From: Daniel Allard [dan@puente.jpl.nasa.gov] Sent: Monday, 13 April, 1998 18:12 To: blue_planet@MPGN.COM Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Access Denied > > Still, I m interested in the PBEM idea !!! How would you handle it from > an operational point of view? It may soon be my only outlet for my > favourite form of escapism ... 8-( > I have a pretty standard "format" for running a PBEM (I ran an Earthdawn PBEM for about three years and have played in a couple) - in fact, if anyone is interested in my "PBEM intro document" I'd be happy to email it personally (it's really a bit large to dump on the list). Typically, a game runs something like this - I send out a "move message" to all of the players, who get two to three days to respond back. In turn, each player responds to the "move message" with his or her own character's intended actions and dialog, and often also replies to other characters dialog and actions. I consolidate the players actions with NPCs and everything else and put this in another message which becomes the next "move" message. I handle all dice rolling, and game mechanics are kept largely "behind the scene" (things like actual damage numbers are kept to private email, with descriptions being sent to the group). Note that there is at least one good online dice roller (I forget the address, but I know how to find it) that is specifically designed to be used with PBEMs. PBEMs turn out to be as much work as running a regular face-to-face campaign, possibly more, since *everything* has to be typed out. Not only that, but the work of consolidating player messages with NPC actions and dialog can be tricky and sometimes takes a bit of discussion with the players to resolve. Still, PBEMs can be really satisfying - it's nice to have a whole campaign "on file" - and the medium tends to encourage role playing and discourage excessive combat (since it can take so long to run one). If anyone wants more information, please ask, and if I *do* get a Blue Planet PBEM going, this list will be the first to know... dan *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@mpgn.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Skewiff [Skewiff@underdark.demon.co.uk] Sent: Monday, 13 April, 1998 17:38 To: blue_planet@MPGN.COM Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Access Denied In message <199804132140.OAA06111@ubar.jpl.nasa.gov>, Daniel Allard writes >Hi Folks > >I was considering putting together a Blue Planet PBEM sometime >soon (sadly, it's my only real gaming outlet these days), but >then I thought - is there a person out there who's bought the >Blue Planet rulebook and *hasn't* read the "Access Denied" portions? >dan I have to say that i have read them, but I am the only beggar in the area willing to DM these days :(( Seems like RPGs are becoming a thing of the past :(((( Still, I m interested in the PBEM idea !!! How would you handle it from an operational point of view? It may soon be my only outlet for my favourite form of escapism ... 8-( "Life, it seems to fade away..." (Metallica) Yours MaudlinAttitude Reach me by ICQ. My ICQ# is 5436017 or, * Page me online through my Personal Communication Center: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/5436017 (go there and try it!) or, * Send me E-mail Express directly to my computer screen 5436017@pager.mirabilis.comFor downloading ICQ at http://www.icq.com/ For adding similar signatures to your e-mail go to: http://www.icq.com/emailsig. html "Wherever I may roam" Skewiff@underdark.demon.co.uk *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@mpgn.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Daniel Allard [dan@puente.jpl.nasa.gov] Sent: Monday, 13 April, 1998 16:40 To: blue_planet@MPGN.COM Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Access Denied... Hi Folks I was considering putting together a Blue Planet PBEM sometime soon (sadly, it's my only real gaming outlet these days), but then I thought - is there a person out there who's bought the Blue Planet rulebook and *hasn't* read the "Access Denied" portions? I imagine that most Blue Planet GMs will probably be lending the rulebook to their players to go over, but is there anyone on the list who picked up the book without any intention to GM the game? I may still run a Blue Planet PBEM anyway, but I'd like to see if it is possible to run it with people who don't know Poseidon's secrets already. dan *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@mpgn.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message.