Your experiances with online gaming.

[AxeMental]

I am presently involved in my first online game at M's. Anyhow, its "different", very cool in its own way. As a post game you get to take your time figuring out what to say and do (unlike the preasure of a real game).

This is a draw back as well however, taking you out of the moment (critical to suspension of disbelief).

Has anyone here ever sat in a chatroom game, or some other form of more instant messaging? If so what was the experiance like, it must be closer to the "real thing".
Perhaps the next best thing to telephone AD&D (which I play regularly).

[dzubak]

Axe,
As I eluded to in my post about Gaming Groups, I've tried most mediums of on-line gaming. With regard to Chat, I've tried it only once and it wasn't that enjoyable to me.

However, I think it due to several personal reasons.

- The game was 2ndEd
I've never gotten into 2ndEd. The few times I have DM'd it, I used only the 3 core rule books and brought back in 1st edition elements. This chat game had all the splat. Just not my style.

- the context of the posts were hard to follow.
It hard for me to get into the game when I'm trying to type up my actions and the other players are typing multiple 3 word one-liners.

- The DM had a hard time organizing things and keeping things together
And I think the example above is part of the reason that the DM had a hard time keeping things together. When I am typing that "I am going to walk over to the door on the west wall and search it for traps and listen for noises" and some other dude says "I open the door" and then types the "W 1" it makes my post moot.

- spelling errurz, lots ov dem, grammar to.
It's not that I hate spelling errors - it's when people don't even make an attempt to proof read their posting OR when they blatantly post in IM speak. It's one thing to confuse the word piece with peace - I can tolerate that. But it's altogether another thing to have to read a post such as "y not hav ur theif pick teh lock n serch for tras." I always try to proofread the post - though it can be difficult in these Proboard windows . But I'm human and realize that others are as well. But please . . . at least make an effort.

Okay. Sorry for the rant.

Do I think that Chat could work? Would I try it again? Yes and maybe.

WSmith gave a link to iChat, so this proves that the technology is much better then when I played. Further I think that with some ground rules in place it could work. And the right group of people (again noted WSmith).

I'm not sure sure I'd try it again. With the right people sure, but it will never replace a game of PnP and it has some of the same problems as PnP (scheduling, finding the right people).

I'll probably stick to some Play by Post to get my fix.

[AxeMental]

Dz, sounds like your problem wasn't the medium but rather people as you mentioned.

If I can get three or four guys together for a 3 hour game via PM here (or chat) I'll try DMing a game (or sitting for one). Just to see what it's like.
Perhaps Jerry might assist me in this endeavor, I'll ask'm.

[dzubak]

Axe wrote:

Dz, sounds like your problem wasn't the medium but rather people as you mentioned.

Yup pretty much sums it up.

I think the biggest problem with chat will still be finding the time. For me it just isn't possible right now. It's bad enough trying to start up a game with my old college buddies. Plus since most of my on-line time is here at work, it's just another mark against me. So I'll just stick with PbP since it is really the only option for me.

If you do get a game going, make sure to save a copy of the file log. I'd be interested in viewing it to see how it went. Good luck Axe.

[AxeMental]

Same problem here, I just check in now and then. It would have to be someone who could 1. post late night during the weekend, and 2. stay online for 3 hours.

[billchamb]

Axe,

I have been playing for over a year in an online chat game with (mostly) the same group of guys. We started on Yahoo, then moved to AOL, switched to WebRPG and recently back to AOL because of problems signing in to WebRPG.

We have agreed to one night a week, 3-4 hours depending on what we accomplish or what time we actually get started. There are nights when it seems to drag for some reason or other, but when we're ON, we're on and everybody has a great time. We are from a variety of backgrounds, ages, areas of the continent. Sometimes we get sidetracked taking cheap shots at each other, or we start late because everybody's BS'ing to start with, but its been a really good experience for me. We have a really good mix of personalities with just enough in common to make it work, in my opinion.

PBeM I tried once for a friend's Gamma World game. It went well until 2 players bailed and the GM decided not to continue.

PbP is decent. The game at OSU had its lags, but the people involved all seemed capable of pulling it off. I regret I had to remove myself from the game just as the real action was starting. Such is life.