Quote from: Benoist;414501Just commenting on this: yes, play-by-post is generally a lot slower than face-to-face game play, but it's a different beast of its own, where you can care for little details that just fly by in actual table play. I think AD&D is one of the best systems in this regard, because it provides some structure, while remaining relatively light on the players' side.

So. I'm going to actually run Ptolus, but not as written. A Ptolus in the past of the city-as-written, which would reflect AD&D, just like the city-as-written reflects 3rd edition D&D. I'm going through the background right now and trying to decide which time period would be most appropriate for what I have in mind. But that aside, my point is that I intend to start with a short adventure, relatively small in scope, manageable, so that game play can either come to a natural end after a while, or grow further along if we want to play some more. It's all in the way it's managed.

Brainstorming about this right now. It'll be on the RPG Site, btw.

My recommendation is to do it with one of the free retro-clones, especially if there's one you've been wanting to try and haven't gotten the chance.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;414531My recommendation is to do it with one of the free retro-clones, especially if there's one you've been wanting to try and haven't gotten the chance.

Which clones do you have experience with, by the way?

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;414531My recommendation is to do it with one of the free retro-clones, especially if there's one you've been wanting to try and haven't gotten the chance.

By the way, I really like your game. I'm not criticizing it, if you thought I was, I'm just trying to find a way to use the dice but run it closer to free form role playing when I do mine.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;414531My recommendation is to do it with one of the free retro-clones, especially if there's one you've been wanting to try and haven't gotten the chance.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm alright on that side of thing, mate. I was already thinking of AD&D/OSRIC (that is, without WP/AC, weapon speeds etc, though I'd still accept a monk, so that people might refer to one or the other, however they want).

Quote from: Benoist;414516Of course! That's why I mentioned it's going to be here on the RPG Site in the first place.

let's throw it down...I would love to play!
and good idea with the opp. stat. table. I have done that in the past and it worked well for the group. Gives lots of narrative leeway for quick resolution based on actual att. etc. as opposed to 'fiat' (as some would have it).

Cranewings: The very nature of PbP can be frustrating especialy if some players post infrequently compared to others.This coupled with a slower system can lead to aargh! .I am playing in more than one PbP and that does me good as at least one will have something happening on any given day.
IRC games are an awesome mix. as all players are there at one time (hopefully) and it being a 'live' session adds to the tension etc.!In the IRC game I participate in there is a d. rolling program 'implanted' so it all happens on one screen...totaly cool!

The sytem or interpretation of the chosen system must match the groups desires. Systems that emulate a 'blow by blow' combat are going to be slower to resolve than ones that take a more 'narrative' approach. No way around it really...choose the system well!

A system that allows for both is best as certain scenes may call for a more detailed approach. Benoist first sugg. is a great place to start and can handle all the issues that might arise,IMO.
For starters,if the system calls for 'Initiative','to hit','defence', and 'damage' rolls as well as 'hit point' type damage mech. then it will be slower than one that combines all this in a single throw and defines dam. as concrete effects.
Or so it seems...

Alright. Created a Ptolus/AD&D game chat thread. Let's not further wreck poor Cranewings' thread.

Quote from: Cole;414535Which clones do you have experience with, by the way?

Swords and Wizardry, and Dark Dungeons. Also Openquest and Microlite20 if you consider them retro-clones in some sense.

DD because I played RC, S&W because I found it interesting and designed a dungeon and some PCs for it (haven't run it yet, may be doing it this New Year's at this mini-con). S&W is my go-to system for simple dungeoncrawling with new players.

I've read LL, OSRIC, BFRP and many of the other popular free ones, but my RL crews aren't really in love with old-school D&D, so I don't spend a ton of time on their intricacies.

Quote from: Cranewings;414537By the way, I really like your game. I'm not criticizing it, if you thought I was, I'm just trying to find a way to use the dice but run it closer to free form role playing when I do mine.

MORTALLY OFFENDED!!!!11

Naw, no worries mate. I've been bad at keeping up with myself lately due to a hectic life schedule. I do agree that the fewer steps required for task resolution, the smoother PbP players. One of the reasons I chose Openquest was that of the various BRP variants, it's one of the simplest.