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17:34, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Clueless in the online RPG universe.

Posted by Hilary155
Hilary155
member, 1 post
Fri 12 Dec 2014
at 16:57
  • msg #1

Clueless in the online RPG universe

I read the rules and whatnot.  But I still don't fully understand how all this works.  I ran an online RPG using skype a few times.  It seemed to work.  I was wishing I had a way to share images for combat maps in real time.

Is this real role playing online or one of those play by post text deals?

Is there a single unified platform that people use here for RPG-ing?  Or are all the specifics left up to the GM and players to organize?

What I see to be the biggest problem with online RPG is a lack of unification.  What is needed is a single venue where everyone can post the games they are running and how many players they still need.  It is like cheer leading.  Everyone can yell.  But they need one voice directing them to yell at the same time.  It is like... looking for your car keys under the street light even though you dropped your keys in the shadows.

I personally do not have any dogs in this race.  I don't care WHICH platform we use to coordinate online RPG-ing.  I just want it to work.  I have posted my game in online game venues and got ZERO interest.  And there are hundreds of RPG posting sites out there.  I simply do not get it.  Why can't this work?  Word of mouth from people who have used a particular online PRG organizing site should be enough to get everyone on the same page.  Yet, I have not seen this happen.

My local gaming store has gone to card games, D&D Encounters and Pathfinder.  I am sorry but I do not think of these as role playing.  Encounters is nothing but combat and pathfinder is a pen and paper version of a MMORPG computer game.

I am interested in the genres of Call of Cthulhu, Paranoia, Medieval Fantasy and 'the Venture Bros' which is a cartoon with a cult following that lends itself perfectly as  an online RPG universe.  I use the GURPS system to run all these games.  I have no platform for online RPGing other than SKYPE or generic java text chat venues.

I welcome any information and clarification you good folks are willing to share.

-Hilary
Mrrshann618
member, 12 posts
Fri 12 Dec 2014
at 17:07
  • msg #2

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

Well I'm "fairly" new myself so I'll give you what I've figured out

1. This is play by post, You can have maps, but nothing is in real time unless you get everyone online at the same time, even then it is simply delayed by how "fast" people are posting. Maps will needed to be updated by the GM/DM as it goes with uploading to the map area in each game

2. This is essentially PnP role playing on a post medium in many cases.

3. Games typically are slow, it took my players nearly 2 months to simply get out of town as they wanted to do things.

4. You can link pictures to your posts and, as I mentioned, there is a map section. Nothing is animated unless you use an animated GIF.

5. Wanted - GM and Wanted - Players are the place to look for games, players for your games, and for players who want a GM to create a specific game for them.

6. Role playing is different than Roll playing. I've played Ad&d games from the same edition (2nd) that were from each category. It is usually the GM that makes the difference
facemaker329
member, 6497 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Sat 13 Dec 2014
at 06:14
  • msg #3

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

There is no 'single, unified platform' for gaming anywhere because there are so many different tastes to what gaming should be.  You sound somewhat dissatisfied with the concept of play-by-post, which is understandable if you are into real-time interaction and immediate responses, but for many of us, the slower pace of pbp gaming is part of its appeal...we can fit our gaming fix in around other, more pressing commitments, in ten minute or fifteen minute increments (or however long you take to compose a post) scattered here and there throughout our week, as opposed to having to consistently clear a three-hour time slot every week.

For some people, that kind of pacing is maddeningly slow...so they come up with something else.  Even within the games here, there are some that have multiple posts daily, others may manage one or two...some will go for days or even weeks without activity.  It's whatever works for the GM and the players.
Hilary155
member, 2 posts
Sat 13 Dec 2014
at 07:06
  • msg #4

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

OK.  I read the Help Faq and terms/rules and NO WHERE did it explain that this was play by post.


Also... How do I leave this group?  I did not see anything in the aforementioned Help or Faq nor did I see anything in 'Preferences'.

.... What this thing is about and how to quit it might be things to include in the information services.
This message was last edited by the user at 07:11, Sat 13 Dec 2014.
bigbadron
moderator, 14733 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Sat 13 Dec 2014
at 08:33

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

The information about how the site works is included in the FAQs:
quote:
What is RPoL?

RPoL stands for RolePlay onLine.  It is a message board-based site for role-playing games.

RPoL was specifically designed for the purpose of playing role-playing games (RPGs) in a play-by-post format, and has many features designed with RPGs and their players in mind.

Quitting the site is easy, you just stop coming here.  :)  Your account, once created, can not be deleted, and should you decide to return in future, you will need to use the same account.
Mortixx
member, 247 posts
Sun 14 Dec 2014
at 15:20
  • msg #6

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

Welcome to RPoL California where you can always check in but never leave ;-)

That aside there is also a section called offsite gaming. You might find what you are looking for there.
drewalt
member, 8 posts
Mon 15 Dec 2014
at 04:43
  • msg #7

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

Hilary155:
My local gaming store has gone to card games, D&D Encounters and Pathfinder.  I am sorry but I do not think of these as role playing.  Encounters is nothing but combat and pathfinder is a pen and paper version of a MMORPG computer game.


I have run entire Sessions of Pathfinder where the dice were hardly touched.

The most recent time was when the player characters recruited a mentally ill hermit to create potions for them, and then spent the rest of the session asking a kobold chief questions about their culture so they could attempt to create a piece treaty between the black kobolds and the yellow kobolds.

I've done others where the players attended a royal ball, one group convinced an assassin to leave the country instead of go through with his plans, another talked down a PC who had a deep and unrelenting crush on the soon to be betrothed princess, and a third group was plotting with same princess to discredit the duke she was slated to marry so the Queen would call off the wedding.

The game is whatever you make it, limited very much by one's own imagination and personal biases.  You only need gobs of crunch for a certain style of combat.
Holobunny
member, 26 posts
Sat 10 Jan 2015
at 08:24
  • msg #8

Re: Clueless in the online RPG universe

Hi, Hillary155. I'm Holobunny, and I love PARANOIA (note: this is your one warning; in the future, not properly capitalizing PARANOIA will be considered treason.) As a setting, its about as common here as anywhere else. So, with your approval, I'll drop you an Rmail if I find a good Complex-romp, and you should feel free to do the same, only in reverse. I've already found one decent game, but site rules prevent me from directing you to it. I'm trying to drum up interest in another, but same thing. So, feel free to stay in touch and I hope to Troubleshoot with you soon. Welcome to RPoL!
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