Online Only Play Discussion

[Story Teller]

Hey gang. I have my Internet back!

I have been contacted by someone interested in being an online presence only on our forum.

I would like to discuss the Pros - Cons of allowing this.

Also I would like to open up the possibility of discussing how this can effectively be done.

What sorts of rules should they follow etc. How will they earn their xp to advance their character?

Anyone done something similar to this for a LARP game but set in a Forum environment?

Please state your opinions, ideas, etc. Then i will cherry pick what I like, and throw something together. If you all would rather not allow people to be a part of the forum without a presence in the game once in a while, please state that opinion as well so I can have a rough idea of the sentiments.

Thank you

[Theseus Ahroun]

IF, and that's a big if you feel the person is trustworthy enough to give some influence over the way the game plays out from a position where it's more difficult for the physical player base to effect them then I figure everything that's open to us should be open to them. The mechanic's of it of course would be a little different but us mere players don't need to be worried with that as other then his posts we wouldn't see much of this individuals actions.

The only thing I would ask that there is some mechanic in game for is if the online player is very touchable, provided the right investigations are done to track them down. For example if he was to mouth off to the wrong person on the forums, especially if so is done largely due to the fact he won't ever have to stand in front of said person, that the offended character can effectively hunt the online player down and have a nice long talk with him and possibly offer him a sun tan.

[Solomon Gargoyle]

Well if they are online only do they really need EXP so much? Unless they can affect the game somehow and then it would only be fair if they could also be tracked down and killed if they become a problem.

What Ryan said. It's kinda lame if he can affect the game but we can't affect them. :-(

[Story Teller]

That's the point of the discussion. For example, Indy may play the majority of the time on the forum, but his character is a somewhat local character that can be tracked down, and at least once a month or so the player physically attends a game. Giving folks an opportunity to take him out then if they so choose.

An online only persona creates some minor problems. The point of this thread is to see if those problems can be overcome. For example throwing chops....How do we resolve combat for online only characters?

Please feel free to get into the details of how you feel it can be done fairly for all involved.

[Theseus Ahroun]

Since you asked I'll chime in. As the risks and involvement in the game by the online player won't be the same as those who actively are at game maybe some lesser amount of xp. Say while we get 3 per session they would get a base of 1 with the potential for 2 based off contribution's. For example if they just make the occasional 1 sentence blurb that's not contributing very much so that would be worth 1ep. Where as if they are active in current discussions and wielding what influence, etc. that they can in the city they should get the full 2 and if they do something substantial or go above and beyond to influence or shape story's in the city perhaps then occasionally the full 3.

I suppose they would have to build and maintain the character through emails or pm's to the ST and AST but I don't see why any skills, disciplines, etc should behave different for them so as long as they have the legit way to learn whatever they want to, more power to them. It may offer a way to introduce unique items, disciplines, lore or some other such to the game as the ST team feels the desire as you could have the person in theory planted some distance that members of the city could get to for teaching and back during downtime.

While the online player should be allowed to develop influences and contact's, etc. The further from the domain there going to claim there character to be the more difficult I think it would be for them to both build and wield there influence without having some form of physical presence in the city. Perhaps a ghoul retainer npc or something along those lines that would handle there presence in the city, although I get the feeling the ST's are trying to remove NPC's not add more.

While I would say in general there are more con's then pro's to allowing an online only pc that's no reason not to give it a try. As long as there's some form of checks and balances in place to keep them from doing too much damage.

[Theseus Ahroun]

And as for throwing chops for resolving whatever need be I would say that would be up to you to either just dictate whatever happens as they basically are flavor and filler to help story's along or to throw in there place. One of the trade off's of playing that sort of character in a game such as this.

[Larissa Johnson]

I know online only can work...I used to play in a online/IRL Washington game years ago. (I got involved because I knew people IRL who played both IRL and on the message board.) But I honestly can not recall how challenges were handled. And that's where the sticking point is in my mind.

Lets say online only dude pisses someone off and they decide to go after him. How would that be handled? In a normal game setting, if Larissa decides to suddenly go after say...Raven...I can grab an ST to witness. On a forum? That's a lot harder.

When I played online in the Washington game, none-local players were restricted to certain times when STs could be online. And the chat function was used heavily. I think that's why it worked out as well as it did (mind you, I was mostly playing a social character, and spent a lot of time OOC on PMs and private chat with a friend I hadn't seen in years, so my experience is likely tainted by that...)

Anyways, I think it could work, but definitely with restrictions. As to what those restrictions should be? I don't know.

[Story Teller]

I really like the way everyone is willing to work on this idea.

Ideally I'd like to see a player willing to be the ghoul of this online benefactor. This way, the ST's are not required to give up more of their time to run an additional NPC. The Online and IRL Players can plot and plan together via the web, and the Ghoul representative has a benefactor who can wield influence and toss around status to support the player.

I like Ryan's idea of a scaled EP system based on participation on the forum.

The thing I'm not really interested in doing is runing an NPC, and spending time summarizing what has occurred at each game. Which is why this option works best if the Onlne player can use a IRL player to learn what has occurred, and bribe, threaten, etc to get information IC.

A really crafty person, who's creative, charming, etc could build quite a power base without ever having to step into Sacramento.

As far as killing the Online person off....It can be handled online I suppose. I will have a copy of his character sheet, and a method for deciding chops can be figured out. The online person will be told by the ST that being online doesn't make you safe....just makes it a bit harder to kill off your character.

[Solomon Gargoyle]

Or this person has a childer or friend/employee/minion, ect working on their behalf. That could work too. If I wasn't playing Solomon, one of the chars I wanted to try, a Dhampir had that concept of having a benefactor or employer/boss of sorts he works for so he has a lot of things to do and can't just be killed without some possible punishments for doing so.

[Guest]

The story tellers could always stand in for the player if throws need to be made. Dee throws for the player or whatnot.

I think the concept could work, but would require creative use of the forums and some dedication from those involved to paint the pictures with the posts instead of the face time we all get.

Player interaction of course would be more of a Downtime flavor as we can't get the response time as we could in face to face playing. Sounds like it could be a cool way to get some play time in.

[Vai Castillian]

As I still have hopes of talking Travis into becoming a presence on the forums, even if his work schedule keeps him out of game, I'm all for the online only thing.

For XP: My recommendation is that they get one for every week that they post at least once on the forums, two if the STs are really impressed with them or they drive plot in a significant way.

Working out someone hunting down the online-only character could easily be done via online chat. There are a couple of programs that allow multiple people to chat at once. Throws might be difficult, but that hurdle could be overcome. Maybe have both players send the ST their throw in a private chat.

The final caveat: I don't think that anyone who has a PC in the game should also have an online PC. Which -- pretty obvious, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[Story Teller]

I agree with Michelle. If anyone tries to pull a fast one, and gets caught, I'll ban their online account, and restrict them from live game for 3 sessions.

Opening up this option for people that can't come to game often, is not an invitation for the system to be abused.

[Solomon Gargoyle]

I don't think anyone we have in game so far would outright cheat that way.

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