Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Do you play Shadowrun on DSF

Posted by: Shadow Oct 31 2003, 05:54 PM

Lately I have noticed very few player in the welcome to the shadows section, and a significant ebb of the posting with games. Now I know PbP SR has always been problematic, and difficult to finish. But there used to be 10 games at any given time going strong. I am just curious to see if the majority is still interested in playing, or just talking about playing.

Posted by: nezumi Oct 31 2003, 06:39 PM

From what I've seen of the posts, I wasn't aware that that section of the forums were games as such. There are no dice rollers or saved character sheets... Why would I want to game on a forum when there are sites made specifically for it? (Correct me if I'm wrong. If there ARE dice rollers and character sheets and all the tools needed for a good PBW, I'd be very interested.)

Posted by: Adam Oct 31 2003, 06:43 PM

QUOTE (nezumi)

Why would I want to game on a forum when there are sites made specifically for it?

It's typically a different style of gaming -- more of a collaborative storytelling endeavour than a dicebot rolling one.

Posted by: Buzzed Oct 31 2003, 08:26 PM

I am starting a non-traditional game where anyone can control the hero or any of the npc's/villans ect. A first post wins concept. I then roll the dice and post the results. I have the beginning almost complete. The idea is to create a forum friendly game where all can participate without having to submit a character.

http://invision.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=1596

Posted by: Grey Oct 31 2003, 08:33 PM

I just started playing here about two weeks ago, but I've been having a blast, so I keep joining more games. I just joined my 4th game.

Posted by: Shadow Oct 31 2003, 08:36 PM

QUOTE (nezumi)

Because no site has the comprehensive total knowledge of Shadowrun more than Dumpshock. It's not for role playing games in general, it is just for Shadowrun, and imho, that makes it a infinetly better community then one open to all games.

Posted by: Tziluthi Nov 1 2003, 02:08 AM

Considering al the pros and cons, just so long as you've got honest players, playing Shadowrun over the boards is not bad at all.

Posted by: Diesel Nov 1 2003, 02:35 AM

Nezumi, do enlighten me as to other PbB sites.

Dumpshock doesn't work at school, and that's where I suspect I'll be doing a majority of my postings, considering I don't have an afternoon period on Wednesday and Friday.

Damn filtering software!

Posted by: mfb Nov 1 2003, 04:35 PM

shadowland.org the one i play on. despite a reputation to the contrary, it's pretty open to newcomers--as long as you don't try to play a shadowfurry.

Posted by: TinkerGnome Nov 1 2003, 05:14 PM

http://www.playbyweb.com is descent, though not perfect. I haven't played there in ages. Also, you sometimes see SR games come up as PBEM or PBP on http://www.pbem.com.

Posted by: mfb Nov 2 2003, 12:31 AM

i know there's also a place called macray's keep, or something like that. i used to go there every once in a while, but it seems like a lot of its games tend to sputter out.

Posted by: TinkerGnome Nov 2 2003, 01:13 AM

QUOTE (mfb @ Nov 1 2003, 08:31 PM)

a lot of its games tend to sputter out.

Pretty much par for the course when it comes to online gaming. I've had quite a few die, myself. And likely one more if I can't find the willpower to go on with the Champions game I'm running by mail.

[edit] Just for completeness sake, I mention that I drove the nail into the coffin of the Champions game about to minutes after writing this. Life sucks sometimes. [/edit]

Posted by: Voorhees Nov 2 2003, 01:19 AM

I'd like to play, but none are opening...

Posted by: TinkerGnome Nov 2 2003, 01:33 AM

None are opening where, Voorhees? There is at least one game accepting applications on DSF (http://invision.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=1608). PBEM.com has them few and far between (and even fewer where they stay alive for any length of time, myself being guilty of that one). playbyweb.com I am not knowing about seeing as how I haven't been there in ages.

Posted by: mfb Nov 2 2003, 11:43 AM

there are, http://www.motorfirebox.net/shadowrun/ridiculous.jpg, many opportunities to rp online.

Posted by: Dim Sum Nov 3 2003, 06:17 AM

Actually, I didn't realise until recently that you could play online. I'm completely unfamiliar with the way the mechanics of such games work but was interested in finding out as I'd be tempted to run an SR campaign.

Posted by: mfb Nov 3 2003, 06:34 AM

i prefer it because you tend to get better rp. even the most unimaginative lug can get a good in-character thing going, if he's got a day or so to think about it. the drawback, of course, is that it's slower--but as you can see from the picture above, the way to make up for that is to get involved in as many games as possible.

Posted by: Dim Sum Nov 3 2003, 06:54 AM

So, it's not a more-or-less instantaneous online game? (Like I said, I'm not at all familiar with the game mechanics of online role-playing)

Not like ... GM bangs out a narrative, players type out their responses, GM rolls dice or uses a dicebot thingy ...?

Posted by: mfb Nov 3 2003, 07:35 AM

not on shadowland.org, and not--as i understand it--on dumpshock. you post, you wait for the next guy to post a reply, and you post again. if the other guy isn't on, you wait; in a good game, you won't have to wait more than half a day or so, but things can bog as real life intervenes. for dice, shadowland has a built-in roller; i guess dumpshock players use other online rollers, or just trust each other to roll at home and post the results honestly.

my reccomendation would be to check out the games at dumpshock, and check out the games at shadowland--lurk for a week or so, see if it looks like fun. shadowland also has a general chat, which anybody can jump into and hang out in (ooc).

