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Hey everyone I was thinking of making a forum game but before I do I think it would be nice to know what that entails. Like is it make it up as you go along or write down a general plot?

.............Don't. All it will give you is pain and agony. Running a forum game is hell, and I'm only doing a free form. It is not as enjoyable as it seems unless you are one of those crazies like 3J and BerkaZerka who can run a game with barley any screw-ups, if any. 

Thats my advice.

Y didn't you tell me this before i started slayers, but you're totally right.

Alright I get it running a forum game is hell but I would like to try and know what else entails... Please?

Well, I have tried and failed (but I'm trying again {Shameless plug please someone else join shifter I'm so lonely}), so I could give you some tips on what NOT to do. First, NEVER make it seem like there's going to be a big fight and then back out. That's what killed my game. Second, you don't have to have a story all planned out, but make sure to plan out the world that the people are in, and the NPCs that they will find, so if something happens that renders your story invalid, you'll know how the NPCs will react and won't have to railroad the plot (people get annoyed when GMs railroad). Other than that, I got nothin'.

When I TRIED to make my storygame, it had some potential...

only that it never came off the ground.  We abandoned it for something else...

I was planning to make it up as I went along, like most free-forms, but I never got to know what exactly happened.

Also, you can do a game on the forums.  Take Berk's mysterious vending machine.  I revived it, left it alone, and see how many posts it got?

Thanks but er, now involved with three games so not making one anytime soon.

(Copy & Pasted from an older Thread)

Running a Forum Game is at least 10 times harder than playing in a Forum Game. The time and attention it demands can be overwhelming. I certainly don't recommend anyone try to run more than 1 at a time (unless they have considerable experience in doing so).

Perhaps the greatest challenge with running a Forum Game (most especially with RPG types, is keeping the pace. Nothing kills a game faster than a time lag (look at that awesome Cthulhu Horror Game that was going great... and then Blamo! a big lag and it was DOA).

Some tips for a Successful Forum Game:

1. Preparation. Know what you are going to do, the rules, and general direction the game is supposed to go in (all before throwing down a sign-up thread).

2. Never place the continuation of the plot on a single player; as inevitably, he will suddenly not be around to post when the story needs him the most and you will create game-killing lag as you wait for him. Be prepared to GM override a character to avoid this - but try not to get into that situation in the first place.

3. Follow a consistent Time Schedule and live by it. To keep your game floating, you as the GM must update it constantly (or at least every 12 hours or so). If your characters have a set posting requirement, enforce it. Do not be a nice guy and wait for anyone (see rule 2 above) - but set this, and how it will be handled, out in the rules before the game even starts.

4. Be adaptable. If something is not working, hash it out with the players in your Rules/Out of Character thread and go from there.

Are you really so lazy that you had to copy and paste this filthy post?

I'm not sure about Berka but for me absolutely that's my style

[Paste] absolutely that's my style [/Paste]