Re: What PBM _can_ be

From: Liu Pei <liu.pei.fr_at_dLREIBBV27FL3O4N85Oj-Oci6wptb6YrwkyHm5dS4j1uNYLLs60KfJFWTS4CDaXSq>
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:46:28 +0200

Hello,

I am GMing by e-mail for about four years now. Since PBeM, by nature, lacks human interaction, I've setup a weekly off-roleplay email to the whole group of players. Its purpose is to have off-table communication and interaction such as a real-life gaming group. I think it is what links people to a group and keeps their motivation to participate, such as a real-life gaming table. In brief, a kind of weekly flood. When game is stalled (such as currently), this malling allow to chat a keep in touch.

It racaps :

1. Date we begun to play and time passing each week (e.g. 3 years, 10 months and 3 weeks);
2. Date last turn ended (I prepare the turn, send it before the players answer. When they all answered the turn or the dead-line date has passed, the turn is over);
3. A listing of each character (along with player name) setting act number, scene number, group letter (when characters are separated -- currently there are two groups) and a flag showing if the player has answered the turn, if not and when the GM is preparing its turn;
4. As a GM, I freely speak (private to the group) of my personal life so that other people could understand I'm busy, overbooked, in a bad mood and so on.

Each week, we agreed with players that they must answer the weekly email. As a GM, I can so anticipate when player activity slows down or when on is disappearing and so on.

I sincerely think that without this weekly letter, my chronicle would have sunk.

N.B.: We are playing a french piracy RPG (Pavillon Noir: http://www.black-book-editions.fr/index.php?site_id=2) so the weekly email has been named "lettre de bord" (topic of email : 2011W17 -- Lettre de bord #0).

On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 11:13 PM, Rob Thornton <oblate777_at_hoPVGVD0SsLpaAddUdQGKPmFNuTkEk35o635L7hg_QMy_EMe7L-tuhl3Uc0Xl61epiGF2-FryPyFowIVTtk.yahoo.invalid> wrote:

> A few extra thoughts on the matter:
>
> I have participated in two PBEMs in toto: One aborted Heroquest PBEM (Play
> By E-Mail) and started to participate in another that is on hiatus.
>
> I hope I'm not straying off-topic, but for me the only way I can
> participate
> in Heroquest--I live in the DC area--is through a PBEM. It fits my very
> limited time constraints because I know of no one in the local gaming scene
> who has the time to nutrure interest in Heroquest and support a game. So I
> am interested in what makes them succeed and fail.
>
> For the record, I am speaking rhetorically here and not making any
> judgements about anyone (since some folks who participated in at least one
> of the PBEMs are on this list).
>
> Unfortunately, I don't know what makes a PBEM work, but I do know that
> PBEMs
> can be tough to execute and play for at least two reasons:
>
> 1. It is hard for all concerned to develop and maintain a level of trust
> when all the participants live far away from each other and don't have much
> of an initial rapport. Without that trust, miscommunication is more likely
> to occur and it can endanger the whole endeavor. A gaming session is
> face-to-face and communication tends to be smoother--tends, right? :)
>
> 2. It is difficult to maintain momentum when Real Life is always
> encroaching
> on your time and it is easy to put off that email, unlike a gaming session
> where your buddies won't allow you to Durulz out. (hey, using "welsh" isn't
> allowed anymore, right?)
>
> Just wanted to throw in a few more comments, is all....
>
> Rob
>
> On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 4:12 PM, <hcarteau_at_WlQx1MsK5cwGrP9TvKT3B8TV0aP1X_j53IwkopHtfzIA25FegvAEDTgh1KG_Qa_jYrHkDdwu8A.yahoo.invalid> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > /// Thank your for the answer. That does interesting, particularly as you
> > say as
> > a good substitute for face-to-face gaming.
> >
> > Selon Hartmut <pomeroi_at_dksEwuwCkc6HPLQFatGjmus45d9Iz-Le-He2dZ1rjy9-uhoEsc55vB0ALWzDOL0poXK-ep4.yahoo.invalid>:
> >
> >
> > > Hervé,
> > > in fact the "classical" pbm is as the name says. GM and players write
> to
> > a
> > > list (somtimes PM as required). But with newer tools nowadays you have
> > > boards, places to put maps, internet chat or even voice conference. It
> > all
> > > depends on availability and the pace you are able and willing to run. A
> > pbm
> > > with members in timezones scattered over the world of course takes some
> > time.
> > > BUT - you wouldn't believe: Taking time may even add to the amtosphere.
> > We
> > > had characters starting to tell stories, sing a song, doing weird
> things,
> > > because the players had time to. We actually play travel as much as
> > combat.
> > > Think LotR, especially part one. There are a lot more scenes in homes,
> > > taverns, on roads, in talk, as there is action.
> > >
> > > I had quite a lot fun recently with 2 games actually, one being the
> > typical
> > > rpg, the other being the type of strategy and development, where
> > roleplaying
> > > is "downgraded" to the diplomacy between leaders of tribes or nations.
> > Though
> > > I - like I suppose most of you here - prefer to play at the table, pbm
> > can be
> > > great fun if you have scheeming players and a witted GM. I was VERY
> lucky
> > > with both games I do.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Selon Pomeroi <pomeroi_at_...>:
> > > >
> > > > > Perhaps some other reading here can suggest some pbm. I am
> currently
> > in
> > > > > one, that got stuck :-(
> > > >
> > > > /// Being very low tech (I have "computer magics 6" only), I cannot
> > picture
> > > in
> > > > mind what a pbm game is like. Is it real time, or just like a message
> > board
> > > ?
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]