Welcome Aironfabio

Welcome Aironfabio.

What do you want to get from this 'game'?
Do you have any specific questions?
What is your history?

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Take a look at the To Start post in the general Welcome thread and answer any of those questions, if relevant.

Feel free to chat here, or in the general Welcome thread. And take a look at what we we currently have in the other threads when you have time.

I mostly wish to understand how to play a PbtA via PbP in an efficient and engaging way.

Mostly, how the conversation can flow and when to call the moves to make the best use of every post.

I played a few one shots IRL (dungeon world mostly), listened to many podcasts and am generally a pretty confident GM on several type of games.

I must transition to PbP due to IRL issues for a while and would love to try a few PbtA (as player or GM) that don't interest my group, mainly Avatar as soon as it releases, maybe Masks.

I have not looked at Avatar, I did no back the kickstarter, and (because?) I have not watched the show (though it is on my list, but that is a long list), so I can not make specific comments on that game.

I have played, run, and taught some Masks, but 'superheros' are an area where I am decidedly weak. I have seen most of the recent, big blockbuster movies, but not much else and don't read comic books. I blame that for the issues I have with Masks as a ruleset. I try not to be critical --many people like the game-- and I have been impressed with how versatile and flexible it and its playbooks are. But I really struggle with the Label Shifting mechanics and portraying them as something other than a 'punishment' (akin to Conditions (loss of HP) or loss of XP).

But, this is meant to be a Round table, so hopefully others here will be able to help with those specifics. Though, it is has been quiet here of late.

Yeah, I don't have any issues with the games themselves, I'm more interested in generic PbtA examples on how the exchange goes through PbP medium. Any game with moves will do to understand that.

While PbP can add an extra layer of complication, the rules for when you call for Moves are still pretty much the same as any other play-form. The player posts the fiction of what they are doing (all PbtA games are very much 'fiction first'), and then the GM (with the help of the other players) say if what they described requires a roll, and if so, which Move is being triggered.

This is a discussion, not a ruling, but that can become slow on PbP. Some of this slowness is unavoidable. Best way to avoid slowdowns is to only call for Moves when they are absolutely required to decide the outcome. 'Say yes, or Roll Dice' as the saying goes: First see if you can just let the player have what they want, and only call for dice if 'yes' is not an option (and if 'no' is not the only reasonable answer, but that falls outside the rules).

Depending on the game in question, what they roll or which Move applies, often needs to be a discussion and negotiation between player and GM. GM has 'final say', but that not 'only say'.

In some other games it might make sense for the player to include a roll with the post, this can be problem in PbtA, especially on a Miss. Remember "nothing never happens" so if they roll, something has to happen, and situations that were not meant to be deadly suddenly become so. This can be especially complicated in games that give XP on a Miss, players might be seen as gaming the system and rolling hoping for a Miss (and XP) in the knowledge that nothing serious can happen to them in this safe situation, I don't want to accuse anyone of (deliberately) cheating, but it can be very hard to disentangle these uncalled for rolls and say for sure that they should be ignored.

My 'rule' (though a soft one) is "if the dice come out we are committed". I remember in Apocalypse World, players (often DnD players, given its era) would constantly ask "can I read a situation" and I would point out that that Move says its trigger is "When you read a charged situation, roll+sharp", so, if they Read a Sitch, the situation is 'charged' --even if it was not before-- and there is risk. Maybe 'warlord who was friendly gets suspicious "What are you constantly looking around for? Don't you trust us?" they demand'. The dice come out, there will be blood.

While "don't roll till asked to" seems like it might slow things down, if the GM is on the ball, it works out smoother than allowing unsolicited rolls and untangling the outcomes.

Which game rules have you read. We can mock up some situations in those.

If you have specific questions, ask them too.

Great. Let's.

I'm familiar with (as in, read the manual and either played or listened to actual play podcasts) Dungeon World, Masks, Epylion, Pasion del Las Pasiones, Monster of the Week, the Root and Avatar quickstarts. Maybe something else I'm missing.

I have been meaning to look at Root.
Pasion is a fascinating game with interesting rules, but I have no clue about Telenovelas.

I have created a subforum which you should have control over (let me know if I missed something in the permissions, it has been a while since we did this:).

Do you want to create a scenario (toss us in the middle somewhere, maybe give us pregen characters if you want (no need for sheets)) and we see how it could play out? Or do you want us to make something and GM you through it, or for us to make something and you GM us out of it? Or any other variation. We don't need to conclude any of these unless we want to, we can play as much and discuss as much as we feel is needed.

I'd be happy to join the mock up situation if that helps :)

That would definitely help.

I can take the role of several PCs as well if we need.

I'll wait for TheGenerator test before opening a mock thread myself. Most of what he asks I can use as well

If you want to throw in some of your questions in my thread, feel free. We can both learn at the same time :)

I didn't want to say it, but yes, these threads are full of repeat questions. :)
Most of the problems people have are problems other people also have.

There are also the general Q&A threads for questions.

here's the manuals I have access to.

Dungeon World, Masks, Epylion, Pasion del Las Pasiones, Monster of the Week, the Root and Avatar quickstarts.

I am interested mostly in running an Avatar game in the future, so this would be the most useful mock thread. I am also very fine with Root.
Both are quickstart freely downloadable (Root already has a published pdf but the quickstart is fine for now).

I have to admit, I'm only familiar with DW. Is that an issue? If the rules aren't too complex I'm fine with joining any system.
If you feel like that would hinder things, I don't mind sitting back.

I have the Root quickstart (need to check it is up to date, it has been years since I looked) but have not read it. I am not really into anthropomorphic animals, but don't mind the idea.

Happy to get the Avatar one and try that.

Don't know the IP for either of them, but have at lease heard of Avatar, and do plan to watch it, while I probably would not ever read Root's origins (graphic novel, was it?).

Pasion seems sorta ideal for a 'quick, thrown in the middle of things' game, does it not? :)

I will only be able to provide very general advice on any of the above.

I have run Epylion and Masks a bit, and Monster of the Week a lot, but don't let that sway you. It has been a long time since I looked at DW, you can judge if my opinions were helpful.

Is this "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or "Avatar" the 3D movie?
I've seen both, but quite a while ago ;)

the last airbender ;D
the gamei s called Avatar: Legends, by Magpie, the guys that made most high-budget PbtAs

Meh

I also remember now. They demand your email before giving you the Avatar quickstart. I rejected them based on that (not that I can't make easy throwaway email addresses, it is the principle of the thing).