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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Feb 2005 : 13:31:20
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I've been playing in the realms for a few years now with Reefy as our DM, and I thought I fancied giving it a go as a pbem campaign.
Due to exams and similar I plan to have it starting around June, but I could use some advice beforehand.
Any answers to these questions would be appreciated.
1) Setting. We generally play in the North but it would be good to go elsewhere. I've read a fair few of the forgotten realms novels so I have a bit of an idea of geography. I was thinking of either the Dalelands or around the sword coast.
2) I have access to a load of the 2E regions and cities books. Could anyone point out any major events that may have happened since the 2E books, in or around the sword coast, the dalelands, and around the sea of falen stars (incuding the vihon reach).
3) Is it worth having an assistant DM for the pbem campaign. Since I've never DMed before I might not be so hot on the rules or how to do certain things, though I think I could manage most of it.
4) How well to people respond to being given a party and asked to choose a character? I know this was more common a long time ago than it is now. Its just an idea I'm toying with, possibly to make things smoother for my first DM.
5) Psionics. I know opinions are mixed on this, but I've been reading the system reference document and found it quite interesting. How well do they gel with the normal game world? I mean will a psionics character be at a disadvantage if I treat psionics like spells, but they never meet any (or many) psionic races/characters/items.
6) Any other help regarding DMing or pbem would be great :) I'm a little nervous, and apart from that there's so much to think about. Would appreciate any other suggestions :)
Thanks
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Mareka
Learned Scribe
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2005 : 22:33:30
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I know very little about pbem, but I can lend a some general advice:
1) It's often helpful to decide what your campaign will be about first, then choose a setting that will best suit your themes. The Sword Coast is a rough and tumble area with pirates and seafaring, while the Dalelands is a more classic fantasy setting with peasent heros and plenty of ruins. Not that the Sword Coast isn't rife with ruins also, but the mood is different.
4) That depends on your players. Has your group done that before, and if so, did they have fun? Or do they invest a lot of time in character concepts and backgrounds. My group would get very bored with premade PCs because they wouldn't have devoted time and effort into creating them, and would have no vested interest. Many players will see them as just stats.
5) See the poll on psionics in FR chat.
6) Know your setting, know your NPCs, and be ready to adapt your plot to player actions. And always make the players think they have complete control over what they do, and that they're actions matter.
Best of luck. DMing can be very frustrating but it can also be immensly rewarding! |
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Mareka
Learned Scribe
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2005 : 22:33:31
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whoops! |
Edited by - Mareka on 13 Feb 2005 22:35:06 |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2005 : 23:36:08
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1) The Dalelands can be interesting, as any other location you are knowledgeable about. No way any can advise you where to use a setting, all that can be advised is known the setting.
2) Well there were some changes to the map, however most have not appeared to indicate problem with that. Timeline however might be a problem if you want to start with current year as some regions have had changes. There is no quick way to answer this without knowing what year you will be starting with.
3)Well you should know the rules fairly well before starting a game, that said, there is nothing wrong with having an assistant. Problems might result if you either give too much authority to assistant, that assistant has a different view of how to DM and other problems can rersult. Choose an assistant wisely, make clear what limits of power the assistant has and it tends to work better.
4) It depends on the players and the campaign. There is no way any can answer this. However if you want pregens, I would advise using point buy so that at least all stats (in theory) are equal as oposed to random dice rolls. You might be better servered asking them to point buy and just have them bid for a starting class.
5) In my view psionics is unbalanced in favor of the psi classes, they will not be disadvataged in most cases.
6) OK this is the big one, you will might want to limit number of players, you certainly should require a minimun time (a day, a week, etc.) for player to post or the PC fails to act. You should look into one of the online dicing programs that sends dice rolls to both player and DM, this depends on how much you will relie on dice. You will need to stay organised, you need to know what the PCs and NPCs are doing.
Good luck. |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2005 : 00:00:18
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Thats great advice guys, really helps.
I'll be playing a mix of 3.0 and 3.5 rules, since its what I know. Certainly 3.0 class bases, (with 3.5 Psionics if I include it, which I'd like to just to see how it works, we don't play with psionics at the moment).
The starting year will probably be 1375DR, The Year of Lightning Storms. After Sarya Dlardrageths campaign as detailed in Forsaken House, just in case I need to use some of that.
Decided on not pre-generating a party. Can always make up some interesting NPCs
I'll probably set it in the west dalelands too. I like the idea of it but I want to keep things a little close to home, in case I get out of my depth and need to steer things towards the north.
