How do play by post games work? Even is it is just to point me to an online FAQ or decent example, I would appreciate any info. This sound intriguing.


A decent question.

Play-By-Post games (PbP) are generally based off a forum. There are many different ones out there: Rpol.net (which I favor), rpg.net, private forums and Obsidian Portal I think also supports it. There are quite a few more than those but that's all I can think of.

This is a forum. PbP uses the forum set-up to allow gaming. Each player posts in turn or when possible, the GM guides the adventure and rolls are made either through in-forum widgets or by the GM.

Forums have the benefit over email of not getting as cluttered, allowing organization and posting of information. They also allow gaming groups to explore solo missions and confidential interactions which can be of tremendous importance to certain types of games (politics/espionage etc).

That's the 17 second version. How I can be of further assistance 8)

I can perhaps expand this, if I may post such? One could always have more detail when explaining something like this.

Hmm, this is a year old... I apologize for not checking the date.

Go right ahead. :)

Guide To Play By Post/Forum Based Roleplay
((I do not take credit for the below, it is general advise I have gathered online and from different sources. I will post some of my own thoughts and experiances later though.))

Your Character:
Play By Posts are slower than Tabletop games. Because of that, characters get more spotlight time. Through the ability to show internal monologue, describe expressions or mannerisms in detail, and generally convey more about a character than you can normally, a PbP is an opportunity to really delve deep into roleplay. That means you should be ready to do that.
More importantly, you should be ready to do that from the very beginning. Use internal monologue to show your fellow players what your character is about. Don’t worry about revealing things prematurely or before they ask. Think of it like a novel. It’s ok for the reader to know things that the characters don’t.

Regarding Other Characters
In PbP, there is a temptation to include the actions or reactions of other characters, PC or NPC, in your own post, in order to move things along in the story. Do not do this. It's known as “godmodding” and quite frankly is rather rude. It may take a while longer, but waiting for another player to compose their own characters response is generally worth the wait, and the slight acceleration of the plot is not worth the trouble. Also, let the GM resolve anything that needs an opposed die roll. In order to speed things up, its usually okay to post probable actions your character will take depending on what happens next - a sort of “if, then” statement. Don't go overboard with this.

The exception to this rule is if you have permission from the GM and/or another player to control another character's actions, or if a GM has taken control of a character from an absent player.

Character Builds: (This may not apply to Pendragon RPG, if so tell me.)
Not all PbP games use maps. Because of that, roleplays which rely heavily on tactical movement or precision placement of AoE effects can be very frustrating to play.
On the other hand, multi-attack builds won’t bore your fellow players to death as you go into your third minute of dice rolling to figure out your attacks and damage.
Basically, characters that require a lot of bookkeeping are a perfect fit for PbP games, and characters that practically require minis and a battlemat are going to be a pain in the neck.

Character Interactions:
To give is to get. Don’t expect anyone to care about your character until you care about theirs. Strike up conversation. Ask other characters about themselves. Discuss the party goals in character. PbP games tend to have quite a bit of “down time”. That can mean that everyone sits around waiting for the GM to update, or it can mean time to chat with other party members. Sometimes the best parts of a PbP game are the dialogues people get into. In a Tabletop game it might be normal to bypass a lot of mundane things to get to the plot, but in a PbP game, you can take the two weeks that the GM is on vacation and turn it into “party talk around the fire”. It can be really fun, but it takes being a proactive gamer rather than a reactive gamer.

The Posting CommanGMents:
Thou Shall Avoid Walls Of Text
Thou Shall Not Hog The Spotlight
Thou Shall Not Assume The Actions Of Others
Thou Shall Not Assume Outcomes Of Actions
Thou Shall Not Derail Gameplay

That’s it.
Basically, the trick to a good post is to be descriptive without being verbose, and to leave the outcome of any stated actions open-ended. Wait for the GM to give you the results. Then you can post again describing the results if you want.
It’s not good to say-
Marius fires his bow, driving his arrow deep into the beast’s face.
-because, Marius might actually miss, or the beast might have DR you didn’t know about, or deflect arrows, or any number of other things that might change the results of the action.
Instead, break it into two posts. One for intention (which also includes any necessary rolls), and one for describing the results (the GM might do this for you, but you can still describe your character’s response to those results if you like)
Doing this tends to keep your posts shorter, which is nice, and gives you the chance to post more often, which is also nice.
When in doubt, take it to OOC

Writing Style:
Avoid first person narrative. When the “person telling the story” changes every six sentences a story can get really annoying to read.
The most aesthetically appealing narrative structure seems to be Third Person Limited. When everyone writes in that style, the story flows like a novel and gives everyone reading a firm grasp of all the characters thoughts and motives.

You might think “aesthetics aren’t important”, but they are. Think of it like a novel. You’re devoting a lot of time and energy into this story. It deserves to have the best you can give it. Compare the following:
1) @ Marius: “Can I see your sword?”
2) To Marius “Can I see your sword?”
3) Philip asks Marius if he can borrow his sword.
4) Philip walks over to where Marius eating and asks “Can I borrow your sword?”
Which one of these would you rather read? Which would you rather be known for writing?

On Thoughts
So that’s what my internal monologue looks like, thought Philip.
It’s that simple. Show the group what your character is thinking with simple Italics.

A PBP game is all about description. Be creative. Refine your writing skills. Use spell check.

General advice
One point of advice, not linked to any of the problems in particular, is to talk OOC whenever possible. Share opinions, talk about unrelated subject, whatever. Because it’s a good way to get to know your players and/or your GM, and it’s always funnier to game with people you know and like than with total strangers. Moreover, there is one thing to consider of great importance: this is a forum. People can’t see your face, and can’t tell if you are enjoying yourself or you’d prefer to do something else (more combat/roleplaying/intrigue/humor. They don’t know if you’re arguing IC because your character is going to be fiercely opposed to a course of action, but you think it’s a great idea, or if it’s you as a player that think the idea is stupid. The only way you have to let them know if to post OOC. Feedback (both from players to the GM and vice-versa and between players) is a fundamental aid in having successful PbPs.