RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to Beginners

04:36, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

New to RPoL and TRPGs.

Posted by ObeliskTD
ObeliskTD
member, 1 post
Thu 13 Apr 2017
at 17:35
  • msg #1

New to RPoL and TRPGs

Hi everyone!

I'm ObeliskTD, and I'm new to this whole tabletop RPG thing and wanted to try it out.  Unfortunately, being a college student, I barely have money or time to sit down and play a full session so I decided to try a Play by Post format.

Now, I've never played anything like a tabletop RPG, so I have zero idea how this stuff works.  I'm usually quick to learn, but I might have trouble getting started.

I hope to have a good time on here with everyone here!
Edit: Oh, just call me Obelisk or Ob.  Whichever one works.

-ObeliskTD
(By the way: looking to do a solo with a GM/DM who's willing to help me learn the basics)
This message was last edited by the user at 17:36, Thu 13 Apr 2017.
Der Rot Konig
member, 76 posts
Educated Pirate
Thu 13 Apr 2017
at 17:53
  • msg #2

New to RPoL and TRPGs

Given time constraints and a lack of knowledge on game mechanics, I think you'll fit in just fine here.  Most of the games give you plenty of leeway on response time (meaning you get to it when you can) and, at least I've found, game mechanics are often secondary to story-telling.
AkiraDawn
member, 9 posts
Thu 13 Apr 2017
at 18:44
  • msg #3

New to RPoL and TRPGs

'ello! :)

I've been here for just a couple months, myself :)

What basics are you looking to learn about? Role playing, game mechanics, or just the general idea all together?
ObeliskTD
member, 2 posts
Thu 13 Apr 2017
at 23:57
  • msg #4

New to RPoL and TRPGs

In reply to AkiraDawn (msg # 3):

Trying to learn the general idea.
facemaker329
member, 6912 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Fri 14 Apr 2017
at 05:34
  • msg #5

New to RPoL and TRPGs

*grin*  Well, the basics are a more regimented variation on 'cops and robbers' or 'cowboys and Indians' (depending on how Politically Correct you were raised.)  These games are all, at their core, just an elaborate case of 'Let's Pretend', except the Game Master lays down the ground rules for how the game will work.  Depending on those ground rules, you may or may not have a set of attributes that help define your character, largely to provide some sense of how strong/smart/dextrous/resilient/likable/etc they are.  You may or may not be rolling dice to add a randomizing element to the game.  Your GM may or may not give you bonuses for playing your character exceptionally well.  If you think it should happen one way, and another player has a different view, the GM has the final say.  So, it's kind of like 'Let's Pretend', with a referee and some statistical rules to help with conflict resolution.

Beyond that, it's all just variations on a theme...how many and how complex the rules are, are the players creating the story as they go or is the GM guiding them through a story he's created, what setting, what genre, etc.
Dr. Mindermast
member, 559 posts
not psycho, still Josh
djmindermast.bandcamp.com
Fri 14 Apr 2017
at 15:56
  • msg #6

New to RPoL and TRPGs

If you're currently in college, check to see if there's a gaming club of some sort - I imagine most schools will have some roleplayers hiding somewhere or other, and possibly even a library of games you can try out.

(I know things sometimes come across the wrong way over text, so I want to be clear here - I'm not trying to suggest that you shouldn't use this site.  Rather, I think you should take advantage of all the resources you have available)
Raddek
member, 8 posts
Fri 14 Apr 2017
at 19:39
  • msg #7

New to RPoL and TRPGs

Games on the site can vary widely based not only on genre of the game, but also the type of system that is being used.  Over the years, I've seen games created that range from discussion forums, to high fantasy, interstellar sci-fi, you name it.  Game system, while hopefully it doesn't rear itself in the actual posting can have a substantial effect on how the player interacts with his character or how the character interacts with the game world.

If you are trying to figure out how the site works, I would say the easiest way is to start rooting around the search menu to look for game genres that interest you, poke around in the games and see which ones you like.  Many are free-form so knowing any sort of game system isn't required.  Using the Players: Wanted forum is a good way to figure out games that are actively looking for more players to join up.

That being said, some games you are probably going to have to learn some of the rules in order to play.  I'd focus on one or the other, either find the genre you want and learn the system, or if you have a system you are interested in, search for games using that system to help you narrow down your options.

If the site is at all confusing, the FAQs and help functionality are pretty well laid out too.
facemaker329
member, 6913 posts
Gaming for over 30
years, and counting!
Sat 15 Apr 2017
at 04:49
  • msg #8

New to RPoL and TRPGs

Yeah...I have a kind of hierarchy of preferences when I search for games...I'll look for games with systems I'm familiar with, first off...I may or may not worry about genre, most of the games I've been in have had a dominant theme but have dabbled a little bit in multiple genres, so that isn't as high a priority for me, but it's something I can see just looking at the game ad.

Then I look at setting and general plot.  If these don't interest me, I won't try to join the game, even if it's a system with which I'm familiar...but if a setting/plot sounds intriguing enough, I will try out a new system.

Next, I look at the GMs writing style.  This is important to me because some people have such poor spelling and/or grammar that it takes a fair bit of effort to figure out what they're actually trying to say.  Again, this won't necessarily chase me away from a game that sounds really interesting...but if I'm on the fence about it, this is enough to make me say 'no thanks.'

And, finally, I look at the GM expectations...what is the expected minimum posting rate?  How complex is the RTJ (Request To Join) procedure that they've set up?  How picky are they about how complex posts should be? Etc...

Those criteria aren't always easy to understand, and it actually took me a few years of playing on here to kind of develop a standard (and, even now, it still shifts for whatever reason, so my tastes in games has a visceral variable...all other things being equal, I follow my gut...)
Gaffer
member, 1454 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Sat 15 Apr 2017
at 13:43
  • msg #9

New to RPoL and TRPGs

I follow much the same process as facemaker, although I'm a bit more rigid about systems, I think. I look first for games in my preferred systems. Experience has led me to know that I don't like freeform, so I reject those out of hand. Similarly there are several systems I know I don't want to play anymore.

After considering the rest of the questions facemaker outlines, I'll go to the game site and check out the cast list, especially if character information has been posted. I judge whether these characters and their players look like folks I'll be comfortable with over the long haul. If not, I pass.
Sign In