Bit premature. Still wrapping up a game and working on some backend stuff. Rolling stats leads to assigning to a character sheet, assigning to character sheet means character creation threads need to be generated, character creation threads lead to house rules threads, completed characters lead to when we starting? etc.

If you give a mouse a cookie...

:)

In reply to DM Storm (msg # 196):

Fair enough. I'll wait. Sigh... hehehe.

Been awhile, how's things?

Howdy, howdy!

As good as can be expected in this crazy world we live in.

You?

All good on this front, health issues are irritating but not debilitating, can't ask for much more than that.

Still curious about the potential for game here, all my others are creeping to a halt, with concerns about actually demise always present in the back of my mind.

Thanks for checking in, all.

Unfortunately, I've been tied down by other real life commitments/concerns for the past few months and haven't really had much motivation, opportunity, or time to put into developing the framework for a viable play-by-post game.

Some of this can be attributed to the fact I started running and playing VTT games around the time COVID broke out (~March 2020). VTT has become my primary gaming/creative outlet and RPOL has sort of gradually faded to the background. This kind of makes me sad, because for many years (2009-2017) PbP was my ONLY or primary RPG outlet, but somewhere along the way, it lost some of its luster.

I also have some real life stuff getting in the way...

I am going to retire from the Air Force 1 February 2023, after 26 years of service, and I have a lot of stuff to do between now and then to prepare for a smooth transition, line up new employment opportunities, etc. This is weighing pretty heavily on my mind right now and making it difficult to devote energy to running or playing PbP games.

All this to say, not really sure if/when I will be running another PbP game, but appreciate the interest and will be sure to chime in here when I have sorted stuff out.

Thanks,

Shane

Congrats on your retirement, that's quite the achievement.

What is VTT by the way?

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 202):

Virtual Tabletop. In my case, Roll20 coupled with Discord.

My gaming schedule right now is as follows:

I am running two alternating groups through the 5e D&D adventure, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. One group is 4 adults and we play for three hours, Saturday evenings. The other group is 6 kids, and we play for two hours on alternating Saturday evenings. Roll20 for VTT and Discord for voice. No video.

I also run an open play, no commitment, drop-in/drop-out episodic Castles & Crusades game (think AD&D with ascending AC and a universal d20 resolution mechanic, basically a stripped down 3e) every other Friday evening. These are two-hour sessions and has a roster of about 20 different players. The most that have ever shown up to a single session was 9, but it's usually in the 4-6 players range. As long as two players show up, we play. Roll20 for VTT. Discord for Voice. No video.

And, thanks! Really looking forward to beginning the next chapter!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

I envy your busy gaming schedule. Sounds like you found a much better option than this poor place. If you get the itch however after you've settled in to your next chapter, be sure to send me a PM.

In reply to Ben Scristos (msg # 204):

The gaming options available via VTT these days are astounding. As long as you have a computer (or even a cell phone, as some play on just their phones!) internet access, and a block of free time, you can pretty much find a table.

Gone are the days where you were limited by the circle of people who actually lived near you. Now you can play with people all over the world who want to play the same game you want to play.

I think PbP still has its place and will likely still fill a small niche, but I think some of the slowdown evident on RPoL over the past few years is due to many players being able to get their gaming fix via VTT, as the technology has become more user friendly, free, and ubiquitous.

But, yes, will definitely keep you in mind. :)

I'm also jealous of your playing schedule.  For me, it's not so much the tech as it is the time.  Taking care of father in law consumes a lot of time . . .

And congratulations on both your Air Force career and retirement!

I appreciate it.

For me, play by post is a good fit because my schedule is so irregular. I don't think I could play Roll20, when I never know what part of the day I will be awake.

Too many years working graveyard I think, broke my circadian rhythm.

There certainly are times when I wish I had stayed and retired. Though if I had I would have been in during wartime, which I dodged by chance.

Anyway, take care of yourself...

Okay...

Over the last month I have reflected a bit more about running a play-by-post game again. Realistically, I have the time. I know I have the time because I am still checking in on RPoL every day, even though I don't currently play in or run any games.

What do they say about old habits?

