Newbie Observer Request: Anybody running a PBEM or PBF game

[robbmiller]

Newbie Observer Request: Anybody running a PBEM or PBF game that they wouldn't mind a newbie (aspiring) LM observing?

Anyone ever video-recorded a session that they wouldn't mind sharing?

[zedturtle]

You can check out both of my games at rpg.net; as long as you have an account there you'll be able to see everything:

Tales from Wilderland: In Character

Tales from Wilderland: Out of Character

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The Theft of the Moon: In Character

The Theft of the Moon: Out of Character

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I recommend to my players that they go to their settings and change the number of posts per page to something more reasonable than 10 per page... something like 60 per page or 100 per page makes it more manageable.

If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them... Also, it might be worth saying that Theft is explictly designed for newbies and we will probably be recruiting for new players in a week or so.

[robbmiller]

Thank you so much. I have signed up and am now lurking.

[robbmiller]

I also posted the same request at RPGgeek (Board Game Geek's sister site) and was pointed to this pair of threads:

Provided for those others that may be in a similar position as myself.

(In character): https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1113599/wild-ic
(Out of Character): https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1107062/wild-ooc

apparently the game fizzled after several months.

[zedturtle]

Thank you so much. I have signed up and am now lurking.

Cool! Let me know if you have questions. I've been meaning to do a series of Actual Play reports where I deconstruct what worked and what didn't do so well.

My Tales is not done, but I really can't see us failing to complete it... we're so close!

[robbmiller]

A video series playing Tales from Wilderland:

http://youtu.be/BKVBBEKzDUg

There is one critisim in the comments that their style is too D20... not narrative enough? Any veteran players agree? disagree?

[Majestic]

First off let me say they look like a group that has fun, and the Loremaster seems to be doing a pretty good job of keeping everyone enjoying the game.

I don't know that I'd say it's too D20 or the like. The GM and players seem to be emphasizing the narrative, as opposed to getting bogged down in crunchy game mechanics.

As far as the TOR mechanics, I don't want to be too critical of their style, but the LM does seem to kind of do his own thing a bit. Which is fine (to each their own), but it may not be the best example of the RAW (for those learning the game). For instance, in that opening scene, it struck me that the Rohirrim character used Awe (when he pulled his sword and did an intimidating action). The LM instead rolled right into combat, skipping opening volleys, and after the Man of Rohan made his attack the bad guy went (rather than having the other PCs move in turn first; I suppose one could say they didn't really engage, nor did the other bad guys). It didn't seem like that adversary even rolled either (not sure if he was just making things up or actually rolling). He of course added in his own "disarm" bit, too (pointing out that this wasn't from the rules). Then he finally went to the Awe roll.

Not sure what he meant by "critical success" or "epic feat", too, as he seemed to have different definitions for those terms.

But I want to be clear that I'm not calling it badwrongfun. The GM seems to be doing a good job, and the players seem to be engaged and having fun. Bottom line is that's one of the biggest, most important reasons for playing. Overall I'd say it's a pretty good example of how excellent the game can be.

Also, one of the comments is critical of the Loremaster calling for an Awareness roll, but I think he did that part just fine.

[robbmiller]

Thanks for the input Majestic!

As they are playing the same scenario, I am comparing Zed's campaign with the Middle Earth Net's (MEN) videos. Both have done a nice job of modifying the HotW material to their group. What I noticed is that Zed's campaign seems to be more substantially led by the characters, while the MEN campaign seems to be more controlled by the LM.

I haven't gotten too far in either campaign so perhaps this becomes less of a difference than I perceive.

I am familiar with, and therefore more "comfortable" in the LM controlled environ, yet feel the PC centered approach is more what TOR is about.

[zedturtle]

What I noticed is that Zed's campaign seems to be more substantially led by the characters, while the MEN campaign seems to be more controlled by the LM.

I haven't gotten too far in either campaign so perhaps this becomes less of a difference than I perceive.

This may also be a difference in the medium. In a Face-to-Face game, there are points where I might pause for a beat, in order to let something sink in. However, in PbP, stopping at a non-decision point is death to the pacing (because a stop to let something sink in means no one posts for a full cycle, until the GM posts again). That's why I try really hard to always run the PCs up to a decision point. Which means that they always have something to decide with each post. A F2F (even video-chat style) GM can "read the room" and adjust things in a more subtle fashion.

[Beran]

I'm running a TOR game over on Myth-Weavers.