[pnpgm] New Player PBEM introduction and comments
Scott Adams
longshot at darktech.org
Wed Oct 31 07:22:13 CET 2007
* PBEM Introduction for New Players
For new players read on. For experienced players you can
read it if you want to. Might learn something :)
A. Anatomy of a Update:
The update looks as follows:
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HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex
-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
R1 John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma
..............
R4 Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe
Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Boyzdar [Wolf] (Strie'bog),
********************************************************************
This is the Player Header/Roster. It contains who is what
and rarely their status if needed to be updated (like
hurt or such). The HT column is Horse Type. Might look
like:
R1 - Riding Horse I W1 - Warhorse I
R2 - Riding Horse II W2 - Warhorse II
R3 - Riding Horse III W3 - Warhorse III
R4 - Riding Horse Iv W3 - Warhorse IV
That info is there as a reminder who has what for combat
and movement at a glance. For new players let me know
how you want to be classified in the roster. Warrior,
Magician, etc. Its how much you want to reveal.
Below the Roster are animals and companions the party
may have currently with the group.
*****************************************************************
Game Web Site - http://www.funport.com/longshot/pbem
Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
Private emails (not public actions) to longshot at darktech.org
*****************************************************************
This section is a reminder on the Game Website URL.
Where public and private posts go to.
*****************************************************************
Game Update #51 in sequence (file #223)
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*****************************************************************
This is a game update Number and file number.
Each update will have its own separate number. Some may be
2-3 parts like large combats so they'll have a letter like
11a or 22c to denote those parts. File numbers are numbers
for each file generated. Each post from players (public)
is one file. So game update won't match up to file numbers.
Both are good for later reference in finding text and other info.
*****************************************************************
Admin notes: None.
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*****************************************************************
There may be times I need to advise you guys of a special note.
This will be where it is. It may be a mistake in some old
update or a vacation warning for me, etc. Stuff not really
linked to the game itself. So keep tabs on this section as well.
*****************************************************************
[Recap]
From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions]
......
GM: Ack.
*****************************************************************
This section is where I post all action posts. Until folks tell
me they don't want to see it anymore. Its a recap of all the
public actions posted. There are several reasons I post
stuff here from players.
1. To show what actions came to me. If you don't see your
post here or on the game website or the game archives
then it NEVER got to me. You should probably resend it.
2. The "GM:" comment line is where I add my own comments
to those actions. Usually I just say Ack to acknowledge
them. But sometimes I may include some GM related
comments or warnings as a reply that isn't seen in
the body of the update.
*****************************************************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[New Stuff]
*****************************************************************
After this line is the actual body of the update.
Some areas of interest...
"GM: ..."
Where you see these lines are game related GM comments
or warnings. I will ask questions to clarify situations
here as well.
"[Decalis 20th, 111th day since left Marentia, 47th day of
Adventure #3 of the 1633rd year [TH].]
[Location: Pavassa Forest - 59 miles west of Lake Oca]
[Time: 11:42am]"
This is important as its the date header. For those
who don't recognize the date I'm using Burton's home
rules for month dates and using Culture Book year info.
The header may look like the above. The date is
important as so you know what events are taking place
on what days. Folks have gotten confused and simply
not looked at the date header.
"Actions? Comments?
Next update Monday..."
This is the end of the update body and shows when
the next update is. Below it I may include status
reports and other game related material.
B. Update Schedule
I post each update technically Tuesday morning
usually late 2-3am. Though I classify it as
a Monday update. For Friday's update I tend to
post it about midnight if I can. Current
schedule is Tuesday/Wednesday off for me. So
I work the other 5 days. This means I stay up
late on Monday night to 3am. So have good
amount of time working on Monday's update.
But for Friday's I only have from about 9pm-12am
or so to work on it. So its best and highly
respected to have actions as soon as possible.
The sooner the better as I can work on updates
(especially Friday's) faster. While it may take
players 5-15 minutes to read an update it takes
me a good 2-3 hours to write one. For combat
oriented it could take 4-6 hours. That's alot of
time involved (going back and forth on character
sheets and such). So sooner the better on actions.
But I also know folks get busy. If you get busy
and get behind I have always said I can hold the
updates. Just tell me to hold it and I can.
C. Posting on Mailing list:
The PBEM goes out onto a Mailing list. This means
it is archived and digested and out on the internet.
1. Public Action Posts:
Anything posted to the list for actions and for ALL to
see should go to:
pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl
The server may get slow at times. You may see an
immediate copy of your post come out right away or
the following day.
2. Private Actions
A. Private email to me:
Post any private actions or comments you do not
want seen to:
longshot at darktech.prg (prefer)
longshot at cybermax.net (Alternative)
No one will see it. Keep in mind if you include
dialogue to others or actions for current events. It
won't be seen so I will include those things in the
next update. That could mean a delay of 2-3 days.
So if you want folks to reply to your stuff post it
all publicly. Also if you want some stuff public
and other stuff private. LET ME KNOW. Some include
headers like PRIVATE and all below is private. Up
to you. But if it looks like its going to be seen
and heard by all I will assume it public unless stated
otherwise.
B. Private email to others:
Sending email to other folks is fine. This is good
for plans or interactions. But if you do so please send
a CC (carbon copy) to me so I can have a record of it
and know what's going on. Thanks.
3. Archives/Digests
Digests can be found on the mailing list. For the link
to the mailing list website Wout hosts see the Game Website
link section. There is also a link for monthly archives.
You can always check there to see if your posts get out.
But anything public goes to my game website as well defined
as its own link.
D. Format of Actions
Dialogue (anything spoken should be done in quotes "".
If no quotes exist it will be thoughts or mental
comments assumed.
If you speak in a non native tongue or a common language
like Marentian note it.
Actions character does or does can be in [] or (). I don't
care which. But I tend to use [..] to note sections of
actions or introspections.
Best way to figure out how to post is see a ton of the
old updates and see how folks have done it. There is
no right or wrong here.
Maps are done via Ascii letters. I'm no artist and
don't have time (especially for combats) to do graphic
combat maps. So I use hexes and ascii maps. You can
easily see several examples in pat combat updates.
This is also to help that everyone can view them.
If I did a graphical thing not everyone might have
the software handy to view it. Ascii is in everyone's
computer.
E. Retroactive actions:
I allow posting of actions that are retroactive. In that
is the past. So if there is a conversation that takes place
3 days ago and you wish to comment do so. A PBEM has to
move or it stagnates and one day of game time could be
months in real time. Bogged down and not fun. So I
as GM move the game along. But I still don't mind retroactive
actions. Keep in mind though if those actions can ruin
current actions those aren't allowed. For example if
a guard is questioning a thief 3 days ago and he could have
the one clue that could solve the murder in the present you
can't post "So was it Mr X?". That would ruin the
current situation. So the timeline must be solid and
not messed up.
F. Contact info
I have a link on the game website that has contact info.
For new players please let me know what information
you want in this file. Including Email and/or ICQ/IM
numbers. Thanks.
G. Game Website
Viewing the game website is totally optional. But
there might be hidden surprises in the links section.
I've included links for weeks before I state their
purpose. So gives folks a head start on things. I
also include pictures and other things not posted
in the updates.
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