About PBEM

[bushido11]

Hello everybody. Now, more than ever, I'm asking that all of you make a collaborative effort to explain how PBEM works and how it differs from regular PnP RPing. Here are some questions I'd like to have answered.

-How necessary is it to use a ruleset for a PBEM game?
-Do you use a ruleset for your PBEM? Why?
-If ruleset isn't that necessary, what kind of suggestions do you have for measuring a character's abilities?
-How would a typical session (or exchange) run?
-How do you keep track of character advancement?

If there is a key topic I have missed, please let me know of it. I'm planning on doing a PBEM Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game with a good friend who's still in the military (hopefully, he hasn't played the game yet).

[Dangerboy_1971]

Generally you decide which system you will be using. For example the HERO system. Next you decide what type of game you will be running for example a Superhero game set in the Champions universe using 350 pt. characters. Next you would write up a background for the campaign. It needed be extensive just a few paragraphs to let people know what kind of game to expect. Then you would post the description along with character requirements, etc. and asking that interested people either reply to your post or email you. The best place to make that post on these boards would be in the Player Finder section. Once you have interested players, just like a pnp game, you would ask them to design characters and submit them for your approval. Once you have enough approved characters you would start the game.


Does that help?

[bushido11]

Oh, ok. I thought it was a bit more complex than that. I had read on some other postings where it talked about what the character was going through inside his head and what not. It sounded pretty interesting. Thanks for the input, Dangerboy_1971.

[Ben Seeman]

The PBEM I'm involved with uses no ruleset at all. In fact, it's hardly even an RPG... it's more of an online collaboratve writing group.

[Bozimus]

Be warned that it often takes months to get through a detailed fight sequence in PBeM. It can also be aggravating when you have to wait for one guy to post before advancing the plot...and he won't post! Something like this happens in a FTF game and a few minutes might pass. The time limit to post in most of my PBeM games is between 2 to 3 days.

Now, don't get me wrong since I focused on two of the bad properties upfront. PBeM is wonderful for people (like me) who don't have enough herophiles in their area to keep a game going. It also allows for very in-depth level of roleplaying that rarely ever happens in FTF. Without exception, the very best roleplayers I have ever encountered, were in PBeMs. There is a lot to like about PBeM.

[nexus]

Oh, ok. I thought it was a bit more complex than that. I had read on some other postings where it talked about what the character was going through inside his head and what not. It sounded pretty interesting. Thanks for the input, Dangerboy_1971.

I've found do get more characterization in PBEM. When players write their moves (Posts) they can included internal monologues, the character emotions, flashback and stuff that they might not feel comfortable doing in table top (because of time or fear of public speaking). You can also focus more on the character's background and interaction in side plots and writing fiction about your PC (check out the wonderful 9/11 stories from Worldmaker's Global Gaurdian's game).

Personally, I've found PBEM seems to encourage people to invest a bit more in the their character's personality and non combat distinction since combat is slower (but generally more descriptive) in that format

[WhammeWhamme]

PBeMs are cool...

As stated, there's more room for characterization; this also means more details need to be provided by the GM.

The slower rate is a blessing really; ever thought of something AWESOME to say the day after? Well, in a PBeM, the day after, you've still got time to post.

[bushido11]

Hearing all of this stuff about PBEM makes me want to participate. Right now, I'm going to school and I'm going to start my part-time job really soon, and I don't have the time nor the sufficient amount of players (non-D&D players) to meet up every week. I think PBEM just might fulfill my RP needs. If any of you are looking for an additional player (for whatever type of campaign), I'd be more than willing to join in. Just send me an e-mail to ronaldlago@hotmail.com, ok? Thanks for the input.

[bblackmoor]

I had read on some other postings where it talked about what the character was going through inside his head and what not. It sounded pretty interesting.

That's a matter of taste. Some players lke to do that, some don't. Personally, I find that irritating, and I do not do it myself, but like all good players and good GMs I will happily play with other people and allow them to indulge their preferences. Good players do not impose their preferences on each other.

[Kara Zor-El]

Good players don't get kicked outta PBEM's.

[Bozimus]

Or endlessly complain about the inflexibility of past GMs while being inflexible themselves!

IMHO, there is no ONE correct way to run a PBeM.

[Vanguard00]

Hello everybody. Now, more than ever, I'm asking that all of you make a collaborative effort to explain how PBEM works and how it differs from regular PnP RPing. Here are some questions I'd like to have answered.

-How necessary is it to use a ruleset for a PBEM game?

By "ruleset" do you mean a system? It's unnecessary to the extreme. Many PBEMs are "systemless" and just function on a loose set of guidelines to get them from story to story.

If, however, by "ruleset" you mean "a set of rules all must abide by", I think it's necessary. You don't have to have a lot of rules, or even very strict ones--heck, you don't even have to write 'em down--but you need something that says "here's what we're gonna do and how we're gonna do it". Many times these rulesets come about during play.

-Do you use a ruleset for your PBEM? Why?

I do, by both definitions I've given above. I use Hero System exclusively now, and I always have a set of rules that provide structure to posting and terms of play. I have very few house rules regarding Hero System itself, but some are enforced to provide continuity. And that's the answer to the "why" of your question: continuity.

-If ruleset isn't that necessary, what kind of suggestions do you have for measuring a character's abilities?

In this particular question it seems you're asking about a system, or some set of rules for making characters.

In the "systemless" games I've played in we simply described the character in terms of "real world" attributes. A character can lift a bus over his head, or tow a battleship, or fly faster than most cars can go. If two descriptions were ever close enough to cause doubt the players got together to work out just how it would be resolved. The GM would step in only as a last resort. Nearly every time the players were able to come to some sort of an accomodation regarding who could perform that skill better or who was stronger, etc.

-How would a typical session (or exchange) run?

For that I'd recommend you lurk in an actual PBEM. Usually the GM sends out the next "scene" and the characters respond to it. Conversation sometimes goes on for a while without GM intervention, and sometimes the GM responds to everything (in the case of running certain NPCs, for example). There really isn't a "session" in a PBEM as even a single "turn" can last for weeks or months real-time. Generally it follows a GM-posts-then-players-respond format, though.

-How do you keep track of character advancement?

For Hero-based games the GM generally keeps a character sheet handy. They give out XP and the player tells him what they want to spend it on and when. They both adjust their character sheets accordingly.

In the systemless games I played in a while back we just agreed that certain things would change in the character's description (example: being able to "bounce bullets off his chest" became "bounce small artillery off his chest".)

If there is a key topic I have missed, please let me know of it. I'm planning on doing a PBEM Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game with a good friend who's still in the military (hopefully, he hasn't played the game yet).

Patience. PBEMs move slower than FtF games. Also, description. Remember that you have to describe in text what you might be able to say quickly. Lack of information on the character's part is usually the GM's fault unless the players are supposed to be actively looking for something (example, forgetting to mention a second door in a room is the GM's fault; the players not thinking to ask what books are on the shelf would be a player problem).

There a number of threads in this forum that could help you. Good luck with your game.

[bblackmoor]

IMHO, there is no ONE correct way to run a PBeM.

Indeed.

[Worldmaker]

Or endlessly complain about the inflexibility of past GMs while being inflexible themselves!

IMHO, there is no ONE correct way to run a PBeM.

There are some ways that work endlessly better than others, I think.