Chapter 21: Discussions / Q&A

[Ken]

I'll hold off on posting until Joe goes, since Streko has a few spells that could alter Belarin's decision making.

[Jeff]

I would love to rework how we handle initiative and combat turns with real life timelines.

[Jeff]

Is there something we can do so that a single round of combat fits within a 24-hour period? We're at 12 to 24 hours between turns on the same round. This rate isn't going to work for me. This, of course, depends on whether we, as a whole, agree that this is or is not fine.

[Brian]

For me, taking my turn in combat every third day or so is no fun at all. In fact, it’s damned irritating.

I’d be happy to revamp the rules/expectations, if that’s what everyone wants.

[Darren]

I agree. I try to provide Jeff with a rough outline of what Kal will do if I know I may not be around to post when my turn comes up.

[Dave W.]

I could say that Adamant intends to work his way to the Blue Slaad or open a path for Thul to get there. He’s saving his last divine smite for the slaad. THis turn is pretty simple. If you want to run Adamant as an npc this turn that’s fine.

I’m open to any sort of suggestions…

[Jeff]

I never want to run anyone as an NPC (Thul excepted). Then this becomes even less like a cooperative game.

[Ken]

I wish I had a good solution for this, because I agree with Brian - it's frustrating at times. I know I'm slower to post on the weekends because I get wrapped up in family stuff and I'm away from the keyboard (and yes, I recognize the irony that it's easier for me to post when I "at work").

Maybe shorten the 24-hour timetable to, say, 18 hours? 12 hours would be too short.

[Jeff]

For me, it's a damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't position. I could ask for more participation and checking in to keep things moving—which turns me into a jerk and tyrant DM. But statements like this also haunt me:

May 28, 2021 11:22:04 GMT -4 Ken said:

I'll be honest and admit that, yes, my enthusiasm has waned over the past month, and I'm not sure why. Is it the length of the quest, knowing that - in real life - we might be another 24 months from getting to the Eye which we've been pursuing for years? Maybe. On another level, I recently felt I can't pursue Belarin's personal quests without turning Belarin into either a disruptive force on the quest or a diva, neither of which is appealing. I'm open to suggestions!

As I watch nearly 24 hours pass between turns on a single round, meaning one battle is likely to go way beyond a week in real life.

But as always, for me it's also a problem of morale. It feels like I'm asking for everyone to come play this game, but if they'd simply rather not bother about any of this—if it's a nuisance to "have to" come post—then I'd rather just end it. This is why it comes up from time to time. I'm sure it makes me sound like a broken record to you guys, but the problems persist.

[Brian]

Jeff nailed it. If we’re talking about setting up guidelines for playing, then the motivation or inherent enjoyment has left the game. Other interests have taken hold. And that is okay. It happens. Life happens.

I don’t want to continue if DE is an afterthought. Something you try and fit into a spare few minutes. It just isn’t fun for me playing that way.

Perhaps the time has come to call it done?

[Ken]

I hate to say it, but yeah, maybe. We've achieved a lot and lasted literally a DECADE longer than any other PBP campaign I've been in. Maybe it's time to work with Jeff on epilogues for each of our characters.

[Jeff]

This was the sort of thing I tried to feel out and head off, and avoid, before Chapter 21, but I’d still rather it be now than another six months, you know?

I’m happy to read anything further from you guys but I don’t really have anything to offer on any epilogue front. The game is failing because general player interest has, and I’d rather fade out gracefully than put more energy into something that may not even be desired.

[Dave B.]

I prefer a not too fast pace, only because I'm usually only able to check in once a day. But, this has been an even slower pace than that, so I don't know what the best solution is. Since it does seem that life is getting in the way of even the moderate pace, maybe it is time to find a stopping point. Posting out of turn can make things too chaotic, especially if your character's next turn is the following round.

Not to sound defensive, but I do spend more than just a few minutes when I log on to post. I will often re-read previous posts, check on rules for specific situations, carefully examine the maps and character placements. Once I feel I have thoroughly assessed everything, then I compose my post, sometimes rewriting or even editing several times before I'm satisfied. This usually takes an hour. Depending on the situation and the length of said post, that can be a little less or more time. I know I've spent two+ hours on a single post in the past. I do find some time to pop in to read posts outside of the times I log on to post, but I can't pop in for a few minutes to post. I wouldn't be able to write anything in so short a time. Of course, that's just for combat. When we are in a more narrative place, I still need time to post, but I don't have to strategize as much.

All that being said, it would be nice to finish this particular quest, but maybe that isn't an option for everyone and a cliffhanger sort of ending is called for. We can use our own imaginations to infer our own character's story or maybe some time down the road, when life allows, we can pick up the story again.