I'm getting a site started, it's a site that combines the Punk and Gothic genres, the cliff notes version is that it's set in a post Civil War future where America has split into two countries: The NSR and the USW the cit of New Hope spans both countries and has become a hotbed of supernatural activity.

Is there a way to stay sane, keep your sense of humour and come out a winner???

Maybe I should start from the beginning... I run a Star Trek RPG PBEM with my RL partner, we have been going for about 18-months and by all accounts we are quite successful. Obviously we have the usual influx of time-wasting applications, but we have learned to spot them and deal with them quickly.

So you have PbP rpg and suddenly people stop posting or you get people who want to play Mr. Spock in a WOD forum. What is happening? And where is everyone? Here are some issues I have noticed while I was wandering around.

1. There are more OOC posts than IC posts. That is a sign to a visitor that people are not into the game but more into talking, planning or arguing than actually playing.

2. A chat box on the first page full of spam or the last conversation between players was over a month ago. Unless your site has times when people are ALL on at the same time, do not bother with a chatbox, use IM.

3. Empty boards or a board with too many sub-boards with no posts. This one gets tricky. Many people want their own house, apt. what have you, but too many empty boards is a signal to the visitor that the game is either very new or very dead. Wait for them to ask for one. Let them know you are willing to make one, but do not until they are ready to start posting in it. Any public areas, post in yourself at least, or ask one of your more active players to start a thread in one, if it seems logical that their character would be there.

4. Lots of started and unfinished threads. Lock ended threads. That helps visitors see there is progress, but leave them in board area for a while. Moving them makes a board look empty.

5. Over half the page filled with graphics from the banner. OK nice, but they take too long to load and I did not come to your site to look at the same pictures over and over. I came to read posts and perhaps join in. If you are a domain, try putting different graphics at the head of each board. If you are working on a free board, some may let you do that , some may not, if not limit your graphic size.

6. Spam in threads. Sometimes a spammer gets through we all know that. Delete the spam. A site with a lot of spam means it is not maintained or visited by it's admin.

7. Overly decorated or too small of fonts. No visitor wants to have to squint or zoom all the time to read a site. Ditto for color combos that are hard Who wants to highlight posts just so they can read them?

8. Overly complicated or vague posts about the site intent. Give a story synopsis, a place history and the major players. Keep it brief. Remember NO One gets through War and Peace. (Old Get smart Joke there for those who are too young to remember)

9. Overly complicated character sheets or too 'snobby' of a tone regarding writing requirements. Many visitors are looking for a game environment. By implying that you have to be good enough to be accepted those who feel they are not writers may be frightened off. Tone it down. Ask for a sample paragraph as a lead-in to the character's joining the game. sort of a scene, Don't ask for a 5000 word essay.

10. Poor grammar and spelling. Typos happen, but consistant ones are a red flag, especially if the site has a spell checker.

Zeta Thompson
Graycastle
Part of the Zeta Entertainment Network ,a Subsidiary of Dogs of War.
Dow and Zen

I like it, but I don't like how the dark points work.

'Rep Bonds' I decided to handle this as: "Status (merc), rep bond still valid, perhaps paid as Insurance"

How have other players / refs handled this?

i think d&d is quite hard to learn dont u? all different dice d20 this d12 that good it so long winded wen i first learn i fell asleep with in 5 mins. but enough about that i want to hear wot u think about the subject.

I discovered Treasure Tables some time ago, and am thrilled to see how huge it's gotten.

Treasure Tables is essentially a blog by Martin Ralya, a long time GM and freelance writer, but it's no ordinary blog. Every GM, from the novice to the 30 year vet, can find excellent advice, and in December, he added forums for member questions.

James, over at RPG Shop has announced even more savings:

"We have just implemented a 5% customer cash back offer.
Every customer who buys something will receive 5% put
on account for their next order. In short, it is an
additional 5% discount. That means our prices are 20%
or more off retail pricing."

~~~~~
Eisel Write with Flair!
Senior Editor, The RPG Nexxus
Co-Editor, Roleplaying Tips.com

I'm into decorating tee shirts, and I want a knock em dead shirt for Owlcon. What's a neat roleplaying saying I can use on it? Brief, and totally to the point . . .

~~~~~
Eisel Write with Flair!
Senior Editor, The RPG Nexxus
Co-Editor, Roleplaying Tips.com

I've been playing DnD for soooooo many years, and recently begun toying with GURPS, Amber Diceless, Unystem, d20. Then I read the Trheefold Theory, which led me over to the Forge, and G/N/S, and now I'm pretty excited about all the indie games, particularly those using Narrativism. Much better than interactive story telling, yet not the same old rules driven games.

What are you playing? And why do you like it?

~~~~~
Eisel Write with Flair!
Senior Editor, The RPG Nexxus
Co-Editor, Roleplaying Tips.com

OK, we've all had them. Even me. So let's hear about it...

I've had a lot of best moments. Can't remember anything that stands out.

Worst: I was running a game with a friend. We each had an adventuring party in two different rooms and he and I were each running the same game, with the two different parties, at the same time. We would step out and coordinate rounds periodically. The game was a race to rescue a princess (yeah, I know, but the rest of the game was so new we stuck with a pretty standard plot).

Anyway, my group had gotten stuck in the maze and couldn't figure a way out. As they were backtracking and I was describing the rooms to them for the second time, we all realized that I had forgotten to mention a door in one room. That's why they had gotten stuck.

My face shows exactly what I'm thinking at all times -- not the greatest for surprise events or even to keep my players from guessing the right moves. I learned how to solve this years ago, however.

I grin like a banshee through the whole game.

Try it -- not only does it keep your players from knowing what's going on, it unnerves some of them so they're not so darn cocky. :grin: