Any online chat games going? Options

[Socinus]

Are there any online chats where games are going?

I know there are a couple IRC rooms for it but I dont want to buy the program to get into them.

[Socinus]

Nobody has anything?

[ChiPsiUp]

Me and a friend of mine are also looking for an online SR4 game to join. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) If we could find another one or two players and a GM, then we'd be good to go!

[void_forger]

I would be more than happy to join. GMing could be worked out on a run to run basis if needed. Each would take a turn to allow everyone the chance to play. It would not be the best way for the story as it would require disclosing things that would normally be secret when the next person took their turn, but it would be workable. Just an idea if you all are desperate.

[Socinus]

Im totally game if there's a venue and somebody who knows the mechanics

[ChiPsiUp]

Alternating might be an idea. We would still need more people though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And also, what time works best for people?

[Socinus]

Late afternoon to early evening Monday through Wednesday is good for me.

Where will this game take place? I dont happen to have any handy chat rooms.

[void_forger]

I am available any time except 4-9pm est Tuesday-Thursday, currently. Within a month after the holiday break my availability should increase to be completely open due to the nature of he business I will be running. As for programs, I tend to prefer the combination of a voice program such as skype (which is free) and a white board/virtual table top program such as Maptools. Both are free and give you abilities similar to being there in person. Many of the virtual table top programs also have a text chat built in and there are several out there that are free to download. I am not sure if your aversion to buy IRC was simply to the money end or just having to download a program at all. If it is just the money that type of solution might work. If it is to obtaining programs at all we can work on finding something that does not require it. As to finding more people, I figure some will catch this thread and ask to join now that it is showing potential and we could also ask or look around on places like the pen and paper games player registry or other places designed to gather players and keep them informed of potential games.

[ChiPsiUp]

I'm fine with using Maptools. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

As for Skype, the main problem with that is not everyone has a microphone. But Maptools has built in text chat we could use.

[Fyndhal]

Did someone say they needed more players? I'm in, if you'll have me. Maptools or Skype works fine for me, though I think I'd prefer Maptools. FWIW, I'm on the West Coast.

[Socinus]

I'll go with anything that I dont have to pay for.

Money is kinda tight since our last doctor's visit


Next question becomes character selection. I have several avalible that I can use.

Guitard Fantome- French Elvish theif, forger, and occasional assassin for hire
Marcos Emiliao- A Aztlan Troll who operated with a band of Zapatista rebels, fleeing to the UCAS to gather more resources and support for the cause back home
Ronin- An Elvish bodyguard who served the corporate elite as a modern Samurai, striking out on his own after realizing his employer's Yakuza connections. A masterful swordsman.
Lo-Jack- A pilot, smuggler, and car thief with a skill in Longarms
Fadi Al-Alim- A hacker and moderate Muslim wanted for crimes against Muslim hardline governments, labeled as an information terrorist.
Eisenheim- Better known as Eisenheim the Illusionist in Europe, a famous stage performer of magic and occasional consultant to Special Service divisions for interrogation.
Praetorian- A rouge AI that began as protection agent for a virtual library, he attained sentience when he began reading from the library out of curiosity and is now on a quest to acheive enlightenment through learning everything there is to learn.

I can also create a new character if the need arises. I caution that while I do stick to the rules of character creation, I tend to bend them slightly in the interests of a more interesting character or logic. This has yet to produce an over-powered character and as a matter of course I try to build in glaring flaws to characters, it makes them far more interesting. I also have PDF copies of every book

[Fyndhal]

I'd be building a character from scratch for this. Probably a Gunbunny Adept, elf or perhaps a changeling (I've never played one, strangely.) I don't know the Matrix rules well, so anything that avoids those would work for me as a character.

[Socinus]

Ok, how about a venue?

http://www.homebase-kice.com/dnd_chat/

Yeah I know its a D&D thing but we can use the Lite version. I've tried it and its got a learning curve of two minnutes. All you need is an internet connection

Its got private chat, dice visible to everybody

Best of all, its free.

Sound good?

[Socinus]

Also, any volunteers for GM?

I can make a good story but my knowledge is limited to weapons and character creation.

Im not very familiar with the actual mechanics of how a game is run.

[Fyndhal]

This would be my first 4th Ed game, so I'd be a poor choice starting out. Maybe it's something we could do episodically; take turns doing a run like void_forger suggests? Or maybe someone who likes running will see this thread? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Socinus]

This would be my first 4th Ed game, so I'd be a poor choice starting out. Maybe it's something we could do episodically; take turns doing a run like void_forger suggests? Or maybe someone who likes running will see this thread? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

What happens when someone who cant really GM that well (Like me) gets a turn?

As I said I can make a good story, I just am not familiar with the mechanics of actual gameplay

[ChiPsiUp]

I'm hoping someone volunteers to gm. xD

[Fyndhal]

I posted up a call for a GM here. Hopefully that will find someone who is interested.

[Chrysalis]

I would like to play, but I am not going to GM.

-Chrysalis

[Socinus]

I would like to play, but I am not going to GM.

-Chrysalis

Sounds good, we've got players, just no GM

[pbangarth]

I've GMed lots, but am a neophyte for online chat gaming. How does it work? How much time commitment is required for the group to work? How is the system set up? How do you deal with time differentials?

Any other neophyte question you can think of.

Peter (living in Mountain time zone in North America)

PS. I've been following the two one-on-one games in Welcome to the Shadows, ANew Start in Seattle and Lost in Southeast Asia. Is it at all like that?

[Socinus]

I've GMed lots, but am a neophyte for online chat gaming. How does it work? How much time commitment is required for the group to work? How is the system set up? How do you deal with time differentials?

We usually find a place that enables us to use chat and dice rolls visible to the entire group (Its kinda stupid to cheat at these games but it cuts down on potential arguments). I have a program thats free and easy to use that will fulfill these requirements. Its a D&D Chat program but it works just fine for Shadowrun.

We'll agree on a time to meet and with this program all you need to know is the person who's hosting IP and you punch that in.

Other than that, it works pretty similar to any other RPG, just typed instead of spoken.

As far as time commitment, I think meeting once a week for a night would be good. That way we have plenty of gametime and its not a massive timesink.

PS. I've been following the two one-on-one games in Welcome to the Shadows, ANew Start in Seattle and Lost in Southeast Asia. Is it at all like that?

**Shrug** No idea what those are or where they are

[pbangarth]

Well, it's more of a time sink for the person writing the runs. I don't think I have the time to write a scenario every week. I could go for one a month. Are there others willing to pitch in?

Peter

PS. I will have spotty access to the internet till the new year.

[Socinus]

Well, it's more of a time sink for the person writing the runs. I don't think I have the time to write a scenario every week. I could go for one a month. Are there others willing to pitch in?

Peter

PS. I will have spotty access to the internet till the new year.

I would say we just do a scenario untill its played out, not necessarily one every week

[ChiPsiUp]

Once a month is fine with me. Or we could do twice a month (aka once every two weeks). I think what pbangarth means about writing a scenario is just all the prep work that goes into a single session, not neccisarily that we'll be going through a whole "plot" every session. Even if he has the basics of the plot worked out before we start, the GM still needs to do things like stat out NPCs, figure out what locations look like, etc etc.