RL PbP Styles

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Now that Reckonings has moved to the Cafe, I've been paying more attention to the different styles of online gaming. I'm struck by the contrasts between Reckonings and Staunton Bluffs, specifically: Reckonings has very long posts, while Staunton Bluffs has very short ones by comparison. I suppose my PbP style is heavily influenced by the old PbM style, which required that each letter address multiple points and contingencies in order to get anything done.

What do all of you see as the advantages and disadvantages of each style?

[Jason of the Fraternity]

Having been the DM for the "Halfling Walks" campaign for over 4 years until Coan recently took the position (the poor, deluded fool), I found that typically the shorter posts proved to be more easier and effective.

The most important benefit that I found with using "shorter" posts was that the storyline didn't get bogged down with a lot of extra details and writing. If every person has to read a long post from every other person, then this tends to slow down the overall game. Plus, I've noticed that it can quickly become confusing if everyone lists out their actions in such detail that other players become "locked into" or "locked out of" certain situations (which, admittedly, can be rectified, but still takes the extra time and effort to do so).

This benefit is especially important if your players are on-line on a consistant basis. When the "Halfling Walks" group was first starting, Cole and I were usually around during the same time. Chartreuse, when she joined the group, was usually around those times as well. Our standard posts were 1-3 paragraphs, each of which consisted of 2-5 sentances. I'm not sure that I would consider such a post to necessary "short", but having "shorter" posts made it quicker and easier to read and respond to the others.

The disadvantage, in comparison to more detailed posts, is that you might not have enough information to accurately assess what the other people in the situation are doing. Player A might not be able to adequetely react to player B if Player B only writes a one-line sentance. Now, sometimes it might only take 1-2 sentances to get a point across, but such a short comment rarely provided much benefit to the flow of the game.

Please note, the above are merely my opinions from my time managing a particular group of players. I think that the post length doesn't really matter very much as long as you find something that works for your current group (i.e., some groups might want to have more detail in the writing). If your group tends to be very detail-oriented or doesn't post very often, then I would say that longer posts might be of benefit. However, if your group posts on a consistant basis, then I would say that keeping the word count down would be beneficial to the group as well as other readers.

[Nathan of the FoS]

I have to say, I really like the "long post style" of the Reckonings campaign. It adds a dimension of storytelling to the campaign that is largely absent from my tabletop games and that enhances my enjoyment considerably. I think it also works well because our campaign is relatively structured and has few participants, relative to the old-time Galen Saga (my other long-running campaign experience). More posts and shorter posts are nice for flexibility and fast action, but not as nice for detail work, and I find the details are just about my favorite part of the online gaming experience.

[Jason of the Fraternity]

It adds a dimension of storytelling to the campaign that is largely absent from my tabletop games and that enhances my enjoyment considerably.

I would agree with this sentiment. Playing an on-line campaign does tend to have a lot more detail included that tabletop games tend to lack. Admittedly, this factor may be due to my own lack of creativity at the table, but I find that people are much more descriptive and detailed in writing than they are vocally. Plus, it seems more natural when everyone is contributing to the story.

[Gurthoron]

I type only as much as I have to say. Unfortunately, I tend not to have much to say.

[Fuzzball]

I find it ironic that the one who likes short posts posted a long post, and the one that like long posts posted a short post. I giggled.

I think both can be useful. Long is enjoyable from the storyline and characterization side, but in combat or in conversation the short is nice. It worked very well for the conversation between Cortez and Invictus. We weren't on at the same times, but multiple times in the same day. 8 posts went by very quickly that way.

I do feel bad sometimes that I also don't have much to say. DS writes a 3000 word speil on what's going on and I only have a one sentance reply.

"You three-paragraph-description wander over into this lovely two-paragraph-description room and hear one-paragraph-description singing from upstairs. There are stairs leading up, three doors, and a secret passageway. What do you do?"

"Um....I go left...yes...left. Oh! I do it quietly"

Yes, two sentences!

[Jason of the Fraternity]

I find it ironic that the one who likes short posts posted a long post, and the one that like long posts posted a short post.

Well, I had thought about breaking it up into three shorter posts, but the irony was too delicious...