Also thought about party level and I decided on 7-9. Its around that level characters start getting really interesting I personally think, and also enables some more varied character concepts (in terms of storyline and stats)
Dice roller I'll use the wizards dice roller from the site, and trust people on their rolling. Most people want to enjoy the game as it comes and so I'd trust them not to cheat. Only trouble is it can work in the opposite, I kept thinking Hammer would think I was cheating when I rolled 4 9's for damage on a d10 
Now why do I feel like I'm only 2% along the way to starting  |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4694 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2005 : 20:32:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
Now why do I feel like I'm only 2% along the way to starting
Because there is a lot more to do.
You need to set the scene, have goals that the party should be pointed toward and how to point them. Let them offer what characters they want to play and lots more. |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2005 : 20:50:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
Now why do I feel like I'm only 2% along the way to starting
Because I haven't brought round Volo's Guide to the Dales yet? 
Obviously I'm happy to chat to you about anything you want advice with. What you have so far sounds pretty good. In terms of level I wouldn't advise starting too high as you've never DMed before and higher level PCs tend to need different kinds of challenges, a level 12-15 PC is a real hero and can do a lot of things. I'd probably say no more than 5-7 would be a good place to start.
Oh, 1374 is Year of Lightning Storms, 1375 is Year of Risen Elfkin. I assume you mean it will start in 1374. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Mareka
Learned Scribe
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2005 : 22:25:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
Now why do I feel like I'm only 2% along the way to starting
Because I haven't brought round Volo's Guide to the Dales yet?
Obviously I'm happy to chat to you about anything you want advice with. What you have so far sounds pretty good. In terms of level I wouldn't advise starting too high as you've never DMed before and higher level PCs tend to need different kinds of challenges, a level 12-15 PC is a real hero and can do a lot of things. I'd probably say no more than 5-7 would be a good place to start.
Oh, 1374 is Year of Lightning Storms, 1375 is Year of Risen Elfkin. I assume you mean it will start in 1374.
Keep in mind, too, that the higher the PCs level the more difficult it is to keep track of all their abilities and estimate their power. The lower they start, the more familiar the DM can be with them. |
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2005 : 07:59:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
Dice roller I'll use the wizards dice roller from the site, and trust people on their rolling. Most people want to enjoy the game as it comes and so I'd trust them not to cheat. Only trouble is it can work in the opposite, I kept thinking Hammer would think I was cheating when I rolled 4 9's for damage on a d10
Now why do I feel like I'm only 2% along the way to starting
 
My only advice is to focus on the story. Combat by PbEM, as you now know, can get bogged down in details. Everyone wants to play the combats, yet they take a while unless you agree to meet on-line at a certain time and place. Otherwise, I don't think I would change the actual game we have going (That is going slow now, but it is not forgotten - check out Lysander's e-mails!). |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2005 : 09:31:33
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Great advice guys. Yeah I did mean the 1374 not 1375 :)
Luckily pbem will work in my favour since its quite slow moving, but due to the level of detail its still interesting.
Just telling my story to the tavern at the moment, its damned hard understanding this newcomer though.
ooc I think I'll put my next skill point in speak language: Lysander |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2005 : 11:26:30
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As advice, don't let the player's roll for combat and the likes, but keep it for yourself as the DM. I have been PbeM-ing for quite a while now (DM and playing) and in none of the games I have encountered players rolling dice for results - the sole exception may be at character generation.
Just ask the players to post their intentions for one or more rounds, or have them request a skill check when they think they're entitled one. Don't even bother anouncing the results of dice rolls, just describe the results. That way one keeps the flavor of a story going without intermixing the mechanics of the game.
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Lysander
Learned Scribe
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2005 : 17:24:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Kaladorm
Great advice guys. Yeah I did mean the 1374 not 1375 :)
Luckily pbem will work in my favour since its quite slow moving, but due to the level of detail its still interesting.
Just telling my story to the tavern at the moment, its damned hard understanding this newcomer though.
ooc I think I'll put my next skill point in speak language: Lysander
Translate me? wa? Aam 'spikin perfectly guid sassenach!
*cough* Erm. What?
(OK, I'll put in the text I put into here. I was debating it, but figured if it got really bad, I'd start doing that anyways. Or, tone it down (slightly!! - Faolagan's been in that tavern a while ) |
Lysander
Defender of the Second Edition
Moderator, Project Gemengan, Worlds of D&D |
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New DM/PBEM
