just joined but I don't know much about how to navigate this place yet.

saw a game I was interested in but looks like I missed the boat there. as today was the deadline and I can't even figure out how to PM the GM as he had requested.

anyway any directions would be great.
This message was last updated by the user at 22:30, Fri 12 June 2015.

In reply to edwardsobel (msg # 1):

Welcome to rpol! If you saw the game advertised in the Wanted-Players public forums, then try scrolling to the top of the thread and clicking the name of the game. Once you're on the board for the game, you can send a message to the GM by clicking Request Access. I hope you contact the GM and give it a shot. Happy gaming!
This message was last edited by the user at 22:42, Fri 12 June 2015.

In reply to Eggy (msg # 2):

thanks

is there someplace that lists and describes the various forum codes? like how do I include a picture change colors, make a url link etc.

how do I bold. what is the standard protocol in the games for speech, thoughts dialouge or whatever.

is there a dice roller that is used?

Yep! Check out the FAQ > General RPoL Information to find help for the code, but the entire FAQ is useful.

You can also use the buttons below Preview and Post Message. You can click bold, then type in the text you'd like with that effect. Or you can type it, highlight it then click bold. Same for all the others. The formatting for thoughts and speech depends on the game. When you join a game, ask the GM what's preferred and try it out.

You'll be able to use the dice roller when you're a part of a game. It will be near the upper left.

Unlike some other play by post forums, you have only one rpol login, but you can have a great number of characters. You can join more than one game and nothing about your character from the first game will carry over to your character from the next.

Anything else?

In reply to Eggy (msg # 5):

thanks agin you have been very helpful.

I apologize about the questions but the use of images: is Pintrest a valid source (linking to my own pintrest page)

If a pinterest page counts as your own webspace, then yes.



Hey, all you other great and knowledgeable long-time gamers lurking about! Anyone have a better answer than my "maybe"? :)

In reply to Eggy (msg # 7):

I could just link it and let people navigate to that page on their own, thus not actually putting the image in thread.

Ok some things I have discovered that are a little annoying here.

1 with all the games pretty much secret stuff, I don't have any idea what is expected nor have any feel for how games are played out here.

i cannot just follow a game to get a feel for the boards and the format.

I cannot just add a post to a thread unless replying to something. (that is real annoying.)

I cannot locate other members of these boards to see what and or who are long time members or newbies like me.

I tried for one game sadly I rushed through the application since I only created my account on the deadline. I didn't get in. (probably since I didn't have any cred here to be considered reliable.)

found two other games that have been closed yet still show up on the list of GM's recruiting.

learning to navigate here is a little annoying. hard to find things.

no answer on the picture thing, don't really expect one though, I don't even know who reads this stuff since I don't truly see much activity. (of course maybe there is I just don't know what to look for.

I will probably go to the players looking for GM section.

So any GM's out there that will allow someone to access their game just to read it and learn about this place and the style of gaming that most here prefer... let me know.

i am not asking to play the game at all just want to see what this place is all about really.

Ok some things I have discovered that are a little annoying here.

1 with all the games pretty much secret stuff, I don't have any idea what is expected nor have any feel for how games are played out here.

i cannot just follow a game to get a feel for the boards and the format.
There are games with threads available for public viewing. If you want to see what is going on inside of a game with private threads, you can use the Request Access button to send a message to the GM. Say that you'd like to lurk. You can get an idea of a game's activity by checking out the cast list.  GMs are at the top, players second. If it seems like a long time has gone since the GM last logged on, then you might not get a reply in a hurry.

I cannot just add a post to a thread unless replying to something. (that is real annoying.)
Do you mean that you've been using the Reply button next to the msg # on the right side of each post? At the bottom right of the window, there is a Post A Reply button that doesn't tag on to any previous post. It's unaffected by scrolling.

I cannot locate other members of these boards to see what and or who are long time members or newbies like me.
Semi-anonymity is a pretty big deal here. It shouldn't matter how recent a player is or how long they've been hanging around. This isn't the kind of forum to count reputation points.

I tried for one game sadly I rushed through the application since I only created my account on the deadline. I didn't get in. (probably since I didn't have any cred here to be considered reliable.)
Again, it's not that kind of system. You could try asking the GM why your application didn't make the cut and try again. But if the game is full up, then it's full up. There are over 7K games going on. Try searching for another. :)

found two other games that have been closed yet still show up on the list of GM's recruiting.
Sometimes people forget to turn off the signal. Humans make mistakes. I find that a gentle reminder either prompts the GM to either turn off the signal or allow more players in with no hard feelings.

learning to navigate here is a little annoying. hard to find things.
What are you looking for? Have you tried the search? I don't want to sound like a jerk. I'd like to help.

no answer on the picture thing, don't really expect one though, I don't even know who reads this stuff since I don't truly see much activity. (of course maybe there is I just don't know what to look for.
Regarding the pictures, if I had a Pinterest page, I'd do it. I use my DA page.

In my opinion, the Beginners forum doesn't get nearly as much action as the games, but I see friendly users drop in to help with questions. Also, not sure what time zone you're in, but for me the weather is great, students are out of school, action movies are in theatres and a major holiday's about to kick off. Sometimes people want to leave their screens for a bit.

I will probably go to the players looking for GM section.
That is a good idea! You can check Wanted - Players to find GMs that are actively searching for players. Or go to Wanted - GMs to post exactly what you're looking for and spark a discussion that leads to a new game.

So any GM's out there that will allow someone to access their game just to read it and learn about this place and the style of gaming that most here prefer... let me know.

i am not asking to play the game at all just want to see what this place is all about really.
Reading the FAQ may help. GMs aren't allowed to just plug their games in just any forum, so you might not get the response you want right here in this thread. I hope this helps.
This message was last edited by the user at 00:34, Sun 14 June 2015.

What Eggy said and managed to get out quicker than me. :) An addition to the pictures thing though: If you have the URL of the specific picture, use the information provided under General RPoL Information-RuBB Code Tips & Tricks-How do I 'Put pictures in a post?'

actually you are more help than you realize.

and I don't care about sounding like a jerk (as long as you say something like: "hey I may be sounding like a jerk here, but...")

one thing is for sure, I am an older gamer, I am kind of set in what I like, and my time to learn new game systems as well as budget to buy new material is limited. so I feel a little limited (but that is my own doing, nobody else.)

and hey I found that post a reply button... see -- old dog new tricks thing...

If you are looking for a specific system, you can always insert that System into the Search function. RPoL recognizes a great number of systems and their various releases. If that fails, you can always post in Wanted GMs as you suggested and hopefully find what you are looking for.

:) Good to hear! Now, to find some games that you like. I can't invite you to any games or advertise any games in this forum, but I can help you with the search function.

On the Main Menu, near the middle of the screen on the same line as We have 7,894 games... there is a button Browse/Search The Games. Click it and a menu opens up. The largest blank is for Game Systems. Type in the name of system you like (or Free-form or even Home-brewed). Leave Active clicked on. And Only Active Games Requesting Players. Sometimes you get lucky when you turn that off, but let's try to go for a sure thing. :)

General Content games are open to players regardless of age. GMs of even General Content games have the option to hide threads.
Mature games are a bit grittier than General, but still open to minors.
For an Adult game you'll need to submit an age statement when you first message the GM. Even to lurk. Saying "I'm old" won't do. And yeah, people can and do lie on the age statements. Eventually, they're found out and end up on the Banned List. GMs who open adult games for minors can also get banned.

The Categories. You can click them to narrow down the field or leave them blank.

Click search and you should have a list of games that match your criteria.