IM or Email Style RPG

[MonthlyJohn]

Would anyone be interested in an email or IM style RPG? I have tried unsuccessfully for many years to get people together for a more traditional pen and paper style RPG, but generally there is either not enough interest, or schedules do not mix. I know one reason that the forum style RPGs we have been doing are popular is because there is no set commitment, so it is easy to fit around a schedule. This is indeed fun, and scratches the RPG itch nicely, but I still yearn sometimes for that old style RPG. Where I had something more than a few electronic entrees, something with sheets of character, ideas, missions, and something substantial and more involved (and who doesn't love rolling dice).

Now you may be quick to label me a geek and move on, which I must admit I am on many levels, but if anyone is still interested here are the details. Everyone would make a character much like you would a traditional D&D game. Then, instead of meeting in person we would meet online, so you don't have to do travel time. If everyone can get online at the same time then we can IM. If not, then we can email. The DM would relay the information the same way, and everyone would either IM or email in their actions, responses, etc, back to the DM, who would figure events out, and so forth. It is a little more broken up then a game in person, but it gives more flexibility. Whoever is DMing can keep most of the records and if someone does not have dice to roll I have a random number generator program somewhere that can be used instead.

There are of course a lot more details to work out, but first I wanted to see if there was any interest, or if everyone just wanted to stick to the forum RPG. Aaron has the power to delete threads so if no one is interested we can just trash this topic.

Oh, and on an unrelated note, is only the Admin allowed to create topics outside of the RPG area? If so, can we get a non-RPG area for more general things that we can talk about, since I don’t get time anymore to talk to you guys in person?

Alright, I am done for now. Please post praise and criticism alike.
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"I think it's an awesome idea, John." - Aaron

[WeeklyAaron]

I'd be interested in the email rpg, but I don't think I could set aside a regular time to always be on for IMing.

I'll create some general chat asap.

- Aaron
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"Currently the Zaulche account is having technical difficulties, so until they get remedied I'll be posting as my own potential web news source, though slightly less ambitious."
- MonthlyJohn

[MonthlyJohn]

Alright, the email RPG would work by the DM emailing everyone involved what the settings are, last actions, attaching a map if need be, all of that kind of stuff.

Then, everyone emails the DM back with their characters respective actions (looking for something, purchasing, talking, dice rolls, et cetera).

Then after everyone emails their responses the DM emails everyone back what happens and the process repeats.

This is a very slow moving RPG, so it can take a while to get moving, but it also allows for quite a bit of imagination, since there is more time to consider things. It also allows the DM to be more creative, since instead of deriving the actions of each person one at a time, the DM may consider everything that happens (for every character).

Email RPGs are very much, from my limited experience, like writting a novel one page at a time, with everyone participating in what their actions will be, instead of the pre-scripted stories.

If you know anyone else that might be interested let me know. Also, do you have any dice?