Posted by: Dim Sum Nov 3 2003, 09:41 AM

Kewl beans! Thanks, MFB!

Posted by: TinkerGnome Nov 3 2003, 01:25 PM

There are a lot of different ways to play SR online. The one we've been talking about is the play by email or play by post model wherein one person makes thier post and waits for someone to reply, etc. These games are generally fairly slow, but have their advantages in that you don't have to commit a whole lot of time to them (< 1 hour a day in all but the most prolific games).

There are also other methods, including the MU* (MUD, MUCK, MUSH, MOO) method where everyone logs in to a central server and plays games there, or the chat room model where everyone plays in a chat room. In general, chat room games are done with a set group of players at a set time every week, day, two weeks, or some other time interval. A chat game tends to take somewhere between 1.5 and 2 times the amount of time it would take to do the same thing in a table top environment, if my experiences are any indication. An MU* tends to involve a large playerbase which can revolve in and out through various games.

I've no idea where to find a chat game (I'd imagine looking for chatrooms on your favorite IM program that start with "Shadowrun" would be a start), but you can find many MU*s http://www.mudconnector.com. Just select search and punch in shadowrun. There are also drawbacks to these types of games.

Posted by: nezumi Nov 3 2003, 01:54 PM

MUDding is an interesting experience, if you haven't tried it. I've only heard of one SR MUD, and as of a year ago it was still under construction and getting mediocre reviews (you can find it by googling Shadowrun MUD, probably). Unfortunately, the nature of the beast generally requires karma/XP rewards are largely from combat more than anything, but that doesn't mean you can't still roleplay for fun : ) I've spent many, many hours MUDding. I'd give 'em a whirl if you haven't tried them before, but it's more fun if you go in with a friend. You can connect to MU*s using telnet usually, and some MU*s will have a java client on their web site. But I *DEFINITELY* recommend getting a specialized client like zmud.

Posted by: TinkerGnome Nov 3 2003, 03:01 PM

QUOTE (nezumi)

I've only heard of one SR MUD

MUCKs and MUSHs seem more popular. You can try:

http://www.aelfhame.net/~denver/
http://www.srdetroit.org/
http://shadowrun.dnaco.net/

They have varying degrees of code flexibility and the like. Some are better than others, too. The biggest difference will likely be in player base. If you have lots of time on your hands, you might want to check them out.

There are a few more sites out there that I couldn't load web pages for (like SR - Germany) but can be found via http://www.mudconnector.com

Posted by: Hot Wheels Nov 4 2003, 01:03 PM

I just don't have the time. I've tried one or two, but when I look back in the story has charged off a couple of pages and I'm hoplessly left out. I don't want to intrude by clibing back in.

Posted by: Shadow Nov 5 2003, 03:57 AM

QUOTE (mfb @ Nov 2 2003, 10:35 PM)

i guess dumpshock players use other online rollers, or just trust each other to roll at home and post the results honestly.

Generally speaking, and in my experience, this is why I prefer gaming on DSF. The quality of the player you get is outstanding. In none of the games I have played has there ever been a doubt about the rolls made and posted by the player. It's truly a collaborative experience and it's a lot of fun. The only problem is it take a very dedicated GM to finish a game with a group. I have ran 3 games, and was only able to finish 1 because of RL issues. Heres hoping to go 2/5!

Unfortunately it looks like the majority of DSF'ers prefer not to play online, which is a real shame.

Posted by: mfb Nov 5 2003, 02:46 PM

i haven't played a successful tabletop game in years, but i'm participating in--as a GM or a player--fifteen SR games, one D&D game, and one Aberrant game. they even managed to trick me into playing a Vampire game, the sly bastards.

Posted by: Neon Tiger Nov 5 2003, 04:17 PM

Well, I'd like to play online, as I'm our groups main GM. But somehow I just don't feel like playing on boards, as it takes so long to finish, if it ever finishes. I'd like playing over IRC/chatrooms if possible. Are there any other people that would refer playing IRC/chat games?

Posted by: evil_slammor Nov 5 2003, 08:13 PM

QUOTE (TinkerGnome)

There are also other methods, including the MU* (MUD, MUCK, MUSH, MOO) method where everyone logs in to a central server and plays games there, or the chat room model where everyone plays in a chat room. In general, chat room games are done with a set group of players at a set time every week, day, two weeks, or some other time interval. A chat game tends to take somewhere between 1.5 and 2 times the amount of time it would take to do the same thing in a table top environment, if my experiences are any indication. An MU* tends to involve a large playerbase which can revolve in and out through various games.

I've no idea where to find a chat game (I'd imagine looking for chatrooms on your favorite IM program that start with "Shadowrun" would be a start), but you can find many MU*s http://www.mudconnector.com. Just select search and punch in shadowrun. There are also drawbacks to these types of games.

TinkerGnome the best place to find a chat based RPG is either at WebRpg or at http://www.openrpg.com. I prefer Openrpg because it is totally free to use and simply requires downloading a few programs so you can access the games. With dice rollers, maps, etc. etc..... I don't think I could stand a PBEM game anymore. As for getting into a game both websites have forums with listings for games and shadowrun is halfway popular on both and GM's would have no shortage of players. ((why is that no one wants to GM???)) And I've also seen the occasional add looking for players here on Dumpshock as well for games on those servers, hell I'll probably putting my own add up soon enough. Now if I could just get paid for all this good advertising i'm doing I'd be set