[Pamela]

It adds a dimension of storytelling to the campaign that is largely absent from my tabletop games and that enhances my enjoyment considerably.

I would agree with this sentiment. Playing an on-line campaign does tend to have a lot more detail included that tabletop games tend to lack. Admittedly, this factor may be due to my own lack of creativity at the table, but I find that people are much more descriptive and detailed in writing than they are vocally. Plus, it seems more natural when everyone is contributing to the story.

I don't think this is due to a lack of creativity at the tabletop though, Jason. It's due to the fact that everyone can see your emotions as you state your movements. If you don't write more details about your thoughts or suspicions, people can't tell if you're being sarcastic, humourous, or serious.

When I first got involved in online games, I read the first thread which started very simply, and watched the posts evolve as people got more involved in thinking about their PCs. Playing campaigns that takes at least a year to end, and have people posting infrequently due to the constraints of real-life, I found that I had to make posts interesting in order to encourage both others and myself to bother to come back.

But then I also enjoy writing period.

[Le Noir Faineant]

I think, in general, games with longer, descriptive posts tend to be slower and to be more like a continuing novel. With Staunton Bluffs, I wanted to create a quicker, more flexible game that preserved the *sitting around a table* feeling, that's the reason I chose that form of posting.

But that doesn't mean, of course, that I don't like longer posts in PbPs - it's just that I am unfamiliar with that kind of gaming-style. - But I am indeed willing to learn. If you, Deepshadow, or maybe Coan don't mind, I ask you permission to join one of your campaigns as soon as I find the time.

Rafee aka Desdichado

[Pamela]

I can't see anyone saying no to you joining any games, Daisy. On this board, I'm in the Evening with the Fraternity, and you get a mixture of post styles there, so don't feel you have to force yourself to change what works for you.

And as for games with longer posts being slower- not necessarily so. It all depends on the players involved. I'm involved in a game on another board where in the past two weeks, we've done about ninety posts between five people. This, of course, is during a period where everybody is 'on'. Now we've got a long weekend, that's about to change.

We've also gone through lulls when nothing was written for, at one point, as long as two months due to moves across the ocean and related stress. Those detailed posts helped me to get back into the swings of things, because as you suggested, it is like reading a continuing novel, and I get driven to want to read it to its conclusion.

[Le Noir Faineant]

I can't see anyone saying no to you joining any games, Daisy.

Thank you! I had thought of joining the *Evening* game last october, but real life kept me busy... Still, if anyone's interested, I may launch yet another campaign this autumn, that will be set either around Wiccy's Arlington Farm or maybe in the Barovian village of Krofberg. Something short, maybe just for a weekend, like the Frat did last year.

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

With the Galen Saga, there was quite a mixutre of posts, being long or short. I don't think it matters if they're long or short, as long as they add to the story.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

If you, Deepshadow, or maybe Coan don't mind, I ask you permission to join one of your campaigns as soon as I find the time.

I'd like to reopen the game for more PC's after I get the party together again, to reduce my workload. Send me a PM and we'll talk about specifics.

[Le Noir Faineant]

Thank you! *Writing the PM*

[Ail]

It adds a dimension of storytelling to the campaign that is largely absent from my tabletop games and that enhances my enjoyment considerably.

I would agree with this sentiment. Playing an on-line campaign does tend to have a lot more detail included that tabletop games tend to lack. Admittedly, this factor may be due to my own lack of creativity at the table, but I find that people are much more descriptive and detailed in writing than they are vocally. Plus, it seems more natural when everyone is contributing to the story.

You took a weight out of my chest I thought I was the only DM here who could not create a proper environment at the game table for lack of art in the descriptions. Now I see there are more people struggling with this same problem.
On my side, I can say that I run very short sessions (restrictions of RL) of up to 2 hours and that in so short a time I really can't give very detailed descriptions. Also, on those occasions that I did read pre-made texts aloud, most times the players didn't care of mocked with the words use (I was aiming for a more literary kind of description). So, I usually cut that out and write it properly only when I write the logs of my campaign (which incidentally I remember I have to update online ) .
Frankly, I've more or less quit trying to go for the true gothic flavour because of this.

Ail