2
COMBAT.
The combat round is about 6 seconds, in which time a character may attack, cast a spell, run away, etc.
In 1 round character may move 10' per point of Speed, double if running, treble if sprinting (but may not then attack).
The Combat Sequence:
Each character rolls the following
1. Initiative: d6+ Speed, highest rolling character goes first.
2. Attack: Need to roll (4 - Skill + target's Agility) or more to hit.
3. Damage: Strength + weapon damage.
4. Wounds are compared vs target's Stamina - see below.
Special Note: in melee a defending character can use his Skill as
the attribute the attacker has to beat, instead of Agility, to
reflect parrying ability. This applies to only 1 Attacker (unless
the defender splits their Skill amongst several attackers, trying to
parry 2 or more at once).
So, if B'Krath Skill 5 Agl 3 was in melee with an opponent who attacked at Skill 3, he could:
A. Dodge -Skill 3 vs Agl 3, attacker needs 4+ to hit, or
B. Parry - Skill 3 vs Skill 5, attacker needs 6+ to hit.
B'Krath can still attack normally while also using his Skill to parry.
Weapons.
Weapon Damage Notes
Fist STR 1 att, or 2 attacks at -1 & -2.
Kick STR+1 1 attack at -1 (unless trained in kick-fighting).
Club STR+1d6 or more. Improvised club att at -1.
Dagger STR+1d6 Lethal damage.
Sword STR+1d6+1 " "
Mace STR+1d6+1 " "
Greatsword 2xSTR+1d6+1 " " (2-handed)
Spear 2xSTR+1d6 " " "
Great Axe 2xSTR+1d6+2 " " (2-handed), -1 Agility
Arrow (shortbow) 2d6 Fire 1/round
Arrow (longbow) 2d6+STR Fire 1/round
Quarrel (crossbow) 3d6 Fire 1/2 rounds.
Quarrel (heavy crossbow) 5d6 Fire 1/4 rounds.
Two-Weapon Combat.
Sword and dagger: Both attacks at -1 to hit.
Two Swords: 1 attack at -1 to hit, 1 attack at -2 to hit.
Armour.
Some characters may have armour. This reduces damage by 1 point per point of armour.
Armour. Armour Points Penalty
Leather 1 Nil (but see below)
Chainmail 2 -1 Agility
Platemail 3 -1 Agility
Full Plate Armour 4 -1 Agility
Helmets and/or Armour which covers the limbs impose an additional -1 Speed penalty.
Shields: An attacker is -1 to hit an opponent using a shield, or fencing one-handed.
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Stamina/Wounds System.
Average Stamina: 3.
NB: All effects are cumulative.
Damage Roll Result
Under Stamina. Scratch - character must make Stamina check or lose an action.
= St, Under 2 St. Minor Wound. 2 Minor wounds = 1 Major.
= 2 St, Under 3 St. Major Wound. All stats halved (round up). 2 Major = 1 Critical.
= 3 St, Under 4 St. Critical Wound. Unconscious*. 2 Crit. = Dead.
= 4 St + Dead.
*Without medical attention, character must pass 1d6 Stam check, or die in 0-9 hours + 1-60 minutes. If they pass they wake up at the end of this period.
Example: Blakus has Stamina 3.
He is punched by Jilla (Str 2), dam 2, less than his Stamina, so Scratch. Loses his action.
He is then punched by Jimec (Str 3), dam 3, = his Stam, so Minor Wound.
He is then shot by an arrow, dam 2d6. Roll 4, greater than his Stamina. Minor Wound. Has taken 2 minor wounds, so 1 Major Wound. All stats halved, Stamina reduced to 2.
He is then shot by a crossbow bolt, dam 3d6. Roll 8, = 4 x Stamina, so he is dead.
Damage Roll Result
Less than Stamina. Scratch*
Stamina Minor Wound.
2 x Stamina. Major Wound. Stats halved (round up).
3 x Stamina Critical Wound. Unconscious**.
4 x Stamina Dead.
2 Minor wounds = 1 Major, 2 Major = 1 Critical, 2 Critical = Dead.
*Scratch: Stamina check on 1d6 or lose actions for rest of round.
**Without medical attention, must pass 1d6 Stam check, or die in 0-9
hours + 1-60 minutes.
Combat Example:
Round 1. Munchausen (Speed 4) faces Mike (Speed 3).
1. Munchausen gets 4 + d6 roll 4 = 8 for initiative, Mike gets 3+ d6 roll 1 = 4. Munchausen goes first.
2. Munchausen (Skill 4) needs 3 to hit Mike (Agility 3) with a magic knife. He gets 2 - misses.
3. Mike (Skill 3) shoots an arrow at Munchausen (Agility 4) He needs a "5". He gets "4" - miss.
Round 2.
Munchausen gets 4+4=8 for Initiative, Mike gets 3+4=7. Munchausen goes first. Needs "3", gets 4 and hits. Magical knife does 2d6 damage + his Strength of 4. Rolls 8+4=12 damage. This is 4 x Mike's Stamina of 3, so he is killed.
Hit Location
A hit may always be declared to be against the target's torso. Optionally roll d6 or d6+4 (for melee), or d10 (for missile), on hit-location table.
1: Head.
2: Right arm.
3: Left arm.
4-6: Torso.
7-8: Right leg.
9-10: Left leg.
Head hits do double damage (roll dammage, deduct armour points, then double the remaining damage). A major wound to a limb is reduced to a minor wound, but the limb is used at -1 on all operations. A critical wound to a limb is reduced to a major wound, but the limb is unusable until healed. A dead result to a limb is reduced to a critical wound, but the limb is destroyed/permanently disabled.
HEALING OF WOUNDS.
Recovery Without medical attention With medical attention
Minor to none 2 days 1 day.
Major to Minor 4 days 2 days.
Critical to Major 8 days 4 days.
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Magic
Some characters may be Witches (female) or Warlocks (male), and have a 6th attribute: Magic Skill. The character's Magic Skill determines the number of spells they know, the power of those spells when cast, and the number of spells they can cast per day. Casting a spell temporarily reduces a character's Magic by 1 (or more) - when it reaches 0, the character is too tired to cast more spells. If it falls below 1 due to casting a powerful spell, the following effects apply:
Magic Effect
-1 Unconscious
-2 Unc & 1d6 damage.
-3 Unc & 2d6 damage.
-4 Unc & 3d6 damage
Etc.
Some spells require an attribute check against a character's current Magic to succeed. Temporarily lost magic points regenerate during sleep at a rate of 1/hour.
A typical starting Witch or Warlock will have a Magic rating of between 1 (poor) and 3 (talented).
Spells usually take 1 combat round to cast. Players are encouraged to create their own spells.
Examples of Spells:
1. Energy Blast. Cost: 1.
Effect: Causes a blast of magical energy from the caster's hands, doing 1 point Stamina damage to the target per point of caster's pre-casting Magic Skill. The caster must make a succesful Attack roll (get 4 or more on d6-Skill+Target's Agility) to hit. A more powerful blast costs 2 Magic points and does double damage, the most powerful blast costs 3 points and does treble damage. Range is 3m per point of pre-casting Magic.
Spellcasting Example: Munchausen the Warlock (Magic 8, Skill 4) knows 8 spells. He fires an energy blast at Kenko (Agility 3, Stamina 10). Munchausen spends 2 Magic pts for a double-power blast. He needs 4-4+3=3 or more on a d6 to hit - "4" - hits. Damage is 8x2=16. Kenko's Stamina is reduced to 10-16=-6, killing him. Munchausen's current Magic falls to 6.
2.Domination Cost: 1 +1/order.
This spell enable the caster to temporarily dominate the mind of another, who must be within sight and hearing distance, maximum range 3m per point of pre-casting Magic. After control is established, the target is frozen in place. The caster can then attempt to give the target telepathic orders, if successful the target must carry them out to the best of his or her ability. The caster must make a d6 attribute check vs current Magic to succeed. Caster gets a +1 bonus to his Magic rating if the target is of the opposite sex (and heterosexual). Particularly strong-willed targets, and orders strongly against the target's nature, will cause a penalty, usually -1 to -3. Initial control and each order given to the target requires a separate d6 check and costs 1 magic pt. Domination requires the caster's whole attention, if the caster is wounded or distracted, control is automatically broken.
Example: Munchausen (male, Magic 8) attempts to dominate Leda (female, average willpower). The initial attempt needs 8+1=9 or less on a d6, and automatically succeeds. Munchausen's Magic falls to 7.
He then orders Leda to kill herself, this is strongly against her nature, so there is a -3 penalty to the check. Munchausen needs 7+1-3=5 or less on a d6. He gets "5", and she walks off the rooftop. Munchausen's Magic falls to 6.
3. Levitation Cost: 1/minute.
This spell enables the caster to float in the air, he may raise or lower himself at a rate of 3m per round per current (post-casting) point of Magic, eg Munchausen, Magic 8-1=7, can float up or down at up to 3m/70' per round.
4. Invisibility. Cost: 1/minute.
This spell turns the caster invisible. Other spellcasters may be able to detect him if he is within sight, they must roll equal to or less than their Magic minus the caster's current Magic on 1d6 to do so.
5. Fly. Cost: 3/minute.
This spell enables the caster to fly at a rate of 9m (30')/round per remaining (post-casting) point of Magic.
6. Healing. Cost: Special.
This power requires the laying-on of hands, and is typically available only to goodly priests.
Healing minor wound: 1 MP.
Major to minor: 2 MP.
Critical to major: 4 MP.
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EXPERIENCE
Characters may gain Experience Points through actions, and improve their attributes. For every 100 xp earned, a character gets a +1 bonus to an attribute chosen by the GM, normally an attribute that has been extensively used, or rolled randomly.
Example: A beginning PC defeats a soldier in combat, and earns 15 xp. Six more such victories, and he will gain an attribute bonus.
I really like PBEM (and/or forum) RPG games. I don't prefer it to live play, but it's a different format which has its pros, cons, fans, and non-fans.
Sure it's slow, but it also allows busy players who aren't available all at the same time to play a game when they each do have time. It also nicely automatically creates a record/log of everything that happened in play.
It can work pretty well for handling different levels of information and note-passing, too, since you can send some messages private and some public. It can handle multiple parties and split parties and individual attention in some ways better than live games, since the GM isn't leaving players sitting waiting for his attention.
Well this thread got me running a Play By Post again over on Dragonsfoot! :)
Couple of rolls on a monster hunt table and I have enough content for a month's play... :D
Adulting is hard.
Besides, all the players would have to be available at the same time for the same amount of time.
Not just me.
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Fair enough. That's bad luck for you.
I want to add that I'm not trying to bust your balls here, because it might seem that way; I'm really just playing a bit of devil's advocate to get you to consider if there isn't maybe some ways you could make it happen, if it's something you really would want to be able to do.