So far it's entirely focused on D&D, while Px2 is also a PbP-group that wanted to join in here.
Could we have the PbP-area just PbP-oriented and not D&D only? Those stickies give a really wrong impression.

Or, like we discussed, Mafia could go in the big forum, but then name the PbP-area differently since Mafia is a PbP-game.

Sure, forum descriptions are flexible and easy to change. I'm happy to have you and Sapper (and whoever else is interested) work out a more all-encompassing description for each.

As for the stickies, I haven't read them closely so I can't comment. But like any thread, they can obviously be edited.

So... let's go ahead and take that moment now. We can make use of this thread to collaborate and work stuff out.

One thing I noticed that it doesn't handle well is "small" posting games. Stuff like 5 Word Story, poster-run trivia games, the "Heal/Hurt" game, and so on. So we'll also want to make sure the forum is welcoming to those sorts of games.

JaC - can you give some text you'd like to see in the forum descriptions?

Well, preferably I'd like to see the people that are all from the PbP-groups from the wizards forums to see how we can all mingle together.
As Mafia group we've discussed this quite a bit prior to woodenmarble and this one and something that we all agreed on was to go back to basics. One thread a game. With perhaps one other thread for a general hosting list.
I can also imagine some Magic players wanting to play a game of magic through the forums (we used to do that all the time in MPFG), though I have no idea how many Magic people we have to actually be able to pull these games off.

But for real plans I'd prefer to know how many PbP-games we have and how much threads for each game are really needed.
I mean, OOC-discussion and stuff can just go to the general threads of these forums, so I don't think that's needed. And it's not like a sentence of OOC: out for x days is that disruptive to a game. Questions to a GM can also go through PM, stuff like that.

Same with our Px2 bar. We'll just discuss stuff in the general threads on these forums.

So that would leave me with the following suggestion:
Setup Zone just like this. But only stickies for explanation of the games.
The PbP guide (which should be renamed to reflect the game) and the mafia guide. Later stickies perhaps for other games.
The player/GM/DM/mafia hosting lists will be bumped plenty because that's the main draw of that particular forum.

Active games:
Currently active Play-By-Post games.All threads are In-Character. (Not relevant for other PbP-games, could be mentioned in the guide currently in Setup forum)
Please only post in a thread if you are a player or DM/GM in that game.

OOC could mostly be within the forum itself. Though alternatively, it could be combined with the Setup Zone if you want the PbP-players to have a small corner to themselves. I doubt there'd be that much activity in the Setup zone to be cluttered.
Do note that I only have experience with the Mafia section in our own group. I have no idea how the other games started and how much discussion can and cannot be integrated within this forum itself.

As for the small posting games, I figure they can go in the 'other games' forum. It kinda covers that with the tag and kick-the-can comment.

An OOC forum is actually really useful for D&D-style games. You're right that small asides can be handled with a quick: "OOC: I'm assuming I can actually see the rat to target it; if not, let me know."

But for other stuff - game planning (character discussions to build a functional group etc), player chatter about how to divy up treasure, more involved questions to the DM, etc - having an OOC thread does come in handy.

The rest of your suggestions look great, and are definitely something to build upon. Before making any changes, though, I'd love to hear some other pbp peeps chime in with their thoughts.

edit, since I forgot to reply to this:



The other games forum is for discussing games other than Magic and D&D. So if somebody wanted to discuss tag or kick the can, it would go there. If somebody wanted to start up a 5-word story game, it would go into the play-by-post section. And like with everything else, we'll expand as needed if something becomes it's own monstrosity.

See, this is why I mentioned wanting to talk to people of the other groups, didn't know about this. yeah, it can stay then


I'm assuming that kind of stuff goes into the Active Games section then. In that case, that part I crossed in the forum description really needs to go

But yeah, I think that can work.

Exactly. So we'll have that discussion now and we can get things spiffy soon enough.

Heya JAC,

I've actually made a few comments about these topics in the mod area and agree with your sentiments. The threads I threw up were mostly a quick framework to set things up, and I'm tweaking them to fit around whatever community we end up drawing here and by which games the players here are interested in playing. I've been trying to touch base with people in various PbP areas of WotC and Bun has said she'd do the same, but right now I dont fully know which communities intend to move over.

I saw the PX2 presence on WM but havent heard any more chatter in regards to where you guys plan on moving. I know that CWG is prolly staying on WotC, and that Map of the Planes has put their own site up. So by default I just put some PbP D20 stuff up. (I was sorta hoping that if Px2 came over we could all push for it to have its own subforum. But we'll see)

As you can see the guide in incomplete and is locked, as I've got a lot more work to do on it, and not only was waiting on the above information but I needed things like nested spoilers / tables to make it more... user friendly.

Appreciate your input, feel free to keep voicing concerns here.

EBWOP:

Also, I'm working on getting a structure in place for any freeform roleplayers that want to post in the area as well.

Not relevant to your interests I'm sure, but just a note as to my multiple irons in the fire, so all user input is welcome on any/all parts of the PbP structure.

As far as Px2 is concerned, we're making a bit of a push to get going back on the WotC forums atm. Those forums are still slow as heck though, but some people just don't feel the need to move, or are a bit pessimistic about this site.

That said, personally I wouldn't mind fully moving over here if we can get the people, and if we can generate more interest over here (like I think we can, once this site gets rolling), I'm definitely all for it. If WotC doesn't get their forums in a better working order soon, the topic will likely come up again.

I would be willing to try a mafia game. Never played it on a forum, but I've played "Are you a werewolf" at conventions.

That's how I started as well.
And yeah, if they're fixing the PM issue where they remove all line breaks, I may give Wizards a chance again as well, but the lack of information this time around has really irritated me.
And there's nothing wrong with playing mafia on multiple sites

It has been ages since I last played Mafia. I distinctly remember it was more fun running a game than playing in it, but maybe that was just the crowd. I could probably find one of my old set-ups somewhere.

I'm in for mafia!

With this extra garnered interest, it would make it easier to sell running a game or two over here .

Its possibly I could handle a mafia game. Maybe.

It would depend how slow / fast my D&D games tend to be going... and who was in said mafia game.

This is my general philosophy heading forward with Px2. It's not my intention to simply say Px2 is going to be on WotC and the rest of the world can forget itself. I intend to lend my support here and hope the rest of Px2 will follow suit. However, I'd rather keep the identities separated. Let the mafia community here grow organically, let it become it's own entity.

I never understood how mafia was played.

With lots of backstabbing, finger pointing, false leads, and tons of unneeded townie deaths.

I could dig up the legit explanation somewhere, but I'm sure Jay could be me too it.

So everyone is town, and one person is scum?

Are there deadlines? What moves the game forward?