At any rate, I think I am going to give this a go. After thinking long and hard on this, I have refined the campaign pitch to the following:

Game System: 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Genre: Heroic Fantasy
Campaign Theme: Gain Fame and Fortune
Adventure Hook: The characters are traveling in the company of Corian, a wizard’s apprentice who posted a notice at a tavern in Bard’s Gate, The Starving Stirge, seeking the aid of able-bodied adventurers willing to join an expedition to a ruined wizard’s tower in Stoneheart Valley, just outside the small village of Fairhill, with promises of equal shares for all.

Six Truths about Stoneheart Valley
1. Stoneheart Valley is a sparsely settled, idyllic frontier region just north of the Tradeway and is straddled between the large, bustling merchant city-state of Bard’s Gate and the sprawling Grand Duchy of Reme.

2. Fairhill is a small, peaceful town in Stoneheart Valley with fertile fields and a happy populace due to the divine blessings of its patron deity, Pelor.

3. Stoneheart Valley is a land of verdant green hills dotted with pine forests and lesser woodlands, plentiful game, and isolated villages within the shadow of Stoneheart Mountain.

4. The region is growing darker of late and dangers abound in the form of roving orc hordes, marauding gnoll packs, scheming mad wizards, fanatical cultists, and more!

5. The Tradeway runs through the region and is well patrolled by both bandits and the Grand Duke’s sheriffs who hunt them, but has also seen an increasing number of orc raiding parties of late.

6. The ruined keep just east of Fairhill was long ago the home of a wizard who fell to madness in his pursuit of dark arts and in more recent years was used as an Iron Circle stronghold before they were rooted out by the Grand Duke's forces and forced to resume their illicit operations elsewhere.

Stoneheart Valley Map

Larger Regional Map


I will be looking for 4-5 active players for this game. By active, I mean players who are realistically able to check in on and post in the game every 1 to 2 days, not counting weekends (though weekends are honestly best for my posting availability, I know this is not true for all), holidays, and planned absences.

I emphasize the active thing because it's really difficult to maintain enthusiasm/motivation in a game when players are not posting regularly and I have to prod players to post, NPC characters, etc. Some of this is just the nature of the medium, but I want to mitigate these issues upfront by being very clear about posting expectations.

At any rate, this is where my head's at. Let me know if any of you are still interested.

Thanks,

Shane

You know I'm in, and I can (sadly) post dozens of times a day, though I will try not to.

Have you created a thread for this new venture yet where I can drop an RTJ?

Also what level are we starting at? I prefer 1st, but I'm open to anything really.

My response and question are the same.

You have my sword/bow/axe/spell book — not sure which it will be just yet.

I've got a new class combination I am trying in a 2E-ish game, and I am tempted to try it here in this 1E, though it depends on how DM Storm interprets the rules on a few things. I am playing a Cleric/Mage, and according to the RAW as I read them, they can wear armor and cast mage spells. In the 2E game I am getting cantrips and orisons, which don't exist in 1E, unless we use UA, which I think has cantrips.

I'd like to play,  1e is my most comfortable zone and I'm not playing any of those right now.  I find I tend to drag my feet when I'm in systems I'm still new at, mostly cause I'm always trying to look up some rule before I try to post or not do something that isn't allowed.

Depending on how hard it is to meet the stat requirements, I'd like to lean towards a fighter class, either straight fighter, or ranger, etc. depending.  I've dropped down to just 3 other games, and am playing an illusionist, a priest, and a war-priest.   So something without a spell book.

I'm definitely up for vacating my spot as ranger, but I'd have to give some thought as to what to play.

Like Galadel, 1e is my comfort zone -- but I admit that the class options can get stale after a lifetime diet of the game.  And cramming some ideas into those options can be a chore sometimes.

But I'm a bit stuck in my ways. :)

I love 1st. ed., playing it since 1978, but somehow I always manage to find some way to put a new twist on each persona. Class is such a small part of a fully formed character.  I've played every class, except Bard, some more than others of course. Ben must have been by tenth or twelfth thief, but he still felt fresh and unique to me.

I agree completely.  I start with a concept/persona, then try to make it work.  But it seems harder and harder (without duplications).

I'll kick it around and come up with something.  I always seem to. :)

I find that I like to work the image into my concept earlier and earlier. Somehow the picture helps me find the characters voice, as it were.

Okay. Great!

I have added you to the game and you should now see it among your active game lists.