Issue: leveled games tend to be slow paced even in real life, and pbp is slower still.

What's the best way to run a dnd game (or dnd style) on rpol? How important is the game mat (pretty important I'd guess)

I'm a firm believer in accelerated xp on RPOL or starting at high levels.  Either make gaining levels unimportant (high level) or give people a feeling that some progress is being made.  I've actually gained 2 levels in one game with the fast xp track and a generous gm for swabbing decks, saying crew to our side, and two quick combat encounters... and the game started in july.  I danced a gig when I gained a level.

I think that maps are important in any combat heavy game even if it isn't miniatures rule heavy; a picture is worth a thousand words and there are many important issues like the area effect of spells to consider in d20 games.  I still have no idea if I wasted an entangle or if it was overall useful in one game without a map.

It's a jig.  A gig is a bad mark, a quick job or music performance, or something you do if you're an Aggie.

Thank you from your local grammar nazi's.


I'm opposed to level based systems, but if you use them I would suggest accelerated XP.  I suggest that in any game really if it's PbP.  Otherwise advancement is too slow.

One of the tricks I use to speed up level gains via PbP is to award XP as normal, but then not divide XP among the characters. Using this method, I have been able to take a group of brand new 1st-level characters to 5th to 7th level in two years of real life time. Posting rate in my games is not anything overly aggressive (i.e., 1 post expected every 1-2 days).

This is a reasonable rate of level advancement and comparable to what you might experience in a face-to-face game. Additionally, seeing that combat can drag out via PbP, it also limits the amount of "filler" encounters the group has to slog to in order to earn enough XP to level. Because, really, is it that exciting slaying more than a couple of mobs of goblins? Or can that experience be covered with a few thrilling encounters?

... Just a word of warning about fast advancement.

If you're using modules, be prepared to rewrite a hell of a lot of them if you're doing that. Now, if you're prepared to do that, or you're making your own stuff then yes, fast advancement may appear to be the way to go.

In reply to willvr (msg # 5):

The beauty of PBP is that you have time to rewrite. In tabletop you have to make stuff up there and then with no prep time. With PBP you can spend a few days mulling over ideas, tweaking them and coming up with something good...

In reply to Sir_Chivalry (msg # 1):

There are various online mapping tools you can use, or you can make your own map and post it. However, if like me your don't have the opportunity to do that then don't bother. Just use words to describe things and keep them loose. Encourage players to ask questions and then answer them. Don't be a stickler for the exact science of certain rules, just allow the game to flow.