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Post by raikenclw on Apr 5, 2021 0:10:52 GMT -5
At the suggestion of a couple of active members here, I offer the following for consideration:
In the PbP games I run, I use something I call "Interludes." These are side-plot scenes - usually featuring only two or three player characters - which occur out of sequence with the rest of the game. For example, two players may choose to play through the first meeting of their characters, years before the current game began. Or three players may choose to play through resolution of some personality conflicts, which in the current game have "already" been decided [in some unspecified manner]. One Interlude I ran detailed a lethal gunfight between a PC and an NPC.
Interludes can support very slow posting, without impacting the rest of the game. This would allow players who can only rarely post - due to various real world complications/limitations - to continue to play an active part. Continued interest in the game could thereby be encouraged, perhaps leading to a future resumption of "regular" posting, in place of the usual fading away.
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Post by hengest on Apr 5, 2021 19:56:12 GMT -5
This sounds so simple, but it's a killer idea. I'm not going to repeat the original post to say why it's good -- it's all laid out there. When you've done this, have you offered it as an alternative for those who don't have a lot of time and fear they can't post much? Are they always slow, or sometimes go at a normal pace and then conclude? raikenclw |
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Post by Admin Pete on Apr 23, 2021 15:09:49 GMT -5
raikenclw, I think this is a great idea and if I could get my players to come online (they won't) I would love to run these Interludes between games as a play by post.
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 23, 2021 20:33:45 GMT -5
When you've done this, have you offered it as an alternative for those who don't have a lot of time and fear they can't post much? Are they always slow, or sometimes go at a normal pace and then conclude? Strange . . . I was certain that I had replied to this already, but I guess I must have dreamed that. To answer your questions in order: I have never deliberately offered an Interlude as such an alternative. Doing so is the new twist that just occurred to me (and which lay behind this post). I've never really kept track of the pacing of Interludes, since that's never been much of a concern, either for myself or for the players who choose to participate. Interludes happen at whatever speed best fits their participants. Except for the gunfight previously referred to [and elaborated on a bit below], the Interludes I've run have consisted solely of roleplaying - usually very detailed roleplaying - with no pressure to push a plot forward. Perhaps a bit more detail would be useful . . . The Interludes I've run have all either been 1) started by myself when something came up during play that seemed to indicate one would be useful or 2) were requested by the participating players, who wished to play out something tangential to the current scene. As an example of 1): the gunfight previously alluded to, in which Player Character A had been spoiling for a fight with Player Character B . . . only for the player of A to drop out of the game without notice [an unfortunate PbP fact of life IME]. Rather than simply leave the proto-conflict hanging, with the agreement of the player of PC B I opened an Interlude, took on the role of PC A and a classic High Noon gunfight was played out between the characters. In the actual game, [N]PC A failed to show up at the ship's scheduled lift-off and could not be contacted, so the ship left without him . . . and PC B never mentioned anything IC to anyone about the gunfight. As an example of 2): the player of a shy, introverted PC and that of a brash, extroverted PC wanted their two PCs to have gone on a "real date" before the game itself had actually begun. So I opened an Interlude, wherein the two met "by chance" at the counter of a noodle shop, a couple of levels down from where the ship they would both later be joining was docked. Neither PC revealed anything IC to anyone in the actual game, simply sharing small smiles and telling glances every so often. In both cases, the remaining players could - and did - follow the progress of the Interludes, therefore being fully aware OOC regarding what went down. But nobody felt inclined to metagame and so play in the main game proceeded normally. |
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Post by Admin Pete on Apr 23, 2021 20:49:44 GMT -5
When you've done this, have you offered it as an alternative for those who don't have a lot of time and fear they can't post much? Are they always slow, or sometimes go at a normal pace and then conclude? Strange . . . I was certain that I had replied to this already, but I guess I must have dreamed that. To answer your questions in order: I have never deliberately offered an Interlude as such an alternative. Doing so is the new twist that just occurred to me (and which lay behind this post). I've never really kept track of the pacing of Interludes, since that's never been much of a concern, either for myself or for the players who choose to participate. Interludes happen at whatever speed best fits their participants. Except for the gunfight previously referred to [and elaborated on a bit below], the Interludes I've run have consisted solely of roleplaying - usually very detailed roleplaying - with no pressure to push a plot forward. Perhaps a bit more detail would be useful . . . The Interludes I've run have all either been 1) started by myself when something came up during play that seemed to indicate one would be useful or 2) were requested by the participating players, who wished to play out something tangential to the current scene. As an example of 1): the gunfight previously alluded to, in which Player Character A had been spoiling for a fight with Player Character B . . . only for the player of A to drop out of the game without notice [an unfortunate PbP fact of life IME]. Rather than simply leave the proto-conflict hanging, with the agreement of the player of PC B I opened an Interlude, took on the role of PC A and a classic High Noon gunfight was played out between the characters. In the actual game, [N]PC A failed to show up at the ship's scheduled lift-off and could not be contacted, so the ship left without him . . . and PC B never mentioned anything IC to anyone about the gunfight. As an example of 2): the player of a shy, introverted PC and that of a brash, extroverted PC wanted their two PCs to have gone on a "real date" before the game itself had actually begun. So I opened an Interlude, wherein the two met "by chance" at the counter of a noodle shop, a couple of levels down from where the ship they would both later be joining was docked. Neither PC revealed anything IC to anyone in the actual game, simply sharing small smiles and telling glances every so often. In both cases, the remaining players could - and did - follow the progress of the Interludes, therefore being fully aware OOC regarding what went down. But nobody felt inclined to metagame and so play in the main game proceeded normally. Great stuff raikenclw! Also for the example of when metagaming would actually be a bad thing, something that is not usually the case. |
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Post by boarspear on Apr 24, 2021 22:25:04 GMT -5
raikenclw this is a great idea and it looks like a lot of fun. You should do some of those on here. We could do some "shorts" without committing to a long term game.
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 25, 2021 0:11:33 GMT -5
raikenclw this is a great idea and it looks like a lot of fun. You should do some of those on here. We could do some "shorts" without committing to a long term game. I'm willing to give it a try. Off the top of my head: a group of folk playing a game of poker in a Wild West saloon as the sun sets on another dusty day. Those who wish to play post their characters to the table, giving themselves whatever hands they wish. As others join, their possible hands become steadily restricted. Once we get 4-5 poker players, anyone else who joins would be the bartender, server, piano player, etc. If - after a while - we want some drama, a drunk might enter the saloon and try to pick a fight with someone. Or perhaps one of the poker players gets caught trying to cheat. Or a gang starts to rob the bank across the street. Or something else appropriate to the setting takes place. Or maybe someone has a better suggestion? |
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Post by Morton on Apr 25, 2021 0:28:58 GMT -5
Ya know raikenclw, that now that you've brought these up ya have to run some of them. |
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Post by Admin Pete on Apr 28, 2021 10:13:00 GMT -5
A game has been started and it is taking new players.
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Post by raikenclw on Apr 30, 2021 4:43:04 GMT -5
Ya know raikenclw , that now that you've brought these up ya have to run some of them. BTW, I just wanted to note that I get the avatar . . . a scoop/platter full of rock salt, for a user named Morton. |
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Post by Morton on Jun 20, 2021 0:04:41 GMT -5
Ya know raikenclw , that now that you've brought these up ya have to run some of them. BTW, I just wanted to note that I get the avatar . . . a scoop/platter full of rock salt, for a user named Morton. Yeah, mildly subtle.  |
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