So I've been tossing around the idea of DM'ing an official campaign for the PBP forums.
I have some very very slight DMing experience, as before my RL group broke up because of military responsibilities I DM'd for a short time, when my group was trying to get everyone a little player & DM experience.
I have role-played various aspects and situations for the last 15-20 years, though only a total of perhaps 3 months in regards to DND. I can create long beautiful, detailed posts much better in this format, than if it was live and whether player or DM having to come up with something on the spot.
But I wan't to know exactly how PBP works. As I'm an over-thinker, I think about things like: How do I/the players post if their post leads to require a response -
I.E. - Player A asks Players B and C what their strategy is to take on this enemy. - Do I let them more or less spam-post as if they're discussing IC? or do I let them each make a statement, then decide if they get noticed? or a mix of both to add some randomness?
I.E. 2 - Player A speaks to King John Doe, asking him a question - Does the player have to stop their post right there and wait for the DM-NPC reply to the question? If not, how would this be handled?
I.E. 3 - Player attacks monster. Do they have to post their attack as the last part of their 'action role play' ("I shoot my bow at Monster") and wait for the outcome such as "You miss, and cut the rope holding the pillar keeping the roof from collapsing" or do I let them post their "Contingency" replies?
Any other advice from people is welcome. Regardless, I intend to decide on a campaign, and start a recruiting thread after work.
I think everyone runs things a little differently so it depends on you.
Based on my preferences though:
I.E.: Spam post.
I.E. 2: Stop and wait.
I.E. 3: They declare attack and use the forum post dice roller to make an attack and damage roll. Typically a DM when beginning combat will list the enemy stats including AC and health and you can then edit the post (do not edit the rolls or it produces a warning) to describe the hit or miss or enemy death if you know this reduces it to 0. If the creature has abilities that would help it the DM can effectively retcon the description. Or, you just put the attack and damage rolls and wait for the DM to respond. ( E.g. Attack: Greataxe18 | Damage: 11).
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
On the 'list the health' There is a feat you can get that 'allows you to discern the enemies health' - Should I really be telling my players the health of the enemy when there's a feat for it?
It's up to you. Many DMs grant starting bonus feats anyway. You don't have to show the health, if you don't want and is just an option at your disposal to make the game move faster since PbP battles are very slow due to the format. In case it helps: the feat you're looking at is not official. There is no current official feat be it from official source book or still-in-playtest unearthed arcana that let's you discern an enemy's health. The current list of official feats can be found here.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Hmm.. could have sworn i saw it in the PHB... anyways. Alright, well now I just have to decide what campaign I'm going to DM and then start my thread. Thank you.
Hmm.. could have sworn i saw it in the PHB... anyways. Alright, well now I just have to decide what campaign I'm going to DM and then start my thread. Thank you.
I think you're probably thinking of the Battle Master fighter's Know Your Enemy feature. Two notes on that:
Know Your Enemy basically allows you to know whether a creature has higher numbers than you, lower numbers than you, or the same numbers as you in two scores of your choice, chosen from a list that includes HP.
The word feat has a specific meaning in D&D 5e. Don't use it as an abbreviation of feature, please.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Don't tell me how to talk or how to write sir. Also calm your tits. This was a thread asking for some quick advice, if there was a mistake or mispronunciation/spelling all you had to do was point it out. Not make demands as if I've committed some travesty against nature itself.
So I've been tossing around the idea of DM'ing an official campaign for the PBP forums.
I have some very very slight DMing experience, as before my RL group broke up because of military responsibilities I DM'd for a short time, when my group was trying to get everyone a little player & DM experience.
I have role-played various aspects and situations for the last 15-20 years, though only a total of perhaps 3 months in regards to DND. I can create long beautiful, detailed posts much better in this format, than if it was live and whether player or DM having to come up with something on the spot.
But I wan't to know exactly how PBP works. As I'm an over-thinker, I think about things like: How do I/the players post if their post leads to require a response -
I.E. - Player A asks Players B and C what their strategy is to take on this enemy. - Do I let them more or less spam-post as if they're discussing IC? or do I let them each make a statement, then decide if they get noticed? or a mix of both to add some randomness?
I.E. 2 - Player A speaks to King John Doe, asking him a question - Does the player have to stop their post right there and wait for the DM-NPC reply to the question? If not, how would this be handled?
I.E. 3 - Player attacks monster. Do they have to post their attack as the last part of their 'action role play' ("I shoot my bow at Monster") and wait for the outcome such as "You miss, and cut the rope holding the pillar keeping the roof from collapsing" or do I let them post their "Contingency" replies?
Any other advice from people is welcome. Regardless, I intend to decide on a campaign, and start a recruiting thread after work.
Occassional Dungeon Master.
I think everyone runs things a little differently so it depends on you.
Based on my preferences though:
I.E.: Spam post.
I.E. 2: Stop and wait.
I.E. 3: They declare attack and use the forum post dice roller to make an attack and damage roll. Typically a DM when beginning combat will list the enemy stats including AC and health and you can then edit the post (do not edit the rolls or it produces a warning) to describe the hit or miss or enemy death if you know this reduces it to 0. If the creature has abilities that would help it the DM can effectively retcon the description. Or, you just put the attack and damage rolls and wait for the DM to respond. ( E.g. Attack: Greataxe 18 | Damage: 11 ).
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
On the 'list the health' There is a feat you can get that 'allows you to discern the enemies health' - Should I really be telling my players the health of the enemy when there's a feat for it?
Occassional Dungeon Master.
It's up to you. Many DMs grant starting bonus feats anyway. You don't have to show the health, if you don't want and is just an option at your disposal to make the game move faster since PbP battles are very slow due to the format. In case it helps: the feat you're looking at is not official. There is no current official feat be it from official source book or still-in-playtest unearthed arcana that let's you discern an enemy's health. The current list of official feats can be found here.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Hmm.. could have sworn i saw it in the PHB... anyways. Alright, well now I just have to decide what campaign I'm going to DM and then start my thread. Thank you.
Occassional Dungeon Master.
I think you're probably thinking of the Battle Master fighter's Know Your Enemy feature. Two notes on that:
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Don't tell me how to talk or how to write sir. Also calm your tits. This was a thread asking for some quick advice, if there was a mistake or mispronunciation/spelling all you had to do was point it out. Not make demands as if I've committed some travesty against nature itself.
Occassional Dungeon